History of Somerset

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This page is about the county of Somerset in the United Kingdom. For other meanings of Somerset see Somerset (disambiguation).

Historic county of Somerset

Image:EnglandSomersetTrad.png
Geography
Area: (1831)	1,028,090 acres
Rank:	Ranked 7th
Administration
County town:	Taunton
Chapman code:	SOM

For the etymology of the name "Somerset", see Somerset#Etymology.

Somerset is a county in the south west of England. There is evidence of human occupation since prehistoric times with a range of burial mounds, hill forts and other artefacts dating from Mesolithic era. The oldest dated human road work in Britain is the Sweet Track, constructed across the Somerset Levels with wooden planks in the 39th century BCE.

Following the Roman invasion of Britain the mining of lead and silver in the Mendip Hills provided a basis for local industry and commerce. Bath became the site of a major Roman fort and city, the remains of which can still be seen. During the Dark Ages and Saxon period Somerset was the scene of several battle and was ruled by various kings. Following the defeat of the Saxons by the Normans in 1066, various castles were set up in Somerset.

Expansion of the population and settlements in the county continued during the Tudor and more recent periods. Agriculture and coal mining expanded until the eighteenth century, although other industries declined during the industrial revolution. In modern times the population has grown particularly in the seaside towns, notably Weston-super-Mare. Agriculture continues to be a major business, if no longer a major employer because of mechanisation. Light industries take place in many of the towns such as Bridgwater and Yeovil. The towns of Taunton and Shepton Mallet manufacture cider, though there are no longer as many apple orchards as there used to be.

Contents 1 Key dates in Somerset history 2 Prehistory 3 Roman 4 Dark Ages 5 Saxon 6 Middle Ages 7 Early Modern 8 Late Modern 9 References 10 See also 11 External links

[edit] Key dates in Somerset history

• 43-47 Roman invasion and occupation
• 491 Battle of Mons Badonicus (may have been fought in Somerset) (uncertain date)
• 537 Battle of Camlann (sometimes located at Queen Camel) (uncertain date)
• 577 Battle of Deorham (Dyrham, Gloucestershire) - Saxons occupied Bath
• 658 Battle of Peonnum (Penselwood ?) - Saxons then occupied most of Somerset
• 710 Battle of Llongborth (? Langport)
• 845 First documentary reference to "Somersæte"
• 878 Treaty of Wedmore - after defeat of Danes by King Alfred
• c900 Kings of Wessex hold court at Cheddar
• 973 King Edgar crowned at Bath
• 988 St Dunstan buried at Glastonbury
• 1013 Danish king Sweyn received submission of western thegns at Bath
• 1088 Siege of Ilchester
• 1191 Discovery of "King Arthur's" tomb at Glastonbury
• 1497 Perkin Warbeck's rebellion supported by Somerset men
• 1643 Battle of Lansdowne
• 1685 Battle of Sedgemoor - Duke of Monmouth defeated
• 1685 Judge Jeffries holds the "Bloody Assizes" at Taunton
• 1685 Battle of Sedgemoor
• 1770 Start of enclosure of Somerset Levels
• 1805 Somerset Coal Canal Opened
• 1875 Formation of Somerset County Cricket Club
• 1898 County boundaries altered
• 1956 Chew Valley Lake opened by Queen Elizabeth II
• 1974 Formation of County of Avon, reducing the area of the County of Somerset
• 1996 Abolition of the County of Avon, creating the unitary authorities of North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset

[edit] Prehistory

This refers to the period up to the arrival of the Romans, c47 AD. There is evidence from artefacts in a quarry at Westbury that man was present in the future Somerset from c500000 BCE. Somerset was one of the first areas of future England settled following the end of the last Ice Age c8000 BCE. It is thought to have been occupied by Mesolithic hunter-gatherers from about 6000 BCE. In the Neolithic era, from about 3500 BCE, there is evidence of farming.^[1] Cheddar man is dated at about 9000 years old.

The county has many prehistoric burial mounds, stone rows (such as the circles at Stanton Drew and Priddy) and settlement sites. Evidence of Mesolithic occupation has come both from the upland areas, such as in Mendip caves, and from the low land areas such as the Somerset Levels. Dry points in the latter such as Glastonbury Tor and Brent Knoll, have a long history of settlement with many wooden trackways between them. There were also "lake villages" in the marsh such as those at Glastonbury and Meare. The oldest dated human road work in Britain is the Sweet Track, constructed across the Somerset Levels with wooden planks in the 39th century BCE.^[2][3]

There is evidence of mining on the Mendip Hills back into the late Bronze Age when there were technological changes in metal working indicating the use of lead.

