Talk - Research on the Somersetshire Coal Canal by Roger Halse
2025-03-20 19:30 - 21:30 (Europe/London) | Paulton Village Hall, Farrington Rd, Paulton, Bristol BS39 7LW, Farrington Rd, Paulton, BS39 7LW
Research on the Somersetshire Coal Canal by Roger Halse.

Paulton Village Hall, Farrington Road, Paulton, BS39 7LW. Roger will be talking about the sources, maps and photographs with examples from his decades of researching the SCC.

A fascinating evening guaranteed with Roger revealing aspects of the SCC of which many of us are unaware, no matter how long we have been involved. All welcome.

Location of talk: Paulton Village Hall, Farrington Rd, Paulton, Bristol BS39 7LW

Entry is free, but we would appreciate a donation of £3-4 to cover our costs. Tea, coffee and biscuits provided.

For further details please contact: events@coalcanal.com

Walk - Dunkerton Pumping Engine site
2025-03-23 10:00 - 13:00 | Withyditch Baptist Church, 3 Withyditch Lane, Bath BA2 8AY, 3 Withyditch Lane, Bath, BA2 8AY
A visit to the site of the former Dunkerton Pumping Engine site and the mill pond below which supplied it. Weather and ground conditions permitting we plan to walk to the site of Hill’s Colliery.

We are grateful to Robert Gardiner for granting permission to access these sections of farm land which have no public access. This will be a members only event and no dogs please.

Meet 10am by the Withyditch Baptist Church, 3 Withyditch Lane, Bath BA2 8AY. what3words flitting.cashew.scan

Parking is very limited. Please car share. You may need to park further down the hill at the Dunkerton Water Treatment works.

For further details please contact: events@coalcanal.com

Talk - The Weigh-House and its weighing machine plus the Caisson Lock
2025-04-17 19:30 - 21:30 | Paulton Village Hall, Farrington Rd, Paulton, Bristol BS39 7LW, Farrington Rd, Paulton, BS39 7LW
The Weigh-House and its weighing machine by Roger Halse (SCCS Archivist), plus Robert Wheldon’s Hydrostatick Caisson Lock, how it worked, the problems and locations by Derrick Hunt (SCCS Chairman).

Roger & Derrick will talk about these two important features of the SCC. One made a major impact on the fortunes of the canal. The other nearly stopped it before it had started.

Location of talk: Paulton Village Hall, Farrington Rd, Paulton, Bristol BS39 7LW

Entry is free, but we would appreciate a donation of £3-4 to cover our costs. Tea, coffee and biscuits provided.

For further details please contact: events@coalcanal.com

Walk - Bath locations connected to the SCC
2025-04-27 10:00 - 13:00 | Charlotte Street car park, Bath BA1 2NE, Charlotte Street car park, Bath, BA1 2NE
A walk around Bath locations with connections to the SCC. Subjects will include the company offices and William Smith.

Meeting location: entrance to Charlotte Street car park, Bath BA1 2NE at 10am.

For further details please contact: events@coalcanal.com

Annual General Meeting
2025-06-19 19:30 - 21:30 | Paulton Village Hall, Farrington Rd, Paulton, Bristol BS39 7LW, Farrington Rd, Paulton, BS39 7LW
Come and join us for an update on all of the work the society have been doing in the last year. The AGM is open to all members as well as the general public and will cover updates from:

ChairSecretaryTreasurerMembership SecretaryMarketing SecretaryEvents SecretaryMagazine EditorWork Party Leaders

For further details please contact: events@coalcanal.com

Paulton Party in the Park stand
2025-07-05 04:30 - 17:00 | Paulton Memorial Park, Paulton, Bristol, BS39 7RT
Come and visit us at this village day and find out more about the Somersetshire Coal Canal Society. You can find out all about the history, learn about volunteering opportunities and become a member to support us in our mission to restore the canal.

