The Wolds is a term used in England to describe a range of hills which consists of open country overlying a base oflimestone orchalk.[1]
The Wolds comprise a series of low hills and steep valleys that are in the main underlain by calcareous (chalk andlimestone) andsandstone rock laid down in theCretaceous andJurassic periods. One exception to this is theNorth Leicestershire /South Nottinghamshire Wolds, which are underlain by sometimes chalky glacial till ('Oadby Till'). The characteristic open valleys of the Wolds were created during the lastglacial period through the action ofglaciation andmeltwater.[2] The chalk that underlies the Chalk Wolds Landscape Character Type extends from theYorkshire Wolds to the south coast of England inEast Sussex and inDorset.[2] Geologically, theLincolnshire Wolds is a continuation of the Yorkshire Wolds which runs through theEast Riding of Yorkshire; the point at which the ranges of hill crosses theHumber is known as theHumber Gap.[2]
The nameWold is derived from theOld Englishwald meaning "forest", (cognate of GermanWald, but unrelated to English "wood", which has a different origin).[1]Wold is anAnglian form of the word, as in other parts of England, different variations can be found.[3]
Over the years the meaning changed from "forest" to "high forest land". When the forests were cleared, the name was retained and applied to upland areas in general. This was particularly true in theCotswolds, the Lincolnshire Wolds and also the Yorkshire Wolds.[1]
"Westward before her rose fold upon fold of the encircling hills, piled rich and golden."
Description of the Yorkshire Wolds byWinifred Holtby.[4]
"On either side the river lie/Long fields of barley and of rye,
That clothe the wold and meet the sky;"
First lines ofThe Lady of Shalott byAlfred Tennyson
"Once in the wind of morning
I ranged the thymy wold;
The world-wide air was azure
And all the brooks ran gold."
FromA Shropshire Lad, byA. E. Housman
