116-674: The Whitelake River is a small river on the Somerset Levels , England. The river rises between two low limestone ridges, part of the southern edge of the Mendip Hills . The confluence of the two small streams that make the Whitelake River is on Worthy Farm (which is the site of the Glastonbury Festival ) between the small villages of Pilton and Pylle . It flows west for approximately 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) until it joins
232-551: A Whig politician, a man of considerable wealth and influence who had been jailed during a political campaign calling for a new parliament. He was also fined the huge sum of £5,000 for uttering "seditious" words. After his release from jail, he fled to Holland and became the paymaster general to the Rebellion. To raise the funds for ships and weaponry, Monmouth pawned many of his belongings. His wife Anne Scott, 1st Duchess of Buccleuch , and her mother also pawned their jewellery to hire
348-598: A growing tourism industry. People have been draining the area since before Domesday Book . In the Middle Ages, the monasteries of Glastonbury , Athelney and Muchelney were responsible for much of the drainage. The artificial Huntspill River was constructed during the Second World War as a reservoir, although it also serves as a drainage channel. The Sowy River between the River Parrett and King's Sedgemoor Drain
464-562: A larger force, but were still awaiting their artillery. Monmouth's half-brother Henry FitzRoy, 1st Duke of Grafton , led some cavalry, dragoons, and 500 musketeers into the village, where they were surrounded by the rebels and had to hack through hedges to escape. They were rescued by Churchill and withdrew with approximately twenty casualties on each side; however, each side believed that the other had taken greater losses. Monmouth then marched overnight to Frome , arriving on 28 June. The morale of Monmouth's forces started to collapse as news of
580-620: A life of pleasure in Holland, while still hoping to accede peaceably to the throne. The accession of James II and coronation at Westminster Abbey on 23 April 1685 put an end to these hopes. The Monmouth rebellion was planned in Holland and coordinated with another rebellion in Scotland led by Archibald Campbell , the Earl of Argyll . Several areas of England were considered as potential locations for rebellion, including Cheshire and Lancashire along with
696-455: A line of electricity pylons, by one of two routes between Hinkley Point and Avonmouth . The plans attracted local opposition. The first consultation process ended in January 2010. They had proposed that each pylon would be 151 feet (46 m) high: the consultation was only in respect of preferences between two alternate routes, not the size nor the use of large pylons. The proposed line, which
812-561: A medieval masonry building on the top of the hill. Along the coast, settlements such as Berrow are built on the line of sand dunes separating the low-lying marshes from the Bristol Channel. At the northern end Bleadon lies on the River Axe ; and there was for many years a small harbour, sometimes known as Lympsham Wharf. The arrival of the Bristol and Exeter Railway in 1841, which crossed
928-630: A monastery, Athelney Abbey , on the Isle in 888, which survived until the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII in 1539. Bawdrip is a small village which has a population of 498. Brent Knoll is a large village at the foot of 449-foot (137 m) Brent Knoll Camp that dominates the surrounding landscape; the name means Beacon Hill in Old English . Brent Knoll has been inhabited since at least
1044-563: A month, the village of Thorney had been abandoned and Muchelney had been cut off by flood waters for almost a month. Environment Minister Owen Paterson visited the area on 27 January 2014, and after meeting local MPs, the Environment Agency and various community representatives the night before in Taunton, promised at a media-only press conference at North Moor pumping station that if a local water management plan could be developed over
1160-574: A problem that was not resolved until the sea defences were enhanced in the early 20th century. In addition, the problems of high fresh water floods are aggravated by the unrestricted entry of the tide along the Parrett , which is the only river in the Levels and Moors that does not have a clyse on it. Discussions on whether a clyse is needed for the Parrett and whether it should be sited at Bridgwater or nearer
1276-678: A rare population of the European eel , a protected species . Somerset Levels The Somerset Levels are a coastal plain and wetland area of Somerset , England, running south from the Mendips to the Blackdown Hills . The Somerset Levels have an area of about 160,000 acres (650 km ) and are bisected by the Polden Hills ; the areas to the south are drained by the River Parrett , and
