Places to see in ( Shepton Mallet - UK )
Places to see in ( Shepton Mallet - UK )
Shepton Mallet is a town and civil parish in the Mendip district of Somerset in South West England. Situated approximately 18 miles south of Bristol and 5 miles east of Wells. Shepton Mallet contains the administrative headquarters of Mendip District Council.
The Mendip Hills lie to the north, and the River Sheppey runs through the town. Shepton Mallet lies on the route of the Fosse Way, the principal Roman road into the south west of England, and there is evidence of Roman settlement. The town contains a fine parish church and a considerable number of listed buildings. Shepton Mallet Prison was England's oldest prison still in use until its closure in March 2013.
In medieval times, the wool trade was important in the town's economy, although this declined in the 18th century to be replaced by other industries such as brewing; the town continues to be a major centre for the production of cider. Shepton Mallet is the closest town to the site of the Glastonbury Festival, the largest music festival in Europe. Also nearby is the Royal Bath and West of England Society showground which hosts the Royal Bath and West Show, and other major shows and festivals.
Shepton Mallet lies in the southern foothills of the Mendip Hills. The area is geologically founded on Forest Marble, Blue Lias and Oolitic limestone. To the north of the town are several caves of the Mendip Hills, including Thrupe Lane Swallet which is a geological Site of Special Scientific Interest.
The centre and oldest parts of Shepton Mallet are adjacent to the River Sheppey, and thus at the bottom of a valley, approximately 115 m (377 ft) above sea level. The edges of the town lie about 45 m (148 ft) higher up. The river has cut a narrow valley, and between Shepton Mallet and the village of Croscombe, to the west, it is bounded by steeply-sloping fields and woodland.
Within Shepton Mallet there are several distinct areas which originated as separate communities around the central point of the church and Market Place. The town centre is small, basically consisting of two streets: High Street, which runs south from the Market Place towards the Townsend Retail Park, and the pedestrianised Town Street which runs north from the Market Place to Waterloo Bridge. To the east, separated from the Market Place by the Academy complex, is the parish church of St Peter and St Paul.
The A37 road runs north and south through Shepton Mallet, along the line of the Fosse Way between the south of the town and Ilchester. The A361 from Frome skirts the eastern edge of Shepton Mallet on its way to Glastonbury, and the A371 from Castle Cary passes through the town on its way west to Wells; for some distance, both routes follow the line of the A37. Shepton Mallet had railway stations on two lines, both now closed. The first station, called Shepton Mallet (High Street) in British Railways days, was on the East Somerset Railway branch line from Witham and opened in 1859.
( Shepton Mallet - UK ) is well know as a tourist destination because of the variety of places you can enjoy while you are visiting the city of Shepton Mallet . Through a series of videos we will try to show you recommended places to visit in Shepton Mallet - UK
Join us for more :
Exploring The Amazing Glastonbury Tor in England
I made a mistake; King Arthur was supposed to have been buried at Glastonbury Abbey; not Glastonbury Tor.
Kittybrewster Dept &Goods Yard (70's)
Short clips from around Kittybrewster Station and loco Depot, which were closed and the goods years, which was still in operation at the time. Also clips from railway sites around Scotland. I started my career on the railway at Kittybrewster in 1963. It was sad to see the depot in such a situation. The site of the Loco depot today has been turned into a Prisoner Holding Centre for those waiting to go to the new prison at Peterhead.
By rail to Burnham on Sea
Short journey from Highbridge East to Burnham on Sea
Behind the Scenes with 60019 Bittern on the Dorset Coast Express
In the summer of 2010 A4 Pacific 60019 Bittern was one of the regular locomotives on the Dorset Coast Express, a weekly service promoted by the Railway Touring Company. Each week one engine was used to haul the train from London's Victoria station to Wemouth. A second engine which had pulled the previous week's train was then employed on the return working to Waterloo, the train being pushed up the steep 1 in 50 Upwey bank by the first engine. The banking engine then travelled via Dorchester and Maiden Newton to the Yeovil Railway Centre where it was turned and serviced ready for the following week's excursion. This video goes behind the scenes of the operation of the train to show the work done by the drivers, firemen and guards from West Coast Railways, and by Bittern's volunteer support crew. Thanks go to You Tube contributors Smartrain1, 04clemea, Jackieboyish and Emuksteam for external shots of the train.
Details of the Dorset Coast Express for 2011 can be found at
Pecketts at the Docks - Bristol Harbour Railway - 28/06/15
The weekend of June 27th and 28th saw the Bristol Harbour Railway hold a 'Pecketts Weekend', which would see shuttles operate within the confines of the Railway Museum's site, which includes two lines to the S.S Great Britain and Ashton Bridge respectively. The loco in charge of these runs was 0-6-0T No. 1788 'Kilmersdon', which is on loan to the Railway from the Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust's base at Washford. Fellow 0-4-0 'Teddy' was on 'Driver for a Tenner' duties, whilst resident 0-6-0 'Henbury' was on display, awaiting overhaul.
