Sedgemoor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sedgemoor
Sedgemoor District
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Non-metropolitan district
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![]() Shown within Somerset
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Sovereign state | United Kingdom | |
Constituent country | England | |
Region | South West England | |
Ceremonial county | Somerset | |
Admin HQ | Bridgwater | |
Created | 1 April 1974 | |
Government | ||
• Type | Unitary district | |
Area | ||
• Total | 217.90 sq mi (564.36 km2) | |
Population
(2021)
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• Total | 125,752 | |
• Density | 577.107/sq mi (222.8223/km2) | |
Time zone | UTC0 (GMT) | |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (BST) | |
Post Code |
TA5-9
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Area code(s) | 01278 |
Sedgemoor is a flat area of land in Somerset, England. It's very close to sea level and is south of the Polden Hills. A long time ago, much of this area was marshland, which is why it's called a "moor."
The eastern part is known as King's Sedgemoor, and the western part is West Sedgemoor. Sedgemoor is part of a bigger area called the Somerset Levels and Moors. This place is famous in history for the Battle of Sedgemoor.
Sedgemoor also gave its name to a local government area. This area was created on April 1, 1974. It brought together several smaller towns and rural areas. This district was bigger than the historical Sedgemoor. It stretched north of the Polden Hills, across the Somerset Levels and Moors, all the way to the Mendip Hills.
However, on April 1, 2023, the Sedgemoor district was changed. A new type of local government, called a unitary district, took over. This new council is called Somerset Council. Elections for this new council happened in May 2022. The new council worked alongside Sedgemoor and other councils until they officially ended in April 2023.
Contents
What's in a Name?
The name Sedgemoor doesn't mean "sedge moor" (a marsh with sedge plants). Instead, it means "marsh of a man called Sicga." This name comes from an old Norse personal name, Sicga, and an Old English word, "mor," which means moor or marsh. The name was first written down as Secgamere in 1165.
Main Towns in Sedgemoor
Here are some of the main towns in the Sedgemoor area:
- Bridgwater – This was the main office for the Sedgemoor district council.
- Burnham-on-Sea
- North Petherton
- Highbridge
- Axbridge
- Cheddar
Local Villages and Parishes
Many smaller villages and areas, called civil parishes, make up the Sedgemoor region. Here's a look at some of them:
Image | Name | Type of Area | Population | Former Local Authority | Location | More Info |
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Ashcott | Civil parish | 1,186 | Bridgwater Rural District | 51°07′N 2°49′W / 51.12°N 2.81°W | |
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Axbridge | Town | 2,057 | Axbridge Rural District | 51°17′N 2°49′W / 51.29°N 2.82°W | |
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Badgworth | Civil parish | 525 | Axbridge Rural District | 51°16′N 2°52′W / 51.27°N 2.87°W | |
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Bawdrip | Civil parish | 506 | Bridgwater Rural District | 51°09′N 2°56′W / 51.15°N 2.94°W | |
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Berrow | Civil parish | 1,534 | Axbridge Rural District | 51°16′N 3°01′W / 51.27°N 3.01°W | |
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Brean | Civil parish | 635 | Axbridge Rural District | 51°18′N 3°01′W / 51.30°N 3.01°W | |
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Brent Knoll | Civil parish | 1,271 | Axbridge Rural District | 51°15′N 2°57′W / 51.25°N 2.95°W | |
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Bridgwater | Town | 35,886 | Bridgwater Municipal Borough | 51°08′N 2°59′W / 51.13°N 2.99°W | |
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Bridgwater Without | Civil parish | 428 | Bridgwater Rural District | 51°08′N 2°58′W / 51.14°N 2.97°W | |
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Broomfield | Civil parish | 249 | Bridgwater Rural District | 51°05′N 3°07′W / 51.08°N 3.11°W | |
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Burnham on Sea and Highbridge | Town | 19,576 | Burnham on Sea Urban District | 51°14′N 2°59′W / 51.24°N 2.99°W | |