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#17328480589301392-520: A royal army commanded by Feversham and Churchill. Monmouth was beheaded for treason on 15 July 1685. Many of his supporters were tried during the Bloody Assizes , led by Judge Jeffreys , and were condemned to death or transportation . James II consolidated his power and reigned until 1688, when he was deposed by another nephew, William III of Orange , in the Glorious Revolution . Monmouth
1508-760: A sluice). The area is prone to winter floods of fresh water and occasional salt water inundations. The worst in recorded history was the Bristol Channel floods of 1607 , which resulted in the drowning of an estimated 2,000 or more people, houses and villages swept away, an estimated 200 square miles (500 km ) of farmland inundated, and livestock killed. Another severe flood occurred in 1872–1873, when over 107 square miles (300 km ) were under water from October to March. Although underlain by much older Triassic age formations that protrude to form what would once have been islands—such as Athelney , Brent Knoll , Burrow Mump and Glastonbury Tor —the lowland landscape
1624-448: A source of European eels ( Anguilla anguilla ) and young elvers, which are caught by hand netting as this is the only legal means of catching them. A series of eel passes have been built on the Parrett at the King's Sedgemoor Drain to help this endangered species; cameras have shown 10,000 eels migrating upstream in a single night. The 2003 BBC Radio 4 play Glass Eels by Nell Leyshon
1740-486: A total of 14 wind turbines , with Ecotricity to build five or four adjacent to the M5 Motorway near Brent Knoll and Électricité de France to build nine at East Huntspill, are opposed by local groups on the grounds of their effect on the local environment and potential damage to the bird population. Willow has been cut and used on the Levels since mankind moved into the area. Fragments of willow basket were found near
1856-586: Is 10 to 12 feet (3 to 4 m) O.D. with peak tides of 25 to 26 feet (8 to 8 m) O.D. recorded at Bridgwater and Burnham-on-Sea. Large areas of peat were laid down in the Brue Valley during the Quaternary period after the ice sheets melted. The area's topography consists of two basins mainly surrounded by hills, the runoff from which forms rivers that originally meandered across the plain but have now been controlled by embanking and clyses (the local name for
1972-465: Is at the mouth of the River Parrett where it enters Bridgwater Bay . The position of the town on the edge of the Somerset Levels has resulted in a history dominated by land reclamation and sea defences since Roman times. Burnham was seriously affected by the Bristol Channel floods of 1607 , and various flood defences have been installed since then. A concrete sea wall was built in 1911, and after
2088-568: Is due to open by September 2017, will transmit electricity at 400 kilovolts from the proposed Hinkley Point C nuclear power station . Hinkley Point C is a project to construct a 3,200 MWe nuclear power station with two EPR reactors. The site is one of eight announced by the British government in 2010, and in November 2012 a nuclear site licence was granted. On 28 July 2016 the EDF board approved
2204-623: Is easy to see why the area acquired a number of legends, particularly of King Arthur and his followers, who some believe based his court in the hill fort at South Cadbury . According to legend, Alfred the Great burnt cakes when hiding in the marshes of Athelney , after the Danish invasion in 875. After the Battle of Edington the Danish king was baptised at Aller and a peace treaty signed at Wedmore . In 1685,
2320-456: Is the earliest indication of human presence in the area, dating from approximately 500,000 years ago. Later during the 7th millennium BC the sea level rose and flooded the valleys, forcing the Mesolithic people to occupy seasonal camps on the higher ground, indicated by scatters of flints. Subsequent winter flooding probably led to prehistoric man's using the Levels only in the summer, hence
2436-554: Is the earliest indication of human presence in the area. The Neolithic people exploited the reed swamps for their natural resources and started to construct wooden trackways , including the world's oldest known timber trackway , the Post Track , dating from about 3800 BC. The Levels were the location of the Glastonbury Lake Village as well as two Lake villages at Meare Lake . Several settlements and hill forts were built on
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#17328480589302552-694: Is unclear why windmills were not employed, as they were on the Fens of East Anglia , but only two examples have been recorded on the Levels: one at Bleadon at the mouth of the River Axe, where a sea wall had been built, and the other at Common Moor north of Glastonbury, which was being drained following a private Act of Parliament in 1721. The first steam pumping station was Westonzoyland Pumping Station in 1830, followed by more effective ones from 1860. Automatic electric pumps are used today. The human-made Huntspill River
