Radstock is a community in Somerset, England, 9 miles (14 kilometres) southern west of Bath, and 8 miles (13 km) north west of Frome. It is within the unitary authority of Bath as well as North East Somerset and also had a population of 5,620 according to the 2011 Census. Because 2011 Radstock has actually been a town council in its very own right. Radstock has actually been cleared up because the Iron Age, and also its significance grew after the construction of the Fosse Way, a Roman roadway. The development of the community took place after 1763, when coal was uncovered in the area. Lots of mines opened up during the 19th century consisting of a number of had by the Waldegrave family members, that had been Lords of the Manor because the English Civil War. Admiral Lord Radstock, brother of George, fourth Earl Waldegrave, took the town's name as his title when produced a Baron. The spoil stack of Writhlington colliery is currently the Writhlington Site of Special Scientific Interest, which includes 3,000 tons of Upper Carboniferous spoil from which greater than 1,400 insect fossil specimens have actually been recouped. The complicated geology and narrow joints made coal removal challenging. Tonnage increased throughout the 19th century, reaching a peak around 1901, when there were 79 different collieries as well as annual production was 1,250,000 heaps per year. Nevertheless, due to local geological troubles and workforce shortages result declined and the number of pits decreased from 30 at the start of the 20th century to 14 by the mid-thirties; the last two pits, Kilmersdon and also Writhlington, closed in September 1973. The Great Western Railway and also the Somerset and Dorset Railway both established stations and also marshalling lawns in the town. The last passenger train services to Radstock enclosed 1966. Production markets such as printing, binding as well as product packaging offer some regional work. In the last few years, Radstock has significantly come to be a traveler town for the close-by cities of Bath and also Bristol. Radstock is house to the Radstock Museum which is housed in a previous market hall, and also has a variety of exhibits which offer an insight into north-east Somerset life because the 19th century. Much of the displays associate with neighborhood geology and also the currently disused Somerset coalfield and also geology. The town is likewise residence to Writhlington School, popular for its Orchid collection, and also a variety of instructional, spiritual as well as cultural structures and showing off clubs.