Somerset Coalfield

The Somerset Coalfield is a historic mining region in Somerset, England. It played an important role in the industrial development of the area from the eighteenth to the twentieth century. The coalfield supported local industries, transport networks, and working communities, particularly around towns such as Radstock, Midsomer Norton, and Paulton. Its mines, spoil heaps, railway remains, and workers’ settlements provide evidence of industrial labour, energy production, and regional economic change. Although coal extraction has ended, the landscape retains significant archaeological and social value. The Somerset Coalfield is important for understanding industrial heritage, community identity, and the transformation of rural Somerset.