Wick Ochre Mines

Overview

Ochre workings in the Golden Valley at Wick, east of Bristol, found while iron was being mined at Wick Rocks. George Phipps, manager of the local iron rolling mill and forge, adapted the mill in 1892 to grind the ochre instead; Burgess & Co. took the business on by 1895 and made the Golden Valley Ochre and Oxide Company known across the country. Red ochre came from shallow trenches and mines at Rock Road, drawn to the winding shed by ponies pulling drams on rails. At its peak the works employed 200 people. Production ceased in 1970 and the works were demolished.

History

The ochre at Wick was a by-product of looking for something else: deposits of yellow and red ochre were found while iron was being mined at Wick Rocks. George Phipps, the manager of the iron rolling mill and forge, saw what he had and in 1892 adapted the mill to power the processing of the ochre. By 1895 Messrs Burgess & Co. had taken over, and under them the Golden Valley Ochre and Oxide Company became known throughout the country. The workings were modest and the works substantial — the value was in the grinding and blending, not the digging. Red ochre was extracted from shallow trenches and mines at Rock Road and conveyed to the winding shed above the ochre works by ponies pulling drams along rails. At its height the operation employed 200 people. Production ceased in 1970 and the works were demolished.

Geology

Ochre is a mixture of fine clay and iron oxide — chemically anhydrous iron (III) oxide — and at Wick it occurs in yellow and red forms in association with the iron ore that was being worked at Wick Rocks. The pigments are natural and non-toxic, and yield fine colours including the Venetian, Turkey and Indian reds; they make good oil paints, drying quickly and covering thoroughly. The same valley also holds Carboniferous limestone, worked separately at Wick Quarry.

Workings

Shallow trenches and short mines at Rock Road, with the ore drawn out by ponies pulling drams on rails to a winding shed above the works. The processing plant was the heart of the operation: an existing iron rolling mill and forge converted in 1892 to grind and prepare the ochre, which is where most of the 200 employees worked.

Closure

Production ceased in 1970 and the works were demolished. Synthetic iron oxide pigments, made to a consistent specification, had by then displaced natural ochre for most purposes.

What remains

The valley is now the Wick Golden Valley Local Nature Reserve, part of it managed by South Gloucestershire Council. The neighbouring Wick Quarry, a limestone quarry formerly owned by CEMEX and latterly by MJ Church, is no longer operational and has become a haven for wildlife and a birdwatching site. In February 2026 the two landowners told the council that they no longer wished to be part of the access and management agreement, which means the local nature reserve status may be withdrawn by Natural England.

The trenches and adit sites at Rock Road and the earthworks of the tramway to the winding shed. The ochre works themselves were demolished after 1970.

Nearby mines

• Parkfield Colliery — 2.6 km N, Bristol
• Hanham Colliery — 4.5 km W, Bristol
• Speedwell Colliery — 6.0 km W, Bristol
• Ram Hill Colliery — 6.5 km N, Gloucestershire
• Serridge Pit — 7.0 km N, Gloucestershire

Straight-line distance, within 15 km. Show on the map.

Recorded claims

Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.

• While iron was being mined at Wick Rocks, deposits of yellow and red ochre were discovered. George Phipps, manager of the iron rolling mill and forge, decided to exploit this mineral by adapting the mill to power the processing of ochre in 1892. ¹
• By 1895 Messrs Burgess & Co. had taken over, and later made the Golden Valley Ochre and Oxide Company famous throughout the land. ¹
• Red ochre was extracted from shallow trenches and mines at Rock Road and was conveyed to the winding shed above the ochre works by ponies pulling drams along rails. ¹
• At its peak the works employed 200 people. Production ceased in 1970 and the works were demolished. ¹
• Ochre is a mixture of fine clay and iron oxide, known chemically as anhydrous iron (III) oxide. The pigments are natural and non-toxic and can be used to make fine colours such as Venetian, Turkey and Indian reds, and paints — in particular good oil paints that dry quickly and cover surfaces thoroughly. ¹
• Wick Quarry, a limestone quarry previously owned by CEMEX and latterly by MJ Church, is no longer operational but is a haven for wildlife and a birdwatching site; part of the site is managed by South Gloucestershire Council as the Golden Valley Local Nature Reserve. In February 2026 the two landowners informed the council they no longer wished to be part of the access and management agreement, which means its local nature reserve status may be withdrawn by Natural England. ²

Photographs & further reading

Sources

1. (secondary) Mining — Wick Golden Valley Local Nature Reserve — Wick Golden Valley Local Nature Reserve
2. (secondary) Wick, Gloucestershire — Wikipedia
3. (secondary) The Ochre Mines and Works at Wick, South Gloucestershire (BIAS Journal 31) — Bristol Industrial Archaeological Society

Record created: 8 September 2026 · Last researched: 8 September 2026