This video features just a few shots from a very enjoyable day out, taken from various locations. The clips are hand-held, so some of the shots are a bit wobbly in places.
A very enjoyable trip to Bristol, especially to a Railway that I had never been to before!
Facebook: JS Rail Videos
Twitter: @jsrailvideos
Flickr: JSRailPhotography
Bridport to Maiden Newton by train in 1975
Bridport to Maiden Newton as seen from one of the last trains ever to run along this much-loved branch line before it closed in 1975. This silent film is shown with kind permission of John Giles-Townsend, who shot it with his late brother Neil.
S&DJR run around at Burnham on Sea
A Day On The Cornish Explorer Part 2- 40145 on the Dawlish Sea Wall
A Day on the Cornish Explorer. After miles of travelling in the Hampshire, Dorset and Somerset countryside we finally made it down to Devon. We pass a First Great Western HST on our way into Exeter St.Davids station. Shortly after we pass one of the most well-known and most wanted to go places in Britain. The Dawlish Sea Wall. Built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel in 1846 and is now one of the most photographed areas in Britain. Running 4 miles along the edge between the sea and the red south devon cliffs, through tunnels and under bridges. It is picturesque but far from tranquil with 40145 around.
Enjoy
Dorchester, Dorset, the train trip into Dorchester from New Milton Station. ( 5 )
Dorchester is the county town of Dorset, England. A historic market town, Dorchester lies on the banks of the River Frome, in the Frome Valley, just south of the Dorset Downs and north of the South Dorset Ridgeway, that separates the area from Weymouth, eight miles ( 13 km ) south. Dorchester is noted as being home and inspiration to the author Thomas Hardy, whose novel The Mayor of Casterbridge was based on the town.
In 1613 and 1725 great fires destroyed large parts of the town, but some of the mediaeval buildings, including Judge Jeffrey's lodgings, and the Tudor almshouse survives in the town centre, amongst the replacement Georgian buildings, many of which are built in Portland limestone. In the 17th century the town was at the centre of the Puritan emigration to America, and the local rector, John White, organised the settlement of Dorchester, Massachusetts. For his efforts on behalf of Puritan dissenters, White has been called the unheralded founder of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. In 1642, just before the English Civil War, Hugh Green, a Catholic chaplain was executed here. After his execution, Puritans played football with his head. The town was heavily defended against the Royalists in the Civil War. In 1685 the Duke of Monmouth failed in his invasion attempt, the Monmouth Rebellion, and almost 300 of his men were condemned to death or transportation in the ~ Bloody Assizes, held in the Oak Room of the Antelope Hotel, Dorchester and presided over by Judge Jeffrey's. In 1833, the Tolpuddle Martyrs formed the Friendly Society of Agricultural Labourers. Trade unions were legal, but due to them swearing an oath of allegiance, they were arrested and tried in the Shire Hall in Dorchester. This building still remains and is preserved as it was at the time. Under the court are the cells where the prisoners were held while waiting for their court appearance. Dorchester Prison was constructed in the town during the 19th century and the prison is still in use today, holding convicted and remanded inmates from the local courts.
Poundbury is the well - known western extension of the town, constructed on Duchy of Cornwall land ( owned by Charles, Prince of Wales ) according to urban village principles since 1993. Being developed over 25 years, it will eventually be composed of four phases with a total of 2,500 dwellings and a population of about 6,000. Since 2008, Poundbury is now home to Dorset Fire and Rescue Service headquarters and Dorchester fire station. Prince Charles designed the estate ( as well as the local Tesco supermarket ) and makes several visits throughout the year. The catchment area extends eight miles west, north and east of the town, and two miles south. Brewery Square is a new development in the heart of the town, and is planned to include a multitude of retail outlets, residential units, bars, restaurants and various cultural facilities, plus the regeneration of Dorchester South station to make it the UK's first solar powered rail station.
This remaining Duchy land was farmed under the open field system until 1874 when the land was enclosed - or consolidated - into three large farms by the landowners and residents. Soon afterwards followed a series of key developments for the town: the enclosing of Poundbury hill fort for public enjoyment in 1876, the ~ Fair Field ( new site for the market, off Weymouth Avenue ) in 1877, the Recreation Ground ( also off Weymouth Avenue ) opening in 1880, and the imposing Eldridge Pope Brewery of 1881, adjacent to the railway line to Southampton. Salisbury Field was retained for public use in 1892, with land being purchased in 1895 for the formal Borough Gardens, between West Walks and Cornwall Road. The clock and bandstand were added in 1898. Meanwhile, land had begun to be developed for housing outside the walls. This included the Cornwall Estate, between the Borough Gardens and the Great Western Railway, from 1876 and the Prince of Wales Estate, centred on Prince of Wales Road, from 1880. Land for the Victoria Park Estate was bought in 1896 and building began in 1897, Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee year. The lime trees in Queen's Avenue were planted in February 1897.