History of Somerset

Somerset is an historic county in the south west of England. There is evidence of human occupation since prehistoric times with hand axes and flint points from the Palaeolithic, and a range of burial mounds, hill forts and other artifacts dating from the Mesolithic era. The oldest dated human road work in Britain is the Sweet Track, constructed across the Somerset Levels with wooden planks in the 39th century BC.

Overview

Following the Roman invasion of Britain the mining of lead and silver in the Mendip Hills provided a basis for local industry and commerce. Bath became the site of a major Roman fort and city, the remains of which can still be seen. During the Dark Ages and Saxon period Somerset was the scene of several battles and was ruled by various kings. Following the defeat of the Saxons by the Normans in 1066, several castles were built in Somerset.

Expansion of the population and settlements in the county continued during the Tudor and more recent periods. Agriculture and coal mining expanded until the eighteenth century, although other industries declined during the industrial revolution. In modern times the population has grown, particularly in the seaside towns, notably Weston-super-Mare. Agriculture continues to be a major business, if no longer a major employer because of mechanization. Light industries take place in many of the towns such as Bridgwater and Yeovil. The towns of Taunton and Shepton Mallet manufacture cider, though there are no longer as many apple orchards as there used to be.

Prehistory

This refers to the period up to the arrival of the Romans, c. 47 AD. There is evidence from flint artefacts in a quarry at Westbury that an ancestor of man, possibly Homo heidelbergensis was present in the future Somerset from around 500,000 years ago. [cite web | title=Mendip Hills An Archaeological Survey of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty | work=Somerset County Council Archeological Projects | url=http://www.somerset.gov.uk/media/896B4/MendipAONB.pdf | accessdate=2006-10-28|format=PDF] There is still some doubt about whether the artifcats are of human origin but they have been dated within Oxygen Isotope Stage 13 (524,000 - 478,000 BP). [cite web |url=http://webapp1.somerset.gov.uk/her/details.asp?prn=24849 |title=Westbury Cave, Westbury Quarry, Westbury |accessdate=2007-12-07 |format= |work=Somerset Historic Environment Record ] Other experts suggest that "many of the bone-rich Middle Pleistocene deposits belong to a single but climatically variable interglacial that succeeded the Cromerian, perhaps about 500,000 years ago. Detailed analysis of the origin and modification of the flint artefacts leads to the conclusion that the assemblage was probably a product of geomorphological processes rather than human work, but a single cut-marked bone suggests a human presence." [cite web |url=http://www.nhm.ac.uk/publishing/pubrpwbc.html |title=Westbury Cave: The Natural History Museum Excavations 1976-1984 |accessdate=2007-12-07 |format= |work=Natural History Museum ] A Bradsaw Foundation paper on "Anglia Man" suggests "re-examination of animal bones and artefacts unearthed in the 1980s at Westbury-sub-Mendip, in Somerset, have shown evidence of early human activity 100,000 years before Boxgrove Man," and dates the Boxgrove man at 500,000 years ago. [cite web |url=http://www.bradshawfoundation.com/anglia-man/ |title=Anglia Man |accessdate=2007-12-07 |format= |work=Bradshaw Foundation ]

Modern man came to Somerset during the Early Upper Palaeolithic. There is evidence of occupation of four Mendip caves some 35,000 to 30,000 years ago. [ The Archaeology of Somerset by C Webster and T Mayberry] During the Last Glacial Maximum, about 25,000 to 15,000 years ago, it is probable that Somerset was deserted as the area experienced tundra conditions. Evidence was found in Gough's Cave of several deposits of human bone dating from around 12,500 years ago. The bones were defleshed and probably ritually buried though perhaps related to cannibalism being practiced in the area at the time. Somerset was one of the first areas of future England settled following the end of Younger Dryas phase of the last Ice Age c. 8000 BC. Cheddar Man is the name given to the remains of a human male found in Gough's Cave in Cheddar Gorge. He is Britain’s oldest complete human skeleton. The remains date to approximately 7150 BC, and it appears that he died a violent death. Somerset is thought to have been occupied by Mesolithic hunter-gatherers from about 6000 BC with Mesolithic artifacts being found in more than 70 locations. Mendip caves were used as burial places, with between 50 and 100 skeletons being found in Aveline's Hole. In the Neolithic era, from about 3500 BC, there is evidence of farming.cite web | title=Introduction to Somerset's History | work=Britannia | url=http://www.britannia.com/history/somerset/somhist2.html|accessdate=2006-10-29] There is evidence of Exmoor's human occupation from Mesolithic times onwards. In the Neolithic period people started to manage animals and grow crops on farms cleared from the woodland, rather than act purely as hunter gatherers. [cite journal |last=Fyfe |first=R.M. |authorlink= |coauthors=A. G. Brown and S. J. Rippon |year=2003 |month= |title=Mid- to late-Holocene vegetation history of Greater Exmoor, UK: estimating the spatial extent of human-induced vegetation change |journal=Vegetation History and Archaeobotany |volume=12 |issue=4 |pages=215–232 |doi=10.1007/s00334-003-0018-3 |url=http://www.springerlink.com/content/p1jl55y2r5fkn4gr/ |accessdate= 2007-11-29 |quote= ] It is also likely that extraction and smelting of mineral ores to make tools, weapons, containers and ornaments in bronze and then iron started in the late Neolithic and into the Bronze and Iron Ages.cite web |url=http://www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/the_history_of_exmoor |title=The history of Exmoor |accessdate=2007-11-29 |format= |work=Exmoor National Park ]

