| Midsomer Norton | |
|---|---|
 The War memorial with theRiver Somer running underneath as at 2022. | |
  Midsomer Norton Location withinSomerset | |
| Population | 13,000 (2019)[1] |
| OS grid reference | ST664540 |
| Civil parish |
|
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | RADSTOCK |
| Postcode district | BA3 |
| Dialling code | 01761 |
| Police | Avon and Somerset |
| Fire | Avon |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| UK Parliament | |
| Website | Midsomer Norton Town Council |
| 51°17′03″N2°28′54″W / 51.2842°N 2.4817°W /51.2842; -2.4817 | |
Midsomer Norton/ˈmɪdsʌmərˈnɔːrtən/ is a town near theMendip Hills inBath and North East Somerset, England, 10miles (16 km) south-west ofBath, 10 miles (16 km) north-east ofWells, 10 miles (16 km) north-west ofFrome, 12 miles (19 km) west ofTrowbridge and 16 miles (26 km) south-east ofBristol. It has a population of around 13,000.[1] Along withRadstock andWestfield it used to be part of the conurbation and largecivil parish ofNorton Radstock, but is now a town council in its own right.[2] It is also part of theunitary authority ofBath and North East Somerset.
Midsomer Norton is characterised by theRiver Somer which runs the length of the town centre. The river itself was regenerated with new plant life during the summer of 2012 in a bid to improve the aesthetics of the town centre. The Town has a long history which can be seen through a number of early churches which remain, but really started to grow and become a transport hub with the development of theSomerset coalfield. For many years the coalmines provided employment for local men until they ceased operations in the 1960s, around the same time that the town's two railway stations also closed. Afterwards, good employment opportunities still remained for the town with elements of the print industry. Some of these plants have also now begun to close, but overall employment levels in the area remain very high.
Midsomer Norton provides shopping and service industries for the surrounding areas and supports several music venues and bands. The town has four primary schools and two large secondary schools. Midsomer Norton is home to a leisure centre, several sports clubs and provides youth opportunities such asScouts andGuides. It has been the birthplace or home to several notable people.
"Norton" means 'northish enclosure' from theOld English, while the use of its forename to distinguish it from other 'Nortons' is of late origin and not mentioned until 1334.[3] Sources point to the town being situated midway between two branches of theRiver Somer; the Somer itself andWellow Brook, which joins the Somer a short distance to the east near Radstock.[3]
The spelling "Missomerys Norton" may be a variation.[4]
Eilert Ekwall wrote that the village "is said to be so called in allusion to the festival held at midsummer on the day of St. John, the patron saint."[5]
John Wesley wrote of the appalling local road conditions which ensured it was reachable "only in midsummer." AsSimon Winchester notes in his bookThe Map that Changed the World, "...the roads on this part of Somerset were atrocious, thick with mud and as rough as the surface of the moon".[6]
In some church records the town is referred to as 'Norton Canonicorum' as an alternative to Midsomer Norton,[7][8] and this may be because of the local Priory's link toMerton Priory inLondon until thedissolution of the monasteries in 1538.[9]
The area at what is now Langley’s Lane in Midsomer Norton was an important and rare area ofMesolithic activity focused around anactive tufa spring.[10]
TheFosse Way runs through the south-western edge of the town betweenWestfield, Somerset andStratton-on-the-Fosse.
The parish was part of thehundred ofChewton.[11]
Following theNorman ConquestWilliam the Conqueror gave large parts of north Somerset, including the manor of Norton toGeoffrey de Montbray,bishop of Coutances, and Norton was held under him by Ulveva. From about 1150 until 1300 the manor was held by Alured de Lincoln. From 1387 the manor was held by the family ofThomas West, 1st Baron West and his descendants.[12]
TheDuchy of Cornwall owned most of the mineral rights around Midsomer Norton and various small pits opened around 1750 to exploit these. Coal mining in theSomerset coalfield gave the town and area its impetus as an industrial centre.
