Welcome to the Weald and Downland Living Museum!

Hi……I’m Krystal and I’m a junior geologist. You are going to follow a rock treasure trail starting in the market square. These are the buildings you will see. Can you find them on your map? A cross section shows layers of rock, called rock strata. These rocks have been used in buildings around the world.

Clay has been baked to make bricks and tiles on this building The lines on the bricks are called smiles and wrinkles. When you visit have a look for fossils in the limestone paving stones inside. You may need your magnifier.

Here is some local building stone called flint. Flint is made of the mineral silica and found in chalk. The flint has a white rim and dark shiny inside. What else was flint used for in the past? You will see that the steps up to the front door have ripple marks in the sandstone. This gives us a clue as to how it was deposited. How do you think this rock was made? Water, Wind or Ice?

Have a look at the shape of the stones on this building Have a look at the shape of the stones on this building. Where do you think these stones might have come from? What metamorphic rock might you find inside? Clue – it was used to practice writing.

These Victorian cottages have used a rock called slate for the roofing. When you walk inside you will be able to see the tiles close up. Slate used to be a rock called shale which is very crumbly but is has been changed by heat and pressure. Have you got any slate in your home?

The roof slate is a metamorphic rock. Why might slate be good for roof tiles?

The sandstone on this building feels grainy and rough The sandstone on this building feels grainy and rough. You can use your magnifier for a closer look. Then you will walk through the brick drying shed to the mill.

See if you can find a millstone outside, it is made from a hard sandstone called Millstone grit. Why might it be good for grinding flour? Use your magnifier to help check this. Upstairs you will find a granite millstone. Granite is a type of igneous rock.

Stonemason’s tools in the Here are lots of tools a stonemason would use. Why not have a closer look when you visit and see if you can work out what they were used for.