Somerset Coalfield Life

Our award winning Museum began life in a country barn in the village of Haydon. When the last mine in the Somerset Coalfield closed in 1973 a group of local people wanted to recognise the work of the Somerset miners and their contribution to Britain’s heritage. The result of this foresight is an extensive collection of artefacts from Somerset’s coal mining history.
The Museum, with its collections and purpose built displays, is now housed in the restored Radstock Old Market Hall. With galleries on two floors you can learn about blacksmithing, coal mining, shoe and boot making, printing and local breweries. You can explore our reconstructed coalmine. You can walk along our Victorian street and discover shopping, home life, school life and leisure. We have displays of fossils and local geology, agriculture and local railways. You will be amazed at the array of things to see and do.

Visit us today to find out more about one of the world’s most dangerous jobs and the impact mining had on the communities of the Radstock area and life in Victorian times.