Place:Somerset, England

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NameSomerset
Alt namesSOMsource: Chapman County Code (GENUKI)
Somersource: Gazetteer of Great Britain (1999) xviii
Somersetshiresource: Webster's Geographical Dictionary (1984)
Somsetsource: BIAB Online (1999-2000) accessed 16 Dec 2002; UK Counties and Regions Abbreviations [web site] (1997-98) accessed 16 Dec 2002
TypeHistoric county, Administrative county, Modern county
Coordinates51°N 3.1°W
Located inEngland
Contained Places
Ancient city
Bath
Ancient parish
Abbas Combe
Aisholt ( - 1933 )
Alford
Aller
Angersleigh ( - 1933 )
Ansford
Ash Priors
Ashbrittle
Ashill
Ashington ( - 1933 )
Axbridge
Babcary
Babington ( - 1949 )
Backwell
Badgworth
Banwell
Barrington
Barrow Gurney
Barton St. David
Barwick
Batcombe
Bath St. Michael ( - 1900 )
Bath St. Peter and St. Paul
Bathampton
Bathealton
Batheaston
Bathford
Bathwick ( - 1900 )
Bawdrip
Beckington
Bedminster
Beer Crocombe
Berkley
Berrow
Biddisham ( - 1933 )
Binegar
Bishops Lydeard
Blagdon
Bleadon
Bradford on Tone
Bratton Seymour
Brean
Brent Knoll
Bridgwater
Bristol St. Mary Redcliff
Broadway
Brockley
Brompton Ralph
Brompton Regis
Broomfield
Brushford
Bruton
Brympton
Buckland Dinham
Buckland St. Mary
Burnett
Burnham ( - 1917 )
Butcombe
Butleigh
Cameley
Camerton
Cannington
Carhampton
Castle Cary
Chaffcombe
Chapel Allerton
Chard
Charlcombe
Charlton Horethorne
Charlton Mackrell
Charlton Musgrove
Charlynch ( - 1933 )
Cheddar
Cheddon Fitzpaine
Chedzoy
Chelwood
Chew Magna
Chew Stoke
Chewton Mendip
Chilcompton
Chilthorne Domer
Chilton Cantelo
Chilton Polden
Chilton Trinity
Chipstable
Chiselborough
Christon ( - 1933 )
Churchstanton ( 1896 - )
Clapton
Clatworthy
Claverton
Clevedon
Cloford ( - 1933 )
Closworth
Clutton
Combe Florey
Combe Hay
Combe St. Nicholas
Compton Bishop
Compton Dando
Compton Dundon
Compton Martin
Compton Pauncefoot
Congresbury
Corston
Corton Denham
Cossington
Creech St. Michael
Crewkerne
Cricket Malherbie ( - 1933 )
Cricket St. Thomas
Croscombe
Crowcombe
Cucklington
Cudworth
Culbone ( - 1933 )
Curry Mallet
Curry Rivel
Cutcombe
Dinder
Ditcheat
Dodington ( - 1933 )
Donyatt
Doulting
Dowlish Wake
Drayton
Dulverton
Dunkerton
Dunster
Durleigh
Durston
Earnshill ( - 1933 )
East Brent
East Chinnock
East Coker
East Harptree
East Lydford ( - 1933 )
East Pennard
East Quantoxhead
Easton in Gordano
Elm
Elworthy
English Combe
Enmore
Evercreech
Exford
Exton
Farleigh Hungerford
Farmborough
Fiddington
Fivehead
Foxcote ( - 1933 )
Freshford
Frome
Glastonbury
Goathill ( - 1896 )
Goathurst
Greinton
Halse
Hardington Mandeville
Hardington ( - 1933 )
Haslebury Plucknett
Hatch Beauchamp
Hawkridge
Heathfield ( - 1933 )
Hemington
Henstridge
High Ham
High Littleton
Hinton Blewett
Hinton St. George
Holcombe
Holford
Holton
Holwell ( - 1844 )
Hornblotton ( - 1933 )
Horsington
Huish Champflower
Huish Episcopi
Huntspill ( - 1949 )
Hutton
Ilchester
Ilminster
Ilton
Isle Abbots
Isle Brewers
Keinton Mandeville
Kelston
Kenn
Kewstoke
Keynsham
Kilmersdon
Kilmington ( 1896 - )
Kilton with Lilstock ( 1886 - 1933 )
Kilve
Kingsbury Episcopi
