Peat extraction on the Somerset Levels: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
<ref name=BBCDomes> |
||
| Line 22: | Line 22: | ||
In 1949 a [[British Railways]] passenger train from [[Highbridge railway station|Highbridge]] collided with an Eclipse narrow gauge diesel locomotive crossing on the level and left the track, ending up in the marsh canal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sdjr.net/sd_accidents.html|title=Accidents|publisher=SDJR.nt|accessdate=2012-01-15}}</ref> |
In 1949 a [[British Railways]] passenger train from [[Highbridge railway station|Highbridge]] collided with an Eclipse narrow gauge diesel locomotive crossing on the level and left the track, ending up in the marsh canal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sdjr.net/sd_accidents.html|title=Accidents|publisher=SDJR.nt|accessdate=2012-01-15}}</ref> |
||
==Present== |
|||
In 1961, [[Fisons]] bought Eclipse. This was the last year that hand-cutting was used to extract peat, and since this time all cutting has been done by machine.<ref name=BBCDomes/> |
|||
Presetly the Fisons Eclipse Peat Works covers {{convert|3000|acre}}, but only {{convert|1100|acre}} are actually worked. Employing 65 people, more are employed in the summer when the peat is turned by hand to allow it to dry. 70% of production is sold in various products to domestic gardeners, while 30% is used for commercial purposes.<ref name=BBCDomes/> |
|||
After the company has finished working an area, it is enviornmentally restored, and then either resold to the original farmer, or conservationists or private buyers.<ref name=BBCDomes>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/domesday/dblock/GB-344000-138000/page/3|title=Fisons Eclipse Peat Works|publisher=BBC Domesday Book|accessdate=2012-01-15}}</ref> The system has lead to the creation of a number of [[Site of Special Scientific Interest]], giving a haven to wildlife on the levels. |
|||
==Input== |
==Input== |
||
Revision as of 20:51, 15 January 2012
The Eclipse Peat Company were the company that had a license to extract peat from the Somerset Levels. The company were taken over by Fisons in XXXX.
Peat extraction
The extraction of peat from the Moors is known to have taken place during Roman times, and has been carried out since the Levels were first drained.[1]
The Eclipse Peat Company was the main commercial extractor of peat, operating initially across Shapwick Heath.[2]
The introduction of plastic packaging in the 1950s allowed the peat to be packed without rotting, which led to the industrialisation of peat extraction during the 1960s as a major market in horticultural peat was developed. The reduction in water levels that resulted put local ecosystems at risk; peat wastage in pasture fields was occurring at rates of 1–3 feet (0.3–0.8 m) over 100 years.[3] Peat extraction continues today, although much reduced.[4][5]
In June 1961, on opening a new areas for peat extraction, found one half of a Flatbow. Found to date from the Neolithic period, it was given the name the Meare Heath Bow.[6]
Railway
There was an extensive 24 tramway railway operated by the company, to take workers to remote locations, and then extract heavy loads of cut peat.
Initially operated by horses until the 1930s,[2] the tramway had its mainworks at the Broomfield Works, where the company constructed its own locomotives from kits supplied by R.A. Listers of Dursley,[7] based around either Lister diesel or JAP petrol engines.
The railway crossed both the Glastonbury Canal and the former Somerset Central Railway from Burnham on Sea to Wells, near Ashcott railway station. Merged into the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway, .5 miles (0.80 km) west of Ashcott existed "Alexander siding", which allowed exchange between the SD&JR and the Eclipse tramway system, and hence distribution of cut peat products across the United Kingdom.[8]
In 1949 a British Railways passenger train from Highbridge collided with an Eclipse narrow gauge diesel locomotive crossing on the level and left the track, ending up in the marsh canal.[9]
Present
In 1961, Fisons bought Eclipse. This was the last year that hand-cutting was used to extract peat, and since this time all cutting has been done by machine.[10]
Presetly the Fisons Eclipse Peat Works covers 3,000 acres (1,200 ha), but only 1,100 acres (450 ha) are actually worked. Employing 65 people, more are employed in the summer when the peat is turned by hand to allow it to dry. 70% of production is sold in various products to domestic gardeners, while 30% is used for commercial purposes.[10]
After the company has finished working an area, it is enviornmentally restored, and then either resold to the original farmer, or conservationists or private buyers.[10] The system has lead to the creation of a number of Site of Special Scientific Interest, giving a haven to wildlife on the levels.
Input
Input1
References
- ^ "Somerset Peat Paper – Issues consultation for the Minerals Core Strategy" (PDF). Somerset County Council. 2009. p. 7. Retrieved 30 November 2011.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ a b "Shapwick - a history". british-history.ac.uk. Retrieved 2012-01-15.
- ^ Brunning, Richard. "Peat Wastage and Wetland Archaeology". The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. Retrieved 21 November 2009.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Somerset". Natural England. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
- ^ "Somerset Levels and Moors/Mid Somerset Hills" (PDF). Character Areas. Countryside Quality Counts. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Meare Heath Bow". digitaldigging.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-01-15.
- ^ Gordon Edgar. "Eclipse Peat Company". flickr.com. Retrieved 2012-01-15.
- ^ "Ashcott". SDJR.nt. Retrieved 2012-01-15.
- ^ "Accidents". SDJR.nt. Retrieved 2012-01-15.
- ^ a b c "Fisons Eclipse Peat Works". BBC Domesday Book. Retrieved 2012-01-15.
- ^ http://www.twyfordwaterworks.co.uk/65-Industrial-Railway.aspx