SIAS

Somerset Industrial

Archaeological Society

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Updated 09 May 2025

SIAS

SIAS is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
Charity Commission registered number: 1185669

SUMMER 2025 PROGRAMME ANNOUNCED
see the Programme page

Bulletin 158 has been published and distributed to all members

INDUSTRIAL ARCHAEOLOGY TRAILS

by PETER DANIEL

Leaflets in pdf format available for download:

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 of 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 South West Heritage Trust, 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
Richard Sims' Book "Sailcloth, Webbing and Shirts - The Crewkerne Textile Industry"
Otterhead Estate Trust

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

New members are always welcome. For details see the Membership page.

Activities

Talks are held fortnightly on Monday evenings from October to March at 19:30 in Silver Street Baptist Church Hall, Taunton. 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.

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. 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.

Publications

Bulletins are published and circulated to members in April, August and December. 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. see the Publications page.

Links

Association for Industrial Archaeology (AIA) (website)