Kingsdon
Kingston Seymour
Kingston St. Mary
Kingstone
Kingweston
Kittisford ( - 1933 )
Lamyat
Langridge ( - 1933 )
Laverton ( - 1933 )
Limington
Litton
Locking
Long Ashton
Long Sutton
Lovington
Loxton
Luccombe
Lufton ( - 1933 )
Lullington
Luxborough
Lydeard St. Lawrence
Lympsham
Lyncombe and Widcombe ( - 1900 )
Lyng
Maiden Bradley with Yarnfield ( - 1895 )
Maperton
Marksbury
Marston Bigot ( - 1933 )
Marston Magna
Martock
Meare
Mells
Merriott
Middlezoy
Midsomer Norton
Milborne Port
Milton Clevedon
Milverton
Minehead
Misterton ( - 1835 )
Monksilver
Monkton Combe
Montacute
Moorlinch
Muchelney
Mudford
Nether Stowey
Nettlecombe
Newton St. Loe
North Barrow
North Cadbury
North Cheriton
North Curry
North Perrott
North Petherton
North Stoke
Northover ( - 1933 )
Norton Fitzwarren
Norton Malreward
Norton St. Philip
Norton sub Hamdon
Nunney
Nyland cum Batcombe
Nynehead
Oake
Oare
Odcombe
Old Cleeve
Orchard Portman
Orchardleigh
Othery
Otterford
Otterhampton
Over Stowey
Pawlett
Pendomer ( - 1933 )
Penselwood
Pilton
Pitminster
Pitney
Podimore ( - 1933 )
Porlock
Portbury
Portishead
Poyntington ( - 1896 )
Priston
Puckington
Puriton
Puxton
Pylle
Queen Camel
Raddington ( - 1933 )
Radstock
Rimpton
Rode
Rodney Stoke
Rowberrow ( - 1933 )
Runnington ( - 1933 )
Saltford
Sampford Arundel
Sampford Brett
Sandford Orcas ( - 1896 )
Seaborough ( 1896 - )
Seavington St. Mary
Seavington St. Michael
Selworthy
Shapwick
Shepton Beauchamp
Shepton Mallet
Shepton Montague
Shipham
Skilgate
Sock Dennis ( - 1957 )
Somerton
South Barrow
South Brewham ( - 1933 )
South Cadbury
South Petherton
South Stoke
Sparkford
Spaxton
St. Decumans ( - 1902 )
St. Michaelchurch ( - 1933 )
Stanton Drew
Stanton Prior ( - 1933 )
Staple Fitzpaine
Staplegrove
Stawley
Stockland Bristol
Stocklinch
Stogumber
Stogursey
Stoke Pero ( - 1933 )
Stoke St. Mary
Stoke Trister
Stoke sub Hamdon
Stowell ( - 1933 )
Stowey ( - 1949 )
Stratton on the Fosse
Street
Stringston
Sutton Bingham
Sutton Montis ( - 1933 )
Swainswick
Swell ( - 1933 )
Taunton ( 710 - )
Tellisford
Thorne Coffin ( - 1933 )
Thornfalcon
Thurloxton
Tickenham
Timberscombe
Timsbury
Tintinhull
Tolland
Treborough
Trent ( - 1896 )
Trull
Twerton ( - 1911 )
Ubley
Uphill ( - 1933 )
Upton
Walcot ( - 1900 )
Walton in Gordano
Walton
Wambrook ( 1895 - )
Wanstrow
Wayford
Weare
Wedmore
Wellington
Wellow
Wells ( 500 - )
Wembdon
West Bagborough
West Bradley
West Buckland
West Camel
West Chinnock
West Coker
West Dowlish ( - 1933 )
West Harptree
West Lydford ( - 1933 )
West Monkton
West Pennard
West Quantoxhead
Westbury sub Mendip
Weston Bampfylde ( - 1933 )
Weston in Gordano
Weston super Mare ( - 1974 )
Weston ( - 1953 )
Westonzoyland
Whatley
Wheathill ( - 1933 )
Whitelackington
Whitestaunton
Wincanton
Winford
Winscombe
Winsford
Winsham
Witham Friary
Withiel Florey ( - 1933 )
Withycombe
Wiveliscombe
Wookey
Woolavington
Woolley ( - 1933 )
Woolverton ( - 1933 )
Worle
Wraxall
Wrington
Writhlington ( - 1933 )
Yarlington
Yatton
Yeovil
Yeovilton
Borough (county)
Bath
Borough (municipal)
Bridgwater
Chard
Glastonbury
Taunton ( 710 - )
Wells ( 500 - )
Weston super Mare ( - 1974 )
