| This well produced and illustrated book contains the intriguing and hitherto completely unrecorded history of a once significant industrial activity around Bath. Fuller's earth and its myriad uses are comprehensively explained, a fascinating subject in itself, whilst the many other details of the industry and its development are comprehensively recorded. Ordnance survey map extracts are included to show the exact location of the several sites, all of which are also depicted in a good selection of photographs. Despite the arcane and obscure nature of the subject the author has used his local knowledge, contacts and some surviving records to produce a really interesting and readable account, to which the publishers have done full credit. On a "railway note", this book told me that the Fullers Earth being loaded into box vans in Midford goods yard as frequently recorded by Ivo Peters photographs was destined for the oil refinery at Llandarcy. A "mine" of information and compelling reading for Bathonians on several "levels" - ouch! |
