White Head – history of our economic geology

Before the town of Whitehead came into existence, there were a number of flourishing industries in the vicinity of White Head, the limestone headland that once stood south of the present town. These industries used the local geology as their raw material. 

The local geology – red, white and black – mainly consists of Triassic mudstones (red), being the oldest rocks present, succeeded by the Cretaceous series, notably the Ulster White Limestone (white), capped by the Lower Basalts (black). Using field evidence together with a range of historical sources, the story of how these raw materials formed the basis of an important series of industries will be discussed. The area flourished during the heyday of ‘Victorian industrialisation’ with the coming of the railway, a better road network and development of harbour facilities. 

Although the quarries, brickworks and harbour are now quiet and the evidence mostly long gone, the story of these industries and associated activities can be understood through historical maps, postcards, photographs and artwork. This small area hosts a lot of industrial heritage. 

Ian Enlander