Yeovil
Cemetery
Bath (Haycombe) Cemetery
St. Mary's Churchyard
Chapelry
Abbots Leigh
Ash
Ashcott
Ashwick
Baltonsborough
Bath St. James ( - 1957 )
Bickenhall
Bicknoller
Blackford (near Milborne Port) ( - 1933 )
Brislington ( - 1933 )
Burrington
Catcott
Chillington
Churchill
Cleeve
Coleford ( 1949 - )
Corfe
Cothelstone
Curland
Dinnington
Downhead
Dundry
Earnshill ( - 1933 )
East Cranmore ( - 1933 )
Edington
Emborough
Farrington Gurney
Fitzhead
Flax Bourton
Godney
Hinton Charterhouse
Knowle St. Giles
Langford Budville
Langport
Leigh upon Mendip
Long Load
Lopen
Mark
Nailsea
Nempnett Thrubwell
North Widcombe ( - 1933 )
North Wootton
Paulton
Pitcombe
Pitney
Preston Plucknett ( - 1930 )
Priddy
Publow
Queen Charlton ( - 1933 )
Rodden ( - 1933 )
Ruishton
Selwood
Stawell
Stoke St. Gregory
Stoke St. Michael
Ston Easton
Sutton Mallet ( - 1933 )
Thorne St. Margaret
Thurlbear ( - 1933 )
Upton Noble
Wambrook ( 1895 - )
West Cranmore ( - 1933 )
West Hatch
Whitchurch
Wick St. Lawrence ( - 1974 )
Withypool
Civil parish
Abbas Combe
Abbots Leigh
Aisholt ( - 1933 )
Alford
Aller
Angersleigh ( - 1933 )
Ansford
Ash Priors
Ash
Ashbrittle
Ashcott
Ashill
Ashington ( - 1933 )
Ashwick
Axbridge
Babcary
Babington ( - 1949 )
Backwell
Badgworth
Baltonsborough
Banwell
Barrington
Barrow Gurney
Barton St. David
Barwick
Batcombe
Bath St. James ( - 1957 )
Bath St. Michael ( - 1900 )
Bath St. Peter and St. Paul
Bathampton
Bathealton
Batheaston
Bathford
Bathwick ( - 1900 )
Bawdrip
Beckington
Bedminster
Beer Crocombe
Berkley
Berrow
Bickenhall
Bicknoller
Biddisham ( - 1933 )
Binegar
Bishops Hull Without
Bishops Lydeard
Bishopswood
Bishopsworth ( 1898 - 1951 )
Blackford (near Milborne Port) ( - 1933 )
Blagdon
Bleadon
Bradford on Tone
Bratton Seymour
Brean
Brent Knoll
Brewham ( 1933 - )
Bridgwater Without ( 1894 - 1974 )
Bridgwater
Brislington ( - 1933 )
Bristol St. Mary Redcliff
Broadway
Brockley
Brompton Ralph
Brompton Regis
Broomfield
Brushford
Bruton
Brympton
Buckland Dinham
Buckland St. Mary
Burnett
Burnham Without
Burnham ( - 1917 )
Burrington
Butcombe
Butleigh
Cameley
Camerton
Cannington
Carhampton
Castle Cary
Catcott
Chaffcombe
Chapel Allerton
Chard
Charlcombe
Charlton Horethorne
Charlton Mackrell
Charlton Musgrove
Charlynch ( - 1933 )
Charterhouse on Mendip
Cheddar
Cheddon Fitzpaine
Chedzoy
Chelwood
Chew Magna
Chew Stoke
Chewton Mendip
Chilcompton
Chillington
Chilthorne Domer
Chilton Cantelo
Chilton Polden
Chilton Trinity
Chipstable
Chiselborough
Christon ( - 1933 )
Churchill
Churchstanton ( 1896 - )
Clapton
Clatworthy
Claverton
Cleeve
Clevedon
Cloford ( - 1933 )
Closworth
Clutton
Coleford ( 1949 - )
Combe Florey
Combe Hay
Combe St. Nicholas
Compton Bishop
Compton Dando
Compton Dundon
Compton Martin
Compton Pauncefoot
Congresbury
Corfe
Corston
Corton Denham
Cossington
Cothelstone
Cranmore ( 1933 - )
Creech St. Michael
Crewkerne
Cricket Malherbie ( - 1933 )
Cricket St. Thomas
Croscombe
Crowcombe
Cucklington
Cudworth
Culbone ( - 1933 )
Curland
Curry Mallet
Curry Rivel
Cutcombe
Dinder
Dinnington
Ditcheat
Dodington ( - 1933 )
Donyatt
Doulting
Dowlish Wake
