Somersetshire Coal Canal Society

Annual General Meeting 2024
2024-06-20 19:30 - 21:30 (Europe/London) | Paulton Village Hall, Farrington Road, Paulton, Bristol, BS39 7LW, United Kingdom
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:

Chair

Secretary

Treasurer

Membership Secretary

Marketing Secretary

Events Secretary

Magazine Editor

Work Party Leaders

Dunkerton Village Day - stand
2024-06-15 12:30 - 17:00 | Dunkerton Cricket Ground, Church Lane, Dunkerton, BA2 8BN
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.

Location: Dunkerton Cricket Ground, Church Lane, Dunkerton BA2 8BN.

From Bath take the A367, slow down as you approach the bottom of Dunkerton Hill, turn right (there is a big yellow Fair sign).

From Radstock/Peasedown St John direction, same instruction but left turn.

Parking (free) is in the field next to the cricket ground, follow signs. Hi-vis stewards will direct.

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

Visit to the Purton Hulks with Paul Barnett
2024-04-28 10:30 - 12:30
Visit and guided tour of Purton Hulks or Purton Ships Graveyard as described in our recent talk by Paul Barnett.
Meet in Radstock at Waterloo Road car park by the museum at 9.30am to car share. The other rendezvous point will be at the Tog Hill picnic area BS30 5TB at 10am again to car share.
Directions: from A38 take turning signposted Breadstone Halmore – Purton. Travel for 2 miles. Take right turning on sharp left hand bend, signposted Purton. Park in car park opposite the church.
Start time 10.30am at Purton. More info at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purton_Hulks
All welcome. This important site is fragile and deteriorating. A great opportunity for a guided tour by the expert.
Lunch afterwards or just a drink at the Malt House in Berkeley, about 2pm. If you want lunch then I suggest that we book. Let Derrick know by Monday 22nd April.
For further details please contact: Derrick Hunt 07986 972984

Coalfield Engines Social Evening with Steve Grudgings
2024-04-18 19:30 - 21:30 | Paulton Village Hall, Farrington Road, Paulton, Bristol, BS39 7LW, United Kingdom
Steve’s talk will describe the development of engines used in the SomersetCoalfield that were powered by men, horses, water and of course steamfrom the Tudor period onwards.Steve (of the South Gloucestershire Mines Research Group) will outline how methods of draining water from mines developed andsome examples of Somerset pioneers in this field.The talk will also briefly cover our work on excavating and conservingthe 1791 Newcomen Engine house at Serridge in South Glos. Please come prepared with lots of questions – Steve will endeavour to answerthem all!
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.
For further details please contact: events@coalcanal.org.uk

Why the SCC Needed Pumping Engines Social Evening with Patrick Moss & Derrick Hunt
2024-03-21 19:30 - 21:30 | Paulton Village Hall, Farrington Road, Paulton, Bristol, BS39 7LW, United Kingdom
The talk will look at water demand, supply and management on canals from the earliest canals up to the time the Coal Canal was proposed. It introduces the topic and illustrates the “known technology”. Patrick will cover where the water goes (clue – it’s not just locks by any means) and how we can end up with too little water in one place, yet too much only a short distance away. It will also cover where the water comes from! Roger Halse will present on the Water Supplies to the SCC.
Entry is free, but we would very much appreciate a donation of £3-4 to cover our costs.
Location of talk: Paulton Village Hall, Farrington Rd, Paulton, Bristol BS39 7LW
For further details please contact: events@coalcanal.org.uk

Walk & Talk - Radstock, Canal, Railways, and Tramways
2024-03-17 10:00 - 12:00 | Radstock Museum, Waterloo Road, RADSTOCK, BA3 3EP
Walk tracing the route of the Coal Canal & Tramway between Radstock and Welton.

Stout footwear. Very uneven ground. Distance about 2 miles in total. An interesting morning guaranteed.

Meet at Radstock Museum, Waterloo Road, Radstock, BA3 3EP.

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

EGM & The Structures of the S.C.C talk
2024-02-15 19:30 - 21:15 | Paulton Village Hall, Farrington Road, Paulton, Bristol, BS39 7LW, United Kingdom
Extraordinary General Meeting – to approve conversion to Charitable Incorporated Organisation.