For further details please contact: events@coalcanal.org.uk

High Littleton & Hallatrow Village Day stand
2025-08-23 12:00 - 17:00 | High Littleton Recreation Club, Butlass Close, High Littleton, BS39 6HD, Butlass Close, High Littleton, BS39 6HD

Talk - The early years of the SCC 1793 to 1810
2025-10-23 19:30 - 21:30 | Paulton Village Hall, Farrington Rd, Paulton, Bristol BS39 7LW, Farrington Rd, Paulton, BS39 7LW
Roger Halse will give an illustrated talk on “The Early Years of the SCC”, from the beginning in the early 1790s up to 1810. It nearly failed several times. By 1810 both the SCC and the Kennet and Avon Canal were fully operational leading to successful trading for over 50 years. Although the company records no longer exist, extensive research has revealed a significant amount of information about the beginning of the Somersetshire Coal Canal. Roger will illustrate his findings with old photos, maps and documents.

Walk - Timsbury and Paulton Basins, including water supply
2025-10-26 10:00 - 13:00 | Radstock
A guided walk by Roger Halse to Timsbury and Paulton Basins. It will include the water supply, the tramways which brought the coal to the SCC and an interpretation of the whole area’s fascinating history. If you require any additional information contact Derrick by text on 07986 972 984 or email on d.hunt@coalcanal.com.

Meet at the top of Hanham Lane, Paulton at the junction with Bath Road ie opposite Britten’s Hill. BS39 7PD. What3words joystick.reissued.swatting

Talk - The final years of the SCC, including the finances, 1870 until closure
2025-11-20 19:30 - 21:30 | Paulton Village Hall, Farrington Rd, Paulton, Bristol BS39 7LW, Farrington Rd, Paulton, BS39 7LW
Roger will give an illustrated presentation on “The Final Years of the SCC”, the last 30 years from 1870 until closure. Fortunately some documentary evidence has survived for the last 30 years of the Canal. His research over many years has uncovered financial information which reveals the story of the decline of the SCC. The story of the declining years, the final demise and surrender to the railway industry will be illustrated using a selection of the documents in Roger’s vast collection.

Walk - Midford Basin to Twinhoe
2025-11-23 10:00 - 13:00 | Radstock
A guided walk by Roger Halse at Midford Basin. This walk is on private land by kind permission of Bob Honey and hence is a Society Members only event. The tour will include Midford Aqueduct, the Powder House, Midford Basin and part of the route of the tramway from Radstock. If you require any additional information contact Derrick by text on 07986 972 984 or email on d.hunt@coalcanal.com.

Meet in Twinhoe Lane. Midford. Directions- from the B3110 turn into Twinhoe Lane which is just uphill from the Hope and Anchor pub. Go over the iron bridge for 70 yards. Parking on the track or in the field. What3words keen.sits.handed

Talk - Pensford Coal Mining
2026-03-20 19:30 - 21:30 | Paulton Village Hall, Farrington Rd, Paulton, Bristol BS39 7LW, Farrington Rd, Paulton, BS39 7LW
Pensford and Bromley Collieries opened Pensford Colliery to mine the Pensford syncline in 1909. By 1947 the output was 70,000 tons pa. It closed in 1955.

Location of talk: Paulton Village Hall, Farrington Rd, Paulton, Bristol BS39 7LW

Entry is free, but we would appreciate a donation of £3-4 to cover our costs. Tea, coffee and biscuits provided.

For further details please contact: events@coalcanal.com

Walk - Coal, coke ovens, railway remains plus railway and canal projects that never happened!
2026-03-29 10:00 - 12:30 | Vobster Inn, Lower Vobster, Radstock, BA3 5RJ
Walk description: A guided walk of coal, coke ovens, railway remains, plus railway and canal projects that never happened!

Walk duration: 2.5hours

Meeting location: Meet at Vobster Inn, Lower Vobster, Radstock BA3 5RJ

For further details please contact: events@coalcanal.com
