Somerset Industrial Archaeological Society

THE loss of Watchet’s paper mill was a bitter blow to the town.

A film, The Last Roll, was one of several short presentations given to the society’s December meeting.

It was produced as part of a heritage project, and captures the noise of paper-making machinery and the contrasting silence of the now empty buildings.

The meeting’s attention then turned to the abandoned gold and copper mining towns of Australia, and the many preserved artefacts and museums to be seen.

A partially-completed model of Richard Trevithick’s pioneering 1804 steam locomotive was then demonstrated.

Lastly, an on-going study of salt production focussed on coastal salt pans in Somerset, the UK and in Europe.

The Society’s winter programme began on Monday this week (January 16). The focus on January 30 will be the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway. All meetings start at 7.30pm, at North Town School, off Wood Street, Taunton.

Parking and refreshments are available, and non-members are welcome. More details can be found at www.sias.me.uk