Somerset facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Somerset
Ceremonial county
The Somerset Levels from Glastonbury Tor; St Mary's Church, Bruton; and Pulteney Bridge, Bath
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Constituent country	England
Region	South West England
Established	Ancient
Time zone	UTC±00:00 (Greenwich Mean Time)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+01:00 (British Summer Time)
Members of Parliament	9 MPs
Police	Avon and Somerset Police
Ceremonial county Lord Lieutenant Mohammed Saddiq High Sheriff Mary-Clare Rodwell (2020–21) Area [convert: needs a number]  • Ranked of 48 Population (2005 est.) 884,400  • Ranked 22nd of 48 Density 212/km2 (550/sq mi) Ethnicity 98.5% White Unitary authorities Councils Somerset Council Bath and North East Somerset Council North Somerset Council Unitary authority Council Somerset Council Executive   Admin HQ Taunton Area [convert: needs a number]  • Ranked of 326  • Ranked of 326 Density [convert: needs a number] ISO 3166-2 GB-SOM GSS code E06000066 ITL TLK23 Districts Districts of Somerset   Unitary Districts Somerset North Somerset Bath and North East Somerset

Somerset is a beautiful county in South West England. It shares borders with the Bristol Channel, Gloucestershire, Bristol, Wiltshire, Dorset, and Devon. The biggest city in Somerset is Bath, and the main county town is Taunton.

Somerset is mostly a rural area, especially in the south and west. It covers about 4,171 square kilometers (1,610 square miles). The county has a population of over 965,000 people. After Bath, the largest towns are Weston-super-Mare, Taunton, and Yeovil. Wells is a city, and it's the second smallest city in England by population. For local government, Somerset is divided into three main areas: Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset, and Somerset.

The middle of Somerset features the Somerset Levels, which is a flat, wet area near the coast. In the northeast, you'll find parts of the Cotswolds and all of the Mendip Hills. Both of these are special "national landscapes." To the west are the Quantock Hills and parts of the Blackdown Hills, also national landscapes. Most of Exmoor, a national park, is also in Somerset. Important rivers include the Avon, Axe, Brue, and River Parrett.

People have lived in Somerset since the Paleolithic (Stone Age) period. Later, Celts, Romans, and Anglo-Saxons settled here. The county played a big role in Alfred the Great's rise to power. It was also important during the English Civil War and the Monmouth Rebellion. In medieval times, rich monasteries and churches were built here. Glastonbury Abbey was very famous, even claiming to be the burial place of King Arthur. The city of Bath is known for its amazing Georgian buildings and is a World Heritage Site. Somerset is also home to the Glastonbury Festival, a huge music event.

What's in a Name?

The name Somerset comes from Old English words. Sumorsǣte means "the people living at or connected to Sumortūn (Somerton)." The name Somersæte was first used in the laws of King Ine. He was a Saxon King from 688 to 726 CE. This makes Somerset one of the oldest local government areas in the world.

The county's motto is Sumorsǣte ealle, which means "all the people of Somerset." This phrase comes from the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. It shows how much the people of Somerset supported King Alfred. They helped him fight against Viking invaders.

Most place names in Somerset are Anglo-Saxon, like Bath and Wells. But many also have parts from old British Celtic languages. For example, the rivers Frome and Avon have Celtic names. Some modern names, like Tarnock, are fully British. Others, like Pen Hill, mix Saxon and British words.

A Look Back in Time

Ancient Times

People lived in the caves of the Mendip Hills during the Stone Age. Important discoveries have been made there, like at Cheddar Gorge. Bones from Gough's Cave are 12,000 years old. A full skeleton, called Cheddar Man, is from about 7150 BCE. Cave art has also been found in Aveline's Hole. Some caves, like Wookey Hole, were used until recent times.

The Somerset Levels also show a long history of people living there. Mesolithic hunters settled in dry spots like Glastonbury. One of the world's oldest known roads, the Sweet Track, was built here around 3800 BCE. It helped people travel through the wet areas.

The age of the stone circle at Stanton Drew stone circles is not fully known. But it is thought to be from the Neolithic period. There are many Iron Age hill forts in Somerset. Some, like Cadbury Castle and Ham Hill, were used again later in the Early Middle Ages.

Roman Rule

The Roman army, led by Vespasian, came to Somerset in 47 CE. They invaded from the southeast. Somerset was part of the Roman Empire until about 409 CE. That's when the Romans left Britain.

