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I have a book, 'The Dorset & Somerset Canal' by Kenneth R. Clew, published 1971 by David & Charles, Newton Abbot, it tells all about how the backers raised money for the project and how the expenditure around Coleford and Mells caused it to fail along with the Napoleonic wars. The grand plan was to link the Severn estuary with the south coast hence 'Dorset & Somerset', the Coleford and Mells workings were part of a spur to connect the collieries in the Nettlebridge valley with the Kennet & Avon canal much in the same way that the Somersetshire Coal Canal connected the K & A with the pits around Paulton Basin. Money generated from the traffic would finance construction of the D & S down to the Poole area.

A beautiful video, loved the music used in the cinematics and the storytelling was awesome, so much passion put into it. The symbol was incredible. Nice drone shots too.

Thumbs up for the National Library of Scotland. A superb source of old maps, not just Scotland but England and Wales too. One of your best videos yet. Hugely atmospheric. I also think the mark in the tunnel was made by the master mason. In fact I am tempted to explore the Hereford and Worcester canal and Hereford Cathedral sometime to see whether I can find the mark of my ancester Peter Fawkes, who rose from a labouring family to master mason and civil engineer, progressed from canals to railways and was only one rung below the most well-known engineers of the day like the Brasseys. I have spent a few muddy afternoons exploring the remains of Fussell's works along the River Mells and that would make a great video on its own.

Dear both You are becoming very interested in my area and without doubt you will find it full of stuff. You might want to look at the forgotten West Somerset standard gauge mineral railway. It ran from the top of the Brendon Hills Iron mines to Watchet harbour. It had a massive rope worked, incredible 3,272 feet incline at 1 in 4 at Comberow. Yes, it is still there and yes passengers use to descend in it (although unofficially of course)!!!!

2:58 Paul, surrounded by trees: "We;re pretty sure now we're in a little bit of a wooded bit"

I reckon your decision to diversify into areas of industrial architecture, other than railways is now paying you dividends, as what a great informative & interesting channel you've now both got. That untouched 220 year old tunnel was an unbelievable find, so well done on that one. I think you've got a great formula now & grown immensely since those early days, my No.1 favourite geeks. Regards...Rural Geeze. x

I recently joined the Somersetshire Coal Canal Society and then found out about the D&S canal too. I accidentally found the canal bed in Coleford whilst on a walk to see the aqueduct! Last weekend I found the Murtry aqueduct and may have let out an excited squeal at the tunnel 🤣

Congratulations! You have managed to appear on BBC news for Somerset, this morning (13th Jan). Good advertising for the site.

Really enjoyed that. Just love seeing the way things were. That tunnel was highlight can’t believe how beautiful that was. Love your videos. Thanks so much for taking me along and please stay safe and take care

About 8 miles of the 11 mile branch was built. There is some evidence that some local coal traffic was carried from Edford to Coleford. Only one of the Balance Locks was actually completed. The others were just roughly dug out pits. The Murtry Aqueduct is a real Gem. I first saw it in 1968 and you could easily walk through the tunnel under the canal. Remember the aqueduct was never actually used and it certainly never carried any water. Thankfully all of the trees one the aqueduct have been removed and the aqueduct is in far better condition now than it was. If you follow the canal towards the main road (it is a public footpath) along side the railway that is still used for quarry traffic there are some very nice "Fence Posts" made from sections of the old broad gauge "Bridge Rail". Talking about local Tramways Lower Writhlington Colliery 1829-1973 was served by a substantial 2' 8" gauge system of lines which linked the Colliery to various other collieries e.g. Foxcote and some landsale yards via a number of ropeworked inclined planes. For details of these there is a very good book published by the Cornish Publisher Twelveheads on 'Inclines in South West England' it looks at virtually all of the canal, railway and tramroad/tramway inclines in the south west. Thinking About it one very unusual (though not unique) feature of Lower Writhlington Colliery was that the public road ran right through the Colliery site with the coaling shaft with its green painted metal headframe on the west side of the road and the winding house on the east side of the road with the ropes running over the public road!

That tunnel was absolutely brilliant! They certainly built it to last, the craftsmen were really skilled, dare I say better than nowadays. A great find, well done Paul and Rebecca.

You clearly have the knack of finding the most surprising places....thank you so much...loved the old maps by the way...

