Holmium

Holme Pierrepont is a hamlet and civil parish 5 miles south of the city. The word "Holme" comes from the Old English and Old Norse words for a small island or low-lying land by a river. "Pierrepont" is French for "Stone Bridge" and is the surname of an Anglo-Norman family that once held the manor.

Holme Pierrepont Hall is a Grade 1 listed medieval hall built by Sir William Pierrepont around 1500, and inhabited by subsequent generations of the Pierrepont family. It’s a popular venue for weddings and events.

It is home to the National Water Sports Centre, which offers world-class facilities and hosts a number of national and international competitions.

Holmium can absorb neutrons, so it is used in nuclear reactors to keep a chain reaction under control. Its alloys are used in some magnets.

Holmium occurs in gadolinite, monazite, and in other rare earth minerals.

The name is derived from the Latin name for Stockholm, 'Holmia'.