Many Roman remains have been found in the county. These include the Pagans Hill Roman temple in Chew Stoke. Also, the Low Ham Roman Villa and the famous Roman Baths in Bath.

Saxons and Normans

After the Romans left, Anglo-Saxon people invaded Britain. By 600 CE, they controlled much of England. But Somerset was still held by native British people. The British fought off the Saxons for a while. But by the early 700s, King Ine of Wessex had expanded his kingdom to include Somerset. The Saxon royal palace in Cheddar was used often in the 10th century for important meetings.

After the Norman Conquest, Somerset was divided into many small areas called fiefs. The king owned large parts of the land. Castles like Dunster Castle were built to control and defend the area.

Later Centuries

HM Prison Shepton Mallet was England's oldest prison. It opened in 1610 and closed in 2013. During the English Civil War, Somerset mostly supported Parliament. Key battles included the Sieges of Taunton and the Battle of Langport.

In 1685, the Monmouth Rebellion happened in Somerset. Rebels hoped to capture Bristol and Bath. But they were defeated at the Battle of Sedgemoor. This was the last big battle fought in England. Arthur Wellesley got his title, Duke of Wellington, from the town of Wellington. A large monument on a nearby hill honors him.

The Industrial Revolution changed things for Somerset. Many small home-based industries ended. But farming continued to thrive. The Royal Bath and West of England Society was started in 1777. Its goal was to make farming methods better.

Coal mining was important in north Somerset in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Somerset Coalfield reached its busiest time in the 1920s. All the mines are now closed. The last one shut in 1973.

20th Century Changes

Many soldiers from Somerset died in the First World War. War memorials were put up in most towns and villages. During the Second World War, Somerset was a base for troops. They were getting ready for the D-Day landings. Some hospitals built for war injuries are still used today. The Taunton Stop Line was a defense line built to stop a possible German invasion. You can still see remains of its pill boxes along the coast.

Decoy towns were built in Somerset during World War II. They were designed to look like Bristol and other towns at night. This was to trick German bombers into dropping bombs in the wrong places. For example, one decoy town was built on Beacon Batch. It was made to look like Bristol's railway yards. These decoys had dim red lights to fake activities like steam trains. Burning straw and oil were used to make it look like a city was on fire. This fooled later waves of bombers.

Somerset's Landscape

Borders and Boundaries

Somerset's borders are mostly the same as they were in medieval times. The biggest change is in the north. The River Avon used to be the border with Gloucestershire. But the area of Bath Forum, which crosses the Avon, was part of Somerset. Bristol started on the Gloucestershire side of the Avon. As it grew, it spread into Somerset. In 1373, King Edward III declared Bristol a "county by itself."

Today, the northern border of Somerset follows the southern bank of the Avon. It goes around the southern edge of Bristol. Then it follows the Avon upstream. It then moves away from the river to include Bath and its surrounding area. Finally, it meets Wiltshire at the Three Shire Stones.

Cities and Towns

Somerton was the county town in the late 1200s. But it became less important. So, Taunton became the county town around 1366. Somerset has two cities: Bath and Wells. It also has about 30 towns. The largest urban areas are Bath, Weston-super-Mare, Taunton, Yeovil, and Bridgwater.

Many towns grew because of their location. They were often near river crossings or valleys in hills. For example, Axbridge is on the River Axe. Castle Cary is on the River Cary. Chard is the most southerly town and one of the highest. But Wiveliscombe is the highest town in the county at 126 meters (413 feet).

Green Spaces

Somerset has wide areas of "green belt" land. This land is protected to stop cities like Bristol and Bath from spreading too much. It also keeps the countryside around them natural. This green belt stretches from the coast near Portishead and Clevedon. It goes east past Nailsea, around Bristol, and through to Bath. This area is protected from too much building.

Rocks and Rivers

Much of Somerset's landscape is shaped by the rocks beneath it. In the north, there are limestone hills. The center has clay valleys and wetlands. The east and south have oolite rocks. The west has Devonian sandstone.

The Mendip Hills in the northeast are limestone hills. They became a special "Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty" in 1972. The land here is mostly grassy, with some farming. To the southwest are the Quantock Hills. These were England's first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1956. They have heathland, oak woods, and conifer trees.

Caves and Waterways

Somerset has many caves, like Wookey Hole. There are also underground rivers and deep gorges, such as Cheddar Gorge. The county has many rivers, including the Axe, Brue, Cary, Parrett, Sheppey, Tone, and Yeo. These rivers feed and drain the flat levels and moors in central and western Somerset.