At the end of the last Ice Age the Bristol Channel was dry land but subsequently the sea level rose, particularly between 1220 and 900 BC and between 800 and 470 BC, resulting in major coastal changes. The Somerset Levels became flooded, but the dry points such as Glastonbury and Brent Knoll, have a long history of settlement, and are known to have been occupied by Mesolithic hunters.cite book |last=Dunning |first=Robert |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=A History of Somerset |year=1983 |publisher=Phillimore & Co |location=Chichester |isbn= 0-85033-461-6 ] cite web | title=Somerset | work=Camelot Village: Britain's Heritage and History |url=http://www.camelotintl.com/heritage/counties/england/somerset.html|accessdate=2006-05-28] The county has many prehistoric burial mounds (such as Stoney Littleton Long Barrow, stone rows (such as the circles at Stanton Drew and Priddy) and settlement sites. Evidence of Mesolithic occupation has come both from the upland areas, such as in Mendip caves, and from the low land areas such as the Somerset Levels. Dry points in the latter such as Glastonbury Tor and Brent Knoll, have a long history of settlement with many wooden trackways between them. There were also "lake villages" in the marsh such as those at Glastonbury Lake Village and Meare. The oldest dated human road work in Britain is the Sweet Track, constructed across the Somerset Levels with wooden planks in the 39th century BC. [cite web | title=The Neolithic Period: The first settlers | work=Somerset County Council: History of Somerset | url=http://www.somerset.gov.uk/archives/ASH/neolith.htm | accessdate=2006-10-29] cite book |last=Dunning |first=Robert |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=A History of Somerset |year=1983 |publisher=Phillimore & Co |location=Chichester |id=ISBN 0-85033-461-6 ] [cite web | title = Special issue on Wetlands / The Somerset Levels | work = Current Archaeology 172 | publisher = Current Archaeology | month = February | year = 2001 | url = http://www.archaeology.co.uk/ca/issues/ca172/ca172.htm|date=2007-04-05 | accessdate = 2007-10-26 ] cite web | title = The day the Sweet Track was built | work = New Scientist, 16 June 1990 | url =http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg12617212.800.html | accessdate = 2007-10-07 ] [cite book |last=Williams |first=Robin |authorlink= |coauthors=Romey Williams |title=The Somerset Levels |year=1992 |publisher=Ex Libris Press |location=Bradford on Avon |isbn=0948578386 ]

The caves of the Mendip Hills were settled during the Neolithic period and contain extensive archaeological sites such as those at Cheddar Gorge. There are numerous Iron Age Hill Forts, some of which were later reused in the Dark Ages, such as Cadbury Castle, [cite web | title=Mendip Hills An Archaeological Survey of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty | work=Somerset County Council Archaeological Projects | url=http://www.somerset.gov.uk/media/896B4/MendipAONB.pdf| format=pdf | accessdate=2006-10-28] and Ham Hill. The age of the henge monument at Stanton Drew stone circles is unknown, but is believed to be from the Neolithic period. [cite web | title=Stanton Drew Stone Circles | work=English Heritage Archeometry | url=http://www.eng-h.gov.uk/archaeometry/StantonDrew/ | accessdate=2006-07-08] There is evidence of mining on the Mendip Hills back into the late Bronze Age when there were technological changes in metal working indicated by the use of lead. There are numerous "hill forts", such as Small Down Knoll, Solsbury Hill, Dolebury Warren and Burledge Hill, which seem to have had many purposes, not just a defensive role. They generally seem to have been occupied intermittently from the Bronze Age onward, some, such as Cadbury Camp at South Cadbury, being refurbished many times. [cite web | title=South Cadbury | work=Somerset Past.net | url=http://www.somersetpast.net/southcadbury.html|accessdate=2006-10-29]