There are numerous "hill forts", such as Small Down Knoll, Dolebury Warren and Burledge Hill, which seem to have had many purposes, not just a defensive role. They generally seem to have been occupied intermittently from the Bronze Age onward, some, such as Cadbury Camp at South Cadbury, being refurbished many times.^[4] The Iron Age tribes of later Somerset were the Dobunni in north Somerset, Durotriges in south Somerset and Dumnonii in west Somerset. The first and second produced coins, the finds of which allows their tribal areas to be suggested, but the latter did not. All three had a Celtic culture and language. However, Ptolomy stated that Bath was in the territory of the Belgae, but this is likely to be a mistake.

The Celtic gods were worshiped at the temple of Sulis at Bath and possibly the temple on Brean Down, for example.

[edit] Roman

Somerset was part of the Roman Empire from 47 AD to about 409 AD. However, the end was not abrupt and elements of "Romanitas" lingered on for perhaps a century.

Somerset was invaded from the south-east by the Second Legion Augusta, under the future emperor Vespasian. The hillforts of the Durotriges at Ham Hill and Cadbury Castle were captured. Ham Hill probably had a temporary Roman occupation. The massacre at Cadbury Castle seems to have been associated with the later Boudiccan Revolt of 60-61 AD.^[3]

The Roman invasion, and possibly the preceding period of involvement in the internal affairs of the south of England, was inspired in part by the potential of the Mendip Hills. A great deal of the attraction of the lead mines may have been the potential for the extraction of silver.^[5][6]

Forts were set up at Bath and Ilchester. The lead and silver mines at Charterhouse in the Mendip Hills were run by the military. The Romans established a defensive boundary along the new military road known the Fosse Way (from the Latin fossa meaning ditch). The Fosse Way ran through Bath, Shepton Mallet, Ilchester and south-west towards Axminster. The road from Dorchester ran through Yeovil to meet the Fose Way at Ilchester. A number of small towns and trading ports were set up, like Camerton and Combwich. The larger towns decayed in the latter part of the period, though the smaller ones appear to have decayed less. In the latter part of the period, Ilchester seems to have been a "civitas" capital and Bath may also have been one.^[6] Particularly to the east of the River Parrett, many villas were constructed. However, only a few Roman sites have been found to the west of the river. The villas have produced important mosaics and artefacts. Cemeteries have been found outside the Roman towns of Somerset and by Roman temples such as that at Lamyatt.^[3] Many Romano-British farming settlements, such as that at Catsgore, have been found in Somerset. There was salt production on the Somerset Levels near Highbridge and quarrying took place near Bath.

Excavations before the flooding of Chew Valley Lake have also uncovered Roman remains, indicating agricultural and industrial activity from the second half of the first century to third century AD. These finds included a moderately large villa, at Chew Park^[5] where wooden writing tablets (the first in the UK) with ink writing were found. There is also evidence from the Pagans Hill Roman Temple at Chew Stoke.^[7]

[edit] Dark Ages

This is the period from about 409 AD to the start of Saxon political control which was mainly in the late seventh century, though they are said to have captured the Bath area in 577.^[8] Initially the Britons of Somerset seem to have continued much as under the Romans but without the imperial taxation and markets. There was then a period of civil war in England though it is not known how this affected Somerset. The Western Wandsdyke may have been constructed in this period but many other dates have also been suggested. Neither is it known how the setting up of Saxon kingdoms in the south east of England affected Somerset. The Saxon advance from the east seems to have been halted by battles between the British and Saxons, eg at the siege of Badon Mons Badonicus (which may mave been in the Bath region eg at Solsbury Hill).^[9] In the 5th century. 6th century and 7th century, Somerset was probably partly in the Kingdom of Dumnonia, partly in the land of the Durotriges and partly in that of the Dobunni.^[1] The boundaries between these is largely unknown but may have been similar to those in the Iron Age. Various "tyrants" seem to have controlled territories from refurbished hill forts. There is evidence of an elite at hill forts such as South Cadbury and Cadbury-Congresbury, for example there is imported pottery. Cemeteries are an important source of evidence for the period and a number of large ones have been found in Somerset such as that at Cannington, which was used from the Roman to the Saxon period. The towns of Somerset seem to have been little used in this period but there continued to be farming on the villa sites and at the Romano-British villages.

