somerset northern somerset england area coal mined 15th century larger stretched southern gloucestershire somerset stretched north south bath east west total area square miles km2 pits concentrated pits grouped geographically clusters pits close working coal ownership pits shared connected somerset coal canal railways distribution early pits coal bell pits coal close surface methods abandoned deep mined deepest shaft reached feet flooding coal dust explosions mines required improved ventilation pumping engines pits closed 19th century coal worked survived expense improving equipment working conditions meant pit closed evidence workings remains buildings area geology structure somerset covers total area square miles km2 consists informally referred coal basins north south separated east west fault belt west smaller particular cut series east west thrust faults north south normal faults coal measures divided lower middle upper coal found divisions lower middle coal measures found depths feet lower middle coal measures feet thick averaging feet lower coal measures feet southern lower middle coal measures worked mainly southeast pits southwest eastern lower middle coal measures worked globe pit newton area 19th century involved lateral compression rock sequence resulting tight folding sandstone strata associated coal measures slide fault distance broken ends coal feet complex geology thin gained field notoriety underground explosions solely airborne coal dust surveys local geology carried known father english geology building work smith worked owned older mines pit high observed rock strata pit realised arranged predictable pattern strata found relative positions particular identified fossils contained succession fossil groups older younger rocks found parts england smith noticed easterly dip beds small near surface degrees greater rocks led hypothesis termed principle succession began determine relationships strata characteristics consistent country work surveyor appointed engineer somerset coal canal company subsequently mapped locations rock strata vertical extent drew cross sections tables saw earned coal following coal recognised listed youngest note continuous basin uncertain history believed coal mined area roman times documentary evidence coal dug time henry_viii coal pits high early 17th century coal largely obtained driving followed ground small amounts coal obtained methods bell pits dug vertical pits feet diameter shaft feet deep opened coal safely extracted pit recovered pit sunk close intersect waste second pit thrown beginning 19th century people employed founded later area uses coal varied coal produce lime mortar building farmers improve soil coal produce gas lighting power steam driven mills area dry industry transport relatively low population density major coal consuming industry nearby transporting coal market key problem development pre era roads serving moving coal notes problem rendered far worse state roads somerset notorious middle 18th century parishes area neglected refused repair roads heavily coal inhabitants michael complained late reason highways decay grown somerset roads began establishment reach passed close western boundary established little importance bristol significant market having facilitated movement coal contributes improvement county good roads establishment parts county scarcely accessible coal carried horses backs distance miles horse carried half weight horse light cart draw weight times horse carry insignificant toll competition saving roads improved observed roads rendered bad passage coal wagons expansion production limited access market need implied canal project following lord water transport coal owners aim large gains connected canal system stated period system coal navigation rapidly extended result gradually finding way districts reached great cost road scheme extension navigation proposed canals reach years coal formed committee construct somerset coal canal branches brook valleys junction join proposed near bath coal transported somerset coal canal later bristol somerset accessed pits series railway line opened carried coal canal declined rapidly decline closure total coal produced increased 19th century reaching peak separate production tons peak years production decline took hold number pits reduced beginning 20th century mid-1930s created january despite investment new infrastructure particularly hill thin production expensive limiting profit investment conversion power station coal oil reduced national demand competition economical led closure pits september area today remains mines disused redeveloped buildings tips removed area returned largely rural nature north east somerset towns villages light industry commuter towns bath bristol limestone particularly way national cycle route passes landmarks associated roads follow developed coal mining years runs intended provide continuous cycle route southampton portsmouth exhibits offer insight life north somerset 19th century exhibits relate geology artefacts memorabilia somerset great western railways display coal basin coal basin northern pit operating near bell pits marked field shaft pits field longer working old pit known dug owned lieutenant sold death old pit sold payments sold ancestor associates shaft reached depth feet pit went production new pit sunk early 19th century closed reopened deepened exploit deeper shafts feet diameter winding pumping owned sons pit employed men boys produced pit finally closed opened latest equipment time including coal red brick winding house coal coal production expensive closed earl earl estates included addition agricultural holdings bell pits high described survey closed deep parish high began start expanded opening bristol closed railway built house miners basin connected terminal basin northern branch somerset coal canal focus connected high northern canal terminus served prior pits branch line pits parts line use probably carrying horse drawn wagons coal southern canal basin connected pits hill terminated addition line entire line disused served area designated area special architectural historic interest character appearance desirable preserve enhance section planning listed buildings conservation areas act village sunk known old opened shaft went feet closed circa shaft escape route closed capped half mile east went feet joined underground eventually closed little landscape evidence remaining previous mining activities temple cloud high small east hill high east east coal buried beneath newer rock strata meant mining area difficult dominant features valleys remnants coal mining centuries valleys frequent shafts remains railway lines connected mines remains coal canal significant coal mining history area mining undertaken 17th century pits known main geological feature south consists pennant measures include upper coal measures sandstone relics industrial past evident area including highly visible distinct conical shaped generally surface disused sites developed light industry depot mines cornwall owned mineral rights small pits opened exploit coal discovered mining began land owned family lords manor english civil war pits owned late terminus southern branch somerset coal canal subsequently turned centre railway development coal depots coal workshops gas works development wiltshire somerset mile line built carry coal 1870s broad gauge line converted standard gauge connected bristol connecting great western railway railway site comprises approximately hectares land subject planning development applications close east different ownership owned upper lower pits merged single base valley consists deposits sides valleys band group period area white blue highest south period slopes valleys frequently slipped rocks coal bearing strata outlying settlement built house miners local pit disused railway line inclined railway important elements valley east modern landscape maintained character texture neighbouring agricultural areas caused mainly remnants coal industry infrastructure changes agricultural management disturbance caused coal mining railways subsequent end mining abandonment railways created valuable habitats nature conservation batch site special scientific interest rich collection fossils batch planted conifers known hill offices shop stables upper converted dwellings owned members family sir brother owned related works times known productive mines railway linking main somerset constructed laid reconstructed april explosion approximately feet underground killed men boys mines rescue teams time manager volunteers searched survivors days partly result hill explosion winston_churchill instrumental passing coal mines act world war spent infrastructure capability annual production tons manpower shortages geological problems caused pit close valley numerous coal workings area east villages included bell pits deeper shafts coal mined roman times 13th century making earliest coal mines somerset development occurred 17th century mining ended 19th century opened worked breach unique system long buildings designated scheduled monument boiler chimney near operated years 1880s grade listed building
Somerset Coalfield