The Iron Age tribes of later Somerset were the Dobunni in north Somerset, Durotriges in south Somerset and Dumnonii in west Somerset. The first and second produced coins, the finds of which allows their tribal areas to be suggested, but the latter did not. All three had a Celtic culture and language. However, Ptolomy stated that Bath was in the territory of the Belgae, [cite web |url=http://www.dot-domesday.me.uk/tribes.htm |title=British Tribes |accessdate=2007-12-02 |format= |work=From Dot to Domesday ] but this may be a mistake. [cite web |url=http://www.kmatthews.org.uk/Ravenna_Cosmography/group12.html |title=Britania in the Ravenna Cosmography |accessdate=2007-12-02 |format= |work=cyberhome of Keith Fitzpatrick-Matthews ] The Celtic gods were worshiped at the temple of Sulis at Bath and possibly the temple on Brean Down. Iron Age sites on the Quantock Hills, include major hill forts at Dowsborough and Ruborough, as well as several smaller earthwork enclosures, such as Trendle Ring and Plainsfield Camp.

Roman

Somerset was part of the Roman Empire from 47 AD to about 409 AD. However, the end was not abrupt and elements of Romanitas lingered on for perhaps a century.

Somerset was invaded from the south-east by the Second Legion "Augusta", under the future emperor Vespasian. The hillforts of the Durotriges at Ham Hill and Cadbury Castle were captured. Ham Hill probably had a temporary Roman occupation. The massacre at Cadbury Castle seems to have been associated with the later Boudiccan Revolt of 60-61 AD. The county remained part of the Roman Empire until around 409 AD.cite news |first=Amal |last=Rajan |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Around a county in 40 facts: A (very) brief history of Somerset |url=http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/article2891211.ece |work=Independent on Sunday |publisher= |date= 2007-08-24 |accessdate=2007-10-21 ]

The Roman invasion, and possibly the preceding period of involvement in the internal affairs of the south of England, was inspired in part by the potential of the Mendip Hills. A great deal of the attraction of the lead mines may have been the potential for the extraction of silver.cite web | title=Mendip Hills An Archaeological Survey of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty | work=Somerset County Council Archaeological Projects | url=http://www.somerset.gov.uk/media/896B4/MendipAONB.pdf | accessdate=2006-10-28|format=PDF] cite web | title=Romano-British Somerset | work=Somerset County Council: History of Somerset | url=http://www.somerset.gov.uk/archives/ASH/Romano-brit.htm | accessdate=2006-10-29]

Forts were set up at Bath and Ilchester. The lead and silver mines at Charterhouse in the Mendip Hills were run by the military. The Romans established a defensive boundary along the new military road known the Fosse Way (from the Latin "fossa" meaning "ditch"). The Fosse Way ran through Bath, Shepton Mallet, Ilchester and south-west towards Axminster. The road from Dorchester ran through Yeovil to meet the Fosse Way at Ilchester.A number of small towns and trading ports were set up, like Camerton and Combwich. The larger towns decayed in the latter part of the period, though the smaller ones appear to have decayed less. In the latter part of the period, Ilchester seems to have been a "civitas" capital and Bath may also have been one. Particularly to the east of the River Parrett, many villas were constructed. However, only a few Roman sites have been found to the west of the river. The villas have produced important mosaics and artifacts. Cemeteries have been found outside the Roman towns of Somerset and by Roman temples such as that at Lamyatt. Many Romano-British farming settlements, such as that at Catsgore, have been found in Somerset. There was salt production on the Somerset Levels near Highbridge and quarrying took place near Bath, where the Roman Baths gave their name to Bath. [cite web | title= Roman Baths Treatment Centre | work=Images of England | url= http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=442194 | accessdate=2006-11-15]

Excavations carried out before the flooding of Chew Valley Lake also uncovered Roman remains, indicating agricultural and industrial activity from the second half of the first century until the third century AD. The finds included a moderately large villa at Chew Park, where wooden writing tablets (the first in the UK) with ink writing were found. There is also evidence from the Pagans Hill Roman Temple at Chew Stoke. [cite book | author = Ross, Lesley (Ed.)| year = 2004 | title = Before the Lake: Memories of the Chew Valley | publisher = The Harptree Historic Society | id=ISBN 0-9548832-0-9 ] cite book | author = Hucker, Ernest| year = 1997 | title = Chew Stoke Recalled in Old Photographs | publisher = Ernest Hucker | id = ] In October 2001 a hoard of 4th century Roman silver was discovered in West Bagborough. The 681 coins included two denarii from the early 2nd century and 8 Miliarense and 671 Siliqua all dating to the period AD 337 – 367. The majority were struck in the reigns of emperors Constantius II and Julian and derive from a range of mints including Arles and Lyons in France, Trier in Germany and Rome. [cite web |url=http://www.somerset.gov.uk/somerset/culturecommunity/museums/somersetcollection/thewestbagboroughhoardofromansilver/ |title=The West Bagborough hoard of Roman silver |accessdate=2007-10-07 |format= |work=Somerset County Museums Service Collections ]

