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In 1851, the Great Exhibition was held at Crystal Palace by Prince Albert to display products of the Empire. Amongst these exhibits was iron ore from the Brendon Hills and, as a result of this, interest was shown in the local area which lead to the 'Brendon Hills iron ore Company' being formed 1853.
A major disadvantage of the area was the transportation of the ore, as the summit of the Brendon Hills is over 1000 feet above sea level. Numerous suggestions were put forward to combat the problem and, in 1854, the Company promoted the ' West Somerset Mineral railway' to carry the iron ore to Watchet for shipment to South Wales and onto Ebbow Vale via Newport for use in manufacture of iron and steel.
By 1864, the line was around twelve miles long, running from Watchet to Gupworhty. At the peak of mining in 1877,some 50 mining sites were involved but with the influx of cheap Spanish ore and a recession in the iron and steel trade, output in the area declined and by the end of 1883, the last mine had closed. The railway however was legally bound to rernain
open and continued to carry passengers and farm materials until it closed in 1898.
In 1907, an attempt to reopen some of the mines failed and the mines closed for good. During the First World War the rails were commandeered by the Ministry of Munitions for scarap. By 1919 the line was left without rails or rolling stock and the land was finally sold by auction in August 1924.
Contributed by: James Little
Community Section
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