In August 2016, an enormous hole was dug in front of the Upper Almshouses at the top of Pilton Street by the contractor charged by Western Power with replacing the electricity poles and overhead cables on The Rock.  This photograph shows just how many cables and pipes there can be under our old streets.  This is the oldest part of Pilton and dates to well before we first had water, gas, electric, telephone and sewerage services under our roads.  And in the background is the drilling rig brought in by the contractor to help create a deep enough hole in the very hard rock for the new electricity pole going in the wall of the churchyard of the Church of St Mary the Virgin.  You can see why it’s called The Rock!

Large hole in Pilton Street for electricity repairs with the drilling rig in the background