Fancy yourself as a bit of an expert on all things Somerset... Well to celebrate the first ever Somerset Day here are a few facts that you may not know.

 

How Somerset are you? Ten words and phrases that prove you're Somerset born and bred.

  • Somerset has two gorges, as well as the most well known Cheddar Gorge there is also Ebbor Gorge which also contains two geologically important caves that hold the bones of Ice Age mammals.

Bridgwater Mercury: Cheddar Gorge

  • Taunton was the first town in the country to be lit permanently by electric street lighting in 1881

Bridgwater Mercury: A street light switch-off is putting Britain's streets in darkness, Labour says

  • Glastonbury is known as the birthplace of Christianity. There is a legend that Joseph of Arimathea planted the holy thorn on Wirral Hill
  • There are 400 different varieties of cider apples grown in Somerset.

Bridgwater Mercury: Apple Day celebrations at Yeovil Country Market

  • It is not short of history, with over 10,000 listed buildings, over 500 ancient monuments, 41 parks and gardens, 36 English Heritage sites and 19 sites looked after by the National Trust.
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  • Brent Knoll Hill was originally an Iron Age fort and stands 449ft above Sea Level
  • Jack the Treacle Eater is one of the four extraordinary follies of Barwick Park
  • The Willow man that stands in a field next to the M5 near Bridgwater, and is made out of local Somerset Willow is also known as the 'Angel of the South'. Designed and built in 2000 by Serena de la Hey, the sculpture stands at over 40 feet. It is made out of traditional withies on a steel frame, and celebrates the role of Willow in the landscape of the Somerset Levels and Moors.

Bridgwater Mercury: The Willow Man's new home?

  • Culbone Church is reported to be the smallest church in England
  • The West Somerset Railway is the longest preserved steam railway in the country
  • Nunney Castle is a perfect gem of a moated castle and the only one of its type in England

Bridgwater Mercury: Volunteers needed for West Somerset Railway events

  • Hestercombe Gardens is a unique collection of three gardens spanning three centuries of garden history and design
  • The Willows and Wetlands visitor centre have been owned and run by the Coate family since 1819
  • Andrew Crosse's experiments with electricity at Fyne Court inspired Mary Shelley to write Frankenstein

Bridgwater Mercury: Image for Alan Donnelly Electrical

  • Lorna Doone was based on a true Story and Oare Church was the scene of Lorna's death.
  • The Table fork and Parasol were introduced to England by Travel Writer Thomas Coryate who was born in Odcombe in 1577.
  •  Colonel John Chard won the Victoria Cross for his part in the defence of  Rorke's Drift when it was attacked by Zulus. John died at Hatch Beachamp in 1897.

Bridgwater Mercury: Recipients of the Victoria Cross are being honoured as part of First World War commemorations

  • The Battle of Sedgemoor (1685) was the last pitch battle on English soil
  • The old Chantry at Kilve beach, founded in 1329, was once used for storing barrels of spirits smuggled in to Kilve Pill.
  • The oldest complete human skeleton  (est. 9,000 years old ) was found at Cheddar Caves in the Mendip Hills
  • The pure bred Exmoor Pony has inhabited the Exmoor moorland since ancient times and is the oldest British pony.

Bridgwater Mercury:

  • Over 400 different varieties of cider apple are grown in Somerset

With thanks to Visit Somerset