Dark Ages

This is the period from about 409 AD to the start of Saxon political control, which was mainly in the late 7th century, though they are said to have captured the Bath area in 577 AD. [cite web | title=501-97 | work=Britania, The Anglo Saxon Chronicles | url=http://britannia.com/history/docs/501-97.html | accessdate=2006-10-29] However it must be realized that the county of Somerset was a Norman creation and the southern boundaries round Crewkerne, Chard and Ilminster were more than likely a much earlier Saxon area than further north. Initially the Britons of Somerset seem to have continued much as under the Romans but without the imperial taxation and markets. There was then a period of civil war in England though it is not known how this affected Somerset. The Western Wandsdyke may have been constructed in this period but archaeological data shows that it was probably built during the 5th or 6th century. This area became the border between the Romano-British Celts and the West Saxons following the Battle of Deorham in 577 AD."The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle", [http://britannia.com/history/docs/501-97.html 501-97 AD] .] The ditch is on the north side, so presumably it was used by the Celts as a defence against Saxons encroaching from the upper Thames valley. According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, the Saxon Cenwalh achieved a breakthrough against the British Celtic tribes, with victories at Bradford-on-Avon (in the "Avon Gap" in the Wansdyke) in 652 AD,"The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle", [http://britannia.com/history/docs/645-56.html 645-56 AD] ] and further south at the Battle of Peonnum (at Penselwood) in 658 AD,"The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle", [http://britannia.com/history/docs/658-75.html 658-75 AD] ] followed by an advance west through the Polden Hills to the River Parrett."The Victoria History of the County of Somerset", Vol 1 (1906)]

The Saxon advance from the east seems to have been halted by battles between the British and Saxons, for example; at the siege of Badon Mons Badonicus (which may mave been in the Bath region eg at Solsbury Hill), [cite web | title=Roman Times | work=Britannia | url=http://www.britannia.com/history/somerset/somhist3.html|accessdate=2006-10-29] or Bathampton Down. [cite book |title=The hidden places of Somerset |last=Scott |first=Shane |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1995 |publisher=Travel Publishing Ltd |location=Aldermaston |isbn=1902007018 |pages=16 ] During the 5th, 6th and 7th centuries, Somerset was probably partly in the Kingdom of Dumnonia, partly in the land of the Durotriges and partly in that of the Dobunni. The boundaries between these is largely unknown, but may have been similar to those in the Iron Age. Various "tyrants" seem to have controlled territories from refurbished hill forts. There is evidence of an elite at hill forts such as Cadbury Castle and Cadbury Camp; for example, there is imported pottery. Cemeteries are an important source of evidence for the period and a number of large ones have been found in Somerset, such as that at Cannington, which was used from the Roman to the Saxon period. The towns of Somerset seem to have been little used during that period but there continued to be farming on the villa sites and at the Romano-British villages.

There may have been effects from plague and volcanic eruption during this period as well as marine transgression into the Levels.

The language spoken during this period is thought to be Southwestern Brythonic, [cite book | author=Jackson, Kenneth | title=Language and History in Early Britain | location=Edinburgh | publisher=Edinburgh University Press | year=1953 | id= ] but only one or two inscribed stones survive in Somerset from this period. However, a couple of curse tablets found in the baths at Bath may be in this language. A number of place names in Somerset seem to be Celtic in origin and may be from this period or earlier, eg Tarnock. Some river names, such as Parrett, may be Celtic or pre-Celtic. The religion of the people of Somerset in this period is thought to be Christian but it was isolated from Rome until the Synod of Whitby in 664 AD. Some church sites in Somerset are thought to date from this period, e.g., Llantokay.

Most of what is known of the history of this period comes from Gildas's "On the Ruin of Britain", [cite web | title=Gildas and The History of the Britons. | work=Latin Writings in England to the Time of Alfred | url=http://www.bartleby.com/211/0501.html | accessdate=2006-10-29] which is thought to have been written in Durotrigen territory, possibly at Glastonbury.

