This book came out last year and I have only just been able to secure
copies for sale anyone who attended the Gloucester Hosted NAMHO will
recall Alan Gray's excellent talk on this previously little known industry
in the Mendip and Bristol Area
Earth Colours Mendip and Bristol Ochre
Mining<http://www.moorebooks.co.uk/Earth-Colours-Mendip-and-Bristol-Ochre-Mining.html>
Marie Clarke, Neville Gregory and Alan Gray, HB, 292pp, in full colour £20+
P&P
Earth Colours provides an historical record of ochre mining and the use of
ochre on Mendip from the Roman times until the mid 20th century. Includes
modern colour photographs and black and white historical onces, the book
includes plans and sections plus more useful grid references.
Neville concentrated on the technical and historical aspects of the
industry and Marie looked at what the impact of ochre mining was on the
towns, villages and people – her anecdotes of characters and life of the
times give a human aspect to this book and some unexpected insights – not
least of which being lies, theft and murder!
Tony Jarratt has reviewed this book and stated that it will put an entirely
different emphasis on mining on Mendip whereas it was thought that the
majority of mining was for lead the balance will now be restored with half
the mining being for lead and the other half being for ochre.
Alan Gray sourced the photographs and redrew all the maps and diagrams and
wrote part of Chapter 12 which brings the research from the 1980's to 2011.
This book was researched during the 1970’s and was not published.
Unfortunately Marie passed away and during 200. Alan was contacted by
Josyanne Clarke (Marie’s daughter) who wished to publish the book as a
tribute to her mother.
Mike
www.moorebooks.co.uk
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