The land for the Town Park was purchased by Midsomer Norton Town Council on the 4th February 2016, it represented the achievement of a long held aspiration to provide a green space for the whole community to enjoy and a place to hold major town events. On the 7th May 2021 the park was gifted to the Midsomer Norton Town Trust.
Midsomer Norton Town Park features:
- Riverside Walk
- Wild Meadow
- 300 capacity Purbeck stone amphitheatre
- Link to 5 Arches Greenway
- Celebration meadow
- Sensory garden
- Entrance walls
Town Park History
Before the Colliery & Railway
The town park area was once farmland owned by various individuals in the 19th century, as shown by an 1839 tithe map. Notable owners were George Treweeke Scobel, Mary Parsons, and the Kelsons, who also had Norton Hill Farm. Tenants included Owen Adams, who worked at Norton Hill Farm, and others like James Padfield, Samuel Shearer, and John Smith. It’s possible that descendants of these families may still reside in the area.
Coal Mining & Norton Hill Colliery
Norton Hill Colliery, operational since the 1850’s or 60’s, faced challenges like significant waterlogging. In 1897 it was acquired by Messrs F.B and J.B Beauchamp, trading as the Norton Hill Colliery Company. Under the new ownership the colliery improved productivity with a new wider shaft being commenced in 1902.
However, a devastating explosion on 9th April 1908, tragically claimed the lives of 10 men and 5 horses.
Clay Batch
There was once a small isolated terrace of around nine houses known as Clay Batch, situated next to the railway. The houses were demolished to allow the batch to be extended. The local colliery, nationalized in 1946, saw a decline in coal mining, leading to its closure in 1965. Post the Aberfan disaster in 1966, the batch was re-profiled for safety, incorporating concrete drainage to prevent waterlogging and erosion. These features, now mostly redundant due to vegetation, mark a significant phase in the site’s history.
Celebration Meadow
The Celebration Meadow below the batch was created from the excavated material, transforming the landscape and commemorating the community’s resilience and history.
Somerset & Dorset Railway and The Greenway
The Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway, was used to transport coal aswell as passengers and the line became affectionately known as the Slow & Dirty or Slow and Doubtful. Opened in 1874, it facilitated the movement of coal and passengers until its closure in 1966 due to the Beeching cuts.
The Five Arches Greenway, the shared cycle and footpath running along the old track bed was a joint project between Bath & Norton East Somerset Council and Sustrans. It was opened in 2013 by Michael Eavis. The greenway provides a traffic free route connecting to the Norton Radstock greenway and on to join the National Cycle Network Route 24 in Radstock
Flooding
The town centre, was once vulnerable to flooding, underwent significant improvements between 1975 and 1977 to enhance water flow and straighten the river’s path. A flood alleviation tunnel was constructed from March 1977 to 1979/80, spanning approximately one kilometre from near the cricket ground to the park. This tunnel diverts excess water during floods, maintaining a steady flow through the High Street and preventing flood damage in the town centre.
Town Park Progress
The concept of a Town Park in Midsomer Norton was first considered in 1911, but initial plans were not realized due to the proposed site’s location. The Beauchamp family’s donation of land in the same year led to the creation of a recreation ground, which over time evolved to include various facilities.
Despite changes in local governance and challenges such as the closure of Norton Hill Colliery, the idea of a dedicated town park persisted. It gained traction with the establishment of the Midsomer Norton Town Council in 2011, leading to the purchase of land for the park in 2016.
Development continued despite the Covid-19 pandemic, and the park’s management was eventually transferred to the Midsomer Norton Town Trust to ensure local stewardship. The park remains a work in progress, reflecting the community’s long-standing desire for a central recreational space.
Ariel view of the park before work started in 2020
Images below show The Town Park under construction
Midsomer Norton Town Park Amphitheatre
We hope you enjoy using this fantastic space.
If you would like to book the amphitheatre for an organised group event please contact the secretary@midsomernortontowntrust.co.uk or visit the Community Trust website for more information at Midsomer Norton Town Park – Midsomer Norton Community Trust (mnct.co.uk)
Wildlife & Ecology
Fauna
The site play host to a wide range of animals from numerous invertebrates including meadow ants (grass covered ant hills on the batch slopes) to slow worms and grass snakes, bats and badgers.
Look out for:
- Grass snakes basking in the sun
- Dippers (small brown birds with a white breast) bobbing in the river channel,
- Butterflies: Common blue, large skipper, marbled white, small skipper and meadow brown.
- You may be lucky enough to spot an otter on the river or to confirm the possible presence of water voles.
Flora
With its mix of habitats, the site as a whole plays host to a wide variety of plant species. Some of those worth looking out for include:
- Common Spotted Orchid, Bee Orchid & Pyramidal Orchid on the northern batch slopes in June.
- Bird’s-foot trefoil, oxeye daisy, mouse-ear-hawkweed, bush vetch, Hairy St John’s Wort , Common Centaury, fox & cubs and agrimony in the less fertile grassland areas
