Forts to defend against Vikings, the inspiration for Frankenstein, the iconic Henry vacum cleaner, Cheddar in the Arctic, the birthplace of powered flight.... and skittles, 4,400 miles of road, the highest level of Paganism, Shamanism and Druids (well the Mendip area does).... What else strange, startling or just plain baffling did we learn on Somerset Day?
Thanks to the good people at Somerset Council who were live Tweeting through the first Somerset Day, we have gathered togeher a few of the facts about the majestic county we all call home.
Andrew Crosse's experiments with electricity at Fyne Court inspired Mary Shelley to write Frankenstein #SomersetDay
— Somerset Council (@SomersetCouncil) May 11, 2015
The Battle of Sedgemoor (1685) was the last pitch battle on English soil #SomersetDay
— Somerset Council (@SomersetCouncil) May 11, 2015
Britain’s oldest complete human skeleton (9,000 years old ) was found at Cheddar Caves in the Mendip Hills #SomersetDay
— Somerset Council (@SomersetCouncil) May 11, 2015
An old lace mill in Chard was the birthplace of powered flight in 1848,over 50 years before the Wright Brothers flew in USA #SomersetDay
— Somerset Council (@SomersetCouncil) May 11, 2015
Alfred the Great built forts at Watchet, Lyng, Axbridge and Langport to protect his kingdom from Viking invasions #SomersetDay
— Somerset Council (@SomersetCouncil) May 11, 2015
The game of skittles is believed to have origins in Somerset #SomersetDay
— Somerset Council (@SomersetCouncil) May 11, 2015
Bridgwater was the first town to petition against slavery in 1785 #SomersetDay
— Somerset Council (@SomersetCouncil) May 11, 2015
Legend says Joseph of Arimathea supposedly founded the earliest Christian oratory in Glastonbury #SomersetDay
— Somerset Council (@SomersetCouncil) May 11, 2015
Cheddar cheese has been all the way to the Antarctic! Captain Scott took 1600kg with his on his famous 1901 expedition #SomersetDay
— Somerset Council (@SomersetCouncil) May 11, 2015
The iconic Henry vacuum cleaner was invented in Chard in 1981 and has sold 7 million worldwide since then #SomersetDay
— Somerset Council (@SomersetCouncil) May 11, 2015
The earliest references of Cheddar Cheese date back to 1170!! Wonder how different the taste would have been back then? #SomersetDay
— Somerset Council (@SomersetCouncil) May 11, 2015
Happy Somerset Day! 4,400 miles of roads, 1 in 7 walk to work. Your County in Numbers - travel & access #SomersetDay pic.twitter.com/trLIeqpXCc
— Somerset Council (@SomersetCouncil) May 11, 2015
Happy Somerset Day! More people self-employed, £9billion economy. Your county in numbers - Educ/jobs #SomersetDay pic.twitter.com/Dv4gRewde1
— Somerset Council (@SomersetCouncil) May 11, 2015
Happy Somerset Day! We're happier and live longer. Your County by numbers - Health & Wellbeing #SomersetDay pic.twitter.com/Wpv1C3Yop9
— Somerset Council (@SomersetCouncil) May 11, 2015
Happy Somerset Day! 544,000 and growing by 3,000 each year. Your County by numbers - population #SomersetDay pic.twitter.com/pWX5THuO8k
— Somerset Council (@SomersetCouncil) May 11, 2015
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