Mells Down

Downs, Moorland in Somerset Mendip

England

Mells Down

Stone Stile on Park Hill near Mells A stone stile beside the road on Park Hill near Mells.
The stile leads onto a public footpath that goes down to Mells.
Photograph taken at the bend in the road where Park Hill becomes Conduit Hill. — Stone Stile on Park Hill near Mells Credit: Kevin Pearson

Mells Down, located in Somerset, England, is a picturesque area characterized by its beautiful downs and moorland. It is renowned for its stunning landscapes, diverse wildlife, and rich history.

The downs in Mells Down offer breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside. These rolling hills are covered with lush green grass and interspersed with small patches of woodland. Walking along the downs, visitors can enjoy the tranquility of the area while admiring the natural beauty that surrounds them.

The moorland in Mells Down is another notable feature, providing a unique and diverse habitat for various plant and animal species. The moors are characterized by open expanses of heather and gorse, creating a vibrant purple and yellow color palette during the flowering season. The moorland is also home to a variety of bird species, including buzzards, kestrels, and skylarks, making it an ideal spot for birdwatching enthusiasts.

Mells Down is steeped in history, with evidence of human presence dating back to the Neolithic period. The area boasts several ancient monuments, including burial mounds and standing stones, which serve as reminders of its rich past. Additionally, the nearby village of Mells features a charming 13th-century church and a historic manor house, adding to the area's cultural significance.

Overall, Mells Down is a place of natural beauty and historical importance. Whether it's exploring the downs, wandering through the moorland, or delving into the area's past, visitors to Mells Down are sure to be captivated by its charm and allure.

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Mells Down Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 51.261573/-2.39358 or Grid Reference ST7251. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Stone Stile on Park Hill near Mells

A stone stile beside the road on Park Hill near Mells. The stile leads onto a public footpath that goes down to Mells. Photograph taken at the bend in the road where Park Hill becomes Conduit Hill.

Kevin Pearson

Old Milestone by A362, Buckland Down, North of Lodge to Ammerdown Park

The Milestone is located on grass verge on the West of the road. Parish of Hemington (Mendip District). Metal plate attached to stone post, Radstock iron plate design, erected by the Radstock turnpike trust in the 18th century. Re-erected after being uprooted in 2001; repainted by a member of the public. An earlier photograph can be found here: Link Inscription reads:- FROME / 5 / RADSTOCK / 3 Grade II listed. List Entry Number: 1175774 Link

Milestone Society National ID: SO_FRRS05

Janet Dowding

Course of the Dorset and Somerset Canal

Looking west along the bed of the abandoned Dorset and Somerset Canal, constructed in about 1798, but never completed or opened. This section of the canal was intended to form part of a branch extending to Nettlebridge for the purpose of transporting coal from the Somerset coal field.

David Tyers

Remains of a balance lock on the Dorset and Somerset Canal

In 1798 the Somerset ironmaster James Fussell patented a "Balance Lock for Raising or Lowering Boats, &c.". A canal lift to his design was built and demonstrated at this site in 1800, when it successfully raised boats by about 20 feet up to the summit level of the Nettlebridge branch of the Dorset and Somerset Canal. Following the trial, construction of several more balance locks was begun at nearby Barrow Hill, but work on the canal was abandoned when funds ran out, and the locks were never completed. This balance lock was the subject of an archaeological excavation in about 2005, but nature is now taking over the site again.

David Tyers

Brick Kiln Farm Bridge

Bridge carrying Wanwards Lane across the Frome to Radstock railway (closed to passenger traffic in 1959, and to goods in 1968). It now crosses The Colliers Way (part of National Cycle Network Route 24), though the overgrown railway tracks are still in place.

David Tyers

Track, Napp Wood

The woodland, part of the Ammerdown Estate is open for the public.