The earliest fortification of Taunton started for King Ine of Wessex and Æthelburg, in or about the year 710 AD. However, according to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle this was destroyed 12 years later.cite web |url=http://www.britannia.com/history/somerset/castles/tauntoncast.html |title= History of Taunton Castle in Somerset By Charles Oman|accessdate=2007-11-21 |format= |work=Britannia castles ]

axon

This is the period from the late 7th century to 1066, though for part of the 10th and 11th centuries England was under Danish control. 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 Celts. [cite web |url=http://www.britannia.com/history/somerset/somhist5.html |title=Narative History of Saxon Somerset |accessdate=2007-10-21 |last=Lewis |first=Brenda Ralph |coauthors=David Nash Ford |date= |work=Britania |publisher=]

The Saxons conquered Bath following the Battle of Deorham in 577, and the border was established along the line of the Wansdyke on the ridge of the Mendip Hills. Then Cenwalh of Wessex broke through at Bradford-on-Avon in 652, and the Battle of Peonnum at Penselwood in 658, advancing west through the Polden Hills to the River Parrett. [cite web | title=Saxon Somerset | work=Somerset County Council: History of Somerset | url=http://www.somerset.gov.uk/archives/ASH/Saxonsom.htm|accessdate=2006-10-29] The River Parrett was established as the border between Wessex and Dumnonia, this natural border endured for almost a century until further fighting between Anglo-Saxons and the West Welsh in the mid 8th century when the current borders of Devon (West Welsh) and Somerset (Anglo-Saxon) were established.

Then in the period 681–85 Centwine of Wessex conquered the Welsh King Cadwaladr and occupied the rest of Somerset west and north to the Bristol Channel. Saxon rule was consolidated under King Ina, who established forts or palaces at Taunton, Somerton and South Petherton. By 705 the diocese of Sherborne was formed, taking in Wessex west of Selwood. Saxon kings granted land in Somerset by charter from the seventh century onward. The way and extent to which the Britons survived under the Saxons is a debatable matter. However, King Ina's laws make provision for Britons. Somerset originally formed part of Wessex and latter became a separate "shire". Mints were set up at times in various places in Somerset, e.g., Watchet.

Somerset played an important part in defeating the spread of the Danes in the 9th century. Viking raids took place for instance in 987 and 997 at Watchetcite book |title=Somerset Harbours |last=Farr |first=Grahame |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1954 |publisher=Christopher Johnson |location=London |isbn= |pages=125-137 ] and the Battle of Cannington. King Alfred was driven to seek refuge from the Danes at Athelney before defeating them at the Battle of Eddington in 878, usually consided to be near Cheltenham, but possibly the village of Edington in Somerset. Alfred established a series of forts and lookout posts linked by a military road, or Herepath, so his army could cover Viking movements at sea. The Herepath has a characteristic form which is familiar on the Quantocks: a regulation 20m wide track between avenues of trees growing from hedge laying embankments. The Herepath ran from the ford on the River Parrett at Combwich, past Cannington Hill (fort) to Over Stowey, where it climbed the Quantocks along the line of the current Stowey road, to Crowcombe Park Gate. Then it went south along the ridge, to Triscombe Stone. One branch may have led past Lydeard Hill and Buncombe Hill, back to Alfred's base at Athelney. The main branch descended the hills at Triscombe, then along the avenue to Red Post Cross, and west to the Brendon Hills and Exmoor."Dumnonia and the Valley of the Parret", Rev. W.H.P. Greswell (1922)] A peace treaty with the Danes was signed at Wedmore and the Danish king Guthrum the Old was baptised at Aller. A number of "burhs" (fortified places) had been set up by 919, such as Lyng.

Monasteries and minster churches were set up all over Somerset, with daughter churches from the ministers in manors. There was a royal palace at Cheddar, which was used several times in the 10th century to host the Witenagemot, [cite web | url= http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/arch-769-1/ahds/dissemination/pdf/vol06-07/6_053_066.pdf | format= PDF | last= Rahtz | first= Phillip | publisher= Archaeology Data Service | title= The Saxon and Medieval Palaces at Cheddar, Somerset-an Interim Report of Excavations in I 960-62 | accessdate= 2008-03-31] and there is likely to have been a "central place" at Somerton, Bath, Glastonbury and Frome since the kings visited them. The towns of Somerset seem to have in occupation in this period though evidence for this is limited because of subsequent buildings on top of remains from this period. Agriculture flourished in this period, with a re-organisation into centralised villages in the latter part in the east of the county.

In the period before the Norman Conquest, Somerset came under the control of the Danish Godwin family. There seems to have been some Danish settlement at Thurloxton and Spaxton, judging from the place-names. After the Norman Conquest, the county was divided into 700 fiefs, and large areas were owned by the crown,cite web |url=http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Somersetshire |title=Somersetshire |accessdate=2007-10-21 |format= |work=1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica ] with fortifications such as Dunster Castle used for control and defence.

