The New Cut provides the best exposure displaying the lithological and palaeontological characters of the Staddon facies of the Devonian Meadfoot Group. The composition of the brachiopod fauna and the presence of large numbers of homalonotid trilobites, unique to this locality in Britain, indicate a near-shore, inner shelf environment, which contrasts with the deeper water facies typical of most of the Meadfoot Group in the Torbay area. A unique palaeontological locality.