Herne Bay (Beltinge / Bishopstone)
Region: Kent
Nearest Town: Herne Bay
Geological Ages: Thanetian • Ypresian
Site Type: Foreshore • Cliff
About the Site
Herne Bay (Beltinge / Bishopstone) forms part of the classic coastal geological section between Herne Bay and Reculver in north Kent. The cliffs and foreshore expose rocks laid down during the late Paleocene and early Eocene, making this an important site for understanding the early history of the London Basin.
The locality is especially well known for the Beltinge Fish Bed, which has produced an important fossil fish fauna including shark and ray teeth and chimaeroid tooth plates. However, the Fish Bed is only one thin horizon within a much larger succession. Different parts of the coast expose different geological units, and fossils can also occur in the Thanet Formation, other parts of the Upnor Formation, the Oldhaven Member and the London Clay.
This makes accurate recording particularly important here. A fossil found loose on the beach may have travelled from its original layer, so where possible collectors should record exactly where it was found and which bed or geological unit it came from.
Geology & Stratigraphy
The Herne Bay–Reculver coast exposes an important succession of late Paleocene to early Eocene rocks. The strata dip gently westwards, so generally older rocks are exposed towards Reculver and progressively younger units appear towards Herne Bay.
The oldest deposits represented in the Herne Bay/Bishopstone section belong to the Thanet Formation, including the Reculver Sand Member. These are overlain by the Upnor Formation of the Lambeth Group. Near the base of the Upnor Formation is the famous Beltinge Fish Bed, corresponding to Ward’s Bed J. Ward’s Bed K, historically known as the Woolwich Marine Bed, occurs above it. Published authors have differed over the precise position of the Thanet–Upnor boundary in parts of this section, particularly around the historic Corbula regulbiensis Bed, so older records should be checked against their original stratigraphic usage rather than automatically converted to a modern unit.
Above the Upnor Formation is an unconformity followed by the Oldhaven Member of the Harwich Formation. Herne Bay is the type area for this unit. The name Oldhaven Gap was historically used for what is now Bishopstone Glen, and Ward’s Beds L–N fall within this part of the succession.
The London Clay Formation overlies the Oldhaven Member. Basal London Clay fossil horizons occur in the section, while much of the historically recorded London Clay molluscan fauna is thought to have originated from King’s London Clay Division B. Division B is useful historical terminology for interpreting collections and older publications, but it should not be treated as though it were a modern formal BGS member.
Older publications may also refer to a “London Clay Basement Bed”. This terminology is now obsolete and does not always map neatly onto a single modern lithostratigraphic unit, so records using it require individual review.
Ward’s local bed scheme remains valuable for locating fossils within the coast section, but LBPS uses modern formal geological units wherever possible and retains Ward’s terminology as additional stratigraphic information.
Palaeoenvironment & Palaeoecology
The rocks at Herne Bay record a changing coastal and shallow-marine environment around the transition from the Paleocene into the Eocene.
The Thanet Formation was deposited mainly in shallow marine conditions. Later changes in sea level and sediment supply produced the sands and silts of the Upnor Formation, including the fossil-rich Beltinge Fish Bed. The Oldhaven Member records another phase of shallow, nearshore marine deposition before conditions deepened again and the finer muds of the London Clay accumulated.
These changing environments explain why the fossils vary so much from one part of the section to another. Some beds are particularly rich in vertebrate remains, while others are better known for molluscs, plant material or other marine fossils.
Fossil Preservation & Taphonomy
Fossil preservation varies considerably between the different geological units.
Shark and ray teeth and other phosphatic vertebrate remains can survive well and may be found loose amongst beach material. Molluscs may occur as shells, moulds or internal casts, while pyrite can be important in the preservation of fossils from some horizons. Fossil wood and other plant material may also occur.
Beach specimens may be worn, broken or moved by waves. Material collected loose from the foreshore can also be derived from a different bed from the one immediately beneath it. A label such as simply “Herne Bay” is therefore not enough to establish a precise geological horizon.
Where the source bed cannot be confidently established, LBPS records the occurrence at the broadest defensible geological level rather than guessing a more precise horizon.
Collecting Guidance
The lowest tides give the best access to the fossil-bearing beds on the foreshore. Tides of around 0.4 m or lower are particularly useful because they expose more of the beds themselves and provide the best opportunity to search or sample material close to its source.
Tides below roughly 1.0 m can still be productive because they expose the Rand, an offshore ridge or platform where loose material can accumulate. Shark and ray teeth and other fossils may become concentrated here after being eroded from nearby beds and moved by the sea.
A falling tide is generally preferable because it gives more time to work safely before the sea returns. Spring low tides provide the greatest exposure, but collectors should still keep track of the incoming tide and avoid working close to unstable cliffs.
Stout waterproof boots, weather-appropriate clothing and gloves are recommended.
A hand lens is useful for examining small fossils, together with small specimen boxes or bags and labels so that the location of finds can be recorded immediately.
Carry a fully charged phone and check tide and weather information before setting out.
A geological hammer is not normally necessary for collecting here. Fossils should primarily be sought amongst loose, naturally eroded material rather than from the standing cliff.
