Spreading the word

Let’s move out of the city now and pop over to Radstock where our city’s Medical Museum has collaborated with the town’s Radstock Museum to provide an exhibition about Somerset Miners and their Welfare and Health Care.  

Aspects of the exhibition – curated with essential contributions from local ex-miners – refer to mining conditions in the Victorian period, including the use of ‘carting boys’ who were used instead of ponies.

All this gives visitors a sense of historical change during the hundred years prior to the closure of the last two Somerset mines in 1973.

The Somerset coalfield was nationally one of the smallest coalfields, yet the effects on miners’ health of coalface working in the challenging narrow seams were significant and also life-threatening.

The exhibition explores issues such as living and working conditions; serious medical conditions arising from working underground; and rescue efforts in the event of accidents, including a medal and gold watch awarded to a miner for rescuing another miner despite the great danger to himself.

As well as treatment is given to miners in the pit, at home and in the hospital. It also explores wider matters arising from injuries and ill health, such as the push for compensation and better working conditions supported by the Friendly Societies and the Miners Association. 

The exhibition is open  Tuesday through to Sunday from 2.00 pm until 5.00 pm, and Saturdays from 11.00 am until 5.00 pm. The last admission time for the Museum, Tea Shop and Shop is 4.30 pm. 

Radstock is in North East Somerset. Take the A 437 out of Bath and after about  9 miles, at the bottom of the valley in which Radstock lies, take the second turning left and the museum is immediately on the left and the car park a short distance away on the right.