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Towns in Somerset
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Aisholt
The Saxon Village of Aisholt clings to the Eastern side of Somerset's Quantock Hills above Canning Brook roughly seven miles North of Taunton and six miles West of Bridgwater. |
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Alford
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Aller
Aller is a moorland village close to the river Parrett below the wooded ridge of High Ham. King Alfred baptised the defeated Danish King Guthrum here in 878. Later the moor witnessed one of the last battles of the civil war. |
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Angersleigh
We have just received a description of Angersleigh from one of our readers. This description of Angersleigh is currently being prepared for publication and will appear on this page within the next few days. |
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Ash Priors
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Ashbrittle
West of Wellington and the River Tone, the parish of Ashbrittle takes its name from the ash trees and a Norman Lord Bretel (de St. Clair). |
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Ashcott
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Athelney
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Axbridge
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Badgworth
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Baltonsborough
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Banwell
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Barrington
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Barton St. David
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Barwick and Stoford
Barwick village and the adjacent hamlet of Stoford lie south of Yeovil, near Yeovil Junction station. The park around Barwick House is dotted with strange follies including 'Jack the Treacle Eater' and the 'Fish Tower'. |
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Batcombe
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Bath
The golden city of Bath has been welcoming visitors for over 2,000 years. Designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, Bath presents some of the finest architectural sights in Europe. |
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Bathampton
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Bathealton
The charming village of Bathealton lies hidden in high wooded hills. |
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Batheaston
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Bathford
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Beckington
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Berkley
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Berrow
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Bicknoller
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Binegar
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Bishops Lydeard
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Blagdon
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Bleadon
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Bossington
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Bradford
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Bradford on Tone
Bradford on Tone is an attractive village perched on a ridge above the River Tone. The village complete with shop and the White Horse Inn, retains much of its rural character with thatched cottages. |
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Brean
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Brent Knoll
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Brewham
Brewham is a large parish comprising North and South Brewham, Border and Hardway, in what was formerly the Royal Forest of Selwood and is still a well-wooded river valley. |
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Bridgwater
Bridgwater was once ranked fifth among Britain's ports, schooners and sailing barges filled the riverside docks. Originally built to allow ships on the River Parrett a safe haven, the docks now welcome pleasure craft from the canal. |
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Broadway
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Brockley
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Brompton Ralph
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Brompton Regis
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Brushford
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Bruton
Bruton is a picturesque little town on the river Brue, founded in Saxon times and retaining many intriguing glimpses of its past including Jacobean almshouses, Abbey remains and the famous Dovecot. |
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Buckland Dinham
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Buckland St. Mary
Buckland St. Mary is set in the Blackdown Hills north-west of Chard. The parish includes NerocheForest, formerly medieval woodland and now managed by the Forestry Commission with a footpath trail to the site of an ancient hillfort. |
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Burnett
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Burnham-on-Sea
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Burrington
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Butcombe
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Butleigh
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Camerton
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Carhampton
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Castle Cary
Castle Cary is a vibrant market town, with a winding main street, many of the buildings are of the local golden stone and some are still thatched. |
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Chapel Allerton
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Chard
Two streams and a wide variety of good shops, flank the spacious High Street of the vibrant town of Chard. Its history since the 13th century is imaginatively recounted in the museum at Godworthy House |
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Charlton
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Charlton Mackrell
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Charlton Musgrove
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Cheddar
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Chedzoy
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Chelvey
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Chelwood
Situated at the Eastern end of the picturesque Chew Valley, some 9 miles West of Bath and the same distance South of Bristol, Chelwood is mentioned in the Domesday Book and its name is derived from the Saxon ‘Cellwert' meaning ‘Hill Farm'. |
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Chesterblade
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Chew Magna
It has a Dark Lane for light vehicles only, a Battle Lane where nobody fought, a ‘Blacklands', which is actually very green, and a Dumpers Lane with no sign of fly tipping. The picturesque village of Chew Magna is set in beautiful Somerset |
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Chew Stoke
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Chewton Mendip
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Chilcompton
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Chillington
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Chinnock
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Chipstable
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Chiselborough
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Churchill
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Clapton-in-Gordano
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Clatworthy
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Clevedon
We have just received a description of Clevedon from one of our readers. This description of Clevedon is currently being prepared for publication and will appear on this page within the next few days. |
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Clutton
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Cole
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Coleford
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Combe Florey
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Combe St. Nicholas
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Compton
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Compton Dando
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Compton Dundon
Compton Dundon is really two villages. On Windmill Hill above Compton stands the monument to Admiral Hood, while Dundon Beacon is the site of an iron-age fort. Both provide interesting walks. Nearby is Turn Hill with extensive views across the levels. |
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Compton Martin
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Congresbury
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Corfe
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Corston
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Cossington
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Cote
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Cothelstone
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Creech St. Michael
Creech St. Michael is a delightful village with a 13th century church, which has a fine wagon roof and is well worth a visit. |
