In order to create the Mineral Line Railway that could carry iron ore from the sumit of the Brendon Hills an incline had to be built. This was three quarters of a mile long and at a gradient of 1 in 4.

West Somerset Mineral Line Winding House

Situated at the top of the incline and built into the embankment was the winding house. It contained two large drums, 18 feet in diameter, that shared a common axle and, by using steel cables, allowed the weight of iron ore in descending trucks to raise the empty ones. Wlten the mines closed this method could no longer be used so a small stationary engine was installed in the winding house. Iit was possible for passengers to travel up the incline in a truck, free, but at their own risk.

West Somerset Mineral Line Winding House - inside

The winding house on the West Somerset mineral line railway contained the machinery used to lower the trucks full of ore down the steep incline encountered on the route to Watchet harbour. None of the machinery survives but the site remains.  Railway trucks used on the line were hauled up the incline from Comberow to the Brendon hills by machinery housed beneath the railway tracks. The building for this machinery was called the winding house and contained a stationary engine that turned a huge winding drum. Cables were wound around the drum and attached to the trucks at the bottom of the incline some 800 feet / 244 meters below, the drum turned and hauled the trucks to the top. The trucks transported iron ore from mines on the Brendon hills to the port of Watchet from where it was taken to Wales. Sadly the machinery no longer exists but the winding house and cable ducts still do.

West Somerset Mineral Line view down the Incline from the Winding House

There were three inclines on this railway, Brendon hill was the only one used when the railway was at its height after its closure. Another incline was in the adjacent mine called Blackland, and one in Langham hill was only temporary. The Brendon hill incline was 1 in 4, steam powered and opened in 1861.

West Somerset Mineral  Winding House cable duct

Langham Hill Adit

Contributed by: Karen Clarke, Jim Levan