2668-465: The Battle of Sedgemoor . Once Monmouth's force had entered and started to fortify Bridgwater, he sent some of his cavalry to collect six cannon from Minehead . He planned to stay in Bridgwater until they returned and then break out and head for Bristol. Feversham and his army of 500 horse and 1,500 militiamen camped on the edge of Sedgemoor at the village of Westonzoyland . Monmouth could view them from
2784-503: The Bronze Age . Before the Somerset Levels were drained, Brent Knoll was an island known as the Isle (or Mount) of Frogs. Glastonbury (population 8,784) and Street (11,066) lie on opposite sides of the River Brue , and provide a central point for trade and commerce. Larger centres are generally on slightly higher ground around the edges of the Levels. Bridgwater is a market town ,
2900-495: The East Anglian fens , historically a similar area of low marsh. They are still liable to widespread fresh water flooding in winter. One of the approaches to reducing the risk of flooding within the catchment area of the Parrett is the planting of new woodlands. Controversy about the management of the drainage and flood protection has previously involved the activities of IDBs. However, IDBs have been actively participating with
3016-522: The Monmouth Rebellion ended at the Battle of Sedgemoor , which was fought in the Bussex area of Westonzoyland . The Levels have few wooded areas, just occasional willow trees. The landscape is dominated by grassland, mostly used as pasture for dairy farming with approximately 70 per cent of the area being grassland and 30 per cent arable. From January until May, the River Parrett provides
3132-515: The River Avon . He made Keynsham Abbey his headquarters there. Monmouth intended to attack the city of Bristol, after London the largest and most important city in England at that time, However, he heard the city had been occupied by Henry Somerset, 1st Duke of Beaufort . There were inconclusive skirmishes with a force of Life Guards commanded by Feversham. These attacks gave the impression that there
3248-594: The River Brue at Westhay . The Witelake was once navigable between Pilton and the confluence with the Brue. In the 1st millennium BC the land close to the confluence of Whitelake River and the Brue was the site of the Meare Pool , which was located on low-lying levels just north of Meare . During 2010 Michael Eavis received a donation from British Waterways of timber from the old gates at Caen Hill Locks in Wiltshire . This
3364-627: The Royal Navy captured Monmouth's ships, cutting off any hope of an escape back to the continent. The Royalist forces of Churchill, who was now in Chard, and of Feversham, in Bristol, also received reinforcements who had marched from London. On 24 June, Monmouth's army encamped at Pensford , and a small force skirmished with the Gloucester Militia to take control of Keynsham , a vital crossing point over
3480-631: The Rye House Plot of 1683, an attempt to assassinate both Charles and James, Monmouth went into self-imposed exile in the Netherlands, and gathered supporters in The Hague . Monmouth was a Protestant and had toured the South West of England in 1680, where he had been greeted amicably by crowds in towns such as Chard and Taunton . So long as Charles II remained on the throne, Monmouth was content to live
3596-514: The Scottish revolt . He had previously been involved in the Rye House Plot of 1683. Another important member of the rebellion was Robert Ferguson , a radical Scottish Presbyterian minister. He was also known as "the plotter". It was Ferguson who drew up Monmouth's proclamation, and he who was most in favour of Monmouth being crowned King. Thomas Hayward Dare was a goldsmith from Taunton and
Whitelake River - Misplaced Pages Continue
3712-576: The Sowy River onto the moor. It has the capacity to hold 1.2 million cubic metres as part of a scheme by the Parrett Internal Drainage Board to restore ten floodplains in Somerset. In spring, the water is drained away to enable the land to be used as pasture during the summer. The scheme is also used to encourage water birds. The Levels were frequently flooded by the sea during high tides,
3828-519: The Test Act and the Habeas Corpus Act , used his dispensing power to appoint Roman Catholics to senior posts, and raised the strength of the standing army. Parliament opposed many of these moves, and on 20 November 1685 James dismissed it. In 1688, when the birth of James Francis Edward Stuart heralded a Catholic succession, James II was deposed by William of Orange in the Glorious Revolution at
3944-574: The Third Anglo-Dutch War , as commander of a British brigade in the French army. The English Civil War had left resentment among some of the population about the monarchy and the penalties which had been imposed on the supporters of the Commonwealth . The South West of England contained several towns where opposition remained strong. Fears of a potential Catholic monarch persisted, intensified by
