Dunkerton Bridge to Clutton

Introduction

Past many old colliery sites and through the Somerset Coal Canal Basin at Paulton.
Distance 11.7 km
If driving to Dunkerton there are large parking bays on the A 367 on the north and south sides of Dunkerton Bridge. Bus stops (northbound and southbound) are on the north side, (Bath side) of the bridge.

Historical Background

A Dunkerton

Dunkerton Colliery was used in the filming of The Titfield Thuderbolt (1953). In 1908–09 the mine was the site of riots against working conditions in the pit. Dunkerton pit was the largest in Somerset with the worst reputation for working conditions and disregard for safety. Railway sidings were built c.1906, and by 1912 over 700 miners worked there. It closed 1927.

B Camerton

Camerton had several coal pits. James Stephens (of Camerton Court) had a lease for 2 pits in 1781. The Old Pit was sunk, followed by the New Pit by 1800. The pits were owned until 1911 by Jarretts. A large explosion in 1893 killed two men. Old Pit closed in 1898. Maximum output was in 1903, c.77,000 tons. It was not modernised before nationalisation in 1947 and its accessible reserves were exhausted, so it closed 1950.
Read the Revd. John Skinner's (b. 1772 at Claverton) 'Journal of a Somerset rector' 1803 -34 for a fascinating account of Camerton's people at this time. The Rev. Skinner was the principal explorer of a Roman settlement by the Fosse Way, 2 kms south of Camerton. For more on life for the Rev. Skinner and his parishioners. https://northstoke.blogspot.com/2007/12/reverend-john-skinner.html

C. Paulton and Timsbury Basin

Now a nature conservation area. The land is farmed and the canal restoration is spearheaded by Somerset Coal Canal Society. The basin area is part of the Somerset Coal Canal (see History). The dry dock is believed to be the largest of the canal system in England and could accommodate three barges at any one time. Interesting information can be found on the William Smith information board en route.

D. Paulton Iron and Metal Foundry

Established in 1810 and worked until 1889. Building winding and pumping engines and items for domestic use. They also made cast iron gate posts and railings. The gate posts are distinctive for their globe tops. Iron ore was brought in from South Wales via the canal. A method was used which slowed the process of rusting. It was managed by William Evans and is locally referred to as 'Evans Iron Foundry'.

Map of Stage 4

Route Description

[1] With the road to Bath on your right, cross this busy road with care and go down another flight of stone steps. Keeping the stream on your right make for Dunkerton Church. Go through a WGK into the field just before the church and cross the field with the church on your left. Leave the field by the MKG into a lane. Cross the lane and go over the stone and wooden St by the bridge. (500 m)

[2] Follow this path through numerous kissing gates with the stream always on your right. Ignore all of the bridges that cross the stream. Where the slope on the left steepens contour up this slope around the bend in the stream camouflaged by a thorny thicket and return to the river bank. In the final field there is a telegraph pole by the side of this path and shortly afterwards leave the field by a MKG by a house on the left and a short path leads to a road where you branch left along the road. (1.4 kms)

[3] Go along this road 150 m and turn right on a bridlepath, just before a large pylon. The stream will be on your right. You are now entering the site of the old Dunkerton Colliery, (see notes), now wooded. Go forward over a bridge and then through a plantation to a road. Turn right and then quickly left through a gate opposite a house. (600 m)

[4] Walk the length of the meadow, passing an old tin barn and ignoring the footpaths on the left.  The route gently lifts uphill close to the hedge on the right. Walk carefully along the earthy path, which can be slippery when wet.  Ignore the MKG on the right and keep on the path as it drops back to the rivers edge.  Walk to the MKG ahead.  Turn right and along the lane.  Just past Bengrove House where the road bends left, find the BG in the fence and enter.  (600m)

[5] Turn immediately left following the line of the fence which is on your left. Shortly after passing the rear of a house go through a BG in the fence and turn sharp right to go to the right of the old colliery tip with the fence now on your right. Follow this narrow field to a MPG on the left at the end and go down the field towards some buildings. At the end of the field go through two gates. (Ignore yellow arrow on gate). Go straight ahead in front of the house on your right to a tarmac track. (800 m)

[6] On the right is the remains of the old winding house that powered a lift up the hill to a wharf for distribution of coal by road, now converted to a small house. Keep on this track passing the new housing estate and along an enclosed path which emerges on the main road through the village. (400 m)

