Farleigh Hungerford Castle

Discovering Somerset (Volume 1)

This is an excerpt of a DVD produced by 1st Take. The complete film is available to order at 1st-take.com or by calling 01454 321614.

Celebrate the visual beauty, rich heritage and hidden treasures of Somerset with Glastonbury-based author Henry Buckton. Beginning in the north of the county, this first volume of an exciting new series includes visits to ancient hill forts and long barrows, such as at Stantonbury Camp and Stoney Littleton; the mysterious stone circles at Stanton Drew; the sites of medieval castles such as Culverhay, Richmont and Farleigh Hungerford; and historic battlefields at Lansdown Hill and Norton St. Philip. You will also see spectacular limestone gorges at Cheddar and Burrington Combe; the man-made lakes of Chew Valley and Blagdon; and the majestic Clifton Suspension Bridge. We discover how Bath grew from a small Roman spa town to one of the most beautiful Georgian cities in England, and how the Victorian appetite for tourism transformed small coastal villages like Clevedon and Weston-super-Mare into premier seaside resorts. What is now seen as a largely rural area actually has a strong industrial heritage. Special attention is paid to the North Somerset coalfield, which extended from Bath to Nailsea, where glassmaking and later a large cider factory were also significant. We also reveal lead mining at Charterhouse and East Harptree, a watermill at Priston and iron-making near Mells. Transport was key to industrial development and informed contributors reveal the story of the Somerset & Dorset Railway, the 'Strawberry Line' and the Somersetshire Coal Canal. We also learn about the history of Cheddar Cheese, and see how local beer is brewed by visiting the famous Butcombe Brewery near Wrington. Helped by superb modern film and rare archive material, this historical tour of North Somerset will encourage you to explore this beautiful county.