124-589: The Quantock Hills west of Bridgwater in Somerset , England, consist of heathland, oak woodlands, ancient parklands and agricultural land. They were England's first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty , designated in 1956. Natural England have designated the Quantock Hills as a national character area . They are entirely surrounded by another: the Vale of Taunton and Quantock Fringes . The hills run from
248-468: A Site of Special Scientific Interest since 1989, and is designated as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention . The risks to wildlife are highlighted in the local Oil Spill Contingency Plan. Along with the rest of South West England , Bridgwater has a temperate climate which is generally wetter and milder than the rest of the country. The annual mean temperature
372-402: A borough constituency began in 1295 and continued until 1870, when the original borough constituency was disenfranchised for corruption; from 4 July 1870 the town was incorporated within the county constituency of West Somerset . When parliamentary seats were redistributed for the 1885 general election , a new county division of Bridgwater was created. A variety of markets were granted to
496-556: A hydration product of anhydrite . The Mohs scale of mineral hardness defines gypsum as hardness value 2 based on scratch hardness comparison . Fine-grained white or lightly tinted forms of gypsum known as alabaster have been used for sculpture by many cultures including Ancient Egypt , Mesopotamia , Ancient Rome , the Byzantine Empire , and the Nottingham alabasters of Medieval England . The word gypsum
620-403: A large proportion of rain falls from showers and thunderstorms at this time of year. Average rainfall is around 31 to 35 inches (790 to 890 mm). About 8 to 15 days of snowfall is typical. From November to March, mean wind speeds are highest; winds are lightest from June to August. The predominant wind direction is from the south-west. In 1970 an area of 6,194.5 acres (2,506.8 ha) in
744-425: A large proportion of the rainfall is caused by sun heating the ground leading to convection and to showers and thunderstorms. Average rainfall is around 700 mm (28 in). About 8–15 days of snowfall is typical. November to March have the highest mean wind speeds, and June to August have the lightest winds. The predominant wind direction is from the south-west. Bridgwater had a population of 35,800 according to
868-499: A major centre for manufacturing. A major manufacturing centre for clay tiles and bricks in the 19th century, including the famous " Bath brick ", were exported through the port. In the 1890s there were a total of 16 brick and tile companies, and 24 million bricks per annum were exported during that decade alone. These industries are celebrated in the Somerset Brick and Tile Museum on East Quay. These industries collapsed in
992-738: A member of the Conservative Party . In 2018, Diogo Rodrigues became the first Portuguese national to be elected as a Mayor in England, also becoming Bridgwater's youngest ever mayor. The Bridgwater constituency has been represented in Parliament since 1295. After the voting age was lowered in January 1970, Susan Wallace became the first 18-year-old to vote in the UK, during the 1970 Bridgwater by-election that elected Tom King , who took
1116-643: A night-time attack on the King's position near Westonzoyland . Surprise was lost when a musket was accidentally discharged, and the Battle of Sedgemoor resulted in defeat for the Duke. He was later beheaded at the Tower of London , and nine locals were executed for treason. The Chandos Glass Cone was built in 1725 as a glasswork firing kiln by James Brydges, 1st Duke of Chandos as part of an industrial development. After
1240-585: A politically radical tendency. The Battle of Sedgemoor , where the Monmouth Rebellion was finally crushed in 1685, was fought nearby. Notable buildings include the Church of St Mary and Blake Museum , which is a largely restored house in Blake Street and was the birthplace of Admiral Blake in 1598. The town has an arts centre and plays host to the annual Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival . It
1364-741: A price of £1.6 million, and may be turned into a hotel. In the medieval period the River Parrett was used to transport Hamstone from the quarry at Ham Hill . Bridgwater was part of the Port of Bristol until the Port of Bridgwater was created in 1348, covering 80 miles (130 km) of the Somerset coast line, from the Devon border to the mouth of the River Axe . Under an 1845 Act of Parliament
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#17327656502911488-474: A range of industrial processes. Flue gas desulfurization gypsum (FGDG) is recovered at some coal-fired power plants. The main contaminants are Mg, K, Cl, F, B, Al, Fe, Si, and Se. They come both from the limestone used in desulfurization and from the coal burned. This product is pure enough to replace natural gypsum in a wide variety of fields including drywalls, water treatment, and cement set retarder. Improvements in flue gas desulfurization have greatly reduced
1612-850: A range of species. The hilltops are covered in heathland of gorse, heather, bracken and thorn with plantations of conifer. The western side of the Quantocks are steep scarp slopes of pasture, woods and parkland. Deep stream-cut combes to the north-east contain extensive oak-woods with small flower-rich bogs above them. The areas where there is limited drainage are dominated by heather ( Calluna vulgaris ), with significant populations of cross-leaved heath ( Erica tetralix ), purple moor-grass ( Molinia caerulea ), bilberry ( Vaccinium myrtillus ) and wavy hair-grass ( Deschampsia flexuosa ). Drier areas are covered with bell heather ( Erica cinerea ), western gorse ( Ulex gallii ) and bristle bent ( Agrostis curtisii ), while bracken ( Pteridium aquilinum )
1736-399: A regional distribution centre based at Huntworth . A new £100 m Regional Agricultural Business Centre opened in 2007, following construction which began in 2006. As of 2021, a 616 acres (249 ha) commercial development campus named Gravity, targeting the low-carbon economy , is planned for the former ROF Bridgwater site 3.5 miles (5.6 km) north of Bridgwater. Bridgwater
1860-413: A result, waste gypsum is stored in stacks indefinitely, with significant risk of leaching their contaminants into water and soil. To reduce the accumulation and ultimately clear out these stacks, research is underway to find more applications for such waste products. People can be exposed to gypsum in the workplace by breathing it in, skin contact, and eye contact. Calcium sulfate per se is nontoxic and
1984-494: A short period of use for glassmaking it was converted for the production of pottery, bricks and tiles, which continued until 1939. The majority of the brickwork cone was demolished in 1943. The bottom 2.4 metres (7 ft 10 in) has been preserved and scheduled as an ancient monument . Bridgwater became the first town in Britain to petition the government to ban slavery , in 1785. The population of Bridgwater in 1841
