Radstock is a community in Somerset, England, 9 miles (14 kilometres) south west of Bath, and also 8 miles (13 kilometres) north west of Frome. It is within the unitary authority of Bath and North East Somerset and had a population of 5,620 according to the 2011 Census. Since 2011 Radstock has been a community council in its own right. Radstock has been worked out since the Iron Age, and also its significance expanded after the building of the Fosse Way, a Roman roadway. The development of the town occurred after 1763, when coal was discovered in the area. Great deals of mines opened during the 19th century including several had by the Waldegrave family members, that had actually been Lords of the Manor considering that the English Civil War. Admiral Lord Radstock, bro of George, 4th Earl Waldegrave, took the town's name as his title when developed a Baron. The spoil lot of Writhlington colliery is now the Writhlington Site of Special Scientific Interest, which includes 3,000 tons of Upper Carboniferous ruin from which greater than 1,400 insect fossil specimens have actually been recuperated. The facility geology and slim seams made coal extraction tough. Tonnage enhanced throughout the 19th century, reaching a peak around 1901, when there were 79 separate collieries and annual production was 1,250,000 heaps per annum. Nevertheless, due to regional geological problems and also manpower shortages result decreased as well as the number of pits decreased from 30 at the beginning of the 20th century to 14 by the mid-thirties; the last 2 pits, Kilmersdon and also Writhlington, closed in September 1973. The Great Western Railway and the Somerset and Dorset Railway both developed terminals and also marshalling yards in the town. The last passenger train solutions to Radstock closed in 1966. Production industries such as printing, binding and product packaging give some neighborhood employment. In the last few years, Radstock has significantly become a traveler community for the nearby cities of Bath as well as Bristol. Radstock is home to the Radstock Museum which is housed in a previous market hall, as well as has a range of exhibitions which offer an insight into north-east Somerset life because the 19th century. Most of the exhibits relate to regional geology as well as the currently disused Somerset coalfield and also geology. The town is likewise house to Writhlington School, well-known for its Orchid collection, and also a range of instructional, spiritual and also social structures and sporting clubs.