Downhead
Drayton
Dulverton
Dundry
Dunkerton
Dunster
Durleigh
Durston
Earnshill ( - 1933 )
East Brent
East Chinnock
East Coker
East Cranmore ( - 1933 )
East Harptree
East Lydford ( - 1933 )
East Pennard
East Quantoxhead
Easton in Gordano
Eastrip ( - 1885 )
Edington
Elm
Elworthy
Emborough
English Combe
Enmore
Evercreech
Exford
Exmoor
Exton
Farleigh Hungerford
Farmborough
Farrington Gurney
Fiddington
Fitzhead
Fivehead
Flax Bourton
Foxcote ( - 1933 )
Freshford
Frome
Glastonbury
Goathill ( - 1896 )
Goathurst
Godney
Greinton
Halse
Hambridge and Westport
Hardington Mandeville
Hardington ( - 1933 )
Haslebury Plucknett
Hatch Beauchamp
Hawkridge
Heathfield ( - 1933 )
Hemington
Henstridge
High Ham
High Littleton
Highbridge
Hinton Blewett
Hinton Charterhouse
Hinton St. George
Holcombe
Holford
Holton
Holwell ( - 1844 )
Hornblotton ( - 1933 )
Horsington
Huish Champflower
Huish Episcopi
Huntspill ( - 1949 )
Hutton
Ilchester
Ilminster Without ( 1898 - )
Ilminster
Ilton
Isle Abbots
Isle Brewers
Keinton Mandeville
Kelston
Kenn
Kewstoke
Keynsham
Kilmersdon
Kilmington ( 1896 - )
Kilton with Lilstock ( 1886 - 1933 )
Kilve
Kingsbury Episcopi
Kingsdon
Kingston Seymour
Kingston St. Mary
Kingstone
Kingweston
Kittisford ( - 1933 )
Knowle St. Giles
Lamyat
Langford Budville
Langport
Langridge ( - 1933 )
Laverton ( - 1933 )
Leigh upon Mendip
Limington
Litton
Locking
Long Ashton
Long Load
Long Sutton
Lopen
Lovington
Loxton
Luccombe
Lufton ( - 1933 )
Lullington
Luxborough
Lydeard St. Lawrence
Lydford on Fosse ( 1933 - )
Lympsham
Lyncombe and Widcombe ( - 1900 )
Lyng
Maiden Bradley with Yarnfield ( - 1895 )
Maperton
Mark
Marksbury
Marston Bigot ( - 1933 )
Marston Magna
Martock
Meare
Mells
Merriott
Middlezoy
Midsomer Norton
Milborne Port
Milton Clevedon
Milverton
Minehead Without
Minehead
Misterton ( - 1835 )
Monksilver
Monkton Combe
Montacute
Moorlinch
Muchelney
Mudford
Nailsea
Nempnett Thrubwell
Nether Stowey
Nettlecombe
Newton St. Loe
North Barrow
North Brewham ( - 1933 )
North Cadbury
North Cheriton
North Curry
North Perrott
North Petherton
North Stoke
North Weston ( 1894 - 1993 )
North Widcombe ( - 1933 )
North Wootton
Northover ( - 1933 )
Norton Fitzwarren
Norton Hawkfield ( - 1895 )
Norton Malreward
Norton Radstock ( - 2011 )
Norton St. Philip
Norton sub Hamdon
Nunney
Nyland cum Batcombe
Nynehead
Oake
Oare
Odcombe
Old Cleeve
Orchard Portman
Orchardleigh
Othery
Otterford
Otterhampton
Over Stowey
Paulton
Pawlett
Peasedown St. John
Pendomer ( - 1933 )
Penselwood
Pilton
Pitcombe
Pitminster
Pitney
Podimore ( - 1933 )
Porlock
Portbury
Portishead
Poyntington ( - 1896 )
Preston Plucknett ( - 1930 )
Priddy
Priston
Publow
Puckington
Puriton
Puxton
Pylle
Queen Camel
Queen Charlton ( - 1933 )
Raddington ( - 1933 )
Radstock
Rimpton
Rodden ( - 1933 )
Rode
Rodney Stoke
Rowberrow ( - 1933 )
Ruishton
Runnington ( - 1933 )
Saltford
Sampford Arundel
Sampford Brett
Sandford Orcas ( - 1896 )
Seaborough ( 1896 - )
Seavington St. Mary
Seavington St. Michael
Selwood
Selworthy
Shapwick
Sharpham ( 1894 - )
Shepton Beauchamp
Shepton Mallet
Shepton Montague
Shipham
Skilgate
