Name: Grime's Graves - Prehistoric Flint Mine
Rating: 5.0

Grime's Graves - Prehistoric Flint Mine

Lynford, Thetford, Norfolk IP26 5DE, UK

1-99 Years

Paid

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Description

Grime's Graves - Prehistoric Flint Mine The lunar landscape of more than 430 shafts and quarries was first named Grim’s Graves by the Anglo-Saxons – meaning ‘pits of the pagan god Grim’. Only when one of the quarries was excavated in 1870 were they identified as flint mines dug around 2650 BC, during the later Neolithic period.

Today, you can go inside the spectacular building above Pit Number 1 to begin your 9-metre descent into the mine, where film projections immerse you in the lives of the people who lived and worked here. Above ground in the exhibition, you can handle replica objects and take a virtual tour of Greenwell’s Pit. Then explore the landscape with self-guided walking trails for adults and families.

Price starts from £8.00 for Adults, £4.50 for Children(5-17 years) and £12.50 for Family (1 adult, up to 3 children). If you are looking for Best place for day out with kids and families then this is the perfect destination offering fun, adventure, and unforgettable memories for everyone.

Features

Paid
Host birthday parties: No

Features

Things to see and do: There’s lots to see and do on a day out at Grime’s Graves. Enjoy exploring the new exhibition space where you can test out handling objects and nosey around displays showing the latest discoveries from the site. Then (over-7s) can descend into a flint mine to get a unique look at how Neolithic people lived and worked. Plus, there’s an audio guide, a family trail and lots of outside space to run around and play in.
Explore the Grime’s Graves exhibition space: Immerse yourself in Grime's Graves fascinating history in the new exhibition space. Discover tales from the first pits opening in 2650BC to the last phase of flint mining in 1500BC. You can also learn about the origin of Grime's Graves unusual name, and find out about archaeological excavations of the mineshafts from the 1800s onwards.
Follow in prehistoric footsteps: Follow in the footsteps of prehistoric people by descending into the flint mine called Pit 1, 9 metres below the ground and discover the fascinating story of this important Neolithic site.
Listen to the Grime’s Graves audio guide: Listen to the Grime’s Graves audio tour by Time-Team archaeologist Phil Harding and English Heritage historian Dr Jennifer Wexler. Join them as they descend into the deepest excavated pit and meet with experts Tim Lynch from English Heritage, Peter Squirrel and Rob Hunt from Needham Chalks Flint, and Kyle Jennings from Norfolk Wildlife Trust, to learn more about the history of mining and flint knapping and the unique landscape and wildlife at Grime’s Graves.
Take the family trail: Kids will love following the Grime’s Graves family trail. Take the challenge and discover why a shark's tooth was found in one of the pits, learn all about Iron Age burials, and find out about the animals that would have lived at Grime’s Grave during the Neolithic period.
Take a virtual tour: Descend into Greenwell’s Pit – the oldest, deepest and best-preserved pit excavated so far at Grime’s Graves – in our 360° virtual tour.
Gardens: Set amid the distinctive Breckland health landscape, the whole 96 acres is a site of Special Scientific Interest. The area contains over 400 backfilled flint mines, has a habitat of rare and distinctive plants and animals. The flowers are particularly attractive from April to July. Extensive wildlife includes butterflies, rabbits, deer, birds of prey, foxes etc.
Exhibition: A small introductory exhibition in the visitor centre includes information about Neolithic mining, a virtual tour of the mines and landscape, and touchable reproduction Neolithic tools.

Facilities

Parking: Free parking for 50 cars 500m from the site entrance. There’s additional charged parking at Lynford Stag picnic site, not run by English Heritage.
Food And Drink: Vending machine which sells tea, coffee and hot chocolate. Small selection of snacks and ice cream is sold in the summer.
Toilets: Two port-a-loos, no baby changing facilities.

What to see

Events:

Members' Event: Greenwell Pit Tours at Grime's Graves: Date: Sat 8 Nov and Sat 15 Nov. Time: 10am - 12pm. Location: Grime's Graves - Prehistoric Flint Mine. Join us for an exclusive experience down Greenwell Pit, a mining pit in its original archaeological state that is only open for access by special arrangement ten times a year. Join expert Dickon Whitewood for a talk on the archaeology and history of the site, then take an exclusive descent into the Greenwell Pit itself, escorted by trained members of the site team.

For more upcoming events information please visit: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/grimes-graves-prehistoric-flint-mine/events/

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Price

Price: Paid

Price Details

Advance online tickets:

Adult: £8.00 With donation & £7.20 Without donation.
Child (5–17 years): £4.50 With donation & £4.00 Without donation.
Concession: £7.00 With donation & £6.30 Without donation.
Family (2 adults, up to 3 children): £20.50 With donation & £18.40 Without donation.
Family (1 adult, up to 3 children): £12.50 With donation & £11.20 Without donation.
Members: Free.

On the day tickets:

Adult: £9.50 With donation & £8.60 Without donation.
Child (5–17 years): £5.50 With donation & £5.00 Without donation.
Concession: £8.50 With donation & £7.70 Without donation.
Family (2 adults, up to 3 children): £24.50 With donation & £22.20 Without donation.
Family (1 adult, up to 3 children): £15.00 With donation & £13.60 Without donation.
Members: Free.

Pricing URL: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/grimes-graves-prehistoric-flint-mine/prices-and-opening-times/

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: No

Open Daily: 10am - 5pm (last entry at 4.30pm)

Address: Lynford, Thetford, Norfolk IP26 5DE, UK

Post Code: IP26 5DE

Council: Breckland

County: Norfolk

Road Access: Grime’s Graves is 7 miles north-west of Thetford, on the A134.
Train Access: Brandon station is 3 ½ miles from Grime’s Graves.
Bicycle Access: Find your cycling route to Grime’s Graves on sustrans.org.uk the National Cycle Network.
Parking: Free parking for 50 cars 500m from the site entrance. There’s additional charged parking at Lynford Stag picnic site, not run by English Heritage.