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HER 4583 - Iron Pick from Chaldon Quarries

First know find of a pick from these quarries. Appears to have been found during 1973 by occupants of Merstham, who subsequently donated it to Croydon Natural History and Scientific Society museum collection in May 1985. The pick is circa 27cm long, and appears to have been made from a strip of iron doubled back on itself to form a loop for the wooden handle (which does not survive). The two pieces of iron have then been worked together into a pick-head tapering from 4cm by 3cm to a point at the business end. There is a bold "X" mark on one side of the tool, of unknown significance. So far the only pick found in this 16,000-metre tunnel system, it is an important find. However, it is not yet dated, but is thought to be considerably older than the 18th century graffiti and clay-pipe fragments in the easternmost accessible galleries where it was found.

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