Grime's Graves Project

An exciting new project at Grime's Graves has made major improvements to the site and visitor experience.

A new building above Pit 1 provides access to the Neolithic flint miners’ subterranean world, and new interpretation encourages wider exploration of the site and landscape.

Thanks to the Heritage Fund award we have included a community engagement, learning and volunteering programme to welcome local and family visitors to Grime's Graves.

History of Grime's Graves

Grime's Graves is a globally important prehistoric site with equally significant ecological elements.

The site is home to over 430 mineshafts dug in the Neolithic period, around 4,500 years ago. This is the largest flint mine known in Britain, and the only one where you can still descend into a pit.

This grassy lunar landscape was given the name Grime’s Graves by the Anglo-Saxons, who believed it was the burial place of the god Woden (also known as Grim). It was not until one of them was excavated in 1870 that they were identified as flint mines first dug around 2650 BC.

Set amid the distinctive Breckland heath landscape, Grime’s Graves is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a habitat for rare plants and wildlife.

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The Project

The conservation and re-interpretation project includes a new structure over the open mineshaft, known as Pit 1, which allows visitors to discover the fascinating story of this important Neolithic site.

Visitors are able to explore the new exhibition and follow in the footsteps of prehistoric people by descending into the flint mine, 9 metres below the ground. Here, a multi-sensory digital projection immerses visitors in the lives of the men, women and children who lived and worked at Grime’s Graves thousands of years ago.

A new exhibition in the visitor centre sheds light on the story of prehistoric mining, and the new family trail encourages exploration of the unique landscape, geology, wildlife and plant life.

Greenwell's Pit

A new virtual tour of Greenwell’s Pit has been created as part of the project. Greenwell's Pit, named after Victorian archaeologist Canon William Greenwell, can currently only be accessed during guided tours. The new virtual tour provides a fully-accessible experience to all visitors to enjoy above ground and online.

Community Engagement Programme

The Heritage Fund has enabled a community engagement programme as part of the new project. The programme will include a Saturday Storytelling Club held in libraries in Norfolk and Suffolk, a newly commissioned Handling Collection of recreated prehistoric artefacts and Community Action Volunteering Days to conserve the landscape at Grime’s Graves. There will also be expert led talks and tours, a film project and Stone Age Experience Day. Click here for more information.

Thank You

We would like to thank the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Please visit The National Lottery Heritage fund website

Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use hashtag #NationalLotteryHeritageFund