2108-478: A source of sulfur for plant growth, and in the early 19th century, it was regarded as an almost miraculous fertilizer. American farmers were so anxious to acquire it that a lively smuggling trade with Nova Scotia evolved, resulting in the so-called "Plaster War" of 1820. Gypsum is moderately water-soluble (~2.0–2.5 g/L at 25 °C) and, in contrast to most other salts, it exhibits retrograde solubility, becoming less soluble at higher temperatures. When gypsum
2232-403: A square keep (which may have been stone, or a wooden superstructure on stone foundations) and its defences and an outer and an inner bailey . The mount is 29 ft (9 m) above the 6 ft (2 m) wide ditch which itself is 7 ft (2 m) deep. The motte has a flat top with two large and two small mounds, which may be sites of towers, at the edge. The Blue Lias rubble walling
2356-543: A wide range of colors to local deposits. Because gypsum dissolves over time in water, gypsum is rarely found in the form of sand. However, the unique conditions of the White Sands National Park in the US state of New Mexico have created a 710 km (270 sq mi) expanse of white gypsum sand, enough to supply the US construction industry with drywall for 1,000 years. Commercial exploitation of
2480-507: Is a footpath that opened in 2001. The route of the path follows a figure of eight centred on Triscombe . The northern loop, taking in Crowcombe and Holford , is 19 miles (31 km) long, and the southern loop to Broomfield extends for 18 miles (29 km). The path travels through many types of landscape, including deciduous and coniferous woodland, private parkland, grazed pasture and cropped fields. The Macmillan Way West follows
2604-620: Is a layer of the Triscombe Beds which is around 500 metres (1,600 ft) thick and is made up of green sandstone and mudstones. The uppermost division is the Hodders Combe Beds of sandstone and conglomerate and is approximately 300 metres (980 ft) thick. Further south there are newer Middle and Late Devonian rocks, known as Ilfracombe beds and Morte Slates . These include sandstone and limestone, which have been quarried near Aisholt . At Great Holwell, south of Aisholt,
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#17327656502912728-541: Is approximately 10 °C (50.0 °F ). Seasonal temperature variation is less extreme than most of the United Kingdom because of the adjacent sea temperatures. The summer months of July and August are the warmest with mean daily maxima of approximately 21 °C (69.8 °F). In winter mean minimum temperatures of 1 or 2 °C (34 or 36 °F) are common. In the summer the Azores high pressure affects
2852-626: Is at the edge of the Somerset Levels , in level and well-wooded country. The town lies along both sides of the River Parrett ; it has been a major inland port and trading centre since the industrial revolution. Most of its industrial bases still stand today. Its larger neighbour, Taunton , is linked to Bridgwater via a canal, the M5 motorway and the GWR railway line. Historically, the town had
2976-431: Is common on well-drained deeper soils. The springs and streams provide a specialist environment that supports bog pimpernel ( Anagallis tenella ). The woodland is generally birch/sessile oak woodland, valley alder woodland and ash/wych elm woodland, which support a rich lichen flora. Alfoxton Wood is one of only three British locations where the lichen Tomasellia lectea is present. The various habitats, together with
3100-510: Is contaminated by impurities found in the rock, namely fluoride , silica , radioactive elements such as radium , and heavy metal elements such as cadmium . Similarly, production of titanium dioxide produces titanium gypsum (TG) due to neutralization of excess acid with lime . The product is contaminated with silica, fluorides, organic matters, and alkalis. Impurities in refinery gypsum waste have, in many cases, prevented them from being used as normal gypsum in fields such as construction. As
3224-588: Is derived from the Greek word γύψος ( gypsos ), "plaster". Because the quarries of the Montmartre district of Paris have long furnished burnt gypsum ( calcined gypsum) used for various purposes, this dehydrated gypsum became known as plaster of Paris . Upon adding water, after a few dozen minutes, plaster of Paris becomes regular gypsum (dihydrate) again, causing the material to harden or "set" in ways that are useful for casting and construction. Gypsum
3348-448: Is even approved as a food additive, but as powdered gypsum, it can irritate skin and mucous membranes. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set the legal limit ( permissible exposure limit ) for gypsum exposure in the workplace as TWA 15 mg/m for total exposure and TWA 5 mg/m for respiratory exposure over an eight-hour workday. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has set
3472-583: Is familiar on the Quantocks: a regulation 66-foot (20 m) wide track between avenues of trees growing from hedge laying embankments. The herepath ran from the ford on the River Parrett at Combwich, past Cannington hill fort to Over Stowey, where it climbed the Quantocks along the line of the current Stowey road, to Crowcombe Park Gate. Then it went south along the ridge, to Triscombe Stone . One branch may have led past Lydeard Hill and Buncombe Hill, back to Alfred's base at Athelney. The main branch descended
3596-593: Is heated in air it loses water and converts first to calcium sulfate hemihydrate ( bassanite , often simply called "plaster") and, if heated further, to anhydrous calcium sulfate ( anhydrite ). As with anhydrite , the solubility of gypsum in saline solutions and in brines is also strongly dependent on sodium chloride (common table salt) concentration. The structure of gypsum consists of layers of calcium (Ca ) and sulfate ( SO 2− 4 ) ions tightly bound together. These layers are bonded by sheets of anion water molecules via weaker hydrogen bonding , which gives
3720-457: Is home to the Somerset Brick and Tile Museum , built on part of the former Barham Brothers site (brick and tile manufacturers between 1857 and 1965). Castle House was built in 1851 and was one of the first to make extensive use of concrete demonstrating "an innovative interpretation of traditional masonry features in concrete". The Bridgwater Town Mill , originating in the Middle Ages
3844-610: Is located at the end of Blake Street, and there are plans to develop it as an extension to the Blake Museum Gypsum Gypsum is a soft sulfate mineral composed of calcium sulfate dihydrate , with the chemical formula CaSO 4 ·2H 2 O . It is widely mined and is used as a fertilizer and as the main constituent in many forms of plaster , drywall and blackboard or sidewalk chalk . Gypsum also crystallizes as translucent crystals of selenite . It forms as an evaporite mineral and as
Quantock Hills - Misplaced Pages Continue
