National Stone Centre

Derbyshire. The county boasting the natural beauty of the Peak District, and interesting places such as Eyam. It is also home to the National Stone Centre (NSC). Located midway between Cromford, and Middleton, the NSC is an independent educational charity, run mainly by volunteers.

An outdoor fossil trail takes visitors back 330 million years, to when conditions in the Peak District were similar to today’s Caribbean. Most of the Peak District area at this time would have been beneath a shallow tropical sea. The fossilised remains of marine creatures, such as shellfish and sea lilies (crinoids), formed the limestone which now lies around the area of the National Stone Centre.

Peak District limestone has been quarried from the area for centuries. Romans used it for construction stones, and to create mortar. Quarrying really took off during the Industrial Revolution when the use of gunpowder meant much greater quantities of limestone could be quarried. Today, mineral extraction is one of the most contentious activities within the Peak District. It contradicts the stated aims of national parks. Namely to preserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife, and cultural heritage of the designated areas.

And the National Stone Centre is certainly in a beautiful location. The trail offers a fascinating walk through the geological history of the area. Information boards highlight whether you stand on the site of the bottom of a lagoon, or the side of a reef. Fossils are still visible within some of the stones, and marks from miners’ picks can also be seen.

The trail takes visitors along the Millennium Wall too. Built by volunteers in June 2000, stone from around the country was used in the construction. The wall demonstrates different stone wall building styles and techniques from across the UK.

Examples of some of the stone used for the Millennium Wall.

The background information offers insight into the eighteen sections, each six metres in length.

With a café, indoor exhibits, shop, and children’s play area, there is enough to keep busy for much of the day. Entry is free; there is an honesty box system at the car park for those wishing to donate.

 

 

A final fact, which I found interesting. Every year, each of us uses around 5 tonnes of stone in one form or another! Products examples include toothpaste, jewellery, rock salt, cosmetics, animal feed, as well as the more obvious building and construction uses.