Hi Paul and Rebecca just came along your videos and I really enjoy them I have even went back and watch old ones. You both have got me interested in old lines and tunnels around me there is a old viaduct in the village of Newmilns in Ayrshire but not found any tunnels yet 😥😥😥

Paul and Rebecca: Great documenting of Britain's lost past.

WOW! That little tunnel be it walkway or tramway was brilliant. A very interesting and exciting video guys. Thanks so much for taking me along. You've proved that with a bit of research and searching on site, all sorts of historical structures can be found.

What a fantastic video, and a cracking find re the tunnel, wow amazing, I’m going to walk there and have a look, Thankyou both xx

Enjoyed this trip to the canal in Somerset. An extremely well built tunnel to have lasted all this time! Glad to see another segment.

That block work is amazing Great find Thanks for sharing Mark

Thank you both for the look round. Enjoyed watching. Chain drive for lifting boats is a fascinating almost happened moment. Enjoyed!

Thank you for another great film, you both really work hard for our (all who watch) enjoyment. Best wishes for you both

That looks like a mason’s ‘banker mark’ to signify who built that arch and got paid for it

Another episode of the Whitewicks topping up their step count for the week! Lovely stuff as per and some fascinating finds. 👍

Part two was just as good as part one. Thank you. 😀😀

Absolutely love both of you guys and all your wonderful videos! Fantastic to see so much forgotten history and especially when you get close to where I live in Wiltshire and show amazing locations that I will hopefully get to go and see myself one day! 😊 Keep the videos coming guys!

What a great video and that's little tunnel through the aqueduct was fantastic especially the markins by the builders

Great video some really good tunnel finds in fantastic condition hard to believe the are 200 years old and as good now as when they where built. thanks for sharing and stay safe

Fascinating and as ever really well researched - beats a dusty museum for sure!

Thoroughly enjoyed this. Scenery was stunning. That tunnel at the end what a find. Well done. Loved it thank you

Superb video. That was quite a tunnel. Loving this industrial archeology.

Thank you. That tunnel was amazing. Terry and Dianne

Super video guys, I actually have a tool marked Fussells Mells, looking forward to a more detailed video on the area around the iron works.

hi paul and rebecca , this is just what i needed after a really bad day , great video again , thank you for making my day a little better , that was a really cool tunnel , well done :)

What a lovely little tunnel, quite fascinating to see the initials carved in the stone, after two hundred odd years...🎅👍👍

This is turning into another fantastic adventure

Really enjoying this local series so far. You've got to be pretty close to the Collier's Way cycle route/former railway line in the Great Elm/Mells area, probably built with similar intentions to the canal concept.

VPNs rock. For breaking geoblocking crap. I already have 2, but the gist of the sponsor/ad segment is absolutely true

Thanks for the video absolutely beautiful and a fantastic tunnel from that time. Take care both of you!!😎🐓🐓🇬🇧

The connection from Vobster actually finishes in my garden just outside Frome in Spring Gardens. You are welcome to come and look when you do the other videos.

Fascinating video. The tunnel markings are something I would like to know more about. Cheers Paul & Rebecca.

Moving to Somerset in the New Year and this looks like a place I'd like to visit!

what terrific video guys - thankyou!

Very interesting and beautiful scenery. Thank you so much

Rebecca trying to do the “Madness” dance at 3 mins??😆👍

Great video guys , that tunnel at the end was amazing , as a bricky it’s was very much appreciated 👌🏼🧱👍🏽

That tunnel was fascinating, an amazing find

Thank you, I love your country ❤

Once again, the aerial videos are beautiful...

Nice, you're teaching me more about the lidar thanks! Love the vids BTW.

another classic you two stay safe and long may these go on

Brilliant video! Love those tunnels!

Great stuff! thank you both.......

Very interesting indeed, did like the last tunnel, looked very nice.

Yet another wonderful video. Thanks Guys.

Always look forward to a video from you both!

The little tunnel at the end is so much dryer than what you usually find from that period .

A great find.

Worth the wait 👍👍👍

Hello Paul & Rebecca, Just found your channel. Coming from a Railway town (Swindon) and having lived in Wiltshire and now Lincolnshire. I have seen some of the stuff you talk about. Trying to catch up with all your vids, well done. Have been informed of some things i didnt know and reiterated some things i did. Looking forward to the next vid Thank you

Thank you for yet another great video, loved the "Oooh" moments ! Did you know I have to pay the gym quite a bit of money to walk like that 02:48 ?

