National Stone Centre

The Stone Centre is open all year. From Easter to the end of October the opening hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is the best place to find information about the rocks of the area and see how each one of us uses 350 tonnes of stone in our lifetime.

Inside, there is the Story of Stone Exhibition (admission £1.60 adults; 80p children) which describes how the rock was formed and the variety of uses that stone is put to.

A self guiding leaflet can be purchased (10p) to the Discovering the Past trail. This is a gentle walk around the site where prehistoric fossil reefs and tropical lagoons are to be found.

Also outside, there is an area where it is possible to pan for minerals (50p whatever the age). Minerals found have included iron pyrites (fool's gold) and Olivine. Adults often make the mistake of only paying for children to try panning. Experience shows that adults have an even stronger desire to relive the heady days of the prospector and they soon take over after a few minutes. And the child, they get sent to get another pan.

Back inside, there is a well-stocked shop where the failed prospector can buy the minerals unsuccessfully panned for (or the 'some of us are just born prospectors', can increase their mineral collection). The shop also sells books, fossils and tea.

Telephone: 01629 824833

National Stone Centre
Porter Lane
Wirksworth
Matlock
Derbyshire
DE4 4LS

See a map showing the location of the National Stone Centre.