4060-770: The Vale of Taunton and Quantock Fringes to the west, the Blackdowns to the southwest, the Mid Somerset Hills and Yeovil Scarplands to the southeast, the Mendip Hills to the east and the Bristol, Avon Valleys and Ridges to the northeast. The Levels are mainly flat areas of inland plains and a coastal sand and clay barrier, east and west of the M5 motorway . There are some slightly raised parts, called "burtles", as well as higher ridges and hills. The Levels are about 20 feet (6 m) above mean sea level ( O.D. ). The general elevation inland
4176-595: The peat bog including the Honeygore, Abbotts Way, Bells, Bakers, Westhay and Nidons trackways. The Levels contain the best-preserved prehistoric village in the UK, Glastonbury Lake Village , as well as two others at Meare Lake Village . Discovered in 1892 by Arthur Bulleid , it was inhabited by about 200 people living in 14 roundhouses , and was built on a morass on an artificial foundation of timber filled with brushwood, bracken , rubble and clay. Investigation of
4292-537: The second largest hoard ever found from the Roman Empire included coins dated from as early as 31–30 BC up until 224 AD. The hoard also contained two rare coins which had not been discovered in Britain before, and the largest number of silver denarii ever found in Britain. A number of Anglo-Saxon charters document the incorporation of areas of moor in estates, suggesting that the area continued to be exploited. It
4408-485: The Axe on a bridge, obstructed river traffic beyond the wharf, making it the limit of navigation for coastal vessels. An Act of 1915 authorised the drainage of the river and installation of a flood gate at Bleadon, although attempts to control the water had occurred on Bleadon Level since medieval times, including an early windmill , in 1613, to pump water into the sea from behind a sea wall. Burnham-on-Sea (population 18,401)
4524-481: The Bronze Age. It is the site of an Iron Age hillfort known as Brent Knoll Camp , with multiple ramparts ( multivallate ) following the contours of the hill. Several settlements and hill forts were built on the natural "islands" of slightly raised land, including Brent Knoll, Glastonbury , and the low range of the Polden Hills . According to legend Ider son of Nuth, who was one of King Arthur 's knights, went to
4640-472: The Dutch warship Helderenberg . Ann Smith , wealthy widow of a London sugar-baker , gave him £1,000. On 30 May 1685 Monmouth set sail for South West England , a strongly Protestant region, with three small ships, four light field guns, and 1500 muskets . He landed on 11 June with 82 supporters, including Lord Grey of Warke , Nathaniel Wade , and Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun . They gathered about 300 men on
4756-491: The Glastonbury Lake Village, and it was used in the construction of several Iron Age causeways. The willow was harvested using traditional methods of pollarding , where a tree would be cut back to the main stem. New shoots of willow, called "withies", would grow out of the trunk and these would be cut periodically for use. During the 1930s, over 9,000 acres (36 km ) of willow were being grown commercially on
Whitelake River - Misplaced Pages Continue
4872-437: The King's Regiment of Horse which alerted the rest of the royalist forces. The superior training of the regular army and their horses routed the rebel forces by outflanking them. His untrained supporters were quickly defeated by the professionals, and hundreds were cut down by cannon- and musket-fire. The death count on the rebel side has variously been given as between 727 and 2,700, with royalist losses of 27 who were buried in
4988-421: The Levels, such as thatching (using reeds) and basket making (using willow), have been in decline since the second half of the 20th century. Combined with the recent drop in farm incomes, this poses a potential threat to the "traditional" nature of the area as a whole. Subsidies are paid to farmers who manage their land in the traditional way. In 2009, National Grid began public consultations over plans to build
5104-424: The Levels. Largely because of the replacement of baskets by plastic bags and cardboard boxes, the industry has severely declined since the 1950s. By the end of the 20th century only about 350 acres (1.4 km ) were grown commercially, near the villages of Burrowbridge , Westonzoyland , and North Curry . The Somerset Levels is now the only area in the UK where basket willow is grown commercially. For weaving,
5220-554: The Meare Pool indicates that it was formed by the encroachment of raised peat bogs , particularly during the Subatlantic climatic period (1st millennium BC), and core sampling demonstrates that it is filled with at least 2 metres (6.6 ft) of detritus mud. The two villages within Meare Pool appear to originate from a collection of structures erected on the surface of the dried peat, such as tents, windbreaks and animal folds. Clay