3968-609: Is mentioned in the Domesday Book , was at one time used by Cardinal Beaufort as a hunting lodge and thereafter as a family home until the mid-1960s when it became the folk music centre. It has been designated by English Heritage as a grade II* listed building. Halswell House in Goathurst has Tudor origins but was purchased by the Tynte family and rebuilt in 1689. The surrounding park and 17 acres (6.9 ha) pleasure garden
4092-462: Is prized for ornamental work of various sorts. In arid areas, gypsum can occur in a flower-like form, typically opaque, with embedded sand grains called desert rose . It also forms some of the largest crystals found in nature, up to 12 m (39 ft) long, in the form of selenite. Gypsum is a common mineral, with thick and extensive evaporite beds in association with sedimentary rocks . Deposits are known to occur in strata from as far back as
4216-605: Is remembered during the carnival season, including a grand illuminated procession through Bridgwater town centre, which culminates in the Squibbing . Bridgwater, being staunchly Protestant at the time of the plot celebrated the thwarting of the conspiracy with particular enthusiasm. In the English Civil War the town and the castle were held by the Royalists under Colonel Edmund Wyndham , a personal acquaintance of
4340-673: Is situated in a level and well-wooded area, on the edge of the Somerset Levels . To the north are the Mendip range and on the west the Quantock hills . The town lies along both sides of the River Parrett , 10 miles (16 km) from its mouth, which then flows to discharge into the Bridgwater Bay National Nature Reserve . It consists of large areas of mud flats , saltmarsh, sandflats and shingle ridges, some of which are vegetated. It has been designated as
4464-587: Is that it derives from "Bridge of Walter" (i.e. Walter's Bridge). Bridgwater is mentioned both in the Domesday Book and in the earlier Anglo-Saxon Chronicle dating from around 800, owing its origin as a trade centre to its position at the mouth of the chief river in Somerset. It was formerly part of the Hundred of North Petherton . In a legend of Alfred the Great , he burnt some cakes while hiding in
4588-516: Is the only limestone cave in the Devonian limestone of North Devon and West Somerset. The lower fringes around the hills are composed of younger New Red Sandstone rocks of the Triassic period. These rocks were laid down in a shallow sea and often contain irregular masses or veins of gypsum , which was mined on the foreshore at Watchet . Several areas have outcrops of slates. Younger rocks of
4712-538: Is the only visible structural remains of the castle, which stand on a conical earthwork with a ditch approximately 820 ft (250 m) in circumference. The castle was destroyed in the 15th century, which may have been as a penalty for the local Lord Audley's involvement in the Second Cornish Uprising of 1497 led by Perkin Warbeck against the taxes of Henry VII . Some of the stone was used in
4836-658: Is thought that the town was originally called Brigg, meaning quay . It has been argued that the name may instead come from the Old English brycg (gang plank) or Old Norse bryggja (quay), though this idea has been opposed on etymological grounds. In the Domesday Book the town is listed as Brugie, while Brugia was also used. After the Norman invasion the land was given to Walter of Douai , hence becoming known variously as Burgh-Walter, Brugg-Walter and Brigg-Walter, eventually corrupted to Bridgwater. An alternative version
4960-418: Is triangular in shape, with a single rampart and ditch ( univallate ), enclosing 4 acres (1.6 ha). A linear outer work about 131 yards (120 m) away, parallel to the westerly rampart, encloses another 4 acres (16,000 m). The name Ruborough comes from Rugan beorh or Ruwan-beorge meaning Rough Hill . The Dowsborough fort has an oval shape, with a single rampart and ditch ( univallate ) following
5084-668: Is used for roosting by Lesser horseshoe bats , and has been designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). The house was used as the headquarters of the British 8th Corps during the Second World War , and has been owned by Somerset County Council since 1951. It is used as an administrative centre and a base for the Somerset Fire and Rescue Service . The Norman Church of St Giles in Thurloxton dates from
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5208-498: The Archaean eon . Gypsum is deposited from lake and sea water, as well as in hot springs , from volcanic vapors, and sulfate solutions in veins . Hydrothermal anhydrite in veins is commonly hydrated to gypsum by groundwater in near-surface exposures. It is often associated with the minerals halite and sulfur . Gypsum is the most common sulfate mineral. Pure gypsum is white, but other substances found as impurities may give
5332-516: The Coleridge Way . The name first appears in Saxon charters in around AD 880 as Cantuctun and two centuries later in the Domesday Book as Cantoctona and Cantetone . The name means settlement by a rim or circle of hills ; Cantuc is Celtic for a rim or circle, and -ton or -tun is Old English for a settlement. The highest point of the hills is called Will's Neck meaning ridge of
5456-629: The Exel centre for the NHS Logistics Authority. Bridgwater is now a major centre of industry in Somerset, with industries including the production of plastics, engine parts, industrial chemicals, and foods. Bowerings Animal Feed Mill is now the only industry still located at the docks. Being close to the M5 motorway and halfway between Bristol and Exeter , Bridgwater is also home to two major distribution centres, while retailer Argos has
5580-864: The Federation of Small Businesses , the National Trust , and the National Farmers Union . The JAC commissions the AONB service both to draw up management plans for the Quantocks and to carry them out. There is no single owner of the open land on the Quantocks or of the forestry plantations. Major landowners include the Forestry Commission , The National Trust , the Fairfield Estate, the Luttrell Estate ,
5704-631: The Jurassic period can be found between St Audries and Kilve . This area falls within the Blue Anchor to Lilstock Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is considered to be of international geological importance. Kilve has the remains of a red-brick retort built in 1924 after the shale in the cliffs was found to be rich in oil. Along this coast, the cliffs are layered with compressed strata of oil-bearing shale and blue , yellow and brown Lias embedded with fossils . The Shaline Company
5828-533: The King . British history might have been very different had his wife, Lady (Crystabella) Wyndham, been a little more accurate with a musket shot that missed Oliver Cromwell but killed his aide de camp. Eventually, with many buildings destroyed in the town, the castle and its valuable contents were surrendered to the Parliamentarians on 21 July 1645. The castle itself was deliberately destroyed ( slighted )
