West Somerset is a local government district in the English county of Somerset. The council covers a largely rural area, with a population of 35,075[1] in an area of 740 square kilometres (290 sq mi).[2] According to figures released by the Office for National Statistics in 2009, the population of West Somerset has the oldest average age in the United Kingdom at 52.[3] The largest centres of population are the coastal towns of Minehead (population 10,000) and Watchet (4,400).
The council's administrative headquarters are located in the village of Williton, with an additional office in Minehead.
History
The district was formed on April 1, 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972, by a merger of the previous urban districts of Minehead and Watchet, along with Dulverton Rural District and Williton Rural District.
There are 33 Grade I listed buildings in West Somerset, the oldest being Culbone Church, which is one of the smallest churches in England,[4] and pre-Norman in origin[5] and Tarr Steps which may originate in the Bronze Age, although others date them from around 1400.[6] Dunster has the greatest concentration of Grade I listed buildings including Dunster Castle, the Yarn Market, Gallox Bridge and Priory Church of St George. Other sites include manor houses such as Nettlecombe Court and Orchard Wyndham. The most recent buildings included in the list are Crowcombe Court which was completed in 1739[7] and the Church of St John the Baptist in Carhampton which was rebuilt in 1863.[8] There are numerous religious structures in Somerset, with the largest number being Anglican parish churches, dating from Norman or medieval eras. Some of the churches are included in the Somerset towers, a collection of distinctive, mostly spireless Gothic church towers.
Geography
West Somerset benefits from one of the most scenic landscapes in England. Nearly two thirds of the western land area of the district forms part of Exmoor National Park designated in 1954 while on the eastern edge of the district are the Quantock Hills which, in 1956, became the first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty created in the UK. Large areas of Exmoor and the Quantock Hills are also designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest because of their value for wildlife.
The West Somerset Railway runs through most of the district, from Bishop's Lydeard in the south east, to Minehead in the north west. Operated mainly as a tourist attraction, the railway runs mostly steam and some diesel locomotives.
Settlements
- Allerford, Ashbeer
- Battleton, Bickham, Bicknoller, Bilbrook, Bossington, Brandish Street, Bratton, Bridgetown, Brompton Ralph, Brompton Regis, Brushford
- Carhampton, Chapel Cleeve, Churchtown, Clatworthy, Crowcombe, Crowcombe Heathfield, Culbone, Cutcombe
- Dulverton, Dunster
- East Quantoxhead, Elworthy, Escott, Exford, Exton
- Flaxpool
- Halsway, Hawkridge, Higher Vexford, Holford, Huish Champflower
- Kilve, Kilton, Kingsbridge, Kingswood
- Lawford, Leighland Chapel, Lilstock, Lower Vellow, Lower Vexford, Lower Weacombe, Luccombe, Luxborough, Lynch, Lyncombe
- Minehead, Monksilver
- Oare, Oareford, Old Cleeve
- Pooltown, Porlock, Preston
- Roadwater
- St Audries, Sampford Brett, Selworthy, Simonsbath, Skilgate, Stoke Pero, Stogumber, Stogursey, Stringston
- Timberscombe, Tivington, Torre, Treborough, Triscombe
- Upton
- Vellow
- Washford, Watchet, Weacombe, West Quantoxhead, Williton, Winsford, Withycombe, Withypool, Woodford, Wootton Courtenay
- Yarde
Education
County schools (those which are not independent) in the five non-metropolitan districts of the county are operated by Somerset County Council.
For a full list of schools see: List of schools in Somerset
See also
References
External links
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Ceremonial county of Somerset |
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| Somerset Portal |
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| Boroughs or districts |
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| Major settlements |
Axbridge, Bath, Bridgwater, Bruton, Burnham-on-Sea, Castle Cary, Chard, Cheddar, Clevedon, Crewkerne, Dulverton, Frome, Glastonbury, Highbridge, Ilminster, Keynsham, Midsomer Norton, Minehead, Nailsea, North Petherton, Portishead, Radstock, Shepton Mallet, Somerton, South Petherton, Street, Taunton, Watchet, Wellington, Wells, Weston-super-Mare, Wincanton, Wiveliscombe, Yeovil
See also: List of civil parishes in Somerset
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| Rivers |
Alham, Aller, Avill, Avon, Axe, Badgworthy Water, Banwell, Barle, Brue, Cam Brook, Cary, Chew, East Lyn, Exe, Fivehead, Frome, Haddeo, Hoar Oak Water, Holford, Horner, Huntspill, Isle, Mells, Midford Brook, Oare Water, Parret, Severn Estuary, Sheppey, Somer, Tone, Washford, Wellow Brook, West Lyn, Yeo (Congresbury), Yeo (South Somerset)
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County Council, Culture of Somerset, Economy of Somerset, Geology of Somerset, History of Somerset, Transport in Somerset
Geographic areas: Blackdown Hills, Brendon Hills, Chew Valley, Exmoor, Mendip Hills, Polden Hills, Quantock Hills, Somerset Levels, South West Coast Path, West Somerset Coast Path
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