Did You Know
There are many interesting facts about Somerset that are garaunteed to make you say
"Well....I never knew that"!!
Here are just a few...
Somerset has 2 Gorges, as well as the most well known Cheddar Gorge there is also Ebbor Gorge which also contains two geologically important caves that hold the bones of Ice Age mammals.
Taunton was the first town in the country to be lit permanently by electric street lighting in 1881
Glastonbury is known as the birthplace of Christianity. There is a legend that Joseph of Arimathea planted the holy thorn on Wirral Hill
Brent Knoll Hill was originally an Iron Age fort and stands 449ft above Sea Level
Jack the Treacle Eater is one of the four extraordinary follies of Barwick Park
The Willow man that stands in a field next to the M5 near Bridgwater, and is made out of local Somerset Willow is also known as the 'Angel of the South'. Designed and built in 2000 by Serena de la Hey, the sculpture stands at over 40 feet. It is made out of traditional withies on a steel frame, and celebrates the role of Willow in the landscape of the Somerset Levels and Moors.
Culbone Church is reported to be the smallest church in England
The West Somerset Railway is the longest preserved steam railway in the country
Nunney Castle is a perfect gem of a moated castle and the only one of its type in England
Hestercombe Gardens is a unique collection of three gardens spanning three centuries of garden history and design
The Willows and Wetlands visitor centre have been owned and run by the Coate family since 1819
Andrew Crosse's experiments with electricity at Fyne Court inspired Mary Shelley to write Frankenstein
Lorna Doone was based on a true Story and Oare Church was the scene of Lorna's death.
The Table fork and Parasol were introduced to England by Travel Writer Thomas Coryate who was born in Odcombe in 1577.
Colonel John Chard won the Victroria Cross for his part in the defence of Rorke's Drift when it was attacked by Zulus. John died at Hatch Beachamp in 1897.
The Battle of Sedgemoor (1685) was the last pitch battle on English soil
The old Chantry at Kilve beach, founded in 1329, was once used for storing barrels of spirits smuggled in to Kilve Pill.
The oldest complete human skeleton (est. 9,000 years old ) was found at Cheddar Caves in the Mendip Hills
The pure bred Exmoor Pony has inhabited the Exmoor moorland since ancient times and is the oldest British pony.
Over 400 different varieties of cider apple are grown in Somerset
