UPDATED: 24.04.2024

SIAS

SIAS is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)

Charity Commission registered number: 1185669

Bulletin 155 has been published and posted to all members.

SUMMER 2024 PROGRAMME ANNOUNCED

see the Programme page

SIAS@50

2022 marked the 50th Anniversary of SIAS. A celebratory event for members and guests was held at Westonzoyland Pumping Station Museum on the 3^rd of September. To mark the nearest date to the actual inaugural meeting, a retrospective meeting was held on 24^th January. Those who were unable to attend this meeting can view the slide presentations given by Peter Daniel and Iain Miles, together with their talk notes, as pdf files by clicking on the following links:

SIAS@50-PD.pdf

SIAS@50-IM.pdf

NEW FEATURE

A new page has been introduced to this web site.
"Gallery" will eventually contain an archive of all SIAS digital images.
Its initial content is:

Gazetteer Photographs

sias.me.uk/gallery/

TRAIL LEAFLETS by PETER DANIEL

Leaflets in pdf format available for free download

Creech St. Michael - An industrial archaeological trail NEW

Rode - An industrial archaeological trail

Milborne Port - An industrial archaeological trail

Somerton - An industrial archaeological trail

Cheddar - An industrial archaeological trail

SIAS is interested in all aspects of the industrial history and heritage of the County of Somerset. The Society was founded in 1972 and the geographical frontiers of the Society were delineated by the Local Government Act which established the new County in the same year. Cordial relations have been established with similar societies in neighbouring counties. The work of SIAS has included excavations, site surveys, ‘rescue’ operations for old machinery and the listing of significant industrial buildings. Records of these activities in the form of photographs, line drawings, maps and written reports have been retained in the Society's archives and at the Somerset Heritage Centre, with whom SIAS has established close links.

SIAS supports various initiatives, either by financial grants or manpower support, including:

The Kenyon Photographic Project (South West Heritage Trust)

Dulverton Weir & Leat Conservation Trust

Langport Flood Gates at Westonzoyland Pumping Station Museum of Steam Power & Land Drainage

Richard Sims' Book "Sailcloth, Webbing and Shirts - The Crewkerne Textile Industry"

Otterhead EstateTrust

If you would like to add your support, please donate using the PayPal button below:

New members are always welcome. For details see the Membership page or contact the Membership Secretary, Barbara Cooper, Park Field Cottage, Chipley, Langford Budville, Wellington, Somerset TA21 0QU or telephone the Honorary Secretary, Geoff Fitton, 01278 760869 or email contact@sias.me.uk.

Activities 

Talks are held fortnightly on Monday evenings from October to March at 19.30.  There is a free-of-charge Book Exchange and SIAS publications are on sale. There is no charge to members to attend lectures; non-members are welcome and are charged £3. For details see the Programme page.

Talks are given at meetings in Silver Street Baptist Church Hall, Taunton.

(please use the side entrance facing the private car park)

(please do not park in reserved spaces)

Field Trips take place each summer. SIAS enjoys a full programme of day, half-day and evening visits to place of industrial and historic interest. There is no charge to members unless there are transport costs or admission fees to pay. Non-members can attend field trips on payment of a £3 fee, but please first contact the Field Officer, Peter Daniel, peter.daniel51@btinternet.com (e-mail contact is preferred when possible, but telephone 07736 374003 if urgent). For details see the Programme page.

Fieldwork involves investigation of specific sites, including, for example, photographs, measurements, excavation or clearance of vegetation. For details see the Fieldwork page. Information on the current programme is published in the Bulletin which is published three times each year.

Committee Work. Apart from the governance of the society, members are involved in a range of other tasks including responding to local authority planning applications affecting industrial sites and structures and generally monitoring Somerset's industrial heritage.

For details see Notes & News

Publications

Bulletins are published and circulated to members, usually in January, April and September. Each Bulletin carries articles and reports on the industrial history of Somerset and also the current programme of events.

Surveys. SIAS publishes surveys on specific topics. There have been twenty-one published up to now.

Other SIAS (and non-SIAS) publications are available and are listed on the Publications page.

All publications are available to non-members.

Links

SIAS is affiliated to the Association for Industrial Archaeology (AIA) (website)

Current Archaeology (website)

Friends of the Grand Western Canal (website)

GooseyGoo (website)

Sherborne Steam & Waterwheel Centre (website)

Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society (website)
 

South West Heritage Trust (website)

Somerset Vernacular Building Research Group (website)

South Wiltshire Industrial Archaeology Society (website)
 

The Somersetshire Coal Canal Society (website)
 

Wessex Mills Group (website)

Westonzoyland Engine Trust (website)

West Somerset Mineral Line Association (website)

West Somerset Railway (website)

Capture Burnham (website)

Please contact SIAS Webmaster Chris Cooper with any problems or suggestions concerning this website.
contact@sias.me.uk

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