This period of Somerset's history is well-documented, for example in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and Asser's Life of Alfred. [cite web | title=Life of King Alfred. | work=Northvegr Foundation | url=http://www.northvegr.org/lore/alfred/index.php | accessdate=2006-10-29]

Middle Ages

This is the period from 1066 to around 1500. Following the defeat of the Saxons by the Normans in 1066, various castles were set up in Somerset by the new lords such as that at Dunster. Somerset does not seem to have played much part in the civil war in King Stephen's time, but Somerset lords were main players in the murder of Thomas à Becket.

A good picture of the county in 1086 is given by Domesday Book, though there is some difficulty in identifying the various places since the "hundreds" are not specified. [cite web | title=The Shire and the Hundred | work=Somerset County Council: History of Somerset | url=http://www.somerset.gov.uk/archives/ASH/Shirehundred.htm | accessdate=2006-10-29] [cite web | title=Domesday Somerset | work=Somerset County Council: History of Somerset | url=http://www.somerset.gov.uk/archives/ASH/Domesom.htm | accessdate=2006-10-29] Farming seems to have prospered for the next three centuries but was severely hit by the Black Death which in 1348 arrived in Dorset and quickly spread through Somerset, causing widespread mortality, perhaps as much as 50% in places. It re-occurred several times, resulting in a change in feudal practices since the manpower was no longer so available.

Reclamation of land from marsh in the Somerset Levels increased, largely under monastic influence. Crafts and industries also flourished, the Somerset woollen industry being one of the largest in England at this time. [cite web | title=Saxon Times | work=Britannia | url=http://www.britannia.com/history/somerset/somhist6.html|accessdate=2006-10-29] A number of "new towns" were founded in this period in Somerset, i.e. Newport, but were not successful. Coal mining on the Mendips was an important source of wealth while quarrying also took place, an example is near Bath.

The towns grew, again often by monastic instigation, during this period and many fairs were started. The church was very powerful at this period, particularly Glastonbury Abbey. After their church burnt down, the monks there "discovered" the tomb of "King Arthur" and were able rebuild their church. There were over 20 monasteries in Somerset at this period including the priory at Hinton Charterhouse which was founded in 1232 by Ela, Countess of Salisbury who also founded Lacock Abbey.cite book |title=The hidden places of Somerset |last=Scott |first=Shane |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1995 |publisher=Travel Publishing Ltd |location=Aldermaston |isbn=1902007018 |pages=18-19 ] Many parish churches were re-built in this period.

During the Middle Ages sheep farming for the wool trade came to dominate the economy of Exmoor. The wool was spun into thread on isolated farms and collected by merchants to be woven, fulled, dyed and finished in thriving towns such as Dunster. The land started to be enclosed and from the 17th century onwards larger estates developed, leading to establishment of areas of large regular shaped fields. During this period a Royal Forest and hunting ground was established, administered by the Warden. The Royal Forest was sold off in 1818.

Early Modern

This is the period from around 1500 to 1800. In the 1530s, the monasteries were dissolved and their lands bought from the king by various important families in Somerset. By 1539, Glastonbury Abbey was the only monastery left, its abbot Richard Whiting was then arrested and executed on the orders of Thomas Cromwell. From the Tudor to the Georgian times, farming specialised and techniques improved, leading to increases in population, although no new towns seem to have been founded. Large country houses such as at Hinton St George and Montacute House were built at this time.

The Bristol Channel floods of 1607 are believed to have affected large parts of the Somerset Levels with flooding up to convert|8|ft|m|0|lk=on above sea level. [cite journal |last=Bryant |first=Edward |authorlink= |coauthors=Simon Haslett |year=2002 |month= |title=Was the AD 1607 coastal flooding event in the Severn estuary and Bristol channel due to a Tsumani? |journal=Archaeology in the Severn Estuary |volume=13 |issue= |pages=163–167 |id= |url=http://www.bathspa.ac.uk/schools/science-and-the-environment/geography/Tsunami/archaeology-in-the-severn-estuary-2003-paper.pdf|accessdate= |quote= |format=PDF] [cite journal |last=Bryant |first=Edward |authorlink= |coauthors=Simon Haslett |year=2004 |month= |title=The AD 1607 Coastal Flood in the Bristol Channel and Severn Estuary: Historical Records from Devon and Cornwall (UK) |journal=Archaeology in the Severn Estuary |volume=15 |issue= |pages=81–89 |id= |url=http://www.bathspa.ac.uk/schools/science-and-the-environment/geography/Tsunami/archaeology-in-the-severn-estuary-2005-paper.pdf|accessdate= |quote= |format=PDF]

