The miles of Bath stone mines under Combe Down in south-east Bath are being filled in to avert the danger of the property above falling into them. But before they go, Richard Irving has written a book recording their history.

His interest in the mines began because there is a hole in his garden from which rare bats fly - and parts of the mines are to be retained to preserve the habitat of the bats. Every now and again he would be asked to cover the hole so the bats would have to leave through another hole and could be counted.

As he says in the book: "One day a head popped out of the hole. It was Lynn Willies, consultant to the Stone Mines Project Team from Oxford Archeology. I did not know it at the time but he is one of the foremost experts in the country on mine archeology."

Gradually his interest in the history of the mines was stimulated and he sought to find out more about them, which led to him finding out more about the history of Bath stone itself and how it came to be used at Longleat, Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace and Apsley House.

Richard Irving\'s original research unveils a story of turbulent times in the 18th century when the mines were being opened, of war and peace, falure and success, told in this 80-page book.

A History of the Byfield Mine, Combe Down, ISBN 0-9550655-0-X, is available at £9.95