Maigheach-gheal

St Mary's church, Hardington Bampfylde (interior)

Belying the building's Norman origins is an interior that looks distinctly Georgian. The pulpit and altar rails are of the late C18, whilst the box pews are early C19; it followed much rebuilding in the early C17. The Royal Arms of Charles I above the chancel arch was repainted in 1817. The 'wonky' chancel arch itself is possibly Norman, whilst the nave is late C14. This little church sits amongst modern farm buildings and is now cared for by the Churches Conservation Trust.

Mike Searle

St Mary's church, Hardington Bampfylde - Bampfylde monument

This fine wall monument to Colonel Warwick Bampfylde (†1694) in the chancel stands 12 feet tall. As well as the Colonel, the memorial inscription also commemorates three further generations of the Bampfylde family.

Mike Searle

Blessed Virgin Mary, Hemington

Dave Kelly

Cornish's Grave Projecting Bracket

An old style of survey marker in the structure of a railway bridge near Kilmersdon. These were fairly short-lived, being used from the Second Geodetic Levelling from 1912 but replaced by Flush Brackets. Most surviving examples are often found along railway lines, like this one. See ST7151 : Cornish's Grave bridge for a wider view and Link

for the listing in the Benchmark Database and nearby ones too.

Neil Owen

Cornish's Grave bridge

Once the old colliers' line saw trains running along the tracks but today is now National Cycle Network Route 24. A projecting bracket can be found low down on the corner of the wall to the left of shot - see ST7151 : Cornish's Grave Projecting Bracket.

Neil Owen

Benchmark on Conduit Bridge

An old cutmark, as listed in the Benchmark Database: Link

, on the east wall of the old railway bridge. See ST7350 : A choice of routes for a wider view and ST7350 : Lost! for where an old projecting bracket used to be below.

Neil Owen

A choice of routes

The small road bridge over the old railway not leads down to the cycle path. A benchmark can be found on the eastern wall of the bridge - see ST7350 : Benchmark on Conduit Bridge - but a projecting bracket in the structure of the bridge itself has not enjoyed a similar fate. See ST7350 : Lost!.

Neil Owen

Lost!

This scar in the stonework of the railway bridge appears to be the remains of an old projecting bracket. It has clearly been removed, by fair means or foul! This part of the old Colliers' Way railway has become a popular cycle path and has a number of these types dotted along it - see Link

for the listing in the Benchmark Database and ST7350 : Conduit Bridge for a wider view of the bridge.

Neil Owen

Conduit Bridge

The Colliers Way - Route 24 of Sustrans National Cycle Network - is part of the route that links Midsomer Norton to Frome. Originally it was the Somersetshire Coal Canal before the railway took over, but today is a popular and peaceful cyclepath. A benchmark used to be in the stonework of the left abutment but has been lost now - see ST7350 : Lost!. Also see Link

for the local information.

Neil Owen

Is it me?

Along the old coal railway line from Radstock to Frome are a number of bridges. Having been closed to traffic in 1988, the line was converted into National Cycle Network Route 24 and artists Elizabeth Turrell and Imi Murf have placed artworks into the high arches in order to recount the days of steam. These enamel fingers are arranged differently at each bridge. See ST7151 : Cornish's Grave bridge for a view of the bridge and ST7549 : A curious mixture for another example further down the line.

Neil Owen

Simple art

The Colliers Way is illuminated by frequent artworks of a more practical nature. Here a solid bench by Yumiko Aoyagi stands next to a boulder by Elizabeth Turrell and Imi Maufe, which has names of old apple and pear varieties set into it.

Neil Owen

Undercover pipes

Actually perhaps these should be under the ground? Some of the products of the concrete works nearby have clearly been misappropriated. See ST7151 : Open both ends for another inadvertent wildlife refuge.

Neil Owen

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Mells Down is located at Grid Ref: ST7251 (Lat: 51.261573, Lng: -2.39358)

Administrative County: Somerset

District: Mendip

Police Authority: Avon and Somerset