A Mineral Railway in West Somerset

As early as 1839 Sir Thomas Lethbridge, investor in a South Wales ironworks and the early railways, investigated the possibility of a tramroad from Roadwater to Watchet once he had established the presence of iron ore on his land on the Brendons. 

Transport of ore by horse and cart was unworkable and narrow gauge (initially horse drawn, then by steam engine) tramroads were a long-established method for the transport of materials to the nearest waterway.   

Already the signature of the first land lease granting the Brendon Hill Mining Company effective mining rights in 1853, committed the partners to building a railway within five years from the mines to the Bristol Channel.  Time was of essence as until the railway was in operation the ore had to be stockpiled and was of no benefit to the Ebbw Vale company.  

The map below shows the variations of the route, as surveyed, planned and built.

Route plan

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