Writhlington

This post is part of a series called Somerset Coal Miners
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About This Location:

  • First was Upper Writhlington pit, it was opened in 1805, the shaft was 11ft 3 inches in diameter and 278 yards deep.
  • In 1868 the shaft was deepened to 314 yards.
  • In 1860 the pit was connected to the 2 feet 8 inch gauge tramway from lower Writhlington to the GWR main line which took most of the coal away.
  • In 1898 Upper Writhlington ceased coal production, Lower Writhlington opened in 1829, the shaft was 10 feet in diameter and 487 yards deep.
  • There was an overland tramway connection Lower Writhlington, Upper Writhlington and Foxcote with a loading dock on the GWR.
  • An incline existed up to the land sale depot on Frome Hill established around 1867/68.
  • At Lower Writhlington there was a connection made underground to Braysdown and Kilmersdon collieries.
  • The last steam engine at Lower Writhlington for winding coal was replaced by the electric engine from Norton Hill Pit in July/ August 1966.
  • Lower Writhlington was one of the two remaining pits that closed in 1973.
  • Foxcote Pit was opened in 1859, the shaft was 472 yards deep with a 9 feet diameter.
  • Foxcote was not a very successful pit and closed in 1931 after many water and faults problems

About Somerset Coal:

We believe that Somerset coal was first discovered by the Romans. They were in the West Country 43AD, and there are references to it being used at the Temple of Minerva in Aqua Sulis (Bath). The coal used was probably found in coal outcrops around Stratton-on-the-Fosse, and transported along the Roman road – the Fosseway – for use in Bath.

Early coal workings, from coal outcrops, were largely in the Nettlebridge Valley, around Stratton-on-the-Fosse and Coleford, and to the North of the Coalfield, around High Littleton. It is estimated that output in 1500 was estimated about 10,000 tons a year, and that this had increased 10-fold by the late 1600s…

For even more information and history of Somerset Coal, Click Here.