5952-790: The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) have indicated the existence of gypsum dunes in the northern polar region of Mars, which were later confirmed at ground level by the Mars Exploration Rover (MER) Opportunity . Commercial quantities of gypsum are found in the cities of Araripina and Grajaú in Brazil; in Pakistan, Jamaica, Iran (world's second largest producer), Thailand, Spain (the main producer in Europe), Germany, Italy, England, Ireland, Canada and
6076-548: The River Parrett and 19 adjoining properties were evacuated after a 40 metres (130 ft) stretch of the retaining wall partially collapsed after heavy rain and flooding. The old hospital in Salmon Parade, which was built in 1813, closed in 2014 and has been replaced with a community hospital in Bower Lane. This provides a maternity unit and 30 inpatient beds. The old hospital site has been sold for development at
6200-559: The River Parrett , conquered the Welsh King Cadwaladr , and occupied the rest of Somerset north to the Bristol Channel. Saxon rule was later consolidated under King Ine , who established a fort at Taunton in about 700 AD. The first documentary evidence of the village of Crowcombe is by Æthelwulf of Wessex in 854, where it was spelt 'Cerawicombe'. At that time the manor belonged to Glastonbury Abbey . In
6324-633: The Tetton Estate , Somerset County Council and Friends of Quantock . Happy art thou to lie in that still room Under the thick-thatched eaves in Aisholt Combe, Where sings the nightingale, where blooms the broom A series of concerts called Music on the Quantocks takes place each year in Quantock villages. Headlining acts have included Sir James Galway, guitarist John Williams and choral groups The Sixteen, The Tallis Scholars and
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#17327656502916448-581: The Vale of Taunton Deane in the south, for about 15 miles (24 km) to the north-west, ending at Kilve and West Quantoxhead on the coast of the Bristol Channel . They form the western border of Sedgemoor and the Somerset Levels . From the top of the hills on a clear day, it is possible to see Glastonbury Tor and the Mendips to the east, Wales as far as the Gower Peninsula to
6572-803: The Western Desert Campaign and German prisoners from the Battle of Normandy . Poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge lived in Nether Stowey in the Quantocks from 1797 to 1799. In his memory a footpath, The Coleridge Way , was set up by the Exmoor park authorities. The 36-mile (58 km) route begins in Nether Stowey and crosses the Quantocks, the Brendon Hills and Exmoor before finishing in Porlock . The Quantock Greenway
6696-788: The manor of Sydenham . The Local Government Act 1972 removed the historic status of Bridgwater as a Borough , as it became part of the district of Sedgemoor , which had its headquarters in King Square . Bridgwater Town Council , which is based at Bridgwater Town Hall , was created in 2003, with sixteen elected members representing six wards of the town; Bower (three), Eastover (two), Hamp (three), Quantock (three), Sydenham (three) and Victoria (two). With powers or functions over allotments, bus shelters, making of byelaws, cemeteries, clocks, crime prevention, entertainment and arts, highways, litter, public buildings, public conveniences, recreation, street lighting, tourism, traffic calming, community transport and war memorials. All other local services for
6820-407: The 13th century, but the tower is from the early 16th century and was re-roofed in 1952, with further restoration from 1976 to 1978. It is a three-stage crenellated tower, with crocketed pinnacles, bracketed pinnacles set at angles, decorative pierced merlons , and set-back buttresses crowned with pinnacles. The decorative "hunky-punks" are perched high on the corners. These may be so named because
6944-504: The 14th century but is predominantly from the 15th century with 19th century restoration , including the addition of the north aisle in 1868. It has been designated by English Heritage as a grade II* listed building . From October 1763 to January 1764 the vicar was the diarist James Woodforde . The West Somerset Railway (WSR) is a heritage railway that runs along the edge of the Quantock Hills between Bishops Lydeard and Watchet . The line then turns inland to Washford, and returns to
7068-437: The 1960s when it was converted into a school. In 2000, it became a centre for recreation and banqueting and summer camps for youths. Broomfield is home to Fyne Court . Once the home of pioneer 19th century electrician, Andrew Crosse . Since 1972 it has been owned by the National Trust . The Quantock Hills National Landscape Service have their headquarters at Fyne Court. The Church of St Mary in Kingston St Mary dates from
7192-553: The 2001 census (up from 22,718 in 1951, 3,634 in 1801, and 7,807 in 1831). As early as 1300, the port exported wheat, peas and beans to Ireland, France and Spain, and by 1400 was also exporting cloth from Somerset and the adjoining counties. By 1500 it was the largest port in Somerset, later becoming the fifth largest in England, until eclipsed by Bristol in the 18th century. In its heyday, imports included wine, grain, fish, hemp, coal and timber. Exports included wheat, wool, cloth, cement, bricks and tiles. Unlike Bristol, Bridgwater
7316-452: The Cornhill was built with a pair of adjacent gates and drawbridges . In addition to a keep , located at the south-east corner of what is now King Square, documents show that the complex included a dungeon , chapel, stables and a bell tower . Built on the only raised ground in the town, the castle controlled the crossing of the town bridge. A 12 feet (4 m) thick portion of the castle wall and water gate can still be seen on West Quay, and
7440-453: The Gabrieli Consort. The concerts are run by volunteers. One of the most popular Coleridge Cottage is a cottage situated in Nether Stowey . It was constructed in the 17th century as a building containing a parlour, kitchen and service room on the ground floor and three corresponding bed chambers above. It has been designated by English Heritage as a grade II* listed building . Having served for many years as Moore's Coleridge Cottage Inn,
7564-409: The Port of Bridgwater extends from Brean Down to Hinkley Point in Bridgwater Bay , and includes parts of the River Parrett (to Bridgwater), River Brue and the River Axe . Historically, the main port on the river was at Bridgwater; the river was bridged at this point: the first bridge was built in 1200. Quays were built in 1424; another quay, the Langport slip , was built in 1488 upstream of
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#17327656502917688-419: The Quantock AONB is shared between the County Council and three District Councils The Quantock Hills Joint Advisory Committee was set up in 1973. The JAC represents County, District and Parish councils along with representatives from Natural England , Friends of Quantock , the Forestry Commission , The Country Land and Business Association (CLA), Somerset Local Access Forum, the Quantock Commoners Association,