Around 1866 an obeliskCrimean War monument with two marble plaques, was built at the site of St Chad's well, by the mother ofFrederick Stukeley Savage for the benefit of the poor. The obelisk was in the grounds ofNorton House, a Georgian mansion built by Thomas Savage, an investor in coalmines in the area, in 1789. The house itself has since been demolished but other features of its estate are still visible at Silver Street Nature reserve (see below).[13]
There are twoelectoral wards in the town from which Midsomer Norton elects its own Town Council with an elected Mayor.[14] It is part of theFrome and East Somerset constituency, which elects aMember of Parliament to theHouse of Commons of theParliament of the United Kingdom.ThePalladian council offices were built in the mid to late 18th century.[15]Midsomer Norton Town Hall was commissioned by a local brewer, Thomas Harris Smith, designed in theItalianate style and completed in 1860.[16]
The main geological feature in this area of theMendip Hills south ofHallatrow consists of Supra-Pennant Measures which includes the upper coal measures and outcrops of sandstone. The relics of the industrial past are very evident within the area, including the distinct conical shape of the Old Mills batch overlooking the town.[17]Midsomer Norton lies on theRiver Somer which rises to the west ofChilcompton and on theWellow Brook which rises near the village ofSton Easton. The town therefore occupies two valleys of theMendip Hills and these merge west of Radstock. The combined river then flows east reaching theRiver Avon nearMidford, thence toBath and throughBristol into theBristol Channel atAvonmouth.
On the southern fringes of the town is the 2 hectares (4.9 acres) Silver StreetLocal Nature Reserve, on the site of the estate of Norton House, an eighteenth century mansion built by the coalmine-owning Savage family but demolished in 1937-8.[18] It contains a broad-leaf woodland around several ponds, a restored nineteenth-century wellhead that supplied water to the house, and a grassland field. The woodland is leased to the Somerset and Dorset Heritage Railway Trust by Bath and North East Somerset Council and the meadow in the stewardship of Somervale School.[19]
Along with the rest ofSouth West England, the Midsomer Norton has atemperate climate generally wetter and milder than the rest of England. The annual mean temperature is about 10 °C (50 °F) withseasonal anddiurnal variations, but the modifying effect of the sea, restricts the range to less than that in most other parts of 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, with mean daily maxima around 21 °C (70 °F). In general, December is the dullest month and June the sunniest. The south-west of England enjoys a favoured location, particularly in summer, when theAzores High extends its influence north-eastwards towards the UK.[20]
Cloud often forms inland, especially near hills, and reduces exposure to sunshine. The average annual sunshine is about 1,600 hours.Rainfall tends to be associated withAtlanticdepressions or with convection. In summer, convection caused by solar surface heating sometimes forms showerclouds and a large proportion of the annual precipitation falls from showers andthunderstorms at this time of year. Average rainfall is around 800–900 mm (31–35 in). About 8–15 days ofsnowfall is typical. November to March have the highest meanwind speeds, with June to August having the lightest; the prevailing wind direction is from the south-west.[21]
For many years, the centre of Midsomer Norton was prone to flooding. Sometimes several times a year, the Somer rose up during prolonged rainfall and flooded shops, particularly where the High Street is at its lowest point in the middle between Martin's newsagent and the former Palladium cinema.[22]
To prevent future deluges, a major flood alleviation tunnel — completed in 1977 – was constructed beneath the high street to remove excess water when the town centre was threatened with flooding. The infrastructure comprises a sluice gate situated at the top of the high street nearSomervale School through which the water is carried under the town via a pre-cast concrete culvert several metres in diameter to an outlet further downstream at Rackvernal. Since it began operation, no flooding has occurred to the high street and anEnvironment Agency report confirms that the relief scheme remains in good condition and continues to serve to its 100-year standard.[23]
Despite the success of the scheme, some outlying areas of the town are now rated at increased risk of flooding from Wellow Brook due to climate change and the increased provision of housing in the vicinity. In 2008 a new monitoring station was installed at nearby Welton through which data on water pressure and flood levels can be collected via metal tubes placed in the river linked to a telemetry box. This facility is now providing the Environment Agency with extremely useful information for use in future assessments of flood risk.[22]
For hundreds of years mining was an important industry for the area, and there were a number of mines in Midsomer Norton, e.g. Old Mills, Norton Hill,[24] and Welton.[25][26] However the seams were thin and with the hilly nature around, not easily worked.[27] Generations of miners who worked in the difficult conditions of the local collieries are remembered at theRadstock Museum. The coming of the railways, particularly the Bath extension of theSomerset and Dorset Joint Railway (S&D) in 1874, transformed the conveyance of coal out of the area.
