VCH Explore

Explore England's Past

Somerset

The town of Watchet did not have its own war memorial recording the names of those killed in the First World War until 2014.

Like any community Minehead needed water and this was traditionally supplied by springs and streams and later also from wells but the growth in tou

Water is not only vital for life and domestic comfort but for centuries was the main source of power for much of England's industry.

During Minehead’s days as an important trading port mercantile families provided each other and other people with credit.

We take street lighting for granted but it was slow to reach many parts of Britain and some communities have never had street lighting and do not d

Minehead market was always overshadowed by that at Dunster but has its own interesting history and a fine Edwardian market house.

Before 1800 Dunster had the most important market in West Somerset serving a wide area of the Brendons and Exmoor as well as the coastal communitie

 Dunster Beach Holiday Camp was created in the 1920s and 1930s the ridge between the Hawn and the sea.

The people of medieval Dunster came from many places, which has left traces in their surnames.

 In 1765 a route from Minehead harbour to Bampton via Friday Street and Dunster was turnpiked, with the road to Carhampton, by the Minehead Trust,

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