Places in Somerset
Clevedon
Clevedon is a Victorian seaside town in North Somerset, known for its Grade I listed Pier, which was opened in 1869. It welcomes paddles steamers (Balmoral and Waverley) which will take you as far as Devon, over to Wales and around Steep Holm and Flat Holm islands.
In 1970 part of the pier collapsed, after public fundraising it was re-opened in 1998, using repurposed Barlow rails from Isambard Kingdom Brunel's South Wales railway.
It is also home to The Curzon Cinema, which is one of the oldest continually operating purpose built cinemas in the world.
Portishead
Portishead dates back to Roman times and was once a fishing port. It expanded with the building of a pier and dock in the 19th century, and was home to coal-fed power stations and a chemical works in the 20th century. These industrial sites have since been redeveloped.
It now has a marina which has 250 berths for sailing and leisure crafts, with waterside bars and restaurants.
There is also a lake ground which was created in 1910 with an open air swimming pool, and an array of activities for all the family, including watching the ships sailing in and out of Avonmouth and Portbury Docks.
Brean beach and Brean Down
Brean is a coastal village and seaside resort in Somerset. At the very end of the beach is Brean Down which is a prominent, limestone headland, owned by the National Trust, it has long walks with panoramic views with Roman ruins and a 19th century military fort which was built between 184-1871, it was intended to protect the Bristol Channel from a potential French invasion under Napoleon III. It was rearmed in World War II as a coastal artillery battery and also for secret experimental weapons testing, including trials of a bouncing bomb.
Glastonbury
Glastonbury is a town in Somerset famous for deep connections to myths and legends, especially those surround King Arthur and Avalon.
Key sites are:
Glastonbury Abbey which monks claimed was Britain's earliest Christian foundation, and famous for links to the legend of King Arthur.
Glastonbury Tor, which is a prominent hill and landmark near the town and capped by the 15th century tower of St. Michael's Church.
Glastonbury Festival, which is a world famous music and performing arts even held on Worth Farm in nearby Pilton.
Weston super Mare
Weston-super-Mare is a seaside town in the county of North Somerset, it was a small village until the 19th century when it developed as a seaside resort. A railway and two piers were built.
In the centre of the town is Ellenborough Park, which is a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest due to the range of plant species found there.
Weston's oldest structure is Worlebury Camp on Worlebury Hill, dating from the Iron Age.
Isambard Kingdom Brunel and his family lived in Weston in Trevelyna Road, whilst he supervised construction of the Bristol and Exeter railway line.
Burnbeck Pier was completed in 1867 offering tea rooms, amusement arcades, even a water slide, sadly this is now derelict.
There is also The Grand Pier, which was built in 1903, including a 2,000 seated pavilion for concerts and plays. This was sadly destroyed by fire in 1930, an undercover funfair was then built instead of a theatre.
In 2008 there was another fire, which destroyed the whole of the pavilion, and rebuilt to its former glory and enjoyed by many.
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