Clandown Colliery & Tramway Radstock

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CLANDOWN COLLIERY TRAMWAY (Radstock)
(1811 to 1929)

From visits in 2020 and 2021)

                                                                                                                           PART TWO                                                                                         



Further along Coomb End to where there was an old mine shaft. (NLS Maps).


From an opening that once was a foot path that is now fenced off as
private land is where the branch line continue on to terminate at
Clandown colliery. It is a long steep climb up the Coomb End road.


A shortway along Coomb End and another open area where you would have seen the track bed.

 
Left: A wider view of the space above. Right: Same spot looking down Coomb End towards Radstock center.


On the opposite side of Coomb End is the remains of what was stables for  Middle and Clandown collieries.

 
Right: From here the road starts to climb quite steeply up to Fossway where the incline to Clandown Colliery began.


Another modern building stands on the old track bed which was the exchange sidings.


Ex S&DR exchange sidings. NLS Maps).


On the Ex sidings track bed. Looking southwards towards Middle Pit.


Opposite view northwards. Where the wagons were attached/detached from the wire rope of the Incline up to
Clandown Colliery.


Near the top of Coomb End is a lovely group of Ex miners houses. The side road is named Old Pit Terrace which suggests that
they were used by miners of the old pit further down Coomb End as well as possibly Clandown Colliery.The road curves
sharply to the left around the facing cottages before dropping down to the  road junction at Fossway.


From the summit of Coomb End just prior to dropping down to the junction with the Fossway you see the incline climb past
the flats on Whiteheart Row on it's way up to Clandown Colliery. Top right are the trees of the coal batch on the colliery site.


The scene on Fossway where the final section to the tramway was on an incline plain where wagons were raised and lowered
by a stationary steam engine. The line crossed the Fossway on the level and followed the fence, seen here climbing up the
incline track bed remains. The road on the left is Coomb End as it comes up from the center of Radstock and drops onto the
Fossway.

 


At the bottom of the Fossway and the junction with Springfield Place the incline was on a level crossing.


From the level crossing down to the exchange sidings where the incline began.


This had been the northern end of the sidings. It is now private property.


This would have been a busy place at times with wagons being attached and detached from the incline wire rope.
N.B. The row of sleepers used as edging, on the right.

 ============================================================
.
As you can't walk the incline you have to walk up the equally steep Fossway to the junction with Chapel Road that takes you back on the incline

 
Looking down the steep Fossway from the road junction by the Co-op shop and the Lamb Inn.


The Lamb. It looked quite inviting but was a bit early for beer that was kept for a bit later in the day.

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Walk along Chapel Road back onto the incline just below the summit.


Ex Miner's homes on Chapel Road..


The coal depot grounds looking across the incline track bed.


Looking down the incline to where it is blocked off, There is an old school building still in situe.


The end of the line! The incline continued down to the level crossing at Fossway and Springfield Road.


It will be possible to see the way more clearly during the Winter months, I would think!.


The old school. It still has the sign "C of E Primary School" but doesn't appear to be occupied.


The walk back up the incline.


Another original building in use by a private business.


On the old incline at the end of Chapel Road and the final climb up to the coal mine. It is a private work site and is completely
barred to pedestrians.

Thankfully there is a barred window where you can have a look at what it looks like on the final climb up to the summit then leveling out for the
colliery itself.I was able to poke the camera lens through the bars and snap a couple of photos for interest.


The site is obviously in use. This is at a slight angle but you see the
concreted incline rising.


A more level view and the steepness of the summit is noticeable then starts to level out for the final dash to the
summit and the wagons being brought to a stop.

CLANDOWN COLLIERY SITE


With the incline locked off the way up to the colliery site is via the path
leading off from the end of Chapel Road. Continue along the footpath
to a  gate that takes into a field below the coal batch and follow that
until you come to an opening by a ruined shed that will take you up the
steep climb onto the site.


Remaining coal depot buildings. They are being  reconditioned by a local group.

 
The footpath that takes you around the base of the western coal batch and the steep climb up to the colliery site.

 
Below the coal mine site and the western coal batch.


A ruined shed just before the climb up to the mine site.


The steep path that takes you up to the mine site. It can be blocked
when very wet.

CLANDOWN COLLIERY SITE


A crop from NLS Maps showing an early plan of the colliery layout.

 
There is some fine views from this high point on the coal mine site. However, care is needed as there is some bad erosion of the cliff face at this point.

 


Looking westwards from the colliery site.


The main building and the pit shaft was here.


On the coal mine site and entrance. looking north westwards with The Holy Trinity church along side. A small gate keeper's
house still remains, on the right.


The road continues into Clandown village.


This may be an original mine building. It is of the old stone used by the mines but has been considerably modernized and
could  have been security by the gate entrance.


The main entrance. The mine was on to the far right just out of sight..


The incline came up between the two coal batches. Here the line terminated in a couple of sidings plus a line into the colliery.


It would be nice to be able to walk the whole way to the summit but as we found out earlier the way is blocked off by a
private lorry business.


You are also stopped at this point by the heavy growth that includes lots of very sharp nettles.


It is very difficult to find photos of many of the old mines. I found this on the internet and it claims to
be of Clandown Colliery. However,  I have seen another copy of this photo that states a different mine.
Perhaps someone can confirm this, or not!

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To: S&DR "Quarry" Branch.

                                                   The Dundee & Newtyle Rlwy Walks  Opened in 1831 the route had three incline planes. The first was from the terminal station on Ward Street, up the Dundee Law, where there was
                                                   also a tunnel. The second was the Balbeuchley incline at Rosemill and the third at Hatton that ran down to Newtyle station. It was also the very first
passenger train service in Scotland.
                                                  Worked by Horse over the levels until the first steam engine was purchased in 1833. Came under the Caledonian Railway with
it's terminal moved to Dundee West station. Passengers
                                                  service ended in 1952 and the line totally closed in the mid 60's. The inclines were by-passed in the 1860's.

The Cromford & High Peak Incline railway in Derbyshire has been luckier in having much of it's buildings, including an Engine House preserved. This is what could have happened with
the D&N, indeed, should have happened with at least one of the D&N inclines. However, the C&H gives an excellent comparison
of what the D&N would have looked like, albeit the
inclines were only single track.

Boddam To Ellon Branch (Walks)   By Bill Reid. Ex GNSR branch line.

Dyce To Fraserburgh and Peterhead Walks. Ex GNSR

Bath To Wellow Rlwy Walks Ex Somerset & Dorset Rlwy.

Chippenham To Caln Walk.

The Test Valley Railway Walk. (New Mills To Hayfield).

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