Somerset Day 2024

Somerset Day

The 11^th of May is Somerset Day and is celebrated annually over the second weekend in May.

This date features more than once when marking milestones of Somerset history, but we’ll talk more about that later.

The day marks Alfred the Greats call to arms and the gathering of all people of Somerset to march against the invading Viking army. It is now used as a day to celebrate ‘All Things Somerset’.

Let’s look at other pivotal points in the county’s history that fall on the 11^th of May:

11/05/1645 Royal forces suddenly withdrew and ended the second siege of Taunton, and the town was oddly held for Parliament.

11/05/1973 A fundamental moment in the history of the English Crown -The Somerset born Archbishop of Canterbury conducted the coronation of King Edgar in Bath Abbey.

Delve deeper into the history and the wonderful organisation behind Somerset Day HERE.

     

Other important points of history…

• It’s a prehistoric County with evidence of human occupation since prehistoric times. Artefacts include hand axes, hill forts, flint points & burial mounds.

Find out the history of the Cheddar Mans remains here: Cheddar Gorge remains.

• The oldest dated human road work in GB is the Sweet Track which was constructed across the Somerset Levels with wooden planks in the 39^th century BCE.

You can visit a little tea room nearby called Sweets Tea Room, and visit Shapwick Nature Reserve to see parts of the track and fins out more of its history.

• Cheddar cheese originates from the village of Cheddar (our home!). Cheddar Gorge is on the edge of the village and contains a number of caves, which provided the ideal humidity and steady temperature for maturing the cheese.

Cheddar Cheese Co.

• Cider making in Somerset has been a tradition for over 700 years and begins with apple harvest in late Autumn.

Some of Somerset’s original and most famous Ciders include:

Perrys, Thatchers, & Sheppys

Explore our gorgeous county whilst staying in 5* luxury here at Strawberryfield Park, just 5 minutes drive from Cheddar Gorge.