The last pit in the town, at Norton Hill, closed in 1966.[28] Despite modernisation in the early 1960s, this final pit lapsed into unprofitability due to local geological difficulties and manpower shortages.[29]
One of the town's best known businesses wasPrattens, manufacturer of prefabricated buildings, founded in 1912. It was acquired byBeazer in 1980 and its factory in Charlton Road was demolished in the 1990s.[30]
Midsomer Norton traditionally hosted other industries and became a major manufacturing centre for printing and packaging.[31] Some 2,000 people (27% of total employment) work in this industry locally. Following the decline of mining, these companies expanded on local trading estates and in Welton.[31] The sites of the disused collieries in the area have subsequently been developed for light industry.[17]
In recent years some large local firms have closed or relocated blaming poor transport links.[32] Packaging company, Alcan Mardon closed in 2006, although its social club remains.[citation needed] PolestarPurnell, based in nearbyPaulton also closed the same year with the loss of 400 jobs.[33] In August 2011, the town's largest remaining employer, Welton, Bibby & Baron, the largest producer of recyclable paper bags in Europe, announced the closure of its site in Welton, which it occupied for 150 years. The company, known locally as ‘Welton Bag’ planned to move to larger premises atWestbury inWiltshire, but promised to transfer all 400 jobs to the new site.[34]
The business parks remain busy however, and the town and environs has its share of national trading companies including supermarkets and retail outlets. The town's High Street has free parking. Many inhabitants commute to Bath and Bristol for employment and shopping.[35]
Dial-a-Ride services for the elderly and handicapped are well used, along with the local Community minibus set up by the localRotary Club in 1967 under Midsomer Norton & Radstock Community Service Vehicle Trust. This vehicle is for use primarily by organisations in the area serving the disabled and infirm.[36]
The town was previously served by astation on theSomerset and Dorset Railway (S&D) but this closed in 1966,[37] and by asecond station on theBristol and North Somerset Railway at Welton in the valley.[38] The railways were separate, the S&D being administered by theMidland Railway and theLondon and South Western Railway companies (later theLondon Midland and Scottish Railway and theSouthern Railway) and the North Somerset being run by and then owned by theGreat Western Railway. The stations were both called "Midsomer Norton and Welton" (the B&NSR station was originally called just "Welton"); under British Railways, the S&D station was renamed as Midsomer Norton South after a short period as Midsomer Norton Upper; and is currently being restored with occasional open weekends with engines in steam. The Somerset & Dorset Railway Heritage Trust operates steam trains for a mile up to Chilcompton Tunnel. Today the nearest operating railway stations are atFrome (10.5 miles away) andBath Spa (11 miles), the latter of which is the most easily accessible via regular direct bus routes.[39]
Midsomer Norton's railway station was mentioned inSlow Train byMichael Flanders andDonald Swann:
No more will I go to Blandford Forum and Mortehoe, on the slow train from Midsomer Norton and Munby Road
No churns, no porter, no cat on a seat, at Chorlton-cum-Hardy or Chester-le-Street
We won't be meeting you, on the slow train ...
Children's authorRoald Dahl sold kerosene in Midsomer Norton and the surrounding area in the 1930s. He described the experience in his autobiographical workBoy: Tales of Childhood (published 1984):
My kerosene motor-tanker had a tap at the back and when I rolled into Shepton Mallet or Midsomer Norton or Peasedown St John or Huish Champflower, the old girls and the young maidens would hear the roar of my motor and would come out of their cottages with jugs and buckets to buy a gallon of kerosene for their lamps and their heaters. It is fun for a young man to do that sort of thing. Nobody gets a nervous breakdown or a heart attack from selling kerosene to gentle country folk from the back of a tanker in Somerset on a fine summer’s day.