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Burnham Without | Civil Parish | 1,636 | Axbridge Rural District | 51°14′N 2°58′W / 51.23°N 2.96°W | |
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Burtle | Civil parish | 388 | Bridgwater Rural District | 51°10′N 2°52′W / 51.17°N 2.87°W | |
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Cannington | Civil parish | 2,271 | Bridgwater Rural District | 51°09′N 3°04′W / 51.15°N 3.07°W | |
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Catcott | Civil parish | 531 | Bridgwater Rural District | 51°09′N 2°52′W / 51.15°N 2.87°W | |
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Chapel Allerton | Civil parish | 401 | Axbridge Rural District | 51°15′N 2°51′W / 51.25°N 2.85°W | |
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Cheddar | Civil parish | 5,755 | Axbridge Rural District | 51°17′N 2°47′W / 51.28°N 2.78°W | |
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Chedzoy | Civil parish | 404 | Bridgwater Rural District | 51°08′N 2°57′W / 51.13°N 2.95°W | |
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Chilton Polden | Civil parish | 698 | Bridgwater Rural District | 51°09′N 2°54′W / 51.15°N 2.90°W | |
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Chilton Trinity | Civil parish | 260 | Bridgwater Rural District | 51°09′N 3°01′W / 51.15°N 3.01°W | |
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Compton Bishop | Civil parish | 620 | Axbridge Rural District | 51°18′N 2°52′W / 51.30°N 2.87°W | |
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Cossington | Civil parish | 564 | Bridgwater Rural District | 51°10′N 2°55′W / 51.16°N 2.92°W | |
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Durleigh | Civil parish | 548 | Bridgwater Rural District | 51°07′N 3°02′W / 51.12°N 3.04°W | |
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East Brent | Civil parish | 1,302 | Axbridge Rural District | 51°16′N 2°56′W / 51.26°N 2.94°W | |
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East Huntspill | Civil parish | 1,146 | Bridgwater Rural District | 51°12′N 2°59′W / 51.20°N 2.98°W | |
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Edington | Civil parish | 372 | Bridgwater Rural District | 51°09′N 2°53′W / 51.15°N 2.88°W | |
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Enmore | Civil parish | 247 | Bridgwater Rural District | 51°07′N 3°05′W / 51.11°N 3.09°W | |
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Fiddington | Civil parish | 298 | Bridgwater Rural District | 51°10′N 3°07′W / 51.16°N 3.12°W | |
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Goathurst | Civil parish | 193 | Bridgwater Rural District | 51°06′N 3°04′W / 51.10°N 3.06°W | |
Greinton | Civil Parish | 71 | Bridgwater Rural District | 51°07′N 2°50′W / 51.12°N 2.84°W | ||
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Lympsham | Civil parish | 960 | Axbridge Rural District | 51°17′N 2°57′W / 51.29°N 2.95°W | |
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Lyng | Civil parish | 338 | Bridgwater Rural District | 51°03′N 2°58′W / 51.05°N 2.96°W | |
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Mark | Civil parish | 1,478 | Axbridge Rural District | 51°14′N 2°53′W / 51.23°N 2.89°W | |
Middlezoy | Civil parish | 725 | Bridgwater Rural District | 51°05′N 2°53′W / 51.09°N 2.89°W | ||
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Moorlinch | Civil parish | 408 | Bridgwater Rural District | 51°08′N 2°52′W / 51.13°N 2.86°W | |
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Nether Stowey | Civil parish | 1,373 | Bridgwater Rural District | 51°09′N 3°09′W / 51.15°N 3.15°W | |
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North Petherton | Town | 6,730 | Bridgwater Rural District | 51°05′N 3°01′W / 51.09°N 3.01°W | |
Othery | Civil parish | 642 | Bridgwater Rural District | 51°05′N 2°53′W / 51.08°N 2.88°W | ||
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Otterhampton | Civil parish | 831 | Bridgwater Rural District | 51°11′N 3°05′W / 51.18°N 3.08°W | |
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Over Stowey | Civil parish | 352 | Bridgwater Rural District | 51°09′N 3°09′W / 51.15°N 3.15°W | |
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Pawlett | Civil Parish | 1,038 | Bridgwater Rural District | 51°11′N 3°00′W / 51.18°N 3.00°W | |
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Puriton | Civil parish | 1,068 | Bridgwater Rural District | 51°10′N 2°58′W / 51.17°N 2.97°W | |