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Crewkerne
Crewkerne has been an important town since before the Norman conquest with some fine old buildings reflecting its prosperous cloth making past. Magnificent 15th century church. Bincombe Beeches nature trail rises from the town centre. |
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Cricket St. Thomas
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Cross Keys
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Crowcombe
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Cucklington
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Culbone
In the far north west of Somerset there is an old saying that goes along the lines of: ‘Culbone, Oare and Stoke Pero…Three Churches Parsons seldom go'. |
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Curland
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Curry Mallet
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Curry Rivel
The attractive village of Curry Rivel is of blue lias stone, perched on a low ridge above the levels, with several interesting shops and a church dating mainly from the 15th century. |
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Cutcombe
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Ditcheat
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Dodington
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Donyatt
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Downhead
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Draycott
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Drayton
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Dulverton
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Dunball
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Dundon
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Dundry
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Dunster
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Durleigh
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Durston
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East Chinnock
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East Coker
At East Coker picturesque 16th and 17th century farmhouses and almshouses cluster below the manor and church. Ancestors of the poet T. S. Eliot emigrated from here, and his ashes are interred in the parish church. |
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East Cranmore
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East Harptree
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East Lydford
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East Pennard
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East Quantoxhead
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Edington
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Elworthy
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Emborrow
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Enmore
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Evercreech
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Exford
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Exton
Exton, in Exmoor National Park, is a parish with a total population of 230 and that includes Bridgetown and the outlying farms. It's listed in the Domesday Book. |
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Farmborough
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Farrington Gurney
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Feltham
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Felton
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Fitzhead
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Fivehead
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Flax Bourton
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Freshford
We have just received a description of Freshford from one of our readers. This description of Freshford is currently being prepared for publication and will appear on this page within the next few days. |
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Frome
Frome is the most easterly of Mendip's five towns, and also the largest. It has had a long history as a market and agricultural town with, for many centuries, a flourishing cloth industry. |
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Glastonbury
Glastonbury is well known, not only for its connections with the history of Christianity and the majestic ruins of its Abbey, but also for its association with the legend of King Arthur. |
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Goathurst
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Godney
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Greenham
Greenham - "Farm on the mill brook", is the perfect setting for walking or cycling. Hidden for centuries, nearby Cothay Manor has remained virtually untouched since it was built in the fifteenth century. |
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Greinton
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Hallatrow
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Halse
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Hardington
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Haselbury Plucknett
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Hatch Beauchamp
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Hawkaller
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Hawkridge
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Heathfield
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Henstridge
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Henton
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High Ham
High Ham is situated high on a wooded hill, with panoramic views across the levels. It has an interesting church with parts dating back to the Norman period and a 19th century thatched windmill unique in Britain. |
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Highbridge
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Higher Wambrook
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Hinton Charterhouse
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Hinton St. George
Hinton St. George was for centuries the home of the Poulett family whose power and wealth built the schools, halls and artisans' houses to serve the estate. At least two cottages date from the 14th century. |
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Holcombe
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Holford
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Hornblotton
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Huntspill
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Huntworth
Huntworth is a delightful hamlet, which features modernised canal side cottages, which retain their original appeal. The Canal Bridge was rebuilt in the 1920's to ease the gradient for heavier traffic. |
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Hurcott
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Hutton
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Ilchester
Ilchester was once a major Roman garrison town on the Fosse Way and the county town of Somerset until the 19th century. Its past is echoed in the Georgian houses and town hall, which contains a fascinating museum. |
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Ilminster
Ilminster takes its name from the fine Minster church, which towers above the multitude of small shops and narrow streets crammed with mellow hamstone architecture. |
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Ilton
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Isle Abbotts
At Isle Abbotts, the handsome tower of the parish church rises over this sleepy little village close to the river Ile. Across the river to the east lies Isle Brewers. |
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Isle Brewers
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Keinton Mandeville
Keinton Mandeville is the source of Keinton stone and birthplace in 1838 of John Henry Brodribb, who later became the famous theatrical manager and tragedian Sir Henry Irving. The house bears a memorial tablet. |
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Kelston
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Kenn
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Keynsham
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Kilmersdon
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Kilton
Leaving the A39 at the sharp bend you enter what was the continuation of the old road to Kilton. Kilton was an ancient settlement in Saxon times |
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Kingsbury Episcopi
Kingsbury Episcopi is a Hamstone village boasting an ancient lock up on the green, magnificent church and numerous small orchards. |
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Kingsdon
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Kingston
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Kingston Seymour
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Kingston St. Mary
Nestling at the southern end of the Quantocks, Kingston St. Mary has several buildings of interest including the church and in the outlying areas are good examples of 16th and 17th century farmhouses. |
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Lambrook
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Langford
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Langport