The Waugh family connection with Midsomer Norton began when Dr Alexander Waugh, father ofArthur Waugh and grandfather ofEvelyn Waugh andAlec Waugh, moved in 1865 to Island House, which had been built in the early eighteenth century,[41] in The Island in the centre of the town. The family later moved to a house in Silver Street. As a boy,Evelyn Waugh spent his summer holidays in Midsomer Norton with his maiden aunts. He later described his visits there: "I suppose that in fact I never spent longer than two months there in any year, but the place captivated my imagination as my true home never did."[42]
ThePalladium cinema was opened as theEmpire in 1913 in a building which had previously been a brewery. It closed in 1993 and various attempts were made to turn it into a club and shop,[43] beforeWetherspoons announced in January 2015 that they had acquired the site and intended to seek planning and licensing permission to convert it to a pub, which opened in September 2018 with the name of the Palladium Electric in reference to one of the cinema's former names.[44] The town was left without cinema for almost two decades. Cinema was brought back to the town under thePalladium name in 2012 with a new community cinema at the Town Hall. In 2013, permanent cinema equipment was installed in the building and an upgrade in 2018 saw new release cinema return to the town for the first time in 25 years.[45]
The town is commemorated in "The Sheriff of Midsomer Norton", bySomerset bandThe Wurzels.[46] Midsomer Norton hosts the only unofficial carnival on theWest Country Carnival circuit. Originally, floats travelled through the main High Street but road improvements put paid to the larger vehicles and for many years the procession was held on the main Fosseway throughWestfield. Since 2014 however, the carnival has returned to the High Street following changes made to the traffic layout.[47]
The town's free newspaper is theMidsomer Norton, Radstock & District Journal. The other local weekly paper is theSomerset Guardian, which is part of theDaily Mail and General Trust. The monthly magazine, theMendip Times, also includes local features.
Somer Valley FM (97.5FM and online) is the Community Radio for the district. There is also a community website called Midsomer Norton People where residents can discuss local issues.[48]
In 2016 the town's first LGBTPride celebration event was held at The Wunderbar, which had previously been host to comediansMatt Lucas andEd Byrne.[49][50] The event was held again in 2017.[51]
Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, the alternative live music and DJ scene in Midsomer Norton flourished with the help of venues such as The Stones Cross and The Wunderbar, which promoted unsigned bands for over 25 years.
On the first Friday of every month the Paradis Palm Court Trio perform free classical concerts in the Town Hall. Choir concerts (male voices in particular) command a local following and theLions club is a promoter of such attractions usually held in the Methodist or Parish churches.
There are a number of localbrass bands. In 2006 Midsomer Norton hosted the European Open Marching and Show Band Championship which saw many bands from all over Europe visit the town.[52][53]
Anthony Horowitz, the original writer ofMidsomer Murders, borrowed part of the name of the town when he adaptedCaroline Graham's Chief Inspector Barnaby series for television in 1997. Although no filming of the show has ever taken place in Midsomer Norton or the surrounding parishes, some names of other nearby locations have been used by the producers in creating theirfictional county of Midsomer, includingMidsomer Wellow (Wellow),Midsomer Magna (Chew Magna),Midsomer Morton and the main settlement ofCauston (Corston). Despite some occasional confusion, there is no other link between Midsomer Norton and the television series.[54]
TheOld Priory, which was a hotel and restaurant,[55] dates from the early to mid 17th century.[56] Another old building is theCatholic Church of the Holy Ghost, which is a 15th-centurytithe barn converted by SirGiles Gilbert Scott. It is a grade II* listed building.[57] For many years, the local Catholic community were served byBenedictine monks from the now defunctDownside Abbey, formerly under theDiocese of Clifton.
