Geosite
This geosite occupies an elongate tributary valley of the river Stour in the southern Black Country.
It is geologically important as it provides the best long section of Carboniferous, Etruria Formation in the Black Country, which contain plant fossil material. This is also referred to in Latin manuscripts of the Halesowen Abbey where underground coal mining was occurring as early as 1281 - providing a known date for the start of underground coal mining activity in the Black Country.
Exposure here are associated with the only thrust/reverse faulting known as (The Russells Hall Fault) which is important to understanding the tectonic history of the geopark. There is a leaflet that introduces the history of the valley and a footpath network is the valley associated with its canals. This is part of the geotourism site network for the geopark and will be one of the linked geosites on the canalside geology leaflet for the geopark with good geoeducational potential.
Geosite facilities
There is no visitor centre, café or toilets at the site, so plan your visit with this in mind.
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Geosite The Leasowes Park is open 7 days a week. Situated in Halesowen on the southern edge of the West Midlands urban conurbation. It is a 57-hectare public park containing the remains of one of the most important and influential landscapes of the 18th century. The garden at The Leasowes was designed by the poet William Shenstone. Today, The Leasowes is of major historic significance ranking in importance with landscapes such as Blenheim and Stowe, and being listed as Grade I on the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England.
Geosite The Red House Glass Cone is open from 10am to 3pm Monday to Friday, 11am to 4pm Saturday & Sunday. Admission is free. It has a gift shop, craft studios, coffee house and toilets on site. Free car parking is also available. The coffee house offers a hot and cold menu with drinks and seasonal foods.
The White House Cone Museum of Glass, the former home of Stuart Crystal and now opposite the Red House Glass Cone will open during 2020. It will house the glass collection for the borough and be overseen by the British Glass Foundation.
Ruskin Glass Centre, formerly the site of and Webb Corbett and Royal Doulton Crystal is home to over 25 craft businesses, has an organic café and the Glass House Heritage Centre offers guided tours providing the history and heritage of the site. Ruskin Glass Centre is part of Ruskin Mill Land Trust who specialise in educating young people with learning disabilities through a craft and land based curriculum. Admission is free and the centre's opening hours are from 9.30am to 4pm Monday to Saturday.
Geosite Dudley Museum at the Archives is the Geopark headquarters and promotes the Black Country UNESCO Global Geopark.