The village was founded as a coal mining settlement. One pit was on Frog Lane at ST 685 815 (to the north east of the village). Other mines operated between Mayshill and Nibley to the north and at Ram Hill and Henfield to the south.[5] These were served by a railway line, closed some decades ago[when?] and no longer visible on the ground.[citation needed] In 1949 the coal ran out.[citation needed] When the Kendleshire golf course was built, the remains of many bell pits were found.[citation needed]
In literature
A number of sources, including Frank Barrett's book Where Was Wonderland? A Traveller's Guide to the Settings of Classic Children's Books, cite Coalpit Heath as the setting for the Dick King Smith children's book The Sheep-Pig, later adapted for film as Babe.[6]
The South Gloucestershire Mines Research Group have written two books on Coalpit Heath and the surrounding area, including Frog Lane[7] and Kingswood Coal.[8]
