4. Somerset

Ian McMillan explores the marginal and forgotten coalfields of England.

Most British pits closed long ago and memories are fading whilst away from the major coalfields many people don't even remember that coal was recently mined in Somerset, Kent, Shropshire, Cumbria and The Forest of Dean.

Are we doomed to forget our industrial past?

How do the ex-miners in Somerset remember it?

Ian chats to ex-miners Francis Hillier, Mark Bridges, Alec Hann and Wilf Perkins.

Producer: Tim Dee

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in March 2006.