Levels and Moors

The Somerset Levels are a large, flat, wet area in central Somerset. They are between the Quantock and Mendip hills. The Levels are made of clay near the coast and peat further inland. The Polden Hills divide the Levels into two parts. The River Parrett drains the southern part. The River Axe and River Brue drain the northern part. This area covers about 647.5 square kilometers (250 square miles). About 70% is grassland, and 30% is used for crops.

This flat land is barely above sea level. Before it was drained, much of it was covered by shallow salty water in winter. It was marshland in summer. Drainage began with the Romans. It was continued by the Anglo-Saxons and in the Middle Ages. Pumping and managing water levels still happen today.

In the far west of the county, stretching into Devon, is Exmoor. This is a high, rocky moor area. It became a national park in 1954. The highest point in Somerset is Dunkery Beacon on Exmoor, at 519 meters (1,703 feet) high. Over 100 places in Somerset are special "Sites of Special Scientific Interest."

The Coastline

Somerset has 64 kilometers (40 miles) of coastline along the Bristol Channel and Severn Estuary. The Bristol Channel has the second largest tidal range in the world. At Burnham-on-Sea, for example, the tide can rise and fall more than 12 meters (39 feet).

The main coastal towns are Minehead, Watchet, Burnham-on-Sea, Weston-super-Mare, Clevedon, and Portishead. The coast between Minehead and Brean Down is called Bridgwater Bay. It is a special "National Nature Reserve." Further north, the coast forms Weston Bay and Sand Bay. In the west, the coastline is dramatic, with high cliffs where Exmoor meets the sea.

Weather in Somerset

Somerset has a mild and wet climate, like the rest of South West England. The average yearly temperature is about 10°C (50°F). Temperatures don't change as much as in other parts of the UK because of the sea. July and August are the warmest months, with average high temperatures around 21°C (70°F). In winter, average low temperatures are around 1°C or 2°C (34-36°F).

Somerset gets about 700 mm (28 inches) of rain each year. Most rain in autumn and winter comes from Atlantic storms. In summer, rain often comes from thunderstorms. Snowfall is typical for about 8–15 days a year. Winds are strongest from November to March, usually from the southwest.

How Somerset is Governed

The ceremonial county of Somerset is managed by three main local councils. These are Somerset Council, North Somerset Council, and Bath and North East Somerset Council.

Modern local government in Somerset started in 1889. That's when an administrative county was created. Somerset County Council was set up then. Bath was run separately. In 1974, the county and council changed. They were replaced by two new areas: Somerset and Avon. Somerset was governed by a new council and six districts.

In 1996, Avon was removed. Its districts were renamed and reorganized into "unitary authorities." This means they handle all local government services. Two of these new unitary authorities, North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset, became part of the ceremonial county of Somerset in 1997.

On April 1, 2023, the non-metropolitan county of Somerset changed again. The four districts within it were removed. Somerset County Council became a unitary authority for that area. This new "Somerset Council" now has the powers of both a district and county council. The two other unitary authorities (Bath and North East Somerset, and North Somerset) were not changed.

Somerset's local government records go back to 1617. This is longer than any other county. A meeting in Wells decided that a room should be used to keep records safe.

UK Parliament Members

The county is divided into nine areas called constituencies. Each area elects one Member of Parliament (MP) to the House of Commons. In the 2017 general election, eight areas elected Conservative MPs. Bath elected a Liberal Democrat MP.

The constituencies in Somerset include Bridgwater and West Somerset, North East Somerset, North Somerset, Bath, Somerton and Frome, Taunton Deane, Wells, Yeovil, and Weston-super-Mare. In 2023, the Liberal Democrats won the Somerton and Frome area from the Conservatives in a special election.

Local Parishes

Almost all of Somerset has a local government level called a civil parish. These have either a town or parish council (or a city council in Wells). Some parishes work together. The city of Bath and much of Taunton do not have parishes.

People of Somerset

In the 2011 census, the population of the Somerset County Council area was 571,600. Bath and North East Somerset had 193,400 people. North Somerset had 216,700 people. This makes a total of 981,700 people for the whole ceremonial county.

The population is growing faster than the national average. It increased by 6.4% in the Somerset County Council area since 1991. The population density is 1.4 people per hectare. This is lower than the average for the South West region.

Most people in Somerset are white British, making up 94.6% of the population. About 2.0% belong to Black and ethnic minority groups. Over a quarter of Somerset's population lives in Taunton, Bridgwater, and Yeovil. The rest of the county is rural and has fewer people. Over 9 million tourists visit Somerset each year. This greatly increases the population during busy times.

