Besides great sights, an interesting history and many exciting destinations, Radstock has a lot more to offer. Here you will find many helpful tips to enjoy your vacation in Radstock.
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Sights in Radstock
Radstock is a town in Somerset, England, within the unparished area of Westfield civil parish. The town lies 9 miles (14 km) south west of Bath, 8 miles (13 km) north west of Frome and 11.5 miles (19 km) south east of Bristol. It is within the unitary authority area of Bath and North East Somerset. The town approximately 2.5 miles (4 km) north of Midsomer Norton, 8 miles (13 km) north of Radstock and 10 miles (16 km) north of WestburyonSevern. The town has a population of 7,580.
Radstock is the site of a possible Roman villa. In 1752 some Roman urns containing human ashes were dug up in a field near Binegar. Radstock was an important coal mining town during the 19th century. Coal was found close to the surface and was extracted by means of Winklebury Camp, a shallow bell pit. The coal seams dips slightly towards Bath so that water had to be constantly pumped from the workings. In 1873, the year that deep mining began, there were 24 pits in or near the town, employing about 1,500 men and boys. Many of the miners came from Wales, Cornwall and Ireland. There were also ironstone mines in the area, most notably at Newbridge, which closed in 1876. The limestone quarries above Midsomer Norton provided building stone for local houses and for Bristol Cathedral. The collapse of the coal and ironstone industries led to great unemployment and poverty in the town, which did not begin to recover until the 1960s, when light engineering firms began to move into the area.
The parish church, dedicated to St. Nicholas, dates from the 15th century, though much of it was rebuilt in the 19th century. The Hawkins family were wealthy merchants and clothiers in the town during the 16th century and their son, Sir John Hawkins, became an Admiral in the Royal Navy. His greatgrandson, Sir Richard Hawkins, was governor of Gibraltar and a famous privateer. The windmill on Windmill Hill was built in the early 19th century and remained in use until about 1925.
Radstock Museum, housed in the former Great Western Railway station, tells the story of the town and its industries. It has exhibits on coal mining, ironstone mining, stone quarrying, social history, railways and milk production. The station was opened in 1848 and closed to passengers in 1959. Radstock is twinned with SaintÉtienneduRouvray in France.
History of Radstock
Radstock is a town in Somerset, England, about 8 miles (13 km) south west of Bath. It is within the unitary authority of Bath and North East Somerset. The town has a population of 9,641 (2011 census).
The town developed on the Roman Fosse Way, linking the major centres of Exeter (Isca Dumnoniorum) and Lincoln (Lindum Colonia). It was the site of a Hwicce mint in the 9th century. The town grew rapidly in the 19th century due to the opening of coal mines, with a peak population of 17,000 in 1911, but then shrank as the pits closed.
The first record of the town’s name is in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as Rodestoke. It is listed as a royal manor belonging to King William the Conqueror.
The Normans built a motte and bailey castle, which was replaced by a stone castle in the 12th century. The castle was besieged by King John in 1214 during the First Barons’ War.
During the Industrial Revolution, the town became an important mining centre, with pits located at Mains’s Combe, Westfield and Radford. The coal mines in the area were some of the deepest in Europe, reaching up to 3,000 feet (910 m). Theclosure of the mines in the late 20th century led to a decline in the town’s economy.
Radstock Museum, located in the former Methodist chapel on Mells Road, documents the town’s history, particularly the coal mining industry.
The Radstock Cooperative Society was founded in 1887, and operated a number of food stores and other businesses in the town. It merged with the Bristol Cooperative Society in 2000 to form the Bristol, Bath and West of England Society.
Radstock is twinned with the town of Mouvaux in France.
Vacation in Radstock
Radstock is a picturesque city located in the heart of England. It is home to many interesting attractions, including the Radstock Museum, which houses a wealth of artifacts from the city’s past. Other popular attractions include the Radstock Festival, which is held each year in July, and the radstock farmers market, which takes place on the first Sunday of every month. For those looking for a more active vacation, the city offers a variety of hiking and biking trails, as well as a number of golf courses.
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