A complete overview of the branch line to Clandown Colliery in 1900. (NLS Maps).
Back To Radstock Collieries Index
CLANDOWN COLLIERY TRAMWAY (Radstock)
(1811 to 1929)
(From visits in 2020 and 2021)
PAGE ONE Of Two
A complete overview of the branch line to Clandown Colliery in 1900.
(NLS Maps).
The sunken branch to the Gasworks, Middle Pit and Clandown colliery began
in the station sidings, down the side of the S&D
before diving under the S&D. It's a pity they couldn't have used this
for the S&D and saved on one of the two road crossings.
(NLS Maps).
The track bed is below this modern construction. It ran above and along
side the Wellow Brook and then went under
the main road.
In this photo you can see the trailing connection from the Clandown branch
link with the S&D Up line and just make out
the coal branch under line where it went below the S&D. Trains had to
work wrong road trough th station to reach the
branch. By this time the lower connection had been lifted and is a public
footpath which today has been back-filled and
is now the present day scrap yard.
On the left is the remains of the Clandown and Wellsway branches that went
below the main road.
Opposite view from above. The branch not only went below the main road but
also the old subway road that
is below the iron work here in the foreground.
The branch ran directly below this point. On the right is the Ex level
crossing of the S&D line from the station.
It is a foot path and cycle way. The Victoria (Station Hotel) is on the
right.
The west side of the main road where the branch dropped under the south
side of the S&D main line before turning
northwards under it. You can see the S&D level crossing gates with the
main line running above.(Photo from 'Bath In Time'.
Left: Close to the same spot on the 4th Nov. 2020. The Radstock (Market)
Museum is on the left. The track bed has been back-filled up to the
pavement level with the western exit from the tunnel bridge
The track bed dropping down until it meets the bridge below the S&D
line.
The bridge below the S&D track bed.
The blanked-off way into the Gas works and onto Middle Pit and Clandown
Colliery.
On Saturday the 5th of June 2021 I enjoyed a day out walking the route
along Coomb End to the Clandown Colliery site.
From the Victoria Hotel (Ex Station Hotel) then walking the length of
Coomb End to Clandown.
Behind the hotel is the Ex Malt House. The buildings still stand today.
THE GAS WORKS AND MIDDLE COLLIERY SITE
I would like to thank the landowner for his kind permission to
look around the site and to take photographs.
Middle Pit Colliery (NLS Maps).
near the bottom of the sight where the lead into the gas works came in
from the far left and the lower line came in via the short
tunnel below the S&DR.
The branch continues towards Clandown. According to the site owner there
is still a piece of track to be seen up ahead.
However this side of the site is rented and I found no one to ask
permission to have a look.
A wide angle view of the site, looking towards Clandown.
Over view of the south end of the two stations. On the left you see the
connection from the S&D trailing back into the
gasworks. Just left of center you see the over bridge where the branch
from the S&D goods sidings dropped below
the main road then below the S&D via a short tunnel then into the gas
works. This side of the branch line had gone by
this time but you can see the path still has a junction where the Wellsway
branch turned off following the S&D on the
north side before taking another short tunnel below the S&D and then
another before going under the GWR and
heading for Wellsway colliery. (Author Unknown).
Taken from the Ex GWR track bed a straight-on view of the tunnel entrance
as below the S&DR as it leads to the junction for
the Wellsway branch and also heading northwards for Middle Pit and
Clandown collieries.
The north side of the short tunnel. It has been heavily back-filled. The
branch was closed in 1926 but remained as a
footpath for many years. The S&D connection remained until the mid
60's.
By the Gas tank site with the Ex pump house building in the back ground.
The Ex Pump House is still in very good condition. It would be interesting
to see inside.
The site where the large and small gas tanks stood.
A large grab crane within the site.
Te entrance to the site off Coomb End. With the Wheel Pit House to the
left and the main Gas works building on the right.
From the entrance on Coombend. The Wheel Pit House and associated
building, possibly administrative. Now used by a
Carpet dealer.
This building was part of the gas works. It became a cinema for many
years. Today, it is a carpet store.
Back onto Coomb End to continue the walk.
The base of the chimney on Coomb End Road. Looking up top the remains of
Middle Pit Colliery.
The chimney base on Coomb End. Looking towards the town. The building to
the left of the base are to be demolished and replaced.
(Google Earth).
The chimney base by the colliery entrance on Coomb End and the main
entrance to the colliery. (Google Earth).
MIDDLE COLLIERY SITE
Middle Pit. Taken from the west side of the site. Interesting to see the
high doorway of the pump house
and with someone standing at the door at the top of the iron steps and
landing. Also notice the position
of the pit shaft and the chimney. From the steam on the right it appears
the train is making a movement.
The line of bushes to the left would be the steep path as seen in the
photo below that has been taken over
ninety years apart..
Taken from near the same spot as the old photo above. The doorway
on the pump house has been reduced to just an arched window but
you can see the marking where the landing and steps were. The wagons
are standing across our path from left to right.
(16th June 2021).
Top of the steep path and entrance into the colliery site. Where
the main line ran past and the spur leading back into the
colliery was.
The colliery stood on the left and this is where the spur came back in
from the main line.
Over looking entrance gap between the colliery and the gas works. My
thanks to the chap in the Terraclean office for his
kind permission to look around and photograph the site. Also for the
information about the shaft site, old shower building
and where the chimney stood as well as some news about some of the changes
that are to take place in the area.
This is where the pit shaft stood.
Remains of the building where miners had a shower at the end of their
shifts.
The only building remaining of the actual colliery. It is in a very
delapidated condition and wonder how long it may remain.
This had been a large gated entrance. The large chimney would have been
seen behind.
Overlooking the gas work's entrance. The pump house on the right with a
closer look of the iron steps and arched doorway.
In the background is the gas work's building that became a cinema. The
buildings below will probably be demolished under the
coming rebuild that is to take place in due course.
Looking down on the pump house. It was interesting to see that two
examples of the arched doorways and the iron steps still remain.
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To:
Clandown and Middle Pit Collieries Part Two.