Followed by a presentation on “The Structures of the S.C.C.” 8:00 pm – 9:15 pm by Derrick Hunt & Patrick Moss.

Entry is free, but we would very much appreciate a donation of £3-4 to cover our costs.

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

Walk - Paulton to Radford along the canal
2023-11-19 10:00 - 12:00
Walk – Paulton to Radford along the canal – November 19 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Walk by Roger Halse, Archivist of The Somersetshire Coal Canal Society.
A walk along the route of the canal from Timsbury and Paulton Basins via Withy Mills and Radford Colliery wharfs, to Radford and back.
Copies of The Coal Canal Way booklet, which includes all the walks along the canal, will be available to purchase.
Meet at Goosard Bridge, Old Bristol Road, Paulton, BS39.
💰 Entry to this special event is free, but we would like to ask for a donation of £3-4 to help cover the society’s costs.
For further details please contact events@coalcanal.org.uk

The Radstock Branch - Coal, Canal & Tramway Social Evening by Roger Halse
2023-11-16 19:30 - 21:00 | Radstock Working Mens Club, 6 The Street, Radstock, BA3 3PL
Talk by Roger Halse, Archivist of The Somersetshire Coal Canal Society.

A history of the ‘Radstock Branch’ of the SCC, through plans, maps and the occasional photograph. Roger will take you on a journey along the southern branch of the canal, from Midford via Wellow to the terminus at Radstock Wharf. The history of both the canal cut, its conversion to a tramway, and the collieries that supplied the coal, will all be covered.

Copies of some of these plans and maps will also be available to view.

Entry to this special event is free, but we would like to ask for a donation of £3-4 to help cover the society’s costs.

Work Party - Paulton Basin
2023-11-05 10:00 - 15:00, 2023-10-01 10:00 - 15:00, 2023-09-03 10:00 - 15:00, 2023-08-06 10:00 - 16:00 | Paulton basin, BS39 7PF, United Kingdom
Help to restore the Somersetshire Coal Canal is needed! Please do come and help out if you can.
No previous experience necessary
Wear boots and bring thick gardening gloves if you have some
All necessary tools will be provided
Tea is provided for break times, bring a mug
Bring your own snacks/lunch
Meet at the Dry Dock next to Paulton Basin (map pin: https://goo.gl/maps/xK7AQLBDpqcNxQh47)
For more details message or call the Work Party Manager Martin Turner on 07976 601393.

Purton Hulks Social Evening
2023-10-19 19:30 - 21:00 | Radstock Working Mens Club, 6 The Street, Radstock, BA3 3PL
A fantastic opportunity to learn about the intentional beaching of semi-redundant timber ships to strengthen the nearby eroding canal bank. Now known as Purton Ships Graveyard, this is a fascinating story of the largest assembly of maritime artefacts. A total of 96 breached vessels and counting!

The talk will be lead by Paul Barnett, from The Friends of Purton Society.

Loads of information and photos available on the Friends of Purton website: www.friendsofpurton.org.uk

Admission to this talk is FREE, but a donation of £3 or £4 to the Society to cover our costs would be greatly appreciated. You can either donate cash on the door or donate online: http://www.coalcanal.org/sccs/Support/donationweb.php

For more information on the event please contact Steve Page on 01761 433418.

Walk & Talk - West of Camerton
2023-10-15 10:00 - 12:00
The walk and talk will be led by Roger Halse, our Archivist.

Meet: New Pit Cottages, Bridge Place Road, Camerton, BA2 0PD

A circular stroll of about 2.5 miles. Walking from near the site of Camerton New Pit, following part of the route of the former Somersetshire Coal Canal, to Radford, and the site of Timsbury Lower Conigre Colliery and back. Parts of the former Great Western Railway’s Camerton Branch may also be seen on the return leg. See The Coal Canal Way – Walk 2 and part of Walk 3.

PLEASE NOTE: There will be no access to the colliery sites as they are on PRIVATE LAND.

There will be two hills involved. The footpaths may be muddy so please wear suitable footwear.

Events are free to attend for members, but we do ask for a donation of £3-4 if affordable.

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

Canal social drinks - everyone welcome!
2023-10-14 19:00 - 21:00
Following great interest in our quest to spread the word of the canal to pubs along the route, we are inviting you all to help us finish the last two pubs! Come and join us, have a drink and chat about all things canal related! Whether you are newly interested or an old fan, all are welcome. We’d love to meet you all.