Langport was formerly a river port on the Parrett, the story of the town and river is told graphically at the Visitor Centre at the western end of Bow Street. |
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Leigh upon Mendip
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Leighton
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Lilstock
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Litton
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Locking
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Long Ashton
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Long Load
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Long Sutton
Long Sutton is a picturesque village with a much photographed church, towering impressively above the village green and a Quaker Friends' meeting house dating from 1717. |
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Lopen
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Loxton
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Luccombe
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Lulsgate Bottom
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Luxborough
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Lympsham
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Lyng
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Mark
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Marksbury
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Marston Magna
At Marston Magna the ground still shows tell tale signs of this settlement's long and fascinating history. The church contains traces of Saxon herringbone work and has a Norman font. A charming village to be explored on foot at a leisurely pace. |
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Martock
Martock is a large village worth visiting for its many old hamstone buildings - ornate houses, the Old Court House, Market House, Treasurer's House and parish church, the second largest in Somerset. |
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Meare
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Mells
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Middle Chinnock
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Middlezoy
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Midford
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Midsomer Norton
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Milborne Port
Milborne Port was once one of the most important towns in Somerset, with its own mint. Until 1832 it returned two Members of Parliament. Attractive old buildings include the market hall, Guildhall, church and fives court. |
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Milverton
Dating back to the Doomsday survey, Milverton is a large village which has been designated as a Heritage Settlement and (in part) a Conservation Area. |
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Minehead
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Misterton
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Montacute
At Montacute the continuous progression of history is clearly visible in the buildings and monuments of this important medieval village below St. Michael's Hill. |
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Muchelney
In medieval times Muchelney was home to an influential Benedictine Abbey. Excavations of the 10th century abbey and the preserved remains of the 15th century cloister and abbot's house are in the care of English Heritage and can all be seen. |
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Mudford
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Nailsea
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Nether Stowey
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Nettlecombe
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North Barrow
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North Brewham
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North Cadbury
The attractive village of North Cadbury is set amidst orchards and contains many stone built cottages, the handsome Elizabethan Cadbury Court and fine collegiate church built in 1470 with splendid bench end carvings dating from 1538. |
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North Cheriton
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North Curry
The village of North Curry lies principally along a single street, with a central area at Queen Square dubbed 'the Pepper Pot'. |
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North Newton
At North Newton the church stands on the site of an earlier Saxon Structure. In 1963 the Alfred Jewel, a Saxon ornament and oldest surviving crown jewel, now displayed in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, was found near the site. |
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North Petherton
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North Widcombe
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North Wootton
The pretty village of North Wootton is to be found in the centre of the triangle formed by Wells, Glastonbury and Shepton Mallet. |
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Norton Fitzwarren
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Norton St Philip
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Nunney
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Nynehead
The village name means "nine hide" and is derived from the Saxon word for a unit of land; a hide was equal to about 120 acres. Dominated by Nynehead Court, the village is in the centre of the vale of Taunton Deane. |
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Oake
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Oakhill
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Othery
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Otterford
Otterford Parish is bisected by the B3170 road providing good links from Taunton and the M5 and from Honiton and the A30 trunk road. The unspoilt countryside is in the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. |
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Otterhampton
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Paulton
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Pawlett
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Pensford
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Pill
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Pilton
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Pitminster
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Pitney
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Pointington
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Polsham
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Porlock
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Portbury
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Portishead
For anyone who served at sea between the 1920s and the end of the 20th Century the name ‘Portishead' was always followed by the word ‘Radio'. It was the best-known and busiest ship-shore station in the world. |
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Priddy
At 800 feet above sea level, the Mendip village of Priddy is one of those rare places that can fairly be described as being more than the sum of its parts. It is certainly a village of contrasts: it can be pretty and it can be bleak |
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Priston
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Publow
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Puriton
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Puxton
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Pylle
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Queen Camel
The Queen was Margaret of France, second wife of Edward Ist, who made the manor of Camel part of the marriage settlement in 1299. |
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Radstock
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Redhill
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Redlynch
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Rockwell Green
Situated to the west of Wellington, it was formerly known as Rowe Green often called "Rogue Green" because of its colourful inhabitants. Its present name relates to the brick well at the heart of the village. |
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Rode
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Rodney Stoke
The village of Rodney Stoke is to be found some three miles East of Cheddar and 4 miles West of Wells either side of the A371 nestling on the higher ground between the Mendip Hills and the Somerset Levels. |
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Rooks Bridge
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Saltford
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Sampford Arundel
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Sandford
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Selworthy
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Shapwick
The A39 Trunk Road from Bridgwater to Glastonbury is Roman in origin but this part of Somerset was developed long before the Centurion Cohorts arrived. Just to the north of the road lies the small village of Shapwick |
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Shepton Mallet
The historic town of Shepton Mallet is set in the Mendip foothills, and at the geographical heart of the Mendip District. It was strategically important in Roman times (the Fosse Way, now the A37, passes close by) |
