Somerset Landscape Character Assessment

The landscape and settlements of Somerset have been shaped by continuous change over many centuries, including the human use and occupation of the land as population and agricultural pressures have evolved. Somerset has a long and varied history of human activity, dating back to prehistory. The contrasting landscapes of Somerset have shaped the local economy, settlement patterns and land use throughout history.

Several long barrows from the neolithic period (4,000 – 2,500 BC) are located across Somerset, typically found on areas of high ground. The Mendip plateau holds particular significance as a historic landscape of funerary and ritual prehistoric monuments including stone circles and barrows, many of which form localised features in the landscape today. Remains of neolithic timber trackways (designated as Scheduled Monuments), which facilitated access into and across wetlands, survive as buried remains and are well-preserved within the peat bogs of the moors. This includes the Sweet Track, which is the second-oldest timber trackway discovered in the UK. Sections of the Sweet Track have been recreated above ground at the Shapwick Heath NNR.

The remains of numerous Iron Age hill forts are located across Somerset, particularly where elevated hills and ridges provide a strategic vantage across the wider landscape. Notable hill forts that continue to form landmarks in the landscape today include those at Cadbury Castle, Brent Knoll and Ham Hill.

The influence of Roman occupation within Somerset can be seen through surviving sections of linear roads, notably the Fosse Way, and grid layouts of some towns and villages such as Ilchester. Most other remains of the Roman era, such as former settlements located along main arterial routes and lead mines within the Mendip Hills, survive as buried features, and are therefore less discernible in the wider landscape.

Royal forests within Somerset were established during the Norman period, and included the Forests of Mendip, Selwood, Exmoor and Neroche. These areas comprised areas of waste, heath and woodland, and were managed for timber, hunting and other sources of income for the monarchy. Over time, land within the Royal forests were enclosed and turned over to agricultural use, though some surviving areas of ancient woodland and parkland reflect the historical boundaries of these areas.

In the medieval period, Somerset’s landscape evolved as feudal systems took root, and the county became an important centre of religious and agricultural life. The levels, once prone to flooding, were gradually reclaimed and drained, transforming them into valuable farmland. Medieval churches, castles and manor houses were built from local materials including stone from the Mendip Hills. Ecclesiastical ownership of land gave rise to a number of abbeys and monastic sites, such as Glastonbury Abbey and the nearby Glastonbury Tor. These sites became significant both religiously and politically, forming centres of medieval society. Abbeys, churches and associated buildings, and the surrounding agricultural land, were symbols of power and wealth during the medieval period, and many still stand as landmarks today.

The Domesday Book (1086) shows a number of manorial estates and villages already established across Somerset. Agricultural, economic and social changes in the post-medieval period led to a significant evolution of the landscape. Enclosure and modification of fields in the 17th and 18th centuries led to the consolidation of open fields and common land, giving rise to more efficient agricultural practices and larger estates. The reclamation and modification of the moors primarily dates to the 18th century, following on much later than the reclamation of the adjacent levels landscape. This later reclamation is reflected in the linear pattern of drainage ditches (rhynes) and short, straight drove roads. Over time, towns such as Taunton, Bridgwater and Yeovil developed as trade and administrative centres.

The post-medieval landscape of Somerset witnessed further changes, particularly during the Industrial Revolution, when advances in technologies related to coal mining and the rise of the textile industry altered both the physical and social landscapes. Much of Somerset’s industry was focused on mining in the Mendip Hills and small-scale manufacturing (mainly centred around wool and textiles) in the towns, and the county retained much of its rural character.

The introduction of new transportation networks, including the railway and canals, connected Somerset to broader markets, but also introduced urbanisation in certain areas. Cider has deep roots in Somerset, dating back to the 16th century. The climate and fertile soils in the region gave rise to a flourishing local industry. Though the extent of orchards in Somerset has declined over time, the region remains well-known for cider production.

In more recent history, a number of locations within Somerset were, and continue to be, used for military training and defence. Key sites constructed during WWII include RAF bases at Henstridge, Merryfield and Yeovilton, the two latter of which remain in use as military training facilities today. Remnants of military installations such as pillboxes and coastal defences act as further reminders of the area’s role in the war effort.

The landscape of Somerset is steeped in Arthurian legend, with a number of landscape features linked to these tales. Cadbury Castle has been associated with King Arthur’s Camelot, and Glastonbury is thought to be located on the ‘Isle of Avalon’ where King Arthur retreated after his last battle. Other cultural associations include the poetry of William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge, who visited the Quantock Hills and nearby coastline while staying near Nether Stowey.