There may have been effects from plague and volcanic eruption during this period as well as marine transgression into the Levels.

The language spoken during this period is thought to be Southwestern Brythonic, but only one or two inscribed stone survive in Somerset from this period. However, a couple of curse tablets found in the baths at Bath may be in this language. A number of place names in Somerset seem to be Celtic in origin and may be from this period or earlier, eg Tarnock. Some river names, such as Parrett, may be Celtic or pre-Celtic. The religion of the people of Somerset in this period is thought to be Christian but was isolated from Rome until the Synod of Whitby in 664 AD. Some church sites in Somerset are thought to date from this period, eg Llantokay.

Most of what is known of the history of this period came from Gildas's "On the Ruin of Britain"^[10] which is thought to have been written in Durotrigen territory, possibly at Glastonbury.

[edit] Saxon

This is the period from the late 7th century to 1066, though for part of the tenth and eleventh centuries there was Danish control of England.

The Saxons conquered Bath following the Battle of Deorham in 577, and the border was established along the line of the Wansdyke on the ridge of the Mendip Hills. Then Cenwalh of Wessex broke through at Bradford-on-Avon in 652, and the Battle of Peonnum at Penselwood in 658, advancing west through the Polden Hills to the River Parrett.^[11] Then in the period 681-85 Centwine of Wessex conquered the Welsh King Cadwaladr and occupied the rest of Somerset west and north to the Bristol Channel. Saxon rule was consolidated under King Ina, who established forts or palaces at Taunton, Somerton and South Petherton. By 705 the diocese of Sherborne was formed, taking in Wessex west of Selwood. Saxon kings granted land in Somerset by charter from the seventh century onward. The way and extent to which the Britons survived under the Saxons is a debatable matter. However, King Ina's laws make provision for Britons. Somerset originally formed part of Wessex and latter became a separate "shire". Mints were set up at times in various places in Somerset, e.g. Watchet.

Somerset played an important part in defeating the spread of the Danes in the ninth century. Viking raids took place for instance at Watchet and the Battle of Cannington. King Alfred was driven to seek refuge from the Danes at Athelney before defeating them at the Battle of Eddington in 878, usually consided to be near Cheltenham, but possibly the village of Edington in Somerset. A peace treaty with the Danes was signed at Wedmore and the Danish king Guthrum the Old was baptised at Aller. A number of burhs (fortified places) were set up by 919, such as Lyng.

Monasteries and minster churches were set up all over Somerset, with daughter churches from the ministers in manors. There was a royal palace at Cheddar and there is likely to have been a "central place" at Somerton, Bath, Glastonbury and Frome since the kings visited them. The towns of Somerset seem to have in occupation in this period though evidence for this is limited because of subsequent buildings on top of remains from this period. Agriculture flourished in this period, with a re-organisation into centralised villages in the latter part in the east of the county.

In the period before the Norman Conquest, Somerset came under the control of the Danish Godwin family. There seems to have been some Danish settlement at Thurloxton and Spaxton, judging from the place-names.

The sources for the history of this period are many, such as the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and Asser's Life of Alfred.^[12]

See also Timeline of the Anglo-Saxon invasion and takeover of Britain.

[edit] Middle Ages

This is the period from 1066 to around 1500. Following the defeat of the Saxons by the Normans in 1066, various castles were set up in Somerset by the new lords such as that at Dunster. Somerset does not seem to have played much part in the civil war in king Stephen's time but Somerset lords were main players in the murder of Thomas à Becket.

A good picture of the county in 1086 is given by Domesday Book, though there is some difficulty in identifying the various places since the "hundreds" are not specified.^[13][14] Farming seems to have prospered for the next three centuries but was severely hit by the Black Death in the fourteenth century. Reclamation of land from marsh in the Somerset Levels increased, largely under monastic influence. Crafts and industries also flourished, the Somerset woollen industry being one of the largest in England at this time.^[15] A number of "new towns" were founded in this period in Somerset, eg Newport, but were not successful. Coal mining on the Mendips was an important source of wealth while quarrying also took place, eg near Bath.

In 1348 the Black Death arrived in Dorset and quickly spread through Somerset, causing widespread mortality, perhaps as much as 50% in places. It re-occurred several times, resulting in a change in feudal practices since the manpower was no longer so available.

The towns grew, again often by monastic instigation, during this period and many fairs were started.

