The Stabilisation of Combe Down Stone Mines

The Stabilisation of Combe Down Stone Mines

by Frances Lord, Jen Albano, Jessica Turner, Mary Sabina Stacey, David Keeton, Dave Buxton, Ianto Wain, Roger Ransome, Dr Rob Narbett, Hydrock, David Dunkerley, DTZ Pieda, Combe Down Heritage Society

£10

"The Stabilisation of Combe Down Stone Mines: the saving of a village is a commemorative book documenting the story of the stabilisation of the mines that lie beneath Combe Down village. The accompanying DVD contains Batworks, a time-lapse film of the bat preservation areas in Byfield Mine by Rob Franklin; Simon Whittaker's film Unfinished Nature, which follows the artists involved in the public art project above and below ground and working with the Combe Down community; Paul Englishby's Fireworks premiere performance on Firs Field, Combe Down, 26 September 2009; Andy Croft's The Hole Story - an historical pageant premiere performance on Firs Field, Combe Down, 26 September 2009; 3D film Under Combe Down with an underground flythrough experience created using 3D laser scan data by Steve Geliot; and still images by Neville Gabie and Vik Martin. The Combe Down Stone Mines Stabilisation Project was necessary to counteract the years of excessive mining that by the 1900s had left Combe Down village in a dangerous position. Over 700 houses had been built over the now failing mines. In the 18th and 19th centuries Combe Down (Bath) stone was mine extensively and used to build the Georgian city of Bath. In 1734 Ralph Allen commenced building Prior Park to demonstrate the beauty and durability of the stone. Subsequently, the stone became much sought after and was also used to build parts of Longleat and Windsor Castle and shipped around the world. From 2000 English Partnerships (now the Homes and Communities Agency) began funding Bath & North East Somerset Council to investigate and prepare options for stabilising the mine complex and to carry out Emergency Stabilisation, culminating in 2005 in the award of a grant aid to undertake full stabilisation. By 2009 the 22 hectares of very shallow limestone mine were filled with in excess of 590,000 cubic metres of foamed concrete, the largest project of its kind in the world."

Total pages

96

Subject

Combe Down Stone Mines Stabilisation

ISBN

978-0-9563829-3-4

Publisher

Combe Down Stone Mines Stabilisation Project with Bath and North East Somerset Council