Today is Somerset Day. It’s a day that celebrates everything great about Somerset and is backed by many businesses and councils. Villages and town across the county will be celebrating and putting out bunting to mark the occasion. To celebrate, here’s some great facts about Somerset that you may not know!
> Taunton was the first town in the country to be lit permanently by electric street lighting in 1881.
> The West Somerset Railway is the longest preserved steam railway in the country.
> The oldest complete skeleton that was thought to be around 9,000 years old was found at Cheddar Caves!
> Somerset is home to over 400 different varieties of cider apple. That’s a lot of cider!
> The battle of Sedgemoor in 1685 was the last pitch battle on English soil.
> Glastonbury is known as the birthplace of Christianity. Legend has it that Joseph of Arimathea planted the holy thorn on Wirral Hill.
> Somerset is the 7th largest county by area in England but with a population of 508,000, it’s only the 22nd biggest by population!
> Somerset is home to the largest performing arts festival in the world. Glastonbury Festival was launched by Michael Eavis in 1970 and sees some of the biggest acts in the world performing right here in Somerset!
Would you like to see North Somerset like never before?! A balloon flight can offer spectacular views of the county and Bailey Balloons Champagne flight vouchers start from just £99 per person! Fly from Bristol, Bath or South Wales.