[7] Cross the road turn left and take the track by the notice board between the fence and back gardens of Canal View. This is the old tow path of the Somerset Coal Canal. The fields on the right are the site of the Old Pit, Camerton. Higher up the fields is the old powder house used to store explosives used in the mines. Continue along the path and through a WG. Walk through the gardens initially keeping slightly to the left. Follow home made markers. Reach a wooden summer house on the right. (Next to it a MKG which provides a route to Lower Conygre Pit, Timsbury.) Instead turn left, doubling back between hedge and garden. Over your right shoulder, (hidden in the vegetation) is the wharf of Somerset Coal Canal for the Lower Conygre Pit. Walk to the driveway, turn right and walk out to the lane. Turn right. (600 m)

[8] Walk along the lane to a T junction. You are now at Radford. (500m)

[9] Turn right and walk with care up the road. Take the first road on the left, walk a few yards and by an electricity pole find a WKG on the left. Go through the gate and walk along the bed of the old railway track and a left kink in the route. Then walk forwards through a MKG and straight ahead. Follow track round left bend and find wooden bridle gate on right. (400m)

[10] Walk the tow path for 300 m until entering a field. Walk across the field bearing very slightly left and up the bank, through a BG and across a track. Here you meet the excavated western end of the Somerset Coal Canal. (400 m)

[11] With the dry canal bed on your right continue through a BG and along the tow path passing the old wharf of Withy Mills Colliery with information board and along the path to a newly contructed hump backed stone bridge. (800 m)

[12]Stop and explore the area if you have time.  The oblong excavated bed to your left is one of the largest dry docks found on any canal system in England. The waters to the right of the bridge is Paulton Basin.  Over the bridge turn right and walk through the MPG.

[13]Behind wooded coal heap on the left of the large field is the site of the Paulton Brass and Iron Foundry, now converted to private homes. (See notes: Paulton & Timsbury Basin, and Paulton Brass and Iron Foundry) Keep pond on your right and continue ahead with the broader canal bed and basin on your right to the end of the canal system. (300 m)

[14] Turn left across field to MPG. Over bridge across stream, along rough path with wooded coal heap on left. Now a nature conservation area, owned by Wessex Water and maintained by Cam Valley Wildlife Group. Continue to tarmac road with sewage works in full view. (Previously site of Goosard Pit). Turn right, along private road to MPG. Join lane and bear right. Take first footpath on left, through MPG and down steep steps. (300 m)

[15] Here you have a choice. The mapped route takes the first MPG* on the right through fields that can be muddy and stocked with a variety of livestock. A more enjoyable walk can be had by walking ahead a few metres to the BG. Through the gate, turn right and walk the old railway line for 1.4 kms. This route is a permissive route parallel to the right of way across the fields on the right. *If you wish to walk the footpath in the field, take first MPG and walk straight across the fields using MPG's and foot bridges for 1.4 kms to meet the disused railway track. Although mainly straight there are a few gates slightly diagonally to your right. (1.4kms)

[16] Take the WKG on the left and bear right across the field to the WKG and along a short track to the main road. Cross the road with care to the stone offset stile and through a narrow passage between houses, fenced on both sides. Through the MKG into a field, walk diagonally right to the MKG to the old railway track. The path crosses the track and continues over a footbridge. (500m)

[17]Ignore concrete bridge on the left and follow obvious path between two hills, with the stream on the left. Continue to a long concrete footbridge on the left; cross it and walk up a slope and through MKG. Do NOT go over the next bridge, but keep on the path to the left of the bridge, with the stream on your right and through a MKG. (300m)

[18] The path skirts round the bottom of a hill through bracken for 780 metres, through MKG and leave the stream. In the next field keep up to the foot of the slope and through a BG which can be very muddy. Continue ahead and through two BG's each side of a farm track.  With the church in view continue to a MPG by a FG to the old railway track. Cross this and through a second MPG. Continue straight ahead towards houses. As the path meets the road pass through a MKG and turn right along the lane to the boundary of St Augustine of Hippo C of E Church. (1.8kms)

[19} There is a small car park serving the church. Parking along the roadside in Venus Lane is possible. Larger numbers of cars may wish to park 285m along the road to the right, (Venus Lane) in the Village Hall car park by consent of the booking officer. www.cluttonvillagehall.com There are bus stops at the church end of Marsh Lane and also on the A37 (513m to the west using the footpath across the field) where a regular bus service runs in both directions between Bristol and the Mendips.