Sock Dennis ( - 1957 )
Somerton
South Barrow
South Brewham ( - 1933 )
South Cadbury
South Petherton
South Stoke
Sparkford
Spaxton
St. Cuthbert Out ( 1866 - )
St. Decumans ( - 1902 )
St. Michaelchurch ( - 1933 )
Stanton Drew
Stanton Prior ( - 1933 )
Staple Fitzpaine
Staplegrove
Stawell
Stawley
Stockland Bristol
Stocklinch
Stogumber
Stogursey
Stoke Pero ( - 1933 )
Stoke St. Gregory
Stoke St. Mary
Stoke St. Michael
Stoke Trister
Stoke sub Hamdon
Ston Easton
Stourton with Gasper ( - 1895 )
Stowell ( - 1933 )
Stowey ( - 1949 )
Stratton on the Fosse
Street
Stringston
Sutton Bingham
Sutton Mallet ( - 1933 )
Sutton Montis ( - 1933 )
Swainswick
Swell ( - 1933 )
Taunton St. James Without
Taunton St. Mary Magdalene Within
Taunton St. Mary Magdalene Without ( 1885 - 1933 )
Taunton ( 710 - )
Tellisford
Thorne Coffin ( - 1933 )
Thorne St. Margaret
Thornfalcon
Thurlbear ( - 1933 )
Thurloxton
Tickenham
Timberscombe
Timsbury
Tintinhull
Tolland
Treborough
Trent ( - 1896 )
Trudoxhill
Trull
Twerton ( - 1911 )
Ubley
Uphill ( - 1933 )
Upton Noble
Upton
Walcot ( - 1900 )
Walton in Gordano
Walton
Wambrook ( 1895 - )
Wanstrow
Watchet ( 1902 - )
Wayford
Weare
Wedmore
Wellington Without ( 1933 - )
Wellington
Wellow
Wells ( 500 - )
Wembdon
West Bagborough
West Bradley
West Buckland
West Camel
West Chinnock
West Coker
West Cranmore ( - 1933 )
West Crewkerne ( 1894 - )
West Dowlish ( - 1933 )
West Harptree
West Hatch
West Lydford ( - 1933 )
West Monkton
West Pennard
West Quantoxhead
Westbury sub Mendip
Westfield
Weston Bampfylde ( - 1933 )
Weston in Gordano
Weston super Mare ( - 1974 )
Weston ( - 1953 )
Westonzoyland
Whatley
Wheathill ( - 1933 )
Whitchurch
Whitelackington
Whitestaunton
Wick St. Lawrence ( - 1974 )
Williton ( 1902 - )
Wincanton
Winford
Winscombe
Winsford
Winsham
Witham Friary
Withiel Florey ( - 1933 )
Withycombe
Withypool and Hawkridge ( 1933 - )
Withypool
Wiveliscombe Without ( 1894 - 1974 )
Wiveliscombe
Wookey
Woolavington
Woolley ( - 1933 )
Woolverton ( - 1933 )
Wootton Courtenay
Worle
Wraxall
Wrington
Writhlington ( - 1933 )
Yarlington
Yatton
Yeovil Without ( 1894 - 1974 )
Yeovil
Yeovilton
District municipality
Bath and North East Somerset District ( 1996 - )
Mendip District ( 1974 - )
North Somerset District ( 1996 - )
Sedgemoor District ( 1974 - )
Somerset West and Taunton District ( 2019 - )
South Somerset District ( 1974 - )
Taunton Deane District ( 1974 - )
West Somerset District ( 1974 - )
Extra parochial area
Charterhouse on Mendip
Eastrip ( - 1885 )
Exmoor
Sock Dennis ( - 1957 )
Hamlet
North Weston ( 1894 - 1993 )
Norton Hawkfield ( - 1895 )
Hundred
Abdick and Bulstone Hundred
Andersfield Hundred
Bath Forum Hundred
Bempstone Hundred
Brent with Wrington Hundred
Bruton Hundred
Cannington Hundred
Carhampton Hundred
Catsash Hundred
Chew Hundred
Chewton Hundred
Crewkerne Hundred
Frome Hundred
Glaston Twelve Hides Hundred
Hampton and Claverton Hundred
Hartcliffe with Bedminster Hundred
Horethorne Hundred
Houndsborough Barwick and Coker Hundred
Huntspill and Puriton Hundred
Keynsham Hundred
Kilmersdon Hundred
Kingsbury Hundred
Martock Hundred
