Holkham Brick Pit facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 |
|
| Area of Search | Norfolk |
|---|---|
| Interest | Geological |
| Area | 0.5 hectares (1.2 acres) |
| Notification | 1984 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Holkham Brick Pit is a special place in Norfolk, England. It's a small area, about 0.5 hectares (1.2 acres) (that's like one and a quarter football fields!), that's important for understanding Earth's history. It's located west of Wells-next-the-Sea.
This site is officially known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it's a protected area because of its unique geology. It's also part of the beautiful Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which is a landscape protected for its natural beauty.
Contents
What Makes Holkham Brick Pit Special?
Holkham Brick Pit is a very important spot for scientists who study the Earth. It helps us understand what happened during the last glacial period, also known as the Ice Age.
Discovering the Ice Age
This site is the best place to see something called the Hunstanton Till. This is a type of rock and soil left behind by huge glaciers. These glaciers covered much of the Earth during the last Ice Age.
- The Hunstanton Till helps scientists learn about the Last Glacial Maximum. This was the coldest part of the last Ice Age.
- During this time, about 26,000 years ago, ice sheets stretched very far.
- The Hunstanton Till at Holkham Brick Pit shows the furthest point the ice reached in a region called East Anglia.
A Look into the Past
The last glacial period lasted a very long time. It stretched from about 115,000 years ago to 11,700 years ago. By studying places like Holkham Brick Pit, scientists can piece together how the Earth's climate changed. They can also learn how these changes affected the land.
Access to the Site
It's important to know that Holkham Brick Pit is on private land. This means there is no public access for visitors. Also, the original pit has been filled in. Because of this, you can't see the special geology there anymore. However, its historical importance to science remains.