The church was very powerful at this period, particularly Glastonbury Abbey. After their church burnt down, the monks there "discovered" the tomb of "King Arthur" and were able rebuild their church. There were over 20 monasteries, etc. in Somerset at this period. Many parish churches were re-built in this period.

[edit] Early Modern

This is the period from around 1500 to 1800. In the 1530s the monasteries were dissolved and their lands bought by various important families in Somerset from the king. From the Tudor to the Georgian times farming specialised and techniques improved, leading to increases in population though no new towns seem to have been founded. Large country houses such as at Hinton St George and Montacute were built at this time.

The Bristol Channel floods of 1607 are believed to have affected large parts of the Somerset Levels with flooding up to 8ft above sea level.

In the 17th century English Civil War Somerset was the site of a number of important battles between the Royalists and the Parliamentarians, notably the Battle of Lansdowne in 1643 and the Battle of Langport in 1645. This war resulted in many of the castles being destroyed to prevent their re-use.^[16]

In 1685, the Duke of Monmouth led the Monmouth Rebellion in which many Somerset people fought against the king at the Battle of Sedgemoor. The Bloody Assizes which followed saw the losers being sentenced to death or transportation.^[17]

The eighteenth century was largely one of peace and declining industrial prosperity in Somerset. The Industrial Revolution in the Midlands and Northern England spelt the end for most of the cottage industries of Somerset. However, farming continued to flourish, with the Bath and West of England Agricultural Society being founded in 1777 to improve methods. Billingsley conducted a survey of the county's agriculture 1n 1795 but found that methods could still be improved.

In north Somerset the Somerset coalfield was an important industry and in an effort to reduce the costs of transportation the Somerset Coal Canal was built, although part of this was later converted into a railway.^[18] and the Dorset and Somerset Canal proposed but never built. Other canals included the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal, Westport Canal, Glastonbury Canal and Chard Canal.^[3]

[edit] Late Modern

This is the period after 1800. A description of the county in 1911 is given in the online Encyclopedia Britannica.

The nineteenth century saw improvements to the roads of Somerset with the introduction of turnpikes, the building of canals and of railways. The usefulness of the canals was short lived though they have now been resurrected for recreation. The railways became nationalised after WW2 and continued until 1965 when many were scrapped, though two were transferred back to private ownership as "heritage" lines.

The population of Somerset has continued to grow since 1800. particularly in the seaside towns, notably Weston-super-Mare. Some population decline occurred earlier in the period in the villages but this has now been reversed.

During World War I many Somerset soldiers were killed and war memorials were put up in most of the towns and villages. Only a few villages escaped casualties. In World War II there were also casualties, which were added to the memorials though much fewer. During WW II the county was a base for troops prior to the D-Day landings and some hospitals still date partly from this time. In case the Germans invaded, the Taunton Stop Line was set up and the remains of the pill boxes can still be seen, as well as ones along the coast. A decoy town was constructed on Black Down which was intended to represent the blazing lights of a town which had omitted to follow black out regulations.

Somerset today has only two small cities, Bath and Wells, and only small towns in comparison with many other areas of England. Tourism is a major source of employment along the coast, in Bath and Cheddar for example. Other attractions include the seaside, Exmoor, West Somerset Railway Haynes Motor Museum and the Fleet Air Arm Museum as well as the churches and the various National Trust and English Heritage properties in Somerset.

Agriculture continues to be a major business, if no longer a major employer because of mechanisation. Light industries take place in many of the towns such as Bridgwater and Yeovil. The towns of Taunton and Shepton Mallet manufacture cider, though there are no longer as many apple orchards as there used to be. For descriptions of the main places in Somerset see Somerset while for a larger list of places in Somerset see List of places in Somerset.

In the late nineteenth century the boundaries of Somerset were slightly altered, but the main change came in 1974 when the county of Avon was set up. The northern part of Somerset was removed from the administrative control of Somerset County Council. On abolition of the county of Avon in 1996, these areas became separate administrative authorities, "North Somerset" and "Bath and North East Somerset".^[19]

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• Somerset
  • Somerset: Places of interest
• Category:Hill forts in Somerset
• Category:History of Somerset
• Geology of Somerset
• History of England
• List of places in Somerset
• List of Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Somerset

[edit] External links

• Aspects of Somerset History
• Victoria County History of Somerset
• Somerset Archives and Record Service
• Somerset Archaeology and Natural History Service
• The Aggregate Landscape of Somerset: Predicting the Archaeological Resource