From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
West Somerset is a local government district in the English county of Somerset. The council covers a largely rural area, with a population of 35,400 in an area of 726.84 square kilometres (280.63 sq mi). 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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
[edit] See also
[edit] 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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Alcombe, Axbridge, Bath, Bridgwater, Bruton, Burnham-on-Sea, Castle Cary, Chard, Clevedon, Crewkerne, Dulverton, Frome, Glastonbury, Highbridge, Ilminster, Keynsham, Midsomer Norton, Minehead, Nailsea, North Petherton, Portishead, Radstock, Shepton Mallet, Somerton, South Petherton, Taunton, Watchet, Wellington, Wells, Weston-super-Mare, Wincanton, Wiveliscombe, Yeovil
See also: List of civil parishes in Somerset
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Aller, Avon, Axe, Barle, Brue, Cam Brook, Cary, Chew, Congresbury Yeo, East Lyn, Exe, Frome, Haddeo, Hoar Oak Water, Holford, Horner, Huntspill, Isle, Midford Brook, Parret, Severn Estuary, Sheppey, Somer, Tone, Washford, Wellow Brook, West Lyn
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Culture of Somerset, Economy of Somerset, Geology of Somerset, History of Somerset
Geographic areas: Blackdown Hills, Brendon Hills, Chew Valley, Exmoor, Mendip Hills, Polden Hills, Quantock Hills, Somerset Levels
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