This illustrated history portrays one of England's finest counties. It
provides a nostalgic look at Somerset's past and highlights the special
character of some of its most important historic sites. The photographs
are taken from the Historic England Archive, a unique collection of over
12 million photographs, drawings, plans and documents covering England's
archaeology, architecture, social and local history. Pictures date from
the earliest days of photography to the present and cover subjects from
Bronze Age burials and medieval churches to cinemas and seaside resorts.
Somerset has a huge variety of landscapes, the flat marshlands of the
Somerset Levels contrasting with the Mendip, Quantock and Blackdown
Hills and the moorlands of Exmoor, as well as a coastline along the
Bristol Channel. Somerset was an important part of the Saxon kingdom of
Wessex and the region became prosperous in the Middle Ages through the
wool trade. Although coal mining was developed in the north of the
county and Yeovil became a centre of the aircraft and defence
industries, much of Somerset is still largely rural, with the county
town of Taunton in the heart of the county. Somerset draws many visitors
to its historic attractions, not least the city of Bath with its Roman
remains and Georgian architecture, the cathedral city of Wells and the
town of Glastonbury with its striking Tor and abbey ruins. This book
will help the reader to discover its remarkable history.
