Old Ironstone Works, Mells

The Old Ironstone Works near Mells is an industrial site with stone buildings, tunnels, and production structures spread across protected land in a narrow valley. The layout shows how water from the nearby stream powered different workshops where tools were shaped and finished.

The Fussell family started this works in 1744 as a center for making farm tools that were shipped around the world. The facility operated for nearly 150 years before closing in 1894 as manufacturing moved to larger industrial centers.

The industrial remains show how rural valleys changed when factories became central to community life during the 1700s and 1800s. Visitors can sense how deeply manufacturing shaped the daily rhythms of this Somerset settlement.

The site is currently fenced off while restoration work continues, so close viewing is limited from outside the barriers. The village of Mells lies nearby and offers parking and facilities for those exploring the area.

The abandoned buildings and tunnels now shelter Greater and Lesser Horseshoe bats, which use them as winter hibernation and summer breeding sites. These rare bats are legally protected, making the site important for conservation efforts.