7812-444: The Quantock region beyond isolated finds and hints of transient forts. A Roman port was at Combwich , and it is possible that a Roman road ran from there to the Quantocks, because the names Nether Stowey and Over Stowey come from the Old English stan wey , meaning stone way . In October 2001 the West Bagborough Hoard of 4th-century Roman silver was discovered in West Bagborough . The 681 coins included two denarii from
7936-482: The Quantocks from prehistoric times includes finds of Mesolithic flints at North Petherton and Broomfield and many Bronze Age round barrows (marked on maps as tumulus , plural tumuli ), such as Thorncombe Barrow above Bicknoller . Several ancient stones can be seen, such as the Triscombe Stone and the Long Stone above Holford . Many of the tracks along ridges of the Quantocks probably originated as ancient ridgeways . A Bronze Age hill fort , Norton Camp ,
8060-455: The Quantocks ridge for several miles. The Quantock Hills were designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in 1956, the first such designation in England under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 . Notice of the intention to create the AONB under The Quantock Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (Designation) Order, 1956 was published in the London Gazette on 7 February 1956. Since responsibility for
8184-558: The Quantocks was designated as a Biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom, selected by Natural England , for areas with particular landscape and ecological characteristics. It provides some protection from development, from other damage, and (since 2000) also from neglect, under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 . The streams and open water such as Hawkridge Reservoir and Ashford Reservoir on Cannington Brook also provide habitats for
8308-504: The Quantocks, including the grasshopper warbler ( Locustella naevia ), nightjar ( Caprimulgus europaeus ), raven ( Corvus corax ) and the European pied flycatcher ( Ficedula hypoleuca ). The Quantocks are also an important site for red deer ( Cervus elaphus ). Invertebrates of note include the silver-washed fritillary butterfly ( Argynnis paphia ), and three nationally rare dead-wood beetles: Thymalus limbatus , Orchesia undulata and Rhinosimus ruficollis . Evidence of activity in
8432-403: The Town Bridge. A Customs House was sited at Bridgwater, on West Quay; and a dry dock , launching slips and a boat yard on East Quay. The river was navigable, with care, to Bridgwater Town Bridge by 400 to 500 tonnes (440 to 550 tons) vessels. By trans-shipping into barges at the Town Bridge the Parrett was navigable as far as Langport and (via the River Yeo ) to Ilchester . After 1827, it
8556-713: The United Kingdom. January is the coldest month with mean minimum temperatures between 1 °C (34 °F) and 2 °C (36 °F). July and August are the warmest months, with mean daily maxima around 21 °C (70 °F). December is normally the most cloudy month and June the sunniest. High pressure over the Azores often brings clear skies to south-west England, particularly in summer. Cloud often forms inland especially near hills, and acts to reduce sunshine. The average annual sunshine totals around 1,600 hours. Rainfall tends to be associated with Atlantic depressions or with convection. In summer, convection caused by solar surface heating sometimes forms shower clouds, and
8680-570: The United States. Large open pit quarries are located in many places including Fort Dodge, Iowa , which sits on one of the largest deposits of gypsum in the world, and Plaster City, California , United States, and East Kutai , Kalimantan , Indonesia. Several small mines also exist in places such as Kalannie in Western Australia , where gypsum is sold to private buyers for additions of calcium and sulfur as well as reduction of aluminum toxicities on soil for agricultural purposes. Crystals of gypsum up to 11 m (36 ft) long have been found in
8804-408: The Welshman , probably referring to a time when the hills marked the boundary between the expanding Saxon kingdom of Wessex and the lands of the Britons or 'Welsh' to the West. A battle was fought locally at that time. The Quantock Hills are largely formed by rocks of the Devonian period, which consist of sediments originally laid down under a shallow sea and slowly compressed into solid rock. In
8928-541: The aftermath of World War II due to the failure to introduce mechanisation , although the automated Chilton Tile Factory, which produced up to 5 million tiles each year, lasted until 1968. The importance of the Bath Brick declined with the advent of detergents and other cleaning products. Dunware ponds used to make bricks and can still be found along the paths. During the 19th century, Castle House (originally named Portland Castle after Portland cement ), reputedly
9052-495: The amount of toxic elements present. Gypsum precipitates onto brackish water membranes , a phenomenon known as mineral salt scaling , such as during brackish water desalination of water with high concentrations of calcium and sulfate . Scaling decreases membrane life and productivity. This is one of the main obstacles in brackish water membrane desalination processes, such as reverse osmosis or nanofiltration . Other forms of scaling, such as calcite scaling, depending on
9176-418: The area, strongly opposed by area residents, was permanently prevented in 1933 when President Herbert Hoover declared the gypsum dunes a protected national monument . Gypsum is also formed as a by-product of sulfide oxidation , amongst others by pyrite oxidation , when the sulfuric acid generated reacts with calcium carbonate . Its presence indicates oxidizing conditions. Under reducing conditions,
9300-538: The building of Stowey Court in the village. There was very little action on the Quantocks during the English Civil War . Sir John Stawell of Cothelstone was a leading Royalist. When Taunton fell to parliamentary troops and was held by Robert Blake , he attacked Stawell at Bishops Lydeard and imprisoned him. After the restoration Charles II conferred the title of Baron Stawell on Stawell's son Ralph. A group of Clubmen met at Triscombe in 1645 and petitioned parliament calling for peace through negotiation. At
9424-549: The building was acquired for the nation in 1908, and the following year it was handed over to the National Trust . On 23 May 1998, following a £25,000 appeal by the Friends of Coleridge and the National Trust, two further rooms on the first floor were opened. At Aley is Quantock Lodge , a green-grey 19th-century mansion built from cockercombe tuff . It was the family home of Henry Labouchere, 1st Baron Taunton , until
9548-561: The carvings are hunkering ( squatting ) and are "punch" (short and thick). They serve no function, unlike gargoyles that carry off water. The churchyard includes tombs of the Warre family who owned nearby Hestercombe House , a historic country house in Cheddon Fitzpaine visited by about 70,000 people per year. The site includes a 0.2-acre (810 m) biological Site of Special Scientific Interest notified in 2000. The site
