Buckland Dinham

16th Oct 2016

This was an unexpected trip to Somerset, so opened up a whole new experience of walking,

in a completely new area. The villages were delightful, and the countryside equally so,

but the highlight was the Mell River, and the ruins of the ironworks.

We started at Buckland Dinham, and walked South towards Great Elm,

and then followed the Wadbury Valley where the ironworks were situated, towards Mells.

The first iron works in the area was started by James Fussell in 1744.

The company did well and by 1800 they were exporting their products to Europe and America. 

By the early 19th century the Fussell family were operating 5 iron works in the area - 3 along the Mells Stream,

with 9 water wheels operating, and made shovels, sickles, spades and scythes, as well as other agricultural implements.

The company continued to trade until the late 19th Century.

The remainder of the walk was across the Orchardleigh Estate and a pleasant approach back to Buckland Dinham.

If you are not interested in looking at lots of almost identical, and not very good photograhs of old ruins, please skip to the end of the walk and the approach back to Buckland Dinham

OK - that's the end of the Fussel's Iron Works