Somerset's Economy

Somerset doesn't have many large industrial areas. But it has various light industries and high-tech businesses. Traditional farming and a growing tourism sector are also important. The unemployment rate is low, at 2.5%. In 2013, tourism supported about 26,000 jobs.

Bridgwater was a major port during the Industrial Revolution. Large ships could sail up the River Parrett to Bridgwater. Goods were then moved to smaller boats to go further upriver. In the 19th and 20th centuries, Bridgwater made bricks, roof tiles, and later cellophane. These industries have now stopped.

Bridgwater is now a hub for distribution companies. This is because it has good connections to the motorway system. Companies like Argos and Morrisons have distribution centers here. AgustaWestland makes helicopters in Yeovil. Normalair Garratt, which builds aircraft oxygen systems, is also in Yeovil.

Somerset is a key supplier of defense equipment and technology. A Royal Ordnance Factory was built near Bridgwater during World War II. It made explosives. The site closed in 2008. Templecombe has Thales Underwater Systems. Taunton has the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office. Other high-tech companies include Gooch and Housego in Ilminster, which makes optics.

Farming and food production are still big industries. They employ over 15,000 people. Apple orchards used to be very common. Somerset is still a major producer of cider. Towns like Taunton and Shepton Mallet are involved in cider production. There are also special producers like Burrow Hill Cider Farm. Gerber Products Company in Bridgwater is Europe's largest producer of fruit juices.

Making things from willow (like basket weaving) is not as common as it once was. But it is still done on the Somerset Levels. Willow pieces were found near the Glastonbury Lake Village. Willow was also used to build ancient paths. The industry has declined since the 1950s.

Towns like Castle Cary and Frome grew because of the medieval weaving industry. Street became a center for making wool slippers and shoes. C&J Clark had its main office there. But their shoes are no longer made in Street.

Somerset has a long history of providing building stone. Quarries at Doulting supplied stone for Wells Cathedral. Bath stone is also widely used. It was mined underground. Hamstone from Ham Hill is also used in building. Blue Lias stone was used locally and for making cement. Since the 1920s, the county has supplied materials for construction. Foster Yeoman is a large supplier of limestone. They have quarries like Merehead Quarry. They use Mendip Rail to transport materials by train.

In 2008, an organization called Into Somerset was launched. Its goal was to help Somerset's economy grow. It promoted the county to businesses that might want to move there. This is now part of the Heart of the South West Growth Hub.

Nuclear Power

Hinkley Point C nuclear power station is a project to build a large nuclear power station. It will have two reactors and produce 3,200 MW of electricity. The site already had two other power stations, Hinkley Point A (now closed) and Hinkley Point B (now operating).

In 2010, the British government said Hinkley Point was suitable for new nuclear power stations. A company called NNB Generation Company applied for permission to build. A group called Stop Hinkley was formed to protest the expansion. In 2014, the European Commission approved the project. Construction is now underway and is expected to finish in 2025.

Emergency Services

All of Somerset is covered by the Avon and Somerset Police. This police force also covers Bristol and South Gloucestershire. The police force is led by an elected Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner.

The Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service covers the area of Somerset County Council and Devon. The areas of North Somerset and Bath & North East Somerset are covered by the Avon Fire and Rescue Service. This service also covers Bristol and South Gloucestershire.

The South Western Ambulance Service covers all of South West England, including Somerset. The Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance is a charity that helps people in the county.

Somerset's Culture

In Arthurian legend, Avalon is linked to Glastonbury Tor. Monks at Glastonbury Abbey claimed to find the bones of King Arthur there. Glastonbury was an important religious center by 700 CE. It claims to have the "oldest above-ground Christian church in the World." This claim is based on a legend that Joseph of Arimathea visited in 63 AD.

In the Middle Ages, other important religious sites were at Woodspring Priory and Muchelney Abbey. The current Diocese of Bath and Wells covers most of Somerset. The main church for the Bishop of Bath and Wells is Wells Cathedral. Before the English Reformation, it was a Roman Catholic area.

Somerset has rich traditions in art, music, and literature. Poets like Wordsworth and Coleridge wrote while staying in Coleridge Cottage, Nether Stowey. The writer John Cowper Powys lived in Montacute. His novels Wood and Stone and A Glastonbury Romance are set in Somerset.

