Combe Down Stone Mines Project

The mines in Combe Down are abandoned shallow Oolitic limestone mines worked mainly in the 18th and 19th centuries, extracting stone for the development of the City of Bath and surrounding towns. The mines now underlie an affluent residential area with 600 properties. Approximately 80% of the mines, which are up to 9 m high and cover a total area of about 18 ha, have less than 6 m cover and as little as 2 m in some places. Irregular mining practices, weathering and robbing stone from supporting pillars have left the mines in danger of collapse and therefore threatening the stability of the properties above.

Scott Wilson is providing technical, environmental and mining / civil engineering design and supervision services for the Emergency Stabilisation Works, on behalf of Bath and NE Somerset Council, in addition to providing services as the Project Engineer for the Main Scheme.

“The mines and surrounding areas are of great historical, archaeological and ecological significance,” says Rached Boughrarou, Scott Wilson’s Project Manager. “In particular, the mines are designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest for the rare Greater Horseshoe bats. The Combe Down area itself is also within the World Heritage Site of the City of Bath.”