Somerset

:This page is about the county of Somerset in the United Kingdom. For other meanings of Somerset, see Somerset (disambiguation).

History

:For the full article see History of Somerset

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Somerset Levels, and specifically the dry points such as Glastonbury and Cadbury Castle, have a long history of settlement, and are known to have been settled by mesolithic hunters. The caves of the Mendip Hills were settled during the neolithic period and contain extensive archaelogical sites. Somerset, like Dorset to the south, held the Saxon invasion back for over a century, remaining a frontier between the Saxons and the Romano-British and Celts. The first known use of the name Somersæte was in 845 after the region fell to the Saxons. After the Norman Conquest the county was divided into 700 fiefs, and large areas were owned by the crown.

Related Topics:
Somerset Levels - Dry point - Glastonbury - Cadbury Castle - Mesolithic - Mendip Hills - Neolithic - Archaelogical - Dorset - Saxon - 845 - Norman Conquest - Fiefs

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the English Civil War Somerset was largely Royalist, unlike neighbouring Wiltshire. In 1685 the Monmouth Rebellion was played out in Somerset and neighbouring Dorset. The rebels landed at Lyme Regis and traveled north hoping to capture Bristol and Bath, but were defeated at the Battle of Sedgemoor.

Related Topics:
English Civil War - Royalist - Wiltshire - 1685 - Monmouth Rebellion - Lyme Regis - Bristol - Bath - Battle of Sedgemoor

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The traditional northern boundary of the county is the River Avon, but this has crept southwards, with the creation and expansion of the City of Bristol. In 1974 a large part of northern Somerset was removed to form the southern half of the County of Avon. Avon has now been abolished, and North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset have reverted to Somerset for ceremonial purposes, but are now independent counties in their own right for local government purposes.

Related Topics:
River Avon - City of Bristol - 1974 - County of Avon - North Somerset - Bath and North East Somerset

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Somerset contains England's oldest prison still in use, in the small town of Shepton Mallet, and the world's oldest known engineered roadway, the Sweet Track.

Related Topics:
England - Prison - Shepton Mallet - Road - Sweet Track

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~