A Conversation for Taunton, Somerset, UK
Edited Guide Writing Workshop: A13958463 - Taunton, Somerset, UK
Number Six Started conversation Oct 29, 2006
Entry: Taunton, Somerset, UK - A13958463
Author: Number Six - U115522
Getting there, as you can see the last bits need finishing off, but any input is more than welcome.
A13958463 - Taunton, Somerset, UK
aka Bel - A87832164 Posted Oct 29, 2006
I like it, blah blah and all 
You could link to A13911662 Monmouthshire: A County, but English or Welsh?
Otwher than that, I don't have suggestions to made, I've never been there, but it sounds like a nice enough place to go if you want to explore the region. 
A13958463 - Taunton, Somerset, UK
bobstafford Posted Oct 29, 2006
Very good entry 
As you wanted ideas here goes.
www.mass.gov/dep/service/my_comm/taunton.htm
Taunton Massachusetts home of the Aleixo Arena and the Taunton river som of the best caooeing in the US
A good transport map
http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/southwest/somerset/map/pdfmap/map-taunton-network.pdf
BBC Somerset is in Park Street Taunton
In AD 904 a charter was given to Taunton by King Edward the Elder
In 1451 during the civil wars known as the wars of the roses a battle was fought at Taunton. In 1497 a man named Perkin Warbeck attempted to overthrow Henry VII and make himself king. His men occupied Taunton castle but they fled when a royal army approached
1643 Parliament strong hold 3 years fighting in the town all but destroyed it one of the most fought over of the period.
Famous peeps
Acker Bilk (musician)
Andrew Cross (experimented with electricity at Fyne Court, Broomfield)
Andy Elson (Balloonist – holder of world record)
Arthur C Clarke (author) lived in Taunton
Captain Scott (explorer)
Col John Rouse Merriott Chard VC (Colonel at Rourkes Drift fort – Zulu Wars)
David Shepherd (artist)
Evelyn Waugh (author) lived in Somerset
Fay Weldon (author)
Frankie Howerd (actor)
George Williams (founder of YMCA)
Georgie Fame (musician)
Ian Botham (former Somerset / England cricketer)Jenson Button (racing driver)
Jill Dando (TV presenter, journalist)
John Cleese (actor, author)
John Leach (potter)
John Pym (leader of the Opposition)
John Steinbeck (author)
Julia Somerville (newsreader)
Kate O’Mara TV Star (Howards Way etc)
King Alfred
King Arthur
Margaret Bonfield (1st woman cabinet minister – early 20th century)
Margaret Drabble (author)
Martin Pipe (racehorse trainer)
Mary Rand (Olympic Athelete, lived in Wells)
Marcus Trescothick (Somerset Cricket Player who helped win the Ashes for England 2005)
Michael Eavis (local farmer & organiser of Pilton pop festival) lives near Glastonbury
Robert Blake
Robert Robinson (TV personality)
Robin Bush (author, historian / TV’s Time Team)
Samuel Taylor Coleridge (lived at Nether Stowey from 1797 to 1799)
Simon King (Wildlife Photographer)
Sir Cameron Macintosh (West End and Broadway Musicals)
Sir Henry Irvine
Sir Ranulph Fiennes (explorer)
Terry Pratchett (author)
TS Elliot (ashes are in East Coker)
Viv Richards (former Somerset cricketer)
William Rees Mogg (lives in Wells)
William Waldegrave
William Wordsworth (lived in Somerset for a year)
Full list at
http://www.somerset-chamber.co.uk/somerset_famous_people.htm
Hope it is useful The place is megga Very good entry by the way I think I said but wort repeating
A13958463 - Taunton, Somerset, UK
aka Bel - A87832164 Posted Oct 29, 2006
>>Taunton Massachusetts home of the Aleixo Arena and the Taunton river som of the best caooeing in the US<< 
That must have slipped in, surely?
A13958463 - Taunton, Somerset, UK
bobstafford Posted Oct 29, 2006
OOPs I was thinking of a link to other places with the same name but was going to scrap as over complex
A13958463 - Taunton, Somerset, UK
aka Bel - A87832164 Posted Oct 29, 2006
Never mind it being complex, it would be confusing and distracting from the town you're talking about.
A13958463 - Taunton, Somerset, UK
RadoxTheGreen - Retired Posted Nov 3, 2006
Hi, good entry so far,
I'm working on the history of Somerset off line at the moment and plan to eventually turn it into a university project for Hootoo. Obviously Taunton will be mentioned in it and I will be linking to any edited guide entries from the county along the way.
You mentioned the charter in 904. In 1660 the charter was revoked by Charles II for supporting parliament against his father. It was restored in 1677.
Some other history dates which might be worth a mention:
Taunton castle was built by the Bishop of Winchester in 1138. It was destroyed on the order of Charles II when the charter was restored in 1677 to prevent it being occupied by rebels again.
Taunton hospital was built in 1812. The railway has connected to Taunton since 1842. Somerset county cricket club was founded in 1889.
A13958463 - Taunton, Somerset, UK
U168592 Posted Nov 26, 2008
Propose a move to the Flea Market for this Entry
Matt
Key: Complain about this post
Edited Guide Writing Workshop: A13958463 - Taunton, Somerset, UK
- 1: Number Six (Oct 29, 2006)
- 2: aka Bel - A87832164 (Oct 29, 2006)
- 3: bobstafford (Oct 29, 2006)
- 4: aka Bel - A87832164 (Oct 29, 2006)
- 5: bobstafford (Oct 29, 2006)
- 6: aka Bel - A87832164 (Oct 29, 2006)
- 7: bobstafford (Oct 29, 2006)
- 8: RadoxTheGreen - Retired (Nov 3, 2006)
- 9: U168592 (Aug 10, 2007)
- 10: U168592 (Nov 26, 2008)
- 11: Cyzaki (Nov 26, 2008)
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