During the English Civil War, Somerset, which was largely Parliamentarian, although Dunster was a Royalist stronghold. The county was the site of a number of important battles between the Royalists and the Parliamentarians, notably the Battle of Lansdowne in 1643 and the Battle of Langport in 1645. [cite book |title=Battles and Generals of the Civil Wars |last=Rodgers |first= Colonel H.C.B.|authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1968 |publisher=Seeley Service & Co. |location= |isbn= ] This war resulted in many of the castles being destroyed to prevent their re-use. [cite web | title=The Civil War in Somerset | work=Somerset County Council: History of Somerset | url=http://www.somerset.gov.uk/archives/ASH/Civilwar.htm | accessdate=2006-10-29]

Arthur Wellesley took his title, Duke of Wellington from the town of Wellington. He is commemorated on a nearby hill with a large, spotlit obelisk, known as the Wellington Monument.

In 1685, the Duke of Monmouth led the Monmouth Rebellion in which many Somerset people fought against James II. The rebels landed at Lyme Regis and traveled north hoping to capture Bristol and Bath, puritan soldiers damaged the west front of Wells Cathedral, tore lead from the roof to make bullets, broke the windows, smashed the organ and the furnishings, and for a time stabled their horses in the nave. [cite web |url=http://www.somerset.gov.uk/archives/ASH/Monmouthreb.htm |title=The Monmouth rebellion and the bloody assize |accessdate=2008-02-11 |format= |work=Somerset County Council ] They were defeated in the Battle of Sedgemoor at Westonzoyland, the last battle fought on English soil. [cite web |url=http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~smedlo/history.htm |title=History of Bridgwater |accessdate=2007-10-21 |format= |work=Bridgwater ] The Bloody Assizes which followed saw the losers being sentenced to death or transportation. [cite web | title=Tudor & Stuart Times | work=Britannia | url=http://www.britannia.com/history/somerset/somhist7.html | accessdate=2006-10-29]

The 18th century was largely one of peace and declining industrial prosperity in Somerset. The Industrial Revolution in the Midlands and Northern England spelt the end for most of Somerset's cottage industries. However, farming continued to flourish, with the Bath and West of England Agricultural Society being founded in 1777 to improve methods. John Billingsley conducted a survey of the county's agriculture in 1795 but found that methods could still be improved. [cite web | title=General View of the Agriculture of the County of Somerset| work=Google Books | url=http://books.google.com/books?id=DBUAAAAAQAAJ&printsec=titlepage | accessdate=2007-10-10]

In north Somerset, mining in the Somerset coalfield was an important industry, and in an effort to reduce the cost of transporting the coal the Somerset Coal Canal was built; part of it was later converted into a railway. [cite web | title=Rivers and Canals | work=Somerset County Council: History of Somerset | url=http://www.somerset.gov.uk/archives/ASH/Rivers.htm|accessdate=2006-10-29] Other canals included the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal, Westport Canal, Grand Western Canal, Glastonbury Canal and Chard Canal. The Dorset and Somerset Canal was proposed, but very little of it was ever constructed.

Late Modern

The 19th century saw improvements to Somerset's roads with the introduction of turnpikes and the building of canals and railways. The usefulness of the canals was short-lived, though they have now been restored for recreation. The railways were nationalised after the Second World War, but continued until 1965, when many were scrapped; two were transferred back to private ownership as "heritage" lines.

The population of Somerset has continued to grow since 1800, particularly in the seaside towns such as Weston-super-Mare. Some population decline occurred earlier in the period in the villages, but this has now been reversed.

During the First World War many Somerset soldiers were killed, and war memorials were put up in most of the towns and villages; only a few villages escaped casualties. There were also casualties – though much fewer – during the Second World War, who were added to the memorials. The county was a base for troops preparing for the 1944 D-Day landings, and some Somerset hospitals still date partly from that time. The Royal Ordnance Factory ROF Bridgwater was constructed early in World War II for the Ministry of Supply. It was designed as an Explosive ROF, to produce RDX, which was then a new experimental high-explosive.Cocroft, Wayne D. (2000). "Dangerous Energy: The archaeology of gunpowder and military explosives manufacture". Swindon: English Heritage. ISBN 1-85074-718-0] It obtained water supplies from two sources via the Somerset Levels: the artificial Huntspill River which was dug during the construction of the factory and also from the King's Sedgemoor Drain, which was widened at the same time.Williams, Michael. (1970). "The Draining of the Somerset Levels". Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-07486-X.] The Taunton Stop Line was set up to resist a potential German invasion, and the remains of its pill boxes can still be seen, as well as others along the coast. [cite web |url=http://www.pillboxes-somerset.com/taunton_stop_line.htm |title=Taunton Stop Line |accessdate=2007-10-25 |format= |work=Pillboxes Somerset ] A decoy town was constructed on Black Down, intended to represent the blazing lights of a town which had neglected to follow the black-out regulations. [cite web | title=Mendip Hills An Archaeological Survey of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty | work=Somerset County Council Archeological Projects | url=http://www.somerset.gov.uk/media/896B4/MendipAONB.pdf | accessdate=2006-10-28|format=PDF] Several sites in the county housed Prisoner of War camps including: Norton Fitzwarren, Barwick, Brockley, Goathurst and Wells.

