Following a visit to Radstock Museum, eight year old Teddie Prouse has been inspired to discover more of the local area’s rich mining and transport history. As a result, he has now been given his own exhibit at the popular Somerset venue.
Radstock Museum features a range of exhibits which offer an insight into North Somerset life since the 19th century. However, Teddie from Peasedown St John, and a pupil at Widcombe Junior School, wanted to discover how coal was transported from the Somerset Coal Mines to the rest of the country between the 1700s-1900s.
An insightful research project began, lasting ten weeks, with Teddie working every Saturday morning with a family friend, Linda Howlett (former Headteacher of Nunney First School) and his dad, Jamie Prouse.
His research involved visits to Radstock Museum, studying the information available alongside carrying out research on the internet. After collected all his resources, he began to create a time line using the maps, illustrations and factual information that he had discovered.
Exploring both canal, tram and railway history, Teddie discovered how transport changed over time from 1700 to 1900, and how this history is still evident in the landscape today, notably in the cycle routes which have since replaced the railway, which itself superseded canals in the area.
Teddie hopes that his project will inspire other children to discover more about the history of where they live. “There is so much history under our feet and so much to be learned at museums,” he said. “Next, we are going to visit the SDR Midsomer Norton Railway Museum and Dundes Aqueduct where the coal would be taken to before being transported to Bristol, London and all around the country.”
The Manager of Radstock Museum, Nick Turner, has kindly agreed to display Teddie’s timeline in the museum for a short time, for anyone wanting to see this and many more of the exhibits on display.