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Leighton Buzzard sand
has been quarried for over 150 years and is transported all over
the world. With its high silica content and rounded shape it is
extremely versatile. Our sand gets shipped to Saudi Arabia to aid
the filtration of drinking water - naturally occurring Saudi sand
is not the right shape. It was used to make the stained glass at
the ‘Houses of Parliament’ and for sandblasting during
its renovation. The sand was formed over 130 million years ago when
the area was a sea and the motion of the waves created this  desirable
sand. Locally, it has contributed to development of the town through
a number of industries from extraction, processing, brick-making,
tiles and glass leading to the development of the canals and the
local railway.
The Sands of Time trail takes
you on an audio voyage around Leighton Buzzard and Heath & Reach
to discover this fantastic local resource and interprets the contribution
the sand industry has made to the local economy, people’s
lives and the landscape. Visit www.thesandmuseum.org for more information
and to download the sound clips to your MP3 player. The website
also has a wealth of information including history; geology; description
of the sand pit sites; memories of the working lives of the men
and women who have worked in the sand industry; how the sand was
transported and the uses of sand.
Discover why it’s
so special
visit www.thesandmuseum.org
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