Exmoor was one of the first British National Parks, designated in 1954, under the 1949 National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act.cite web |url=http://www.everythingexmoor.org.uk/_E/Exmoor_National_Park_Authority.php |title=Exmoor National Park Authority |accessdate=2007-10-16 |format= |work=Everything Exmoor ] and is named after its main river. It was expanded in 1991 and in 1993 Exmoor was designated as an Environmentally Sensitive Area. The Quantock Hills were designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in 1956, the first such designation in England under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949. The Mendip Hills followed with AONB designation in 1972. [cite web | title=The Mendip Society website | url=http://www.mendipsociety.org.uk/ | accessdate=2007-02-17]

Somerset today has only two small cities, Bath and Wells, and only small towns in comparison with many other areas of England. Tourism is a major source of employment along the coast, and in Bath and Cheddar for example. Other attractions include Exmoor, West Somerset Railway, Haynes Motor Museum and the Fleet Air Arm Museum as well as the churches and the various National Trust and English Heritage properties in Somerset.

Agriculture continues to be a major business, if no longer a major employer because of mechanisation. Light industries take place in many of the towns such as Bridgwater and Yeovil. The towns of Taunton and Shepton Mallet manufacture cider, though there are no longer as many apple orchards as there used to be.

In the late 19th century the boundaries of Somerset were slightly altered, but the main change came in 1974 when the county of Avon was set up. The northern part of Somerset was removed from the administrative control of Somerset County Council. On abolition of the county of Avon in 1996, these areas became separate administrative authorities, "North Somerset" and "Bath and North East Somerset". [cite web | title=Local Government since 1800 | work=Somerset County Council: History of Somerset | url=http://www.somerset.gov.uk/archives/ASH/Localgov.htm | accessdate=2006-10-29] The Department for Communities and Local Government was considering a proposal by Somerset County Council to change Somerset's administrative structure by abolishing the five districts to create a Somerset unitary authority. The changes were planned to be implemented no later than 1 April 2009. [cite web | url= http://www.somerset.gov.uk/somerset/features/unitarycouncil/page8.cfm | work= Somerset County Council | title= A unitary council for Somerset | accessdate=2007-06-29 ] [cite web | url= http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/proposalsfuture | work= Communities and Local Government | title= Proposals for future unitary structures: Stakeholder consultation |accessdate=2007-06-29 ] However, support for the county council's bid was not guaranteed and opposition among the district council and local population was strong; 82% of people responding to a referendum organised by the five district councils rejected the proposals. [cite web | url= http://www.tauntondeane.gov.uk/tdbcsites/council/press/latestnewsitems.asp?id=222 | work= Taunton Deane Council | title= Residents reject Unitary Council bid | accessdate=2007-06-29 | month= June | year= 2007 ] It was confirmed in July 2007 that the government had rejected the proposals for unitary authorities in Somerset, and that the present two-tier arrangements of Somerset County Council and the district councils will remain. [cite web |url=http://www.communities.gov.uk/statements/corporate/local-government |title=Written statement by John Healey MP, Minister for Local Government, 25 July 2007 |accessdate=2007-10-27 |format= |work=Department of Communities and local government ]

References

Further reading

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See also

* Somerset
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**Timeline of Somerset history
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* Geology of Somerset
* History of England
* Timeline of the Anglo-Saxon invasion and takeover of Britain.
* List of places in Somerset
* List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Somerset

External links

* [http://www.somerset.gov.uk/archives/ASH/index.htm Aspects of Somerset History]
* [http://www.somersetpast.net/ Victoria County History of Somerset]
* [http://www.somerset.gov.uk/archives/ Somerset Archives and Record Service]
* [http://www.sanhs.org/ Somerset Archaeology and Natural History Service]
* [http://www.somerset.gov.uk/media/087/B7/Report.pdf The Aggregate Landscape of Somerset: Predicting the Archaeological Resource]