Mells and Leigh Hundred
Milverton Hundred
North Curry Hundred
North Petherton Hundred
Norton Ferris Hundred
Pitney Hundred
Portbury Hundred
Somerton Hundred
South Petherton Hundred
Stone Hundred
Taunton and Taunton Deane Hundred
Tintinhull Hundred
Wellow Hundred
Wells Forum Hundred
Whitley Hundred
Whitstone Hundred
Williton and Freemanors Hundred
Winterstoke Hundred
Parochial area
Peasedown St. John
Registration district
Axbridge Registration District Registration District ( 1837 - 1936 )
Axbridge Registration District
Bath & North East Somerset Registration District ( 1996 - )
Bath Registration District ( 1837 - 1974 )
Bath and North East Somerset Registration District ( 1996 - )
Bathavon Registration District ( 1936 - 1974 )
Bedminster Registration District ( 1837 - 1898 )
Bridgwater Registration District ( 1837 - 1974 )
Chard Registration District ( 1837 - 1895 )
Clutton Registration District ( 1937 - 1936 )
Dulverton Registration District (early) ( 1837-1838 - )
Dulverton Registration District (late) ( 1855 - 1936 )
Exmoor Registration District ( 1936 - 1974 )
Frome Registration District ( 1837 - 1974 )
Keynsham Registration District ( 1837 - 1936 )
Langport Registration District ( 1837 - 1936 )
Long Ashton Registration District ( 1899 - 1936 )
Mendip Registration District ( 1974 - 2007 )
North Somerset Registration District ( 1996 - )
Norton Radstock Registration District ( 19361974 - )
Sedgemoor Registration District ( 1974 - 2007 )
Shepton Mallet Registration District ( 1837 - 1936 )
Somerset Registration District ( 2008 - )
South Somerset Registration District ( 2003 - 2007 )
Taunton Deane Registration District ( 1974 - 1996 )
Taunton Registration District ( 1837 - 1896 )
Wellington Registration District ( 1837 - 1936 )
Wells Registration District ( 1837 - 1974 )
West Somerset Registration District ( 1974 - 2007 )
Weston super Mare Registration District ( 1837 - 1974 )
Williton Registration District ( 1837 - 1936 )
Wincanton Registration District ( 1837 - 1974 )
Yeovil Registration District ( 1837 - 2003 )
Rural district
Axbridge Rural ( 1894 - 1974 )
Bath Rural ( 1894 - 1933 )
Bathavon Rural ( 1933 - 1974 )
Bridgwater Rural ( 1894 - 1974 )
Chard Rural ( 1894 - 1974 )
Clutton Rural ( 1894 - 1974 )
Dulverton Rural ( 1894 - 1974 )
Frome Rural ( 1894 - 1974 )
Keynsham Rural ( 1894 - 1933 )
Langport Rural ( 1894 - 1974 )
Long Ashton Rural ( 1894 - 1974 )
Shepton Mallet Rural ( 1894 - 1974 )
Taunton Rural ( 1894 - 1974 )
Wellington Rural ( 1894 - 1974 )
Wells Rural ( 1894 - 1974 )
Williton Rural ( 1894 - 1974 )
Wincanton Rural ( 1894 - 1974 )
Yeovil Rural ( 1894 - 1974 )
Suburb
Selwood
Twerton ( - 1911 )
Unitary authority
Bath and North East Somerset District ( 1996 - )
North Somerset District ( 1996 - )
Urban district
Burnham ( - 1917 )
Clevedon
Crewkerne
Frome
Highbridge
Ilminster
Keynsham
Midsomer Norton
Minehead
Norton Radstock ( - 2011 )
Portishead
Radstock
Shepton Mallet
Street
Watchet ( 1902 - )
Wellington
Weston super Mare ( - 1974 )
Wiveliscombe
source: Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names