TheAnglicanChurch of St John the Baptist has a tower dating from the 15th century, although the upper stages are from the 17th century, but the rest was rebuilt inGothic Revival style byJohn Pinch the younger in 1830–1831 and was extended in the 20th century with new chancel and lady chapel. It is a grade II* listed building.[58] The churchyard includes a memorial to the 12 miners killed in 1839 when their rope was severed.[59] St. John's is part of theDiocese of Bath and Wells.[60] The Patronage vests inChrist Church, Oxford.[61]
TheMethodist Church in the town's High Street celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2009.[62] In 1746,John Wesley's travelling preachers, based in Bristol, were invited in the mid-1700s to support the local society, the man himself first coming in 1767.[63] By the middle of the 1800s, the congregation had outgrown the original chapel erected in 1775 in Rackvernal Road (now demolished). In the 1990s, the present church building and adjoining hall were totally refurbished and linked, the facilities being well used by the local community. Local Methodists are part of the Bristol District of the Methodist Church and in the North East Somerset & Bath Circuit.
TheBaptist Church have their building in Welton but hold their Sunday morning service at Paulton Rovers Football Club now in order to accommodate their congregation.
TheSalvation Army meet in their citadel at Stones Cross. There is a successfulScout group, the 1st Midsomer Norton Scout Group based at Radstock Road, providing scouting to around 140 boys and girls per week, and a similarly popularGuide group a short distance away at Rock Hall.[64]
First schools for children up to 11 include Midsomer Norton Primary, St. John's Church of England, Welton Primary, Longvernal Primary, Westfield Primary and Norton Hill Primary.[65] In addition, St Benedict's Catholic Primary School on the edge of Midsomer Norton with a 'Midsomer Norton,Radstock' postal address, is actually part of the neighbouringSomerset Council's education service.[66]
There are two local secondary schools.Norton Hill School has approximately 1,400 students from the age of 11 to 18. In 1999, it became aTechnology College and in 2007 changed specialism to become aMaths and Computing College. In 2006, Norton Hill was also awarded a second specialism as aLanguage College. The school was described byOfsted in 2007 as outstanding in every respect.[67] The school has received both theSportsmark Award by Sport England andArtsmark Silver Award.[68]Somervale School which hasfoundation status, is a specialistArts College. In 2008, the school was the first inBath and North East Somerset to win theEco-Schools Silver Award.[69] The number of pupils on the school roll had fallen to 603. This fall prompted the school to propose a federation with nearby Norton Hill School in March 2009 called the Midsomer Norton Schools Partnership.[70] This is now in place with Alun Williams as the overall head teacher of both schools within the federation.In October 2010 the federation was confirmed as an academy.Somervale School was awarded ‘Good’ in June 2022 andNorton Hill School was awarded ‘Good’ in March 2023.[71][72] The two schools share a sixth form called the Midsomer Norton Sixth Form which is based across the two school sites.[73]
The town is served by a further education college, the Somer Valley branch ofBath College, in neighbouringWestfield. It serves 1,000 full-time students and 5,000 part-time students. The College has steadily expanded since it opened in the 1940s to serve theSomerset coalfields.[74] As a Community College, it has expanded its range of vocational programmes, and has become an established part of the community. The college works with local employers to provide training programmes that meet the needs of both employers and employees. This ranges from short skills workshops, through toNVQs,BTEC,Higher National Diplomas and apprenticeships.[75]
Local news and television programmes are provided byBBC West andITV West Country. Television signals are received from theMendip TV transmitter.[76]
Local radio stations areBBC Radio Somerset on 95.5 FM,Heart West on 102.6 FM,Greatest Hits Radio South West on 102.4 FM andSomer Valley FM, a community based station which broadcasts from the town on 97.5 FM.[77]
The town is served by the local newspaper, theMidsomer Norton, Radstock & District Journal.[78]
South Wansdyke Leisure Centre provides a wide range of activities including swimming.[79] Norton Hill and Somervale School also have sports facilities used by town and local groups.In 2010, additional leisure facilities were constructed including a skate board park and new children's play area. In 2023, parts of the existing playground were removed and placed on the side of the building where a new playground was erected.
There are severalfootball clubs includingWelton Rovers F.C. who play in theWestern Football League,[80] Welton Arsenal, and Norton Hill Rangers.
Midsomer Norton has its ownCricket club,[81] as do Midsomer Norton Methodists, and aRugby union team.[82]
In 2002, the World ProfessionalBilliards Championship was held at the Centurion Hotel, part ofL&F Jones, Midsomer Norton.[83][84]
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