SWWRIAC 2019 (South West of England Conference on Industrial Heritage)
The Bristol Industrial Archaeological Society (B.I.A.S.), will be hosting this year's conference.6th April 2019 This event will be held in Saltford Hall complex and will start at 9:30 with Registration. All offers of help willingly accepted.
The six speakers are:
- Geoff Wallis, of Bristol, about the Brunel Swivel Bridge;
- Mary Miles of Somerset Industrial Archaeological Society , about Watchet paper-mill;
- Joanna Turska, Industrial Heritage Support Officer at Ironbridge Gorge Museums Trust, on the Industrial Heritage Networks;
- Steve Grudgings of the South Gloucester Mines Research Group, about Hemingfield Colliery
- Stephen Lyons of Oxford House Industrial History Museum, Risca on The Black Vein Explosion of 1860 and the Miners Graveyard.
- Eric Miles of BIAS on the recovery of Fry's Sentinel Engine.
- Walk around Keynsham (Mike Bone);
Keynsham's Industrial Past - a fairly short walking tour around the lower valley of the River Chew to view remains of the town's industries and transport history. Starts and finishes in Bath Hill (East) free car park (BS31 1HH, grid ref ST 65701 68341), is mostly on level parkland and passes the train station on route for early leavers. Keynsham is 1.9 miles from Saltford via the A4. The guide will offer car share to assist those who have come by public transport and would welcome the help of other motorists in this respect. - Visit to Bitton Railway (Eric Miles);
3.6 miles away. Opened in 1869 by the Midland Railway as a through-route between Birmingham and the South Coast the line was later linked to the iconic Somerset & Dorset Railway. Closed under the Beeching Axe of the 1960's the Avon Valley Railway was preserved by an enthusiastic group of volunteers. www.avonvalleyrailway.org/ BS30 6HD, grid ref ST 66988 70307 - Kingswood Museum (Alan Bryant)
inside 18th Century brass mill at Warmley with icehouse, windmill tower and gardens nearby. 5.8 miles away. Small admission charge £3, Refreshments for small charge. www.kingswoodmuseum.org.uk/ BS30 8XT, grid ref ST 66869 72722 - Saltford Brass Mill (Patrick Beazley).
dates from the 1720s and Grade II* listed. .9 mile away. Subject to short-notice cancellation, depending on river levels and weather forecast. If it is not feasible because of the flood risk, Mr Beazley and his colleagues will hope to put up a display at Saltford Hall, hopefully with an on-screen presentation of the survey. Ample parking but could walk from the Hall. brassmill.com/ BS31 3EY, grid ref ST 68696 66968
They don’t normally put the displays back until National Mills Weekend in May but intend to reinstate the displays early specifically for this event (provided the risk of flooding is low - we have been caught out before). The mill is a scheduled monument and grade II* listed building, described by the Inspectorate of Ancient Monuments as an unusual survivor of the Bristol Brass Industry. The remains are unique, probably in Europe.
Last autumn they dammed the head-race leat and dewatered the subterranean watercourses to inspect the masonry and survey / repair the penstock gates. They were able to carry out a laser scan of the watercourses and a drone survey of the external structure – they now have over 300 GB of data to interpret. A report on the survey is at http://brassmill.com/saltford_brass_mill_021.htm
Three of the penstock gates are now operational and show how the river would have been controlled. They also have a series of working scale models to show how different waterwheels work, and of course the real working waterwheel driving a 1920s dynamo and circular saw.
Within the mill they have a display describing the mining and smelting of copper and the melting of brass. They have a replica battery hammer, a replica set of rolls and of course the real annealing furnace.
David Clarke, 22 Bristol Road, Keynsham BS31 2BQ, 0117 986 3661 bias@jdclarke2p2.plus.com
Price will be £20 including lunch. This can be paid by BACS or by cheque. For those arriving early it will be possible to buy breakfast.
BACS details: the Bristol Industrial Archaeological Society at: National Westminster Bank plc, Winterbourne, Bristol SortCode: 52-10-51 AccountNo: 70565686
Queries on the day: 07896 150121
Booking form (revised 14 December 2018) and more details will be coming soon.
Directions to Saltford Hall:
Sat-Nav: enter BS31 3BY http://www.saltfordhall.co.uk/
Grid Reference: ST 67898 67515 [167515 N, 367898 E]
To reach Saltford Hall - turn left as you enter Saltford on the A4 into Norman Road, left into Brockley Road (Hall is signposted),
turn right at T-junction into Stratton Road and left into Broadway.
Hall at end ahead of you.
If you miss Norman Road, turn left into Beech Road (big Vauxhall dealer on left corner), turn left at Tjunction into Norman Road,
turn right into Chelwood Road which becomes Wedmore Road.
Hall then on your right.
Small car park in front of the hall, larger off road, car park available behind the Tennis courts, with a footpath to the hall.
Or: Train to Keynsham station then x39/19A bus (9 minutes) or to Bath station then x39/19A bus (30 minutes)