Tag: Somerton

Somerton is a small town and civil parish in the South Somerset district of the English county of Somerset. It is situated on the River Cary, approximately 8.8 miles (14.2 km) north-west of Yeovil. The civil parish includes the hamlets of Etsome and Hurcot. The town also has its own parish council serving a population of 4,706 as of 2002 and an acreage of 6,620 acres (2,680 ha) as of 1894.
The history of Somerton dates back to the Anglo-Saxon era, when it was an important political and commercial centre, giving its name to the county. After the Norman conquest of England the importance of the town declined, despite becoming the county town of Somerset in the late thirteenth century and early fourteenth century. The town had links with Muchelney Abbey in the Middle Ages. Somerton became a market town, whose economy was supported by transport systems using the River Parrett, and later rail transport via the Great Western Railway, and by light industries including glove making and gypsum…