5336-549: The Middle Ages, the monasteries of Glastonbury , Athelney , and Muchelney were responsible for much of the drainage. In 1129, the Abbot of Glastonbury was recorded as inspecting enclosed land at Lympsham . Efforts to control flooding on the Parrett were recorded around the same date. In 1234, 722 acres (2.9 km ) were reclaimed near Westonzoyland and, from the accounts in the abbey's rent books, this had increased to 972 acres (393 ha) by 1240. Flooding of adjacent moor land
5452-700: The Moors and Levels are the rivers Axe , Brue , Huntspill , Parrett , Tone , and Yeo , together with the King's Sedgemoor Drain , an artificial channel into which the River Cary now runs. Previously, the Cary ran into the Tone while the Brue ran through Meare Pool (now drained) and the Panborough Gap, and then into the Axe. Another accomplishment in the Middle Ages was the construction of
5568-432: The Mount of Frogs on a quest to slay three giants who lived there. The fort has been claimed as the site of the Battle of Mons Badonicus . Sea salt was extracted during the Roman period, and a string of settlements were set up along the Polden Hills. Some possible settlement sites are also known in the Draycott and Cheddar Moors and around Highbridge . The discovery at Shapwick of 9,238 silver Roman coins ,
5684-410: The Parrett Catchment Partnership, a partnership of 30 organisations that aims to create a consensus on how water is to be managed, in particular, looking at new ways to achieve sustainable benefits for all local stakeholders. During 2009 and 2010, work was undertaken to upgrade sluice gates, watercourses, and culverts to enable seasonal flooding of Southlake Moor during the winter diverting water from
5800-431: The Parrett catchment area into eight sub-areas, with the Somerset Levels and Moors falling into sub-area 6 and Bridgwater falling into sub-area 7. As part of the published flood risk assessments for both these sub-areas, it is recognised that: at a future date a tidal clyse may be needed on the Parrett; this causes a funding dilemma; and, geomorphology studies of the Parrett and the Tone are needed to help address many of
5916-408: The Rebellion and a later march on London would have been possible. On 26 June, Monmouth moved towards Bath and, arriving on the south side of it, found it had also been occupied by royalist troops. He camped for the night in Philips Norton (now Norton St Philip ), where his forces were attacked on the morning of 27 June by the leading elements of Feversham's forces, which had now combined into
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#17328480589306032-423: The Second World War further additions to the defences were made, using the remains of a Mulberry harbour ; the present curved concrete wall was completed in 1988. Highbridge , which neighbours Burnham, is near the mouth of the River Brue and the villages of East and West Huntspill . Along with the rest of South West England the Somerset Levels have a temperate climate, which is generally wetter and milder than
6148-442: The Somerset Levels as a "cultural landscape". It was suggested that if this bid were successful it could improve flood control, but only if wetland fens were created again; the plans were abandoned in 2010. The Somerset Levels form a natural region that has been designated as a national character area – No. 142 – by Natural England , the public body responsible for England's natural environment. Neighbouring natural regions are:
6264-421: The South West, as these were seen as having the highest number of opponents of the monarchy. Argyll and Monmouth both began their expeditions from Holland, where James's nephew and son-in-law, stadtholder William III of Orange , had not detained them or put a stop to their recruitment efforts. Argyll sailed to Scotland and, on arriving there, raised recruits mainly from his own clan, the Campbells , as part of
6380-410: The Wiltshire Militia had marched from Bath to Trowbridge , and on 29 June entered Westbury . Hearing that an army supporting him had gathered near Bridgwater, Monmouth turned back through Shepton Mallet and arrived in Wells on 1 July. His men damaged the Bishop's Palace and the west front of Wells Cathedral , tearing lead from the roof to make bullets, breaking the windows, smashing the organ and
6496-404: The administrative centre of the Sedgemoor district, and a major industrial centre. With a population of 33,698, it straddles the major communication routes through South West England . Situated on the edge of the Somerset Levels, along both banks of the River Parrett and 10 miles (16 km) from its mouth, it was at one time a major port and trading centre. The hamlet of Dunball forms part of
6612-437: The areas to the north by the rivers Axe and Brue . The Mendip Hills separate the Somerset Levels from the North Somerset Levels . The Somerset Levels consist of marine clay "levels" along the coast and inland peat-based "moors"; agriculturally, about 70 per cent is used as grassland and the rest is arable. Willow and teazel are grown commercially and peat is extracted. A Palaeolithic flint tool found in West Sedgemoor
