Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 3.djvu/508

SOMERSETSHIRE. 496 60MERSHAM. prevailing formation is the Old Red sandstone, which extends into Devonshire. The moorland of Exmoor Forest consists of elates of the Devonian range. The Quantock hills, which lie to the N. of this district, are of coarse gritstone, also belonging to the Devonian system. The -western coalfield of England lies almost wholly in Somersetshire, and is extensively worked at Keynsham, Bedminster, Frome, and Nailsea. Thirty-five collieries are under inspec- tion, and though the seams are comparatively thin, they will not soon be exhausted. Large quantities of calamino, lead, and other minerals were formerly raised from the Mendip hills, but they are now little sought for. There are slate quarries at Wiveliscombe, and lead is found at Wellington ; fuller's earth, marl, and ochre are also met with ; and limestone, freestone, and gypsum are extensively quarried. Somerset is very poorly wooded, the entire extent of woods and woodlands scarcely exceeding 20,000 acres. The ancient forest of Selwood, near Frome, appears to have covered 20,000 acres, which are now for the most part cornfields and pasture, only about 2,000 acres of coppice remaining, chiefly oak and ash trees, and hazel and alder under- wood. Exmoor Forest exists only in name, there being scarcely a tree upon it to relieve the expanse of moor- land, which covers about 20,000 acres. The county pre- sents a variety of climate, the lands along the coast being BO mild that winter is scarcely felt, and the western por- tion generally being genial and temperate ; while on the higher ground of the Polden and Mendip hills, the weather is often very wild and harsh. The soil is in general fertile, producing luxuriant herbage, and is suitable for grazing purposes and dairy husbandry. Crops of the finest wheat are raised in the alluvial tracts and in the Vale of Taunton. Potatoes, flax, and hemp are also much grown, and woad and teasel are cultivated in some places. Hops are slightly grown. More attention is given to grazing and the rearing of cattle. The breeds most approved of are Devons, Here- fords, and shorthorns. Dairies are numerous, and large quantities of Cheddar cheese are made from the pure milk without the addition or subtraction of cream. It is now principally made in the marshes around Glas- tonbury, the name being derived from the village of Cheddar, in the Mendip hills, where it was first pro- duced. The stock of sheep is estimated at 500,000, generally of the Southdowns or Leicester breeds, or crosses of these with Cotswold sheep, and fed upon the hilly districts and rich pastures in the centre of the county. A good breed of Welsh pigs is much attended to; the hogs are in many places fed on whey. Geese and poultry are reared in large numbers. Estates and farms are numerous, and of all sizes. Large quan- tities of cider are made. Wild fowl and fish are abun- dant and good.- The woollen manufacture was formerly extensively carried on at Taunton ; but the silk trade was introduced there in 1778, and has since occupied the principal attention. Shepton Mallet is also a seat of the silk trade. Handloom broad-cloth is made at Frome, Ilminster, and Chard ; cassimeres at Frome ; serges at Wellington ; linen fabrics at Crewkerno and Teovil ; hair cloth at Castle Carey ; there are cement mills at Bridgwaterand in other parts ; and stockings, gloves, shoes, crapes, blankets, paper, glass, and leather are made at various places through the county. The com- merce is almost concentrated at Bristol, there being a small business done also at Bridgwater, Watchet, Minehead, and Porlock. Somersetshire consists of 40 hundreds, in two divisions. The population of the eastern division in 1861 was 172,712, and that of the western was 169,551. In the ecclesiastical arrangement it is nearly co-extensive with the diocese of Bath and Wells in the province of Canterbury, and constitutes three archdeaconries Bath, Wells, and Taunton. The first contains the deaneries of Bath and Chew, in the other two the bishop has jurisdiction equally with the archdeacons. The county contains 406 entire parishes, and parts of two others. The civil government is entrusted to the lord-lieutenant and custos rotulorum, high-sheriff, about 65 deputy lieutenants, and 280 magistrates. It is in the western circuit. The spring assizes are held at Taunton, and the summer assizes alternately at Wells and Bridgwater. There is a county gaol at Ilminster, one also, with a house of correction, at Wilton, near Taunton, besides a house of correction at Shepton Mallet. The city of Bath has its own gaol, and there is one in the borough of Bridgwater, and a city and county lock-up house at Wells. The gaol for the city of Bristol is at Bedminster, in this county. County-courts are held at 16 places, and quarter sessions at Bath, Bridgwater, Taunton, and Wells. There are asylums for the insane at Wells and Taunton, and the Somerset hospital is at the latter place. The county is in the western military district. Before the passing of the Reform Act, it returned 16 members to Parliament. The number is now reduced to 13, of whom two are returned for the eastern division constituency, 11,867, in 1865, and two for the western constituency, 8,632; two are sent from each of the following boroughs, Bath, Bridgwater, Taunton, and Wells, and one from Frome. Wells is the place of election for the E. division, and Taunton for the western. The county abounds in seats and richly-wooded demesnes, of which the principal are Farleigh, of the Duke of Somerset ; Brimpton, of Earl of Westmoreland ; Longleat, of the Marquis of Bath ; But- leigh, of Lord Glastonbury ; Wilsham, of Lord Somer- ville; Ashley Lodge, of Lord King; Hardington, of Lord Poltimore, besides many others belonging to baronets and private gentry. At Stanton Drew are the remains of a Druids' circle, consisting of four groups of stones, arranged to form, when complete, two circles. The Roman remains are most interesting, including camps, stations, tesselated pavements, baths, arches, and other remains, more fully noticed under the places where they occur; also rums of the abbeys of Glastonbury and Langport, of the priories of Woodspring, near Weston- super-Mare, Stavordale, near Wincanton, a Carthusian priory, near Bath, and of Montacute Cluniac priory, near Yeovil. The Duke of Wellington took his title from the town of that name in this county, near which an obelisk, 120 feet in height, has been erected to his honour. Roger Bacon was born at Ilchester, Blake at Bridgwater, Cudworth at Aller, Fielding at Sharpam, and Locke at Wrington. SOMERSHAM, a par. in the hund. of Hursting- stone, co. Huntingdon, 5 miles N.E. of St. Ives, its post town, and 9 N.E. of Huntingdon. It is a station on the St. Ives and Wisbeach branch of the Great Eastern railway. The village, which is chiefly agricultural, is situated on the road to March and Wisbeach. It is well-built and paved, and consists of one principal street about three-quarters of a mile long, extending from E. to W., with a shorter street crossing about midway. This place, formerly a market town, was given by Brithnoth to Ely Abbey in 991. In the reign of Charles I. it formed part of the jointure of Queen Henrietta Maria. The land is generally fertile, with a small proportion of fen. About midway on the St. Ives road is a chalybeate spa, which was formerly of great repute. Roman coins have been found in this parish. The living is a rect., with the curs, of Colne and Pidley annexed, in the dioc. of Ely, val. 1,770. The church, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, is an ancient edifice, with embattled tower and open roof. It contains tombs of the Hammonds, Whiston, and others, and the brass of a priest. The parochial charities pro- duce about 90 per annum. There is a National school partly endowed, and two Sunday-schools. The Wes- leyans and Baptists have each a place of worship. Near the church once stood the bishop's palace, the site of which is now partly built upon. J. G. Scott, Esq., is lord of the manor. Annual fairs are held on the 23rd June, and on the Friday prior to 22nd November. SOMERSHAM, a par. in the hund. of Bosmere, co. Sufl'olk, 5J miles N.W. of Ipswich, its post town, and 2J S.W. of the Claddon railway station. The village, which is of small extent, is chiefly agricultural. The living is a rect.* in the dioc. of Norwich, val. 245-