Art show to celebrate stone mines

The project to shore up the mines began in 2005

Householders who are affected by works to stabilise mines underneath their homes in Bath are to be given a ceramic plate as part of a public art project.

Artist Chris Tipping has created a map using bone China dinner plates representing the limestone mines underneath the 691 houses.

The Combe Down Stone Mines Stabilisation Project, costing £164m, is expected to be completed this year.

The artwork will form part of a large scale exhibition in Combe Down village.

The stone mine project to shore up the tunnels began in 2005 and is thought to be one of the largest of its kind in the world.

Concrete has been used to fill in the limestone mines and prevent the houses above from collapsing into them.

The city of Bath was built from limestone mined at Combe Down.

The work, which has been funded by the Homes and Communities Agency, can currently be seen at The Octagon in Bath until 17 November when it will then move to Combe Down.