Flint Country

Laurence Mitchell uncovers the stories that flint has to tell us in this celebratory journey through the natural and cultural history of the stone.

The East of England is characterised by the flint that makes up its world-famous architecture, beaches and landscape. The stone is so ubiquitous, in fact, that it can be easy to overlook how remarkable it is. Here, long time Norfolk resident Laurence Mitchell uncovers its extraordinary history and significance for East Anglia and beyond. Flint Country takes us on a tour around the flint regions of England, documenting how flint was formed, what we can learn from fossil records, and how flint has been used through millennia: from our prehistoric ancestors, to the Romans building roads and forts, and through to the present day.

Whether it is thanks to the seismic geological events that have shaped our landscape, the stone we rely on for our homes, or simply the joy of picking up pebbles on the beach, this book shows how flint continues to be a touchstone in our lives.