6728-512: The assistance of the local militias they attempted to stop new recruits arriving in Taunton to join Monmouth. Feversham meanwhile moved with his forces into Bristol , on the assumption that this would be Monmouth's next target, and took overall charge of the campaign. Monmouth and his growing force then continued north to Bridgwater , where he took up residence at Bridgwater Castle on 21 June, Glastonbury (22 June) and on to Shepton Mallet , arriving on 23 June in worsening weather. Meanwhile,
6844-413: The best horses provided by local supporters. Fletcher shot and killed Dare and was then put under arrest and sent back to the frigate Helderenberg . The next day, 40 cavalry and 400 foot soldiers, under the command of Lord Grey and Wade, moved on to the nearby town of Bridport , where they encountered 1,200 men from the local royalist Dorset militia . The skirmish ended in a Royalist victory, with
6960-417: The chief cause of rain. In summer, a large proportion of the rainfall is caused by the Sun heating the land, leading to convection and to showers and thunderstorms. Average rainfall is around 700 mm (28 in), and about 8–15 days of snowfall is typical. November to March have the highest mean wind speeds, and June to August have the lightest winds. The predominant wind direction is from the southwest. It
7076-507: The churchyard of the Church of St Mary the Virgin in Westonzoyland , which was used as a prison for rebel soldiers. Monmouth fled from the field of battle, but was captured in a ditch on 8 July (either at Ringwood in the New Forest , or at Horton in Dorset ). Parliament had passed an Act of Attainder , on 13 June sentencing Monmouth to death as a traitor, therefore no trial was needed before his execution . Despite begging for mercy and claims of conversion to Roman Catholicism , he
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#17328480589307192-421: The county of Somerset . On 15 June he fought with the militia at Axminster , taking the town before the militias could join up. More recruits joined his disorganised force, which was now around 6,000, consisting mostly of nonconformists , artisans , and farm workers armed with farm tools (such as pitchforks). One famous supporter was the young Daniel Defoe . Monmouth again denounced the king in Chard and
7308-409: The county of Somerset may derive its name from Sumorsaete , meaning land of the summer people . An alternative suggestion is that the name derives from Seo-mere-saetan meaning "settlers by the sea lakes". The Neolithic people continued to exploit the reedswamps for their natural resources and started to construct wooden trackways such as the Sweet and Post Tracks . The Sweet Track, named after
7424-401: The crown go to Charles's illegitimate son, James Scott, who became the Duke of Monmouth. In 1679, with the Exclusion Bill – which would exclude the King's brother and heir presumptive, James, Duke of York, from the line of succession – in danger of passing, Charles II dissolved Parliament. Two further Parliaments were elected in 1680 and 1681, but were dissolved for the same reason. After
7540-548: The current defences for five years while undertaking further studies of available options. Although the Environment Agency have made plans for the regular winter flooding, still in recent years this has resulted in a number of villages — including Muchelney and Westonzoyland — being cut off. In November 2012, during the 2012 Great Britain and Ireland floods , after six days Somerset County Council -funded BARB rescue boats reached Muchelney on 29 November, rescuing nearly 100 people. Rescue boats were again required during
7656-502: The digging of rhynes (a local name for drainage channels, pronounced "reens" in the east and rhyne to the west) between plots, and wrote in his Agriculture of the County of Somerset that 4,400 acres (18 km ) had been enclosed in the last 20 years in Wedmore and Meare , 350 acres (1.4 km ) at Nyland, 900 acres (3.64 km ) at Blackford, 2,000 acres (8 km ) at Mark , 100 acres (0.4 km ) in Shapwick , and 1,700 acres (7 km ) at Westhay . At Westhay Moor in
7772-402: The early 17th century, during the time of King James I , abortive plans were made to drain and enclose much of Sedgemoor , which the local Lords supported but opposed by the Commoners who would have lost grazing rights. In 1632, Charles I sold the Crown's interest in the scheme, and it was taken over by a consortium that included Sir Cornelius Vermuyden , a Dutch drainage engineer. However,
7888-452: The early 19th century, it was shown how peat bogs could be successfully drained and top-dressed with silt deposited via flooding, creating a very rich soil. The character of the soil was also changed by the spreading of clay and silt from the digging of King's Sedgemoor Drain. Little attempt was made during the 17th and 18th centuries to pump water, possibly because the coal-driven Newcomen steam engines would have been uneconomical. It