What to Look For
What you may find depends heavily on which part of the section you are searching.
Small shark and ray teeth are among the fossils Herne Bay is best known for. Many are only a few millimetres across, so careful searching and sieving can be much more productive than looking only for large specimens.
Material from the Beltinge Fish Bed may be searched directly where the bed is exposed at very low tide, while loose teeth can also accumulate on the Rand and amongst foreshore gravel.
Other parts of the section can produce bony-fish remains, chimaeroid tooth plates, molluscs, fossil wood, plant material, trace fossils and other marine remains.
Because fossils from different beds can be moved and mixed on the foreshore, record whether a specimen was found in situ, from sampled matrix, or loose on the beach/Rand whenever possible. A tooth found at Beltinge should not automatically be recorded as coming from the Beltinge Fish Bed unless its source is known.
Fossils at this Site
Explore fossils recorded from this site, see how to recognise them and, where enough LBPS records exist, what collectors are actually finding.
What collectors are finding
Typical examples from this site
Different anatomical parts or preservation styles can look very different. Choose an example to view it larger.
About this information
Fossil occurrences come from reviewed LBPS records. Encounter frequency and abundance use eligible collecting sessions where all finds were recorded. Preservation rarity uses the condition recorded at the time of collecting. Identification photographs may come from dedicated Fossil Examples or linked public LBPS Specimens; neither influences rarity or frequency calculations.
Visitor & Access Information
General Location
On the north Kent coast, east of Herne Bay town centre, around Beltinge and Bishopstone.
This locality represents the western part of the wider Herne Bay–Reculver geological section. The eastern end around Reculver is recorded separately by LBPS as the Reculver locality.
Directions
From the eastern side of Herne Bay, follow the coast through Beltinge towards Bishopstone.
The King Charles III England Coast Path follows this part of the coastline and provides a useful route between Herne Bay, Bishopstone and Reculver.
Use established and currently open routes to reach the beach. Coastal erosion can alter access, so always follow local signs and do not attempt to descend the cliffs where there is no recognised access point.
Parking
Public and on-street parking is available around eastern Herne Bay and Beltinge.
Availability and restrictions vary, particularly on residential roads, so check local signs and avoid blocking driveways or access routes.
Visitors approaching the eastern end of the geological section can also use facilities around Reculver, but that area is covered separately by the LBPS Reculver locality.
Terrain
A mixture of promenade, cliff-top paths, shingle beach and natural foreshore.
Collecting areas may include wet sand, mud, clay, loose shingle, groynes and uneven surfaces. Some parts of the beach lie beneath actively eroding cliffs.
Conditions can become slippery after rain or where clay and algae are exposed.
Access, Permissions & Responsible Collecting
There is public access along this part of the coast, including the King Charles III England Coast Path, with established routes through Herne Bay, Beltinge and Bishopstone.
Use recognised paths and established beach access points. Do not climb down cliff faces or create new routes down unstable slopes.
Collect responsibly from loose, naturally weathered material. Do not excavate or hammer the standing cliffs, remove vegetation or damage geological or wildlife features.
Where possible, record the location and geological horizon of finds. At Herne Bay this information can be scientifically important because several fossil-bearing formations occur close together.
Remember that public access does not automatically give unrestricted collecting rights, and temporary restrictions or safety closures should always be respected.
Safety & Legal Information
Safety Information
This is a tidal coastal locality with actively eroding cliffs.
Stay well away from both the base and edge of the cliffs. Landslips and cliff falls can happen without warning, particularly after heavy rain, frost or storms.
Check tide times before entering the foreshore and keep track of the incoming tide throughout your visit. Allow enough time to return to a safe access point and never rely on being able to climb the cliffs if the tide cuts off your route.
Wet clay, mud, algae-covered surfaces, shingle and groynes can all be slippery or unstable.
Do not collect during severe weather or rough sea conditions. If local warning signs or temporary closures are in place, follow them.
SSSI / Legal Restrictions
The Bishopstone and Beltinge section is scientifically protected and forms part of an important designated coastal area. The Herne Bay geological section was selected for protection because of its nationally important Palaeogene stratigraphy, and Bishopstone Cliffs also supports important wildlife habitats.
Responsible surface collecting of loose material should cause minimal impact, but do not excavate or hammer the standing cliffs, damage geological exposures, remove vegetation or disturb nesting birds and other wildlife.
The cliffs at Bishopstone are particularly important for nesting sand martins. Give active nests and wildlife plenty of space.
Any organised excavation, substantial sampling or activity that could damage protected features may require landowner permission and appropriate consent.
Always follow current site notices and any temporary restrictions.
Site Status & References
References
- The Lower London Tertiary (Palaeocene) succession of Herne Bay, Kent
- The distribution of sharks, rays and chimaeroids in the English Palaeogene
- Fossil Fishes of Great Britain
- The English Palaeogene Chimaeroid fishes
- A Cernaysian mammal from the Upnor Formation (Late Palaeocene, Herne Bay, UK) and its implications for correlation
- Terrestrial mammals as biostratigraphic indicators in upper Paleocene–lower Eocene marine deposits of the southern North Sea Basin