9672-489: The caves of the Naica Mine of Chihuahua , Mexico. The crystals thrived in the cave's extremely rare and stable natural environment. Temperatures stayed at 58 °C (136 °F), and the cave was filled with mineral-rich water that drove the crystals' growth. The largest of those crystals weighs 55 tonnes (61 short tons) and is around 500,000 years old. Synthetic gypsum is produced as a waste product or by-product in
9796-471: The coast for the run to Minehead . At 23 miles (37 km), it is the longest privately owned passenger rail line in the UK. Halsway Manor in Halsway , is now used as England's National Centre for Traditional Music, Dance and Song. It is the only residential folk centre in the UK. The eastern end of the building dates from the 15th century and the western end was a 19th-century addition. The manor, which
9920-488: The construction of the town's first stone bridge. William Briwere also went on to found the Franciscan Bridgwater Friary in the town. During the 13th century Second Barons' War against Henry III , Bridgwater was held by the barons against the King. Other charters were granted by Henry III in 1227 (confirmed in 1318, 1370, 1380), which gave Bridgwater a guild merchant which was important for
10044-465: The contours of the hill top, enclosing an area of 7 acres (2.8 ha). The main entrance is to the east, towards Nether Stowey , with a simpler opening to the north west, aligned with a ridgeway leading down to Holford. A col to the south connects the hill to the main Stowey ridge, where a linear earthwork known as Dead Woman's Ditch cuts across the spur. Little evidence exists of Roman influence on
10168-473: The creation of a borough , and for a market. Bridgwater Castle was a substantial structure built in Old Red Sandstone , covering a site of 8 or 9 acres (32,000 to 36,000 m ). A tidal moat , up to 65 feet (20 m) wide in places, flowed about along the line of the modern thoroughfares of Fore Street and Castle Moat, and between Northgate and Chandos Street. The main entrance opposite
10292-672: The crystal perfect cleavage along the sheets (in the {010} plane). Gypsum occurs in nature as flattened and often twinned crystals , and transparent, cleavable masses called selenite . Selenite contains no significant selenium ; rather, both substances were named for the ancient Greek word for the Moon . Selenite may also occur in a silky, fibrous form, in which case it is commonly called "satin spar". Finally, it may also be granular or quite compact. In hand-sized samples, it can be anywhere from transparent to opaque. A very fine-grained white or lightly tinted variety of gypsum, called alabaster ,
10416-511: The early 2nd century, and eight miliarense and 671 siliqua dating to 337–367 AD. The majority were struck in the reigns of emperors Constantius II and Julian and derive from a range of mints including Arles and Lyons in France, Trier in Germany and Rome. The area remained under Romano-British Celtic control until 681–685 AD, when Centwine of Wessex pushed west from
10540-537: The end of the Monmouth Rebellion of 1685, (also known as the Pitchfork Rebellion), many participants were executed in the Quantocks. The rebellion was an attempt to overthrow the King of England , James II , who became king when his elder brother, Charles II , died on 6 February 1685. James II was unpopular because he was Roman Catholic , and many people were opposed to a " papist " king. James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth , claimed to be rightful heir to
10664-531: The first domestic house in the UK to be built from concrete , was constructed in 1851 by John Board, a local brick and tile manufacturer. The building is now Grade II* listed , and in 2004 was featured in the BBC television programme Restoration . In the 19th century, Bridgwater was also home to a number of iron foundries . George Hennet 's Bridgwater Iron Works worked on bridges, railways and machinery for Brunel and Robert Stephenson . This location allowed
10788-434: The following year, while in 1651 Colonel Wyndham made arrangements for Charles II to flee to France following the Battle of Worcester . Following the restoration of the monarchy , in 1663 the non-conformist Reverend John Norman, vicar from 1647 to 1660, was one of several 'religious fanatics' confined to their homes by Lord Stawell 's militia . A large religious meeting house, thought to have been Presbyterian ,
10912-610: The higher north-western areas older Early Devonian rocks known as Hangman Grits (or, more formally, the Hangman Sandstone Formation) predominate and can be seen in the exposed rock at West Quantoxhead quarry, which was worked for road building. The Hangman Grits are described in three divisions: the lowest are the Little Quantock Beds, which are located near Crowcombe , and made up of siltstones and slates. Between Triscombe and West Quantoxhead
11036-543: The hills at Triscombe, then along the avenue to Red Post Cross, and west to the Brendon Hills and Exmoor . There is some evidence that an area of the hills known as Quantock Common may have been a Saxon Royal Forest. After the Norman conquest of England in 1066 William de Moyon was given land at Dunster , Broomfield and West Quantoxhead , his son becoming William de Mohun of Dunster, 1st Earl of Somerset , while William Malet received Enmore . East Quantoxhead
11160-745: The import by boat of raw materials from Wales and the dispatch of finished work to south Devon using the Bristol & Exeter Railway . The carriage workshops for the latter were on an adjacent site. The works passed to his son and then traded as Hennet, Spink & Else. Some of the ironwork was produced for the Royal Albert Bridge at Saltash , Cornwall . In 1873 it became the Bridgwater Engineering Company Limited but this failed in 1878. W&F Wills Ltd produced steam locomotives and fingerposts . At
11284-530: The invasion of Europe. Bought by UCB Films in 1996, the town suffered a blow in 2005 when Innovia Films closed the cellophane factory. At one time the factory employed around 3,000 people, although at the time of closure this had been reduced to just 250. However recovery has begun with the establishment of new businesses on the Express Park business park including the relocation of Gerber Juice and new enterprises Toolstation and Interpet as well as
11408-495: The later Saxon period, King Alfred led the resistance to Viking invasion from Athelney , south-east of the Quantocks. According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle , the early port at Watchet was plundered by Danes in 987 and 997. Alfred established a series of forts and lookout posts linked by a military road, or herepath , so his army could cover Viking movements at sea. The herepath has a characteristic form that
