Essex Field Club on Facebook

Visit Our Centre

EFC Centre at Wat Tyler Country ParkOur centre is available for visits on a pre-booked basis on Wednesdays between 10am - 4pm. The Club’s activities and displays are also usually open to the public on the first Saturday of the month 11am - 4pm.

Video about the Club Essex Field Club video

About the Essex Field Club
Essex Field Club
registered charity
no 1113963
HLF Logo A-Z Page Index

Geology Site Account

A-Z Geological Site Index

Twinstead Sarsen Stone, TWINSTEAD, Braintree District, TL86123667, Potential Local Geological Site

show OS map  show polygon    

Site category: Boulders - sarsen

Site name: Twinstead Sarsen Stone

Grid reference: TL 8612 3667

Summary

A large sarsen stone (150cm x 70cm x 30cm) with a mammillated surface is situated just outside the churchyard. It was found under the old church when it was demolished in the late 19th century. A smaller sarsen can be seen on the other side of the track.

Details

Sarsens are extremely hard boulders of sandstone formed around 55 million years ago when the climate of Britain was hot and a layer of sand beneath the surface of the ground became cemented with quartz. They are thus very resistant to erosion and have survived the rigours of the Ice Age. They probably originated on the chalk downland of south Cambridgeshire and after retreat of the ice they became concentrated in river valleys such as The Stour.

 

Stone no.2 near main sarsen at south east corner of churchyard
Stone no.2 near main sarsen at south east corner of churchyard
Stone no.1
Stone no.1
Stone no.1 just outside south east corner of churchyard
Stone no.1 just outside south east corner of churchyard

upload a new image


Reference: Armfield 1893

Geology Site Map
A-Z Geological Site Index