8004-404: The failure of Charles II and his wife to produce any children. A defrocked Anglican clergyman, Titus Oates , spoke of a " Popish Plot " to kill Charles and to put the Duke of York on the throne. The Earl of Shaftesbury , a former government minister and a leading opponent of Catholicism, attempted to have James excluded from the line of succession. Some members of Parliament even proposed that
8120-538: The failure of the rebellion in Scotland arrived that day, while the makeshift army was camped in Frome. Argyll 's small force had been involved in minor skirmishes at Greenock and Ellangreig . He took Ardkinglass castle , but after disagreements with key supporters about when and where to fight the royalists commanded by Rosse and William Cleland , his supporters dwindled away and the Scottish rebellion failed. The rebels planned to go next to Warminster , where there were many nonconformist wool workers, but on 27 June
8236-557: The first day at Lyme Regis in Dorset , where a long statement prepared by Ferguson denounced the king. King James had previously received intelligence about the impending plot, and the ships leaving Holland, ten days before. He was warned of Monmouth's arrival soon after the first landing. The mayor of the town, Gregory Alford, informed the local militia regiments while Samuel Damsell and another customs officer rode from Lyme to London, arriving on 13 June, having ridden 200 miles (322 km). To face Monmouth's rebels, John Churchill
8352-402: The furnishings, and for a time stabling their horses in the nave. Feversham aimed to contain the rebels in the South West until the rest of his forces, including three battalions of British mercenaries sent by William III of Orange from Holland arrived. In the light of propaganda suggesting the rebels had an army of 40,000 and that 500 royalist troops had been lost at Norton St Philip, Feversham
8468-599: The incorporation of areas of moor in estates. In 1685, the Battle of Sedgemoor was fought in the Bussex area of Westonzoyland at the conclusion of the Monmouth Rebellion . As a result of the wetland nature of the Levels, the area contains a rich biodiversity of national and international importance. It supports a vast variety of plant and bird species and is an important feeding ground for birds and includes 32 Sites of Special Scientific Interest , of which 12 are also Special Protection Areas . The area has been extensively studied for its biodiversity and heritage, and has
8584-405: The land for up to 7 years. Since 1990, the drainage boards have been charged with watching the rhynes and keeping them clear, under the overall responsibility of the Environment Agency. With rising sea levels, the work required to maintain the sea defences is likely to become more expensive, and it has been proposed that two inland seas be created. Other studies have recommended maintaining
8700-423: The moors was not possible: thus, water is pumped up into the river throughout the year. The Sowy River between the River Parrett and King's Sedgemoor Drain was completed in 1972. The Levels and Moors are now artificially drained by a network of rhynes which are pumped up into "drains". Water levels are managed by the Levels internal drainage boards (IDBs); the Levels are not as intensively drained or farmed as
8816-692: The more unusual products still made are passenger baskets for hot air balloons , the frames inside the Bearskins worn by the regiments of the Grenadier Guards , and an increasing number of willow coffins . Another use of willow has been found by the Coate family, who make artists' charcoals in Stoke St Gregory . It has become in 30 years the leading artists' charcoal manufacturer in Europe, producing most of
8932-464: The mouth of the river date back to 1939, at the start of World War II, and have not been resolved. On 13 December 1981, a large Atlantic storm hit the North Somerset coast . Meteorological conditions caused a large storm surge which coincided with high astronomical tides in the Bristol Channel and Severn Estuary . Wind speeds were measured at 40 knots (74 km/h; 46 mph). Overtopping of
9048-557: The natural "islands" of slightly raised land, including Brent Knoll and Glastonbury . In the Roman period sea salt was extracted and a string of settlements were set up along the Polden Hills. The discovery at Shapwick of 9,238 silver Roman coins , known as the Shapwick Hoard , was the second-largest ever found from the time of the Roman Empire . A number of Saxon charters document
9164-853: The natural charcoals sold under different art-material brands. Monmouth Rebellion The Monmouth Rebellion , also known as the Pitchfork Rebellion , the Revolt of the West or the West Country rebellion , was an attempt to depose James II , who in February 1685 succeeded his brother Charles II as king of England , Scotland and Ireland . A group of dissident Protestants led by James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth , eldest illegitimate son of Charles II, opposed James largely due to his Catholicism . The failure of Parliamentary efforts to exclude James from
