Page 122 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - England's South Coast

120  ENGLAND ’ S SOUTH C O AST REGION B Y REGION

the Roman mosaic from a
villa at Low Ham, depicting
the story of Dido and Aeneas.
R St Mary Magdalene
Church Sq. Tel 01823 272441.
Open 9:30am–3pm Mon–Fri,
9:30am–2pm Sat. 5 ∑ stmary
magdalenetaunton.org.uk
E Museum of Somerset
Taunton Castle. Tel 01823 255088.
Open 10am–5pm Tue–Sat.
Sherborne Abbey Church features examples of various architectural styles ∑ museumofsomerset.org.uk
i Sherborne picturesque village of the same
name. The house was built in the a Bridgwater and
Dorset. Map F4. * 10,000 3 @ late 16th century for the wealthy the Quantocks
n 3 Tilton Court, Digby Rd; 01935
815341. ( Thu. ∑ visit-dorset.com politician Sir Edward Phelips, and Somerset. Map E4. * 40,000. 3 @
stayed in the same family until ( Fri. _ St Matthew’s Fair: end of
Few towns in England can rival the early 20th century. It is noted Sep; Guy Fawkes Carnival: 1st Sun in
Sherborne for its wealth of for its Long Gallery, tapestries, Nov. ∑ bridgwatertown.com
unspoiled medieval buildings. and Tudor and Elizabethan
In 1550, Edward VI founded the portraits, which are loaned from Sedate Bridgwater grew as a
Sherborne School, thereby saving the National Portrait Gallery. The bustling port and market town
the Abbey Church that might house is set in 120 ha (300 acres) on the River Parrett. Its 16th-
otherwise have been demolished of grounds with formal gardens. century Blake Museum details
in the Dissolution (see p36). Its the town’s history and its role
most striking feature is the 15th- in the Monmouth Rebellion.
century fan-vaulted ceiling. p Taunton Bridgwater is also a useful base
Sherborne Castle, built by Somerset. Map E4. * 66,000. 3 @ from which to explore the nearby
Sir Walter Raleigh (1552–1618) n Fore St; 01823 340470. ( Thu, Fri Quantock hills. An Area of
in 1594, anticipates Jacobean & Sat. ∑ visitsomerset.co.uk Outstanding Natural Beauty, the
architecture with its flamboyant hills and surrounding countryside
style. Raleigh also lived in the Pretty Taunton lies at the heart inspired the poet Samuel Taylor
12th-century Old Castle, which of a fertile region famous for its Coleridge (1772–1834). The pretty
now stands in ruins, demolished apples and cider, but it was the cottage where he wrote some of
during the Civil War (see p36). prosperous wool industry that his best-known works lies in the
financed the massive church of village of Nether Stowey, 13 km
P Abbey Church St Mary Magdalene (1488–1514), (8 miles) west of Bridgwater.
Abbey Close. Tel 01935 812452. with its glorious tower. From here, a footpath known
Open Apr–Oct: 8am–6pm daily; Taunton’s castle was the as the Coleridge Way runs west
Nov–Mar: 8am–4pm daily. & 8 7 setting for the notorious Bloody for 82 km (51 miles) through
5 = ∑ sherborneabbey.com Assizes of 1685, when “Hanging” stunning Exmoor (see pp122–3)
+ Sherborne Castle Judge Jeffreys dispensed harsh to the coastal town of Lynmouth.
New Rd. Open Easter–Oct: 11am–5pm retribution on the Duke of
Tue, Thu, Sat & Sun. & 7 limited. - Monmouth and his followers for E Blake Museum
= ∑ sherbornecastle.com an uprising against King James II. 5 Blake St. Tel 01278 456127.
The charming 12th-century Open Easter–Oct: 10am–4pm
+ Old Castle building houses the Museum Tue–Sat. & donation.
Off A30. Tel 01935 812730. Open of Somerset. A star exhibit is ∑ bridgwatermuseum.org.uk
Easter–Oct: daily. & 7 = œ
Somerset Cider
o Montacute House
Somerset is one of the few English counties where
Montacute. Map E4. Tel 01935 farmhouse cider, or “scrumpy” (see p183), is still made
823289. Open House: mid-Mar–Oct: using the traditional methods. Cider once formed part
11am–4:30pm daily. Gardens: Apr– of the farm labourer’s wages, and local folklore has it
Oct: 11am–4:30pm daily; Nov–Feb: that unsavoury additives, such as iron nails, were added
11am–4pm Wed–Sun. & 7 - ø to give strength. Today, cider apple orchards flourish in
∑ nationaltrust.org.uk the mild climate of the West Country. Scrumpy, made
from fermented apples, can be extremely potent. Distilled
West of Sherborne stands cider brandy, matured for 20 years, is even stronger. Sheppy’s
the magnificent Elizabethan Cider-making can be seen at Sheppy’s farm, near Taunton. Cider
Montacute House, set in the
For hotels and restaurants in this region see p177 and pp188–9

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