My wife and I had business in Bristol and we decided to spend a few days exploring the West Country around the Bath area.
We stayed at the Best Western Plus Centurion hotel in Midsomer Norton. This turned out to be an excellent choice. People in the U.K. will be familiar with the the TV murder mysteries series called Midsomer Murders. The name Midsomer was taken by the author, Caroline Graham, from Midsomer Norton to convey an image of a typical English rural village/town setting.
I would think that most people familiar with the TV series would expect Midsomer Norton and its immediate surroundings to look like those shown in the programme. In other words everyone's image of a typical English village unspoiled by the passage of time and fashion. Sadly, nothing could be further from the truth.
The locations shown in the TV series are to be found in Berkshire and Oxfordshire only the name has been borrowed from Midsomer Norton. The latter and its near neighbour Radstock, were coal mining villages during most of the 19th century. They were and still are working communities, not places where maiden aunts and bank managers retire to.
Having said that, the surrounding countryside is beautiful with narrow winding lanes and the spectacular Cheddar Gorge not far away. You are always in history's shadow wherever you go in the U.K. and Somerset is no exception with places like Wells (cathedral), Glastonbury, one of the World's centres of Spirituality and Bath (a World Heritage Site with its Abbey, Roman baths. Georgian architecture etc.). All within easy travelling distance of each other.
Here are some photos that I took during our short break -
Cheddar
Glastonbury
Seen on the High Street
The Abbey, a victim of King Henry VIII
Bath
Street Art
Nick
We stayed at the Best Western Plus Centurion hotel in Midsomer Norton. This turned out to be an excellent choice. People in the U.K. will be familiar with the the TV murder mysteries series called Midsomer Murders. The name Midsomer was taken by the author, Caroline Graham, from Midsomer Norton to convey an image of a typical English rural village/town setting.
I would think that most people familiar with the TV series would expect Midsomer Norton and its immediate surroundings to look like those shown in the programme. In other words everyone's image of a typical English village unspoiled by the passage of time and fashion. Sadly, nothing could be further from the truth.
The locations shown in the TV series are to be found in Berkshire and Oxfordshire only the name has been borrowed from Midsomer Norton. The latter and its near neighbour Radstock, were coal mining villages during most of the 19th century. They were and still are working communities, not places where maiden aunts and bank managers retire to.
Having said that, the surrounding countryside is beautiful with narrow winding lanes and the spectacular Cheddar Gorge not far away. You are always in history's shadow wherever you go in the U.K. and Somerset is no exception with places like Wells (cathedral), Glastonbury, one of the World's centres of Spirituality and Bath (a World Heritage Site with its Abbey, Roman baths. Georgian architecture etc.). All within easy travelling distance of each other.
Here are some photos that I took during our short break -
Cheddar
 |
| The Sword in the Stone |
 |
| St John the Baptist Parish Church 15th C. |
Seen on the High Street
The Abbey, a victim of King Henry VIII
Street Art
Glastonbury Tor
 |
| St Michael's Tower |
 |
| A view from the Tor |
The Abbey
Street Art
 |
| How does he do that? |
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