ond_)

NETHER STOWEY
(_From a Photograph by Messrs Frith, Reigate_)

TAUNTON FROM THE RIVER
(_From a Photograph by Messrs Valentine, Dundee_)

WELLS CATHEDRAL
(_From a Photograph by Messrs Frith, Reigate_)

VICARS' CLOSE, WELLS
(_From a Photograph by Messrs Frith, Reigate_)

THE PALACE GATEWAY, WELLS
(_From a Photograph by Messrs Valentine, Dundee_)

WESTON-SUPER-MARE
(_From a Photograph by Messrs Valentine, Dundee_)

NINE SPRINGS, YEOVIL
(_From a Photograph by Messrs Valentine, Dundee_)

MAP OF SOMERSET

INTRODUCTION

I. SITUATION AND EXTENT

SOMERSET is one of the S.W. counties of England. On the N. it is washed
by the Bristol Channel; on the N.E. the Avon, like a silver streak,
divides it from Gloucestershire; it is bordered on the E. by Wiltshire;
its S.E. neighbour is Dorset; and on the S.W. it touches Devon. Its
shape is so irregular that dimensions give a misleading indication of
its extent. Its extreme length is about 60 m., and its greatest width
38; but it narrows so rapidly westwards that where it abuts on Devon
its average width is only 15 m. In point of size it stands seventh on
the list of English counties, having an area of over a million acres,
or 1633 square m. It lies between 2 deg. 10' and 3 deg. 50' W. longitude, and
50 deg. 50' and 51 deg. 30' N. latitude. Its population in 1901 was 508,104. It
is one of the few counties which was originally the settlement of a
single tribe, the Somersaetas, from whom it takes its name; and the
fact that "Somerset" (like Dorset) is thus a tribal name is in favour
of its dispensing with the suffix _shire_, though "Somersetshire" has
been in common use since the time of the "Saxon Chronicle."

II. CLIMATE

The climate is mild and equable, though from its diversified surface
the county experiences some varieties of temperature. The seaboard is
warm, but its considerable southward trend gives it a good Atlantic
frontage, which prevents it from being relaxing. Weston is said to be
ten degrees warmer than London. The breezes on the uplands are bracing
but never searching. The Mendips have been considered a suitable site
for a consumptive sanatorium. The central flats are damp. They lie so
low that in places the coast has to be protected by sea walls, and the
prevalence of large "rhines" or drains makes for humidity. The
sheltered vale of Taunton Dean (for the term cp. _Hawthorndean,
Rottingdean_) is warm and sunny. The rainfall is abun