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Shapwick | Civil parish | 536 | Bridgwater Rural District | 51°08′N 2°50′W / 51.14°N 2.83°W | |
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Shipham | Civil parish | 1,087 | Axbridge Rural District | 51°19′N 2°48′W / 51.31°N 2.80°W | |
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Spaxton | Civil parish | 1,012 | Bridgwater Rural District | 51°08′N 3°07′W / 51.13°N 3.11°W | |
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Stawell | Civil parish | 386 | Bridgwater Rural District | 51°08′N 2°55′W / 51.14°N 2.91°W | |
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Stockland Bristol | Civil parish | 165 | Bridgwater Rural District | 51°11′N 3°05′W / 51.19°N 3.08°W | |
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Thurloxton | Civil parish | 153 | Bridgwater Rural District | 51°04′N 3°02′W / 51.07°N 3.04°W | |
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Weare | Civil parish | 658 | Axbridge Rural District | 51°16′N 2°50′W / 51.27°N 2.84°W | |
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Wedmore | Civil Parish | 3,318 | Axbridge Rural District | 51°14′N 2°49′W / 51.23°N 2.81°W | |
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Wembdon | Civil parish | 3,613 | Bridgwater Rural District | 51°08′N 3°01′W / 51.13°N 3.02°W | |
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West Huntspill | Civil parish | 1,414 | Bridgwater Rural District | 51°12′N 2°59′W / 51.20°N 2.98°W | |
Westonzoyland | Civil parish | 1,801 | Bridgwater Rural District | 51°07′N 2°55′W / 51.11°N 2.92°W | ||
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Woolavington | Civil parish | 2,115 | Bridgwater Rural District | 51°10′N 2°56′W / 51.17°N 2.93°W |
Rivers of Sedgemoor
Several rivers flow through the Sedgemoor area, helping to shape its landscape.
Historical Battles
Sedgemoor is famous for one important historical event:
- Battle of Sedgemoor (1685): This was the last battle fought on English soil.
Local Industries
Today, Sedgemoor has many modern businesses. However, some traditional jobs are still important. These include getting peat from the ground, making things from willow plants, and producing cider. Farming animals is also a big part of the local economy. The River Parrett is a place where people catch eels and young eels (called elvers) from January to May.
A new business area called Isleport trading estate in Highbridge is home to many big companies. For example, Geest (Isleport Foods) makes yogurt there. Brake Brothers supplies food to restaurants, and BFP wholesale provides baking ingredients. Woodbury & Haines sells furniture around the world. Polybeam Limited makes special radio masts. AT&T also has a center here that controls internet traffic to and from the US.
In Bridgwater, industry has also grown a lot. "Express Park" is a new business area. It includes Gerber Foods, which is a global fruit juice supplier. There's also an NHS Logistics depot and an Eddie Stobart depot, which are both important for moving goods.
How Sedgemoor Was Governed
Sedgemoor District Council (Past)
The Sedgemoor district council was set up in 1974. Its main office was in Bridgwater. This council managed a mostly rural area between the Quantock Hills and the Mendip Hills. In April 2023, the Sedgemoor council, along with Somerset County Council, was replaced by a new single council called Somerset Council. This new council is a unitary authority, meaning it handles all local government services for the area.
Members of Parliament
The Sedgemoor area is part of two special voting areas called county constituencies:
- Bridgwater and West Somerset
- Wells
People in these areas vote for someone to represent them in the House of Commons in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. This system is called "first past the post." Currently, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bridgwater and West Somerset is Ian Liddell-Grainger from the Conservative Party. The MP for Wells is James Heappey, also a Conservative, who won his seat in 2015.
Schools and Learning
Most schools in Sedgemoor are run by the Children & Young People's Directorate of Somerset County Council. However, some schools, like The Kings of Wessex School in Cheddar, have become more independent. They chose to become foundation schools and then academy schools, which means they have more control over how they are run, rather than being directly managed by the county council.
See also
In Spanish: Sedgemoor para niños