The Quaich has been on the move around this part of East Anglia.

A visit to the oldest mine in the world at Grimes Graves. Flint was mined there. So after sticks and antler, flints became the most widely used tool. From hunting and killing animals, to cutting up the meat and dressing the hides, to chopping down trees for fire wood - flints were high technology.

At the entrance to the site. You will notice that it is closed for the winter - no amount of persuading would get them to open up. So the Quaich is sat at the entrance.



The next stop was to be Thetford, but on the way we passed this little staunch:



Which is radio controlled by this cabin:



After the 1953 flooding disaster, a decision was taken. All the waterways in East Anglia are radio controlled. If such a combination of wind, weather and hightides re-occurs the whole area can be emptied of of water in under four hours. They test the system every year and it is very impressive to see the river disappear in just a few minutes.

Just on the outskirts of Thetford we passed the Shadwell Stud, where Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum the Deputy Ruler of Dubai keeps his horses. This is just the front gate:





The town uses its seal on most of the public buildings.



Thetford has a vast amount of history. This is the Duleep Singh memorial:





The monument has become a Sikh shrine and every week coaches arrive from all over the UK and Europe to visit it.

More to come.

Regards

Chas