11532-533: The marshes of Athelney near Bridgwater, after the Danish invasion in 875, while in 878 the major engagement of the Battle of Cynwit may have been at nearby Cannington . William Briwere was granted the lordship of the Manor of Bridgwater by King John in 1201, and founded Bridgwater Friary . Through Briwere's influence, King John granted three charters in 1200; for the construction of Bridgwater Castle, for
11656-803: The north, the Brendon Hills and Exmoor to the west, and the Blackdown Hills to the south. The highest point on the Quantocks is Wills Neck , at 1,261 feet (384 m). Soil types and weather combine to support the hills' plants and animals. In 1970, an area of 6,194.5 acres (2,506.8 ha) was designated as a Biological Site of Special Scientific Interest . Archaeological landscape features include Bronze Age round barrows , extensive ancient field systems and Iron Age hill forts. Roman silver coins have been discovered in West Bagborough . The hills are popular with walkers, mountain bikers, horse riders and tourists who explore paths such as
11780-558: The port. Bridgwater also built some 167 ships; the last one was the Irene , launched in 1907. Peak tonnage occurred in 1857, with 142 vessels totalling 17,800 tonnes (19,600 tons). Dunball wharf was built in 1844 by Bridgwater coal merchants, and was formerly linked to the Bristol & Exeter Railway by a rail track which crossed the A38 . In 1875, the local landowner built The Dunball Steam Pottery & Brick & Tile Works adjacent to
11904-435: The preparations for the invasion of Europe , American troops were based in the town. The first council estate to be built was in the 1930s at Kendale Road, followed by those at Bristol Road. The 1950s saw the start of a significant increase in post-war housebuilding, with council house estates being started at Sydenham and Rhode Lane and the former cooperative estate near Durleigh . On 4 November 2011 West Quay alongside
12028-504: The regulation of trade, allowing guild members to trade freely in the town, and to impose payments and restrictions upon others. Bridgwater's peasants under Nicholas Frampton took part in the Peasants' Revolt of 1381, sacking Sydenham House , murdering the local tax collectors and destroying the records. Bridgwater was incorporated by charter of Edward IV (1468), confirmed in 1554, 1586, 1629 and 1684. Parliamentary representation as
12152-604: The remains of a wall of a building that was probably built within the castle can be viewed in Queen Street. The foundations of the tower forming the north-east corner of the castle are buried beneath Homecastle House. William Briwere also founded St John's hospital which, by the time of the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII , was worth the substantial sum of almost 121 pounds , as well as starting
12276-542: The same year. Sedgemoor District Council acts as the Competent Harbour Authority for the port, and has provided pilotage services for all boats over 98 feet (30 m) using the river since 1998, when it took over the service from Trinity House . Pilotage is important because of the constant changes in the navigable channel resulting from the large tidal range, which can exceed 39 feet (11.9 m) on spring tides. Its historic estates include
12400-403: The south-eastern end of the Quantock Hills. Along with the rest of South West England , the Quantock Hills has a temperate climate that is generally wetter and milder than the rest of England. The mean temperature is approximately 10 °C (50 °F) and shows a seasonal and a diurnal variation, but because of the modifying effect of the sea the range is less than in most other parts of
12524-486: The south-west of England, however convective cloud sometimes forms inland, reducing the number of hours of sunshine. Annual sunshine rates are slightly less than the regional average of 1,600 hours. Most of the rainfall in the south-west is caused by Atlantic depressions or by convection . Most of the rainfall in autumn and winter is caused by the Atlantic depressions, which is when they are most active. In summer,
12648-638: The spire was removed and is now planted in the churchyard, and stone from the spire was used in the flooring of the church. Inside the church, carved bench-ends dating from 1534 depict such pagan subjects as the Green Man and the legend of the men of Crowcombe fighting a two-headed dragon . Norton Fitzwarren was the site of a boat lift on the now unused section of the Grand Western Canal from 1839 to 1867. A 300-person prisoner of war camp built here during World War II housed Italian prisoners from
12772-576: The start of World War II , the government built a factory to manufacture high explosives at Puriton near Bridgwater. Called ROF Bridgwater , the plant is today owned by BAE Systems and closed after decommissioning was completed in July 2008. British Cellophane Ltd , a joint venture between La Cellophane SA and Courtaulds opened a major factory producing cellophane in Bridgwater 1937. The factory produced Bailey bridges during World War II for
12896-451: The sulfates it contains can be reduced back to sulfide by sulfate-reducing bacteria . This can lead to accumulation of elemental sulfur in oil-bearing formations, such as salt domes, where it can be mined using the Frasch process Electric power stations burning coal with flue gas desulfurization produce large quantities of gypsum as a byproduct from the scrubbers. Orbital pictures from
13020-554: The throne and attempted to displace James II. The rebellion ended with the defeat of Monmouth's forces at the Battle of Sedgemoor on 6 July 1685. Monmouth was executed for treason on 15 July, and many of his supporters were executed, including some by hanging at Nether Stowey and Cothelstone, or transported in the Bloody Assizes of Judge Jeffreys . Dodington was the site of the Buckingham Mine where copper
13144-635: The title Baron King of Bridgwater in 2001. At the 2010 General Election, Bridgwater became part of the new Bridgwater and West Somerset constituency . Bridgwater was in the South West England constituency for elections to the European Parliament , prior to Brexit in 2020. Bridgwater is twinned with the following towns and cities: Bridgwater is centred on an outcrop of marl in an area dominated by low-lying alluvial deposits. There are local deposits of gravels and sand. It
13268-533: The town are delivered by the unitary authority of Somerset Council , which took over from Sedgemoor and Somerset County Council on 1 April 2023. Bridgwater and West Somerset is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom . It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election. The current MP is Ian Liddell-Grainger ,
13392-510: The town during the Middle Ages including a Midsummer fair (on 24 June), one at the beginning of Lent was added in 1468, and one at Michaelmas . The importance of these markets and fairs for the sale of wool and wine, and later of cloth, declined after medieval times. The shipping trade of the port revived after the construction of the new dock in 1841, and corn and timber have been imported for centuries. Gunpowder Plotter Guy Fawkes
