Portal:Somerset

Add links
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Portal topics
Activities
Culture
Geography
Health
History
Mathematics
Nature
People
Philosophy
Religion
Society
Technology
Random portal
edit 

The Somerset Portal

caption=Somerset shown within England
caption=Somerset shown within England

Somerset (/ˈsʌmərsɪt, -sɛt/ ⓘ SUM-ər-sit, -⁠set; archaically Somersetshire /ˈsʌmərsɪt.ʃɪər, -sɛt-, -ʃər/ SUM-ər-sit-sheer, -⁠set-, -⁠shər) is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by the Bristol Channel, Gloucestershire, and Bristol to the north, Wiltshire to the east and the north-east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. The largest settlement is the city of Bath, and the county town is Taunton.

Somerset is a predominantly rural county, especially to the south and west, with an area of 4,171 km2 (1,610 sq mi) and a population of 965,424. After Bath (101,557), the largest settlements are Weston-super-Mare (82,418), Taunton (60,479), and Yeovil (49,698). Wells (12,000) is a city, the second-smallest by population in England. For local government purposes the county comprises three unitary authority areas: Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset, and Somerset. Bath and North East Somerset Council is a member of the West of England Combined Authority.

The centre of Somerset is dominated by the

national landscapes; the west contains the Quantock Hills and part of the Blackdown Hills, which are also national landscapes, and most of Exmoor, a national park. The major rivers of the county are the Avon, which flows through Bath and then Bristol, and the Axe, Brue, and Parrett
, which drain the Levels.

There is evidence of

Anglo-Saxons. The county played a significant part in Alfred the Great's rise to power, and later the English Civil War and the Monmouth Rebellion. In the later medieval period its wealth allowed its monasteries and parish churches to be rebuilt in grand style; Glastonbury Abbey was particularly important, and claimed to house the tomb of King Arthur and Guinevere. The city of Bath is famous for its Georgian architecture, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The county is also the location of Glastonbury Festival, one of the UK's major music festivals. (Full article...
)

edit 

Selected article

River Parrett near Burrowbridge
River Parrett near Burrowbridge
The
Nature Reserve on the Bristol Channel
, the Parrett drains an area of 643 sq mi (1,670 km2)—about 50 per cent of Somerset's land area.

The Parrett's main tributaries include the Rivers

Oath. Because the fall of the river between Langport and Bridgwater
is only 1 foot per mile (0.2 m/km), it is prone to frequent flooding in winter and during high tides. Many approaches have been tried since the early 19th century to reduce the incidence and effect of floods and to drain the surrounding fields.

During the

Anglo-Saxon times formed a boundary between Wessex and Dumnonia. From the medieval period the river served the Port of Bridgwater, enabling cargoes to be transported inland. The arrival of the railways led to a decline and commercial shipping now only docks at Dunball. Man's influence on the river has left a legacy of bridges and industrial artefacts. The Parrett along with its connected waterways and network of drains supports an ecosystem that includes several rare species of flora and fauna. The River Parrett Trail has been established along the banks of the river. (Full article...
)

More articles...

Selected biography - show another

Possible self-portrait; detail from the Glastonbury Classbook

canonised. His work restored monastic life in England and reformed the English Church. His 11th-century biographer Osbern
, himself an artist and scribe, states that Dunstan was skilled in "making a picture and forming letters", as were other clergy of his age who reached senior rank.

Dunstan served as an important minister of state to several English kings. He was the most popular saint in England for nearly two centuries, having gained fame for the many stories of his greatness, not least among which were those concerning his famed cunning in defeating the Devil. (Full article...)
edit 

Districts of Somerset

  1. Somerset (Unitary)
  2. North Somerset (Unitary)
  3. Bath and North East Somerset (Unitary)
edit 

Subcategories

Category puzzle
Category puzzle
Select [►] to view subcategories
Somerset
Somerset templates
Somerset-related lists
Alumni of Wells Theological College
Buildings and structures in Somerset
Burials in Somerset
Crime in Somerset
Culture in Somerset
Deputy Lieutenants of Somerset
Economy of Somerset
Education in Somerset
Environment of Somerset
Films shot in Somerset
Geography of Somerset
Geology of Somerset
Health in Somerset
History of Somerset
Mass media in Somerset
Music in Somerset
Organisations based in Somerset
People from Somerset
Politics of Somerset
Populated coastal places in Somerset
Religion in Somerset
Science and technology in Somerset
Sport in Somerset
Tourist attractions in Somerset
Transport in Somerset
edit 

Related portals

Selected images

edit 

Selected settlement

Aerial photograph of Wells
Aerial photograph of Wells
Wells
Co-ordinates 51°12′26″N 2°39′07″W / 51.2073°N 2.6519°W / 51.2073; -2.6519

St David's in Wales
is the smallest city in the UK.

The name Wells derives from the three

Saint Andrew, one in the market place and two within the grounds of the Bishop's Palace and cathedral. There was a small Roman settlement around the wells but its importance grew under the Saxons when King Ine of Wessex founded a minster church in 704, around which the settlement grew. Wells became a trading centre and involved in cloth making before its involvement in both the English Civil War and the Monmouth Rebellion
during the 17th century. In the 19th century transport infrastructure improved with stations on three different railway lines.

The cathedral and the associated religious and architectural history have made Wells a tourist destination, which provides much of the employment. The city has a variety of sporting and cultural activities, and houses several schools including

Britain. The historic architecture of the city has also been used as a location for several films and television programmes. (Full article...
)

More settlements...
edit 

Did you know...

From Wikipedia's "

Did You Know
" archives:

Burnham Area Rescue Boat

  • ... that the boathouse for the Burnham Area Rescue Boat (pictured) was built in just three days as part of the Challenge Anneka television series?
  • ... that the medieval chronicler Matthew Paris accused the medieval bishop Hugh of Wells (d. 1235) of being biased against monks, calling him "an untiring persecutor of monks"?
  • ... that horses hauled both passenger and goods trains to
    railway
    opened, until 1851?
  • ... that a
    fossilised remains of the world's earliest known Damselfly
    ?
  • ... that Drove Cottage Henge is around 54 metres (177 ft) in diameter, yet is hard to see because repeated ploughing has heavily damaged it?
More facts...
edit 

Things you can do
Here are some tasks awaiting attention:
  • Scheduled Monuments in Somerset

    Add photos to
    Template:dmoz for more info.
    Check external links & refs using the Checklinks tool
    .
edit 

WikiProjects

edit 

Topics

edit 

Recognised content

Featured articles

Featured lists

Featured topics

Good articles

Good topics

Associated Wikimedia

The following Wikimedia Foundation sister projects provide more on this subject:

Discover Wikipedia using portals

Purge server cache

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Portal:Somerset&oldid=1142107987"