Churchill to Cheddar Hike, PART IV, 'An Old Lead Kiln' by Sheila, July 17th 2017
Channel: semw52
Date: 19/07/2017

This area of the Mendips has a big history of lead mining  in Roman times and during the Victorian Era--the villages of Rowberrow and Shipham were home to the local miners and the surrounding area is scarred with the evidence of mining---the trees in the warrens were planted at the end of the mining era here---quite a few mining families moved to WSM, Wales and even emigrated to Australia, Canada, USA when times became difficult for families----emigration was a common event all over the country in the 18th 19th centuries. I have a great great uncle who emigrated to Australia from Cambridgeshire during the Victoria Gold rush and I have much information about his progress and  his present descendants------my cousin Barbara from Canada also has strong connection to Shipham and Rowberrow but her ancestors also emigrated---yes this area has a rich history and it is found all over---the Iron Age  Hillfort is an example