Traditional folk music and dance were important in farming communities. Cecil Sharp collected Somerset songs. These were used in works like Holst's A Somerset Rhapsody. Halsway Manor is an international center for folk music. The tradition continues with groups like The Wurzels, who play "Scrumpy and Western" music.

The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts happens most years in Pilton. It attracts over 170,000 people from around the world. They come to see famous entertainers. The annual Bath Literature Festival is one of many local festivals. Others include the Frome Festival. The yearly West Country Carnivals are held in many Somerset towns in autumn. They form a big regional festival.

Somerset has several museums. Those in Bath include the American Museum in Britain and the Roman Baths. Other attractions show the county's history. These include Dunster Working Watermill, the Fleet Air Arm Museum at Yeovilton, and Nunney Castle.

Somerset has 11,500 listed buildings. These are historic buildings protected by law. It also has 523 scheduled monuments and 192 conservation areas. There are 41 parks and gardens, including Barrington Court and Tintinhull Garden. The county has 36 English Heritage sites and 19 National Trust sites. These include Montacute House and Tyntesfield. A key part of Somerset's architecture is its medieval church towers. These towers are considered some of England's finest medieval art.

Bath Rugby plays at the Recreation Ground in Bath. The Somerset County Cricket Club is based in Taunton. The county's highest-ranked football club is Yeovil Town. Horse racing courses are in Taunton, Bath, and Wincanton.

The county is served by the regional Western Daily Press newspaper. Local newspapers include the Weston & Somerset Mercury and the Bath Chronicle. Television is provided by BBC West and ITV West Country. Local radio stations include BBC Radio Somerset and Heart West.

A flag representing the historic county of Somerset was chosen in 2013 after a competition.

Getting Around Somerset

Somerset has 6,531 kilometers (4,058 miles) of roads. Major roads include the M5 motorway, A303, A37, A38, and A39. These roads provide good access across the county. But many areas can only be reached by narrow country lanes.

Train services are provided by several lines. These include the West of England Main Line and the Bristol to Exeter line. The main train company in Somerset is Great Western Railway.

Bristol Airport, located in North Somerset, offers flights within the UK and internationally.

Canals were built in the 19th century to move goods. These included the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal and Glastonbury Canal. The usefulness of canals was short-lived. But some have now been restored for fun activities.

The 19th century also saw railways built in Somerset. Many branch lines were later closed. But two, the West and East Somerset Railways, were saved. They are now "heritage" lines, used for special train rides.

Until the 1960s, piers in towns like Weston-super-Mare and Clevedon had regular boat services. These boats traveled to places like Barry and Cardiff. The Royal Portbury Dock was built in the 1970s to add more capacity for the Port of Bristol.

For people traveling through Somerset to Devon and Cornwall, the county is often a marker on their journey. North-south traffic uses the M5 motorway. East-west traffic uses the A303 road or the M4 motorway.

Learning in Somerset

State schools in Somerset are managed by three local education authorities. These are Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset, and Somerset County Council. All state schools are comprehensive. This means they teach students of all abilities. In some areas, primary, infant, and junior schools teach ages four to eleven. After that, students go to secondary schools.

Some areas use a three-tier system. This has first, middle, and upper schools. Most other schools in the county use a two-tier system. Somerset has 30 state and 17 independent secondary schools. Many schools have a long history. For example, The Blue School in Wells.

Some secondary schools have special status in certain subjects. Some schools have sixth forms for older students. Others send their sixth formers to colleges. In 2006, 5,900 students in Somerset took GCSE exams. About 44.5% achieved 5 grades A-C, including English and Maths.

Sexey's School is a state boarding school in Bruton. It also takes day students. The Somerset education authority also provides special schools. These schools help children with special educational needs.

There are also many private or public schools. Many of these are for students aged 11 to 18. Examples include King's College, Taunton and Wellington School, Somerset. King's School, Bruton was founded in 1519. Millfield is the largest mixed-gender boarding school. There are also preparatory schools for younger children.

Some schools have religious connections. For example, Downside School is a Roman Catholic public school. Sidcot School is linked to the Religious Society of Friends.

Colleges and Universities

Somerset offers many adult education and further education courses. These are available in schools, colleges, and other community places. The colleges include Weston College and Bridgwater and Taunton College. The University of Bath, Bath Spa University, and University Centre Weston are higher education places in the north of the county.

The University of Bath started in 1966. It has a campus on the edge of Bath and has 15,000 students. Bath Spa University became a university in 2005. It has several campuses and 5,500 students.

See also

In Spanish: Somerset para niños