West Somerset Mineral Railway

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Published: 24th May 2010

The West Somerset Mineral Railway Project is run by a consortium of local and national partners under the leadership of the Exmoor National Park Authority.  It received a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund in December 2007 for a programme scheduled for completion at the end of 2009.    

The project set out to:

  • repair and preserve three of the key remaining industrial structures on the Brendon Hills; the Incline and Winding House, Langham Engine House and Bearland Ventilation Flue;
    Of these, the Incline, a Scheduled Ancient Monument of national importance, constitutes a remarkable achievement of early railway engineering.  Bearland Ventilation flue is also a Scheduled Ancient Monument that was listed on the Buildings At Risk Register;
  • raise awareness and understanding of the industrial heritage of the region through a new exhibition at Watchet Market House Museum, a major new publication, on site interpretation, an events and education programme and this website;
  • improve public access to the Brendon Hill sites and in and around Watchet.

More background on the project and its partners ...