7pm – @The Lamb, Paulton8pm – @The Red Lion, Paulton

High Littleton & Hallatrow Village Day
2023-08-26 12:00 - 17:00 | High Littleton Recreation Club, Butlass Close, High Littleton, BS39 6HD, United Kingdom
The SCCS will have a stand at The High Littleton & Hallatrow Village Day. Come and visit us and have a chat about our work and the society.
For more information on the Village Day, please follow the below link:
https://hlhvillageday.weebly.com/

Work Party - Combe Hay Locks
2023-07-11 10:00 - 15:00 | Combe Hay Locks, BA2 7EE
Working in and around the lock flight managing vegetation. For further details please contact: Stuart Ashman 07759 336864

Work Party - Paulton
2022-05-01 10:00 - 17:00 | Paulton basin, BS39 7PF, United Kingdom
Our continuation of work at Paultion on the 500-meter section of the canal.
As part of the work that we doing, we are working on the remains of a bridge by Paulton Basin, the work consists of sorting the stone from the surrounding area and stripping back the ground to uncover the foundations. Once this is done we will then be building a new bridge to restore the public right of way to its original position.

June work party
2021-06-06 10:00 - 17:00 | Paulton basin, BS39 7PF, United Kingdom
The start of the month has come round again and the weather is looking great 😊 we will be working on the bridge area moving stone and earth, and vegetation management. Do bring gloves and a spade.
We will be meeting by the dry dock at 10am….see you there 🙂👍

May work party
2021-05-08 10:00 - 17:00 | Paulton basin, BS39 7PF, United Kingdom
The next work party is Saturday 8/5/21 from 10 am, meeting at Paulton basin.
Bring wellies, gloves and a mug to drink tea and coffee…free of charge of course. For those who wish to do a bit of digging, if you have spades bring them for a day out !!

Work party - Paulton Basin
2021-04-11 10:00 - 16:00 | Paulton basin, BS39 7PF, United Kingdom
We are back !!
Come and help us with our plans to restore the canal at Paulton Basin. We will be digging out the old bridge foundations as well as covering over the inlet with sleepers if we have enough volunteers
.

Work Party-Combe Hay Locks CANCELLED
2021-03-13 08:00 - 17:00 | Combe Hay Locks, BA2 7EE
Working in and around the lock flight managing vegetation.

Work Party-Paulton
2021-03-07 10:00 - 16:00 | Paulton basin, BS39 7PF, United Kingdom
We will be working around Paulton Basin, work includes preparing the site for a new bridge and vegetation management.

Work Party-Combe Hay Locks
2021-02-13 10:00 - 16:00 | Combe Hay Locks, BA2 7EE

Work Party-Paulton CANCELLED
2021-02-07 10:00 - 16:00 | Paulton basin, BS39 7PF, United Kingdom

Work Party-Combe Hay-CANCELLED
2021-01-16 10:00 - 16:00 | Combe Hay Locks, BA2 7EE

Work Party-Paulton Basin - CANCELLED !!!
2021-01-03 10:00 - 16:00 | Paulton basin, BS39 7PF, United Kingdom
Work party cancelled!!
Due to safety concerns over covid, ground conditions and pending snow…we will duck out of this month’s work party.
We always have problems at this time of year keeping to our schedules….part of living in Britain 😂.
As always I will keep our work parties under review to make sure that we work safely and it’s an enjoyable experience.
We will be working around Paulton Basin, work includes preparing the site for a new bridge and vegetation management.

Work party at Paulton - CANCELLED !!
2020-10-04 10:00 - 17:00 | Paulton basin, BS39 7PF, United Kingdom
We will be meeting at 10 am by the dry dock close to Paulton basin. We have got some work to do on the inlet and at the site of Terminus bridge. CANCELLED !!

Combe Hay work party
2020-09-12 10:00 - 17:00 | Combe Hay Locks, BA2 7EE
We will be working in the locks and pounds to clear the vegetation that resembles a jungle !!
Please come and give us a hand and get to see the inner workings of a canal lock.
There will be off and on road parking so we will be able to accommodate about 10 cars