Yes, it was fully worth, waiting for part 2. Great video (again), got the same "oooh moments" as you by seeing the aquaduct and the tunnel. Can't wait for part 3. The landfill of the southern portal (and probably the norther too) might be debris of some bombing in the area during WW2. All across Europe was the debris used to fill in old disused waterways and cuttings (probably someone later thought it might be a good idea to leave his own rubbish there too). 3:00, Rebecca is looking for a job at the Ministry of Silly Walks?

Thank you... another amazing video...

Hi both I bought Nord VPN some time ago with cover for three devices on a very good deal for three years. I have no complaints and have found it to be excellent.

Good Advent, Merry Christmas, 🕯🐾🐾😻🎄

A very interesting exploration. Especially Fussell's boat lift- can't wait for more about that! There's a lot of detective work needed to figure out what had been going on, too. That tunnel is a little gem. I wonder how the canal would have fared if completed. Fussell seems quite well to do. I wonder if his one of his descendents was responsible for Fussell's Condensed Milk. It was the low fat (skimmed milk) type. I used to like it but it suddenly vanished a few years ago. I think Nestlé own the name now.

So much forgotten history.

Another great video! I suspect that that the short tunnel was blocked on one end to prevent water from the river, when in flood, from inundating the land on the blocked side.

I remember the canal at Bath. Bob Alberta.

I do love your canal history

12:25 that's a brick makers stamp... You friend Martin Zero has a video that discusses it when he's checking out the river in Manchester that they were working on sometime last year.

I wonder if the letters in the tunnel were the builders initials. They made their mark on history in more ways than one.

Wow all that history

You folks are a treasure.

Good tunnel finds

Once you dam a river and install a water wheel you can pretty much manufacture, process what you want. As you have a Mechanical source of power.

Interesting. Particularly like the final sequence. :-)

Great video , lots of interesting things to see on this one. Mad thing is it was never finished or I guess used .

Super stuff!

Brilliant video!

So very interesting thank you from NZ

How much that 220 year old tunnel has withstood is such a testament to engineering of that time. Hope you ok after your little trip/slip 😉

Fascinating 👌 Thanks for sharing 👍

Nice video guys ..keep up the good work

Another great video, no locks but another great video

Another great video folks, was Rebecca practicing her Madness walk? 😂 The rubbish heap was probably a farm dump over the years. I do like a nice bridge 🤗

Great content - Thanks

Hi Paul & Rebecca Excellent stuff In the late 1980’s and 1990’s I worked as a HG driver delivering from Bristol into Somerset Dorset & Devon, as a member of the Somerset & Dorset and West Somerset Railways I did a lot of research in this area. I have an extensive book map & journal collection. Feel free should you need any help.

Why would they block off one end of a tunnel 6 feet in, and leave 30 foot the other? Maybe to stop sheep is my only guess, and give them a shelter in winter?

There’s a tunnel in coleford uk on Newland street I’ve been there loads but unfortunately u can’t get inside

The Old Iron Works in Mells (okay my "research" is based on Wikipedia) looks an interesting location with lots of history and possibly some reenactment of stories or storytelling from Rebecca on her channel?

Yet more great detective work guys - well done. I know you put a heck of a lot work into your prior research & your post edits so am reluctant to "add to your burden". Would it be possible in some of your drone shots to overlay the route of the railway lines, canals etc.? This is not always 100% obvious even with your excellent descriptions.

Fantastic! What a great tunnel! Was it a cattle passage or just a footpath I wonder? And they were masons marks and initials; they were the means for masons to collect their pay (a bit like signing your individual work). Not uncommon on canal masonry. Shame the canal tunnels weren’t visible/accessible - I’m a tunnelholic! Looking forward to the next instalment. Cheers!

I can only assume they are masons marks on the stonework? Don't know but what else could they be? Enjoying these videos, as always, thank you both. 👍

very bendy canal am up to date with your videos now did like rebeccas funny walk

1:00 that's one bendy canal....no wonder they stopped building it.

Looks like you've enjoyed yourselfs! And so have I!

We have been under in two smart little tunnels, what is the view from on top of them? Good work team especially the attempt at comedy with the prat fall effort by Paul entering the longer tunnel.

Hi what maps do you use to research old lines?

If it was Paul's editing of the video that gives the impression Rebecca has had an unfortunate "accident" @2:50, she might want to consider contacting a lawyer...

Thoroughly