13516-561: The water source, can also be important considerations in distillation , as well as in heat exchangers , where either the salt solubility or concentration can change rapidly. A new study has suggested that the formation of gypsum starts as tiny crystals of a mineral called bassanite (2CaSO 4 ·H 2 O). This process occurs via a three-stage pathway: The production of phosphate fertilizers requires breaking down calcium-containing phosphate rock with acid, producing calcium sulfate waste known as phosphogypsum (PG). This form of gypsum
13640-494: The wharf. Although ships no longer dock in the town of Bridgwater, 90,213 tonnes (99,443 tons) of cargo were handled within the port authority's area in 2006, most of which was stone products via the wharf at Dunball. It is no longer linked to the railway system. The link was removed as part of the railway closures made as a result of the Beeching Report in the 1960s. Dunball railway station , which had opened in 1873,
13764-442: The wide range of slopes and aspects, provide ideal conditions for a rich fauna. Amphibians including the palmate newt ( Triturus helveticus ), common frog ( Rana temporaris ), and common toad ( Bufo bufo ) are represented in the damper environments. Reptiles present include adder ( Vipera berus ), grass snake ( Natrix natrix ), slowworm ( Anguis fragilis ) and common lizard ( Lacerta vivipara ). Many bird species breed on
13888-467: Was 9,899. In 1896, the trade unionists of Bridgwater's brick and tile industry were involved a number of strikes. The Salisbury government sent troops to the town to clear the barricades by force after the reading of the Riot Act . A by-election in 1938 enabled the town to send a message to the government and Hitler , when an Independent anti- appeasement candidate, journalist Vernon Bartlett
14012-500: Was also possible to transfer goods to Taunton via the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal at Huntworth. A floating harbour was constructed between 1837–1841 and the canal was extended to the harbour. The harbour area contained flour mills , timber yards and chandlers . Shipping to Bridgwater expanded with the construction of Bridgwater Docks , and reached a peak between 1880 and 1885; with an average of 3,600 ships per year entering
14136-420: Was built around 1830 and was supplied by small vessels carrying limestone to the small landing jetty . Now used as a garage, the kiln is thought to have operated until the 1870s, when the large-scale production of bricks in Bridgwater rendered small brickyards uneconomic. Cockercombe tuff is a greenish-grey, hard pyroclastic rock formed by the compression of volcanic ash and is found almost exclusively in
14260-487: Was built to the south at Norton Fitzwarren , close to the centre of bronze making in Taunton . Iron Age sites in the Quantocks include major hill forts at Dowsborough and Ruborough , as well as several smaller earthwork enclosures, such as Trendle Ring and Plainsfield Camp . Ruborough near Broomfield is on an easterly spur from the main Quantock ridge, with steep natural slopes to the north and south east. The fort
14384-454: Was closed to both passengers and goods in 1964. All traces of the station, other than "Station Road" have been removed. The wharf is now used for landing stone products, mainly marine sand and gravels dredged in the Bristol Channel . Marine sand and gravel accounted for 55,754 tonnes (61,458 tons) of the total tonnage of 90,213 tonnes (99,443 tons) using the Port facilities in 2006, with salt products accounting for 21,170 tonnes (23,340 tons) in
14508-520: Was demolished and its furniture burned on the Cornhill in 1683. By 1688, matters had calmed down enough for a new chapel, Christ Church, to be founded in Dampiet Street, the congregation of which became Unitarian in 1815. In the 1685 Monmouth Rebellion , the rebel Duke of Monmouth was proclaimed King on the Cornhill in Bridgwater and in other local towns. He eventually led his troops on
14632-522: Was developed between 1745 and 1785. The grounds contain many fish ponds, cascades, bridges and fanciful buildings, including the Temple of Harmony , which stands in Mill Wood and has now been fully restored. Download coordinates as: Bridgwater Bridgwater is a historic market town and civil parish in Somerset , England. The town had a population of 41,276 at the 2021 census. Bridgwater
14756-527: Was elected MP. In World War II the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal formed part of the Taunton Stop Line , designed to prevent the advance of a German invasion. Pillboxes can still be seen along its length. The first bombs fell on Bridgwater on 24 August 1940, destroying houses on Old Taunton Road, and three men, three women and one child were killed. Later a prisoner of war camp was established at Colley Lane, holding Italian prisoners. During
14880-623: Was extracted. The mine was established before 1725 and followed earlier exploration at Perry Hill, East Quantoxhead . It was financed by the Marquis of Buckingham until 1801 when it was closed, until various attempts were made to reopen it during the 19th century. In 1724 the 14th century spire of the Church of the Holy Ghost in Crowcombe was damaged by a lightning strike. The top section of
15004-464: Was founded in 1924 to exploit these strata but was unable to raise sufficient capital. The company's retort house is thought to be the first structure erected here for the conversion of shale to oil and is all that remains of the anticipated Somerset oil boom. At Blue Anchor the coloured alabaster found in the cliffs gave rise to the name of the colour "Watchet Blue". The village has the only updraught brick kiln known to have survived in Somerset. It
15128-552: Was given to the Luttrells (previously spelled de Luterel), who passed the manor down through descendants into the 20th century. A Luttrell also became the Earl of Carhampton and acquired Dunster Castle in 1376, holding it until it became a National Trust property in 1976. Stowey Castle at Nether Stowey was built in the 11th century. The castle is sited on a small isolated knoll, about 390 ft (119 m) high. It consisted of
15252-524: Was known in Old English as spærstān , "spear stone", referring to its crystalline projections. Thus, the word spar in mineralogy, by comparison to gypsum, refers to any non- ore mineral or crystal that forms in spearlike projections. In the mid-18th century, the German clergyman and agriculturalist Johann Friderich Mayer investigated and publicized gypsum's use as a fertilizer. Gypsum may act as
15376-588: Was never involved in the slave trade and, in 1785, was the first town in Britain to petition the government to ban it. The Bridgwater ship the Emanuel was one of three that took part in Martin Frobisher 's 1577 search for the Northwest Passage . In 1828, 40 ships were registered in the port, averaging 60 tons each. Bridgwater was the leading industrial town in Somerset and remains
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