the text in this section is based on an article in Wikipedia

The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in southwest England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the River Severn. Its traditional northern border was the River Avon, but the administrative boundary crept southwards with the creation and expansion of the City of Bristol. Bristol and Bath and the neighbouring rural districts were transferred to a new county of Avon in 1974. The new county was abolished in 1996 and succeeded by unitary authorities, two of which (North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset) have returned to Somerset on a ceremonial basis. Somerset's county town is Taunton, located in the south of the county.

Somerset is a rural county of rolling hills such as the Blackdown Hills, Mendip Hills, Quantock Hills and Exmoor National Park, and large flat expanses of land including the Somerset Levels. There is evidence of human occupation from Palaeolithic times, and of subsequent settlement in the Roman and Anglo-Saxon periods. The county played a significant part in the consolidation of power and rise of King Alfred the Great (end of the 9th century), and later in the English Civil War (mid 1600s) and the Monmouth Rebellion.

Agriculture is a major business in the county. Sheep were farmed for wool as well as meat, and cattle dairying and cheese-making (most notably Cheddar), are traditional and contemporary endeavours, as is the more unusual cultivation of willow for basket weaving and as a green fuel. Apple orchards were once plentiful, and Somerset is still known for the production of strong cider. In the 19th century, coal mining was a substantial industry in Somerset, particularly in the area that is now Bath and North East Somerset, south of Bristol.

Unemployment is lower than the national average; the largest employment sectors are now retail, manufacturing, tourism, and health and social care. Population growth in the county is higher than the national average. (expanded in Wikipedia in the section "Demography")

Contents

Cities and towns

Somerton took over from Ilchester as the county town in the late thirteenth century, but it declined in importance and the status of county town transferred to Taunton about 1366. The county has two cities, Bath and Wells, and 30 towns (including the county town of Taunton, which has no town council but instead is the chief settlement of the county's only extant "borough"). The largest urban areas in terms of population are Bath, Weston super Mare, Taunton, Yeovil and Bridgwater.

Many settlements developed because of their strategic importance in relation to geographical features, such as river crossings or valleys in ranges of hills. Examples include Axbridge on the River Axe, Castle Cary on the River Axe, North Petherton on the River Parrett, and Ilminster, where there was a crossing point on the River Isle. Midsomer Norton lies on the River Somer; while the Wellow Brook and the Fosse Way Roman road run through Radstock. Chard is the most southerly town in Somerset and one of the highest, though at an altitude of 126 m (413 ft) Wiveliscombe is the highest town in the county.

History

For more information, see the EN Wikipedia article Somerset., especially the sections entitled "History" and "Economy and Industry". There is a supplementary article History of Somerset, and another Somerset Coalmining.

County Divisions

Registration Districts

  • Axbridge
  • Bath
  • Bathavon
  • Beaminster
  • Bedminster
  • Bradford on Avon
  • Bridgwater
  • Chard
  • Clutton
  • Dulverton
  • Exmoor
  • Frome
  • Keynsham
  • Langport
  • Long Ashton
  • Mere
  • Norton Radstock
  • Shepton Mallet
  • Sherborne
  • Taunton
  • Tiverton
  • Wellington
  • Wells
  • Weston-super-Mare
  • Williton
  • Wincanton
  • Yeovil


Non-Metropolitan Districts (since 1996)

Wikipedia has a map illustrating the relative locations of the districts at the bottom of the right hand panel.

Research Tips

Population

Throughout the county the population is often given for small civil parishes. The figure stated comes from the latest figures available from the Office for National Statistics and these are the populations from the 2001 census. A census was again taken in the spring of 2011, but these later statistics have not yet been released.

Archives and Libraries

  • The Somerset Heritage Centre (incorporating what was formerly the Somerset Record Office and the Somerset Local Studies Library) can be found at its new location at Langford Mead in Taunton. The Heritage Centre has an email address:archives@somerset.gov.uk.
  • Each Library in Somerset has its own web page. The index page to libraries leads to each of the libraries along with the facilities to be found there.
  • The Somerset pages of GENUKI contain a great amount of useful data and references to other websites. Some of the web links are not up to date.
  • The four family history societies covering parts of Somerset are:
  • This list may include some databases not included above.
This page uses content from the English Wikipedia. The original content was at Somerset. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with WeRelate, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.