Flint Training Days

Bob Carr interpreting the use of flint on Santon Downham church as part of the 6th July training day. Photo by Alan Spidy

The Breckland Society’s Breaking New Ground projects got off to a great start with twelve people attending the ‘Flint in the Brecks’ training day held on Sunday 6th July at Oak Lodge, High Lodge Forest Centre, courtesy of the Forestry Commission. David Robertson, Norfolk County Council’s Historic Environment Officer (Countryside), gave a presentation on the history of gunflint mining in the Brecks and the Lingheath flint-mining site nearby was used to explain how to identify and record flint mines – one of the main objectives of the project is to identify evidence of flint mine sites. Anne Mason spoke about the use of flint as a building material and in the afternoon the group looked at flint buildings in Santon Downham, as well as enjoying a fascinating guided tour of the church there with Bob Carr, the Archaeology Advisor for the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich.

Levels of interest were such that an additional training session was held by Anne Mason on 25 July and as a result several participants have signed up to carry out surveys of churches and flint-mining sites across the Brecks. This work will start shortly, but it’s still not too late to join in if you’re interested! Please call Anne on 01760 755685 to find out more.