In the year 2024, the Somerset Miners Welfare Trust installed over 30 Metal Miners with more to come across North Somerset and Bristol.
After several meetings looking at ways to remind people there were coal mines in North Somerset and Bristol the trustees decided on 7 foot metal miners near sites of old coal mines.
From day one of the first two being installed at Coleford there were messages coming in from Parish Councils around the area wishing to have a miner in their village.
Metal Miners are sited in many different places from the middle of the town centre in Midsomer Norton, Midsomer Norton train station, and a group of three by the winding wheel opposite the museum in Radstock, unveiled by the trusts President Glastonbury’s own Sir Michael Eavis on the 50th anniversary of the closure of the last two pits in Somerset Kilmersdon and Writhlington.
This trail aims to inform, educate and remind us all on the past history in our local area. The trail is fully accessible and can be accessed from the comfort of your home! However, if you are out and about and see a Miner, look out for the QR code which will take you to that Miners information page!
To begin, simply pick a location below. Once you are on a Metal Miner page, you can navigate to others:
Newton St-Loe Tunley Westfield – Old Pit Road Westfield – High Street Writhlington
Farrington Gurney Paulton – Old Mills Paulton Coleford – Mackintosh Coleford – Coal Barton
Clandown Camerton Chilcompton High Littleton Timsbury Haydon
Our Thanks to:
Trail Production and Project Management: Somer Valley FM
Trail Funders: The Somerset District Miners Welfare Trust
Writing / Research: Bryn Hawkins, Mo Duery, Dennis Chedgy
Voice Artist: Bryn Hawkins, Mo Duery, Dennis Chedgy