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Shipham
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Sidcot
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Skilgate
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Somerton
Somerton is reputedly the 7th century Royal Capital of Wessex. The 17th century square, market cross, town hall, elegant houses and inns create an attractive townscape of outstanding architectural and historical interest. |
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South Barrow
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South Cadbury
South Cadbury lies at the foot of Cadbury Castle, the iron age hillfort reputedly King Arthur's 'Camelot'. It is said that on midsummer's eve the hill turns clear as glass and inside can be seen Arthur and his knights of the round table. |
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South Cheriton
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South Petherton
South Petherton was once of great strategic importance on the Fosse Way, this compact little hamstone town with its many small shops now has a quiet, unhurried charm. Fine church with an octagonal central tower. |
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South Widcombe
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Sparkford
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Spaxton
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St. Decumans
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Staple Fitzpaine
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Stawell
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Stawley
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Stert
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Stocklinch
This beautiful and thriving village some three and a half miles North East of Ilminster dates back to medieval times. |
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Stogumber
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Stogursey
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Stoke St. Gregory
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Stoke-sub-Hamdon
Stoke-sub-Hamdon stretches round the northern rim of Ham Hill. |
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Stolford
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Stowel
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Stowey
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Stratton-on-the-Fosse
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Street
Street is just to the south of Glastonbury, and owes much of its more recent development to the influence of Clarks, the world famous shoe manufacturers. |
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Sutton Mallet
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Sutton Montis
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Swainswick
Swainswick or Swanswick or Swayneswycke is a quite small village spreading itself down the old A46 road from Upper Swainswick to Lower Swainswick. |
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Taunton
Taunton - The County Town of Somerset - Nestling in a valley at the foot of the Quantock and Blackdown Hills. "King Ina" founded Taunton; the town on the River Tone has found itself at the centre of many bloody rebellions. |
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Temple Cloud
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Templecombe
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Theale
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Thorn Falcon
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Thurloxton
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Timberscombe
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Timsbury
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Tintinhull
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Tolland
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Treborough
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Trull
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Twerton
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Ubley
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Uphill
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Upton
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Upton Noble
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Walton
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Walton-in-Gordano
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Wambrook
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Wanstrow
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Washford
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Watchet
We have just received a description of Watchet from one of our readers. This description of Watchet is currently being prepared for publication and will appear on this page within the next few days. |
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Weare
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Wedmore
Wedmore is one of the gems of the fair county of Somerset and represents the very best that a thriving English village has to offer. It was here in the year 878 that King Alfred the Great made peace with the Danish King Guthrum. |
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Wellington (Somerset)
Wellington is a friendly town set in a wide valley between the beautiful Blackdown Hills, seven miles west of Taunton on the River Tone. The name is synonymous with the famous "Iron Duke" victor of the battle of Waterloo. |
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Wellow
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Wells
Wells qualifies as England's smallest and Somerset's only city, because of its magnificent cathedral. It lies beneath the southern slopes of the Mendip Hills, and provides a wealth of historical interest and beautiful architecture. |
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West Bagborough
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West Buckland
The village has been extended during the past century and at its western edge on a small hillock stands the church of St. Mary whose tower, beautifully illuminated at night, is a landmark for miles around. |
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West Chinnock
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West Coker
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West Cranmore
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West Harptree
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West Hatch
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West Lydford
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West Monkton
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West Myne
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West Pennard
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West Quantoxhead
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Westbury
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Weston Zoyland
The year 1685 may seem a long time ago to anyone living in the early 21st century, but as a time-span it is actually less than 3 times the age of our oldest citizen. |
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Weston-in-Gordano
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Weston-Super-Mare
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Whitchurch
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White Ball
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Wick St. Lawrence
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Williton
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Wilton
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Wincanton
The charming market town of Wincanton overlooks the Blackmore Vale. Elegant Georgian houses and coaching inns record its former importance as a staging post on the main road from London to Plymouth. |
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Winford
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Winsford
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Winsham
Winsham is a thriving village on the river Axe close to the Dorset border, retaining its shop, pub and church. |
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Withycombe
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Withypool
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Wiveliscombe
The historic market town of Wiveliscombe, locally known as "Wivey" is situated on the edge of the Brendon Hills, it is a thriving rural community with many local services and a surprising range of businesses. |
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Wookey
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Woolverton
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Worle
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Wraxall
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Wrington
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Yarlington
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Yatton
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Yeovil
Yeovil is the major town of South Somerset with the best shopping centre in a very wide area, the Octagon Theatre, Goldenstones Pools and Leisure Centre, a multi-screen cinema, a ski centre and the wooded parkland at Ninesprings |
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Yeovilton
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