A VISIT TO THE How many dreams of fortune died, in the grinding times of old, BRENDON HILLS, When galena mimicked silver, and pyrite SUMMER 2009 fooled for gold? But the humble miners’ boots still daily plied The moor that once resounded to the shovel the stony road, and the pick And the iron in his sinews broke the iron from Now ripples in the summer wind, where the the lode, barley’s growing thick, From Florey, California, from Kennisham and Where sparks and furnace smoke once rose, Combe, and dusty horses strained, To the engine house at Raleigh’s Cross, The pines have grown, and the grassy grooves where the tramway rumbled home. are peaceful once again. The iron heart of Somerset, full-circle turned From a dark and ferny archway, rusty water to rust, issues still, The aching lives and dwellings of the miners Bringing to light the haematite which drew fell to dust, the miners’ skill, Yet, standing in the silence, as the wind Sunlight glistens on the ripples, like the moans in the pines, crystals in the vein, I still hear the hearty company of those lost Clear as diamonds, red as blood, bearing the industrious times. iron’s cherry stain. Alan Bentley MINING in the BRENDON HILLS Linda Drummond-Harris Despite the inclement conditions we thoroughly enjoyed the tour. Our guide When researching possible ideas for the 2010 related the story of the rise and fall of iron field trips, Bob Mustow and I stumbled across mining in the Brendons and the history of the the West Somerset Mineral Railway website West Somerset Mineral Railway, the creation www.westsomersetmineralrailway.org.uk and of which had a profound effect on the discovered under „Events‟ that there was a residents, the local economy and the guided walk the following weekend. We landscape. The three hour walk took in parts decided to investigate and on a very wet of the West Somerset Mineral Railway still Saturday drove to Raleigh‟s Cross where we visible in the scenic Brendon Hills, and joined with a large group led by one of the included one of West Somerset's finest feats Exmoor National Park Wardens. of Victorian engineering, the ‘Incline’. 14 Journal of the Bath Geological Society, No. 29, 2010 .