9280-434: The next few weeks, Monmouth's growing army of nonconformists , artisans and farm workers fought a series of skirmishes with local militias and regular soldiers commanded by Louis de Duras, 2nd Earl of Feversham , and John Churchill . However, his recruits were unable to compete with the regular army and failed to capture the city of Bristol . The rebellion ended with his defeat at the Battle of Sedgemoor on 6 July 1685 by
9396-551: The next six weeks, he would approve it. Such plan would likely include the dredging of the rivers Tone and Parrett, and possibly a later sluice near Bridgwater. There have been public protests about the river Parrett not being dredged in recent years. In mid-February 2014 the Environment Agency began installing giant pumps imported from the Netherlands to alleviate the continuing flooding. A Palaeolithic flint tool found in Westbury
9512-407: The old roads, in contrast to the old hollow ways found in other areas of England, are causeways raised above the level of the surrounding land, with a drainage ditch running along each side. Most of the settlements on the Levels are small villages. In the south, Aller , which has a population of 374, includes the hamlet of Beer (sometimes Bere ) and the deserted medieval village of Oath on
9628-521: The opposite bank of the River Parrett. The area known as the Isle of Athelney was once a very low isolated island linked by a causeway to East Lyng , each end of which was protected by a semi-circular stockade and ditch. The ditch on the island is now known to date from the Iron Age , and was used by Alfred the Great as a fort before the Battle of Ethandun in May 878; in gratitude for his victory Alfred founded
9744-420: The peat digger who discovered it in 1970 and dating from the 3800s BC, is the world's oldest timber trackway , once thought to be the world's oldest engineered roadway. The track was built between what was in the early 4th millennium BC an island at Westhay and a ridge of high ground at Shapwick , close to the River Brue . The remains of similar tracks have been uncovered nearby, connecting settlements on
9860-413: The peat formation took place in swamp conditions around 6,000 years ago, although in some areas it continued into medieval times. It is a mainly agricultural region, typically with open fields of permanent grass surrounded by ditches with willow trees. Access to individual areas, especially for cattle, was provided by means of " droves ", i.e. green lanes, leading off the public highways. Some of
9976-494: The port on the river. Burrowbridge lies on the River Parrett further inland. The name probably comes from the Old English buruh (fortified hill) and bryċġ (bridge). In the village is Burrow Mump , an ancient earthwork now owned by the National Trust . Burrow Mump is also known as St Michael's Borough or Tutteyate. It is a natural hill of Triassic sandstone capped by Keuper marl . Excavations showed evidence of
10092-507: The project, and on 15 September 2016 the UK government approved the project with some safeguards for the investment. In March 2017, EDF, after the Office for Nuclear Regulation gave approval to start building a network of tunnels to carry cabling and piping, started work also under way on a jetty, seawall and accommodation blocks. The concrete pour for the first reactor is planned only at earliest in 2019. In 2010 and 2011, two proposals to build
10208-680: The rain and storms from Cyclone Dirk in the turn of the year 2014, and subsequently during the Winter flooding of 2013–14 on the Somerset Levels . On 24 January 2014, in light of the continued flooded extent of the Somerset Moors and forecast new rainfall as part of the Winter storms of 2013–14 in the United Kingdom , both Somerset County Council and Sedgemoor District Council declared a major incident . At this time, with 17,000 acres (6,900 ha) of agricultural land having been under water for over
10324-466: The rest of the country. The annual mean temperature is approximately 10 °C (50.0 °F ). Seasonal temperature variation is less extreme than most of the United Kingdom because of the adjacent sea. The summer months of July and August are the warmest, with mean daily maxima of approximately 21 °C (69.8 °F). In winter, mean minimum temperatures of 1 or 2 °C (33.8 or 35.6 °F) are common. The Azores high pressure area influences
10440-524: The retreat of Grey and the cavalry followed by Wade with the foot soldiers. Many of the militiamen deserted and joined Monmouth's army. Following this confrontation, Lord Albemarle led a royalist force from Exeter towards the forces of the Duke of Somerset , who were approaching Lyme Regis from the opposite direction. Monmouth learned of the approach of royalist reinforcements and departed, but instead of marching to London, he headed north with his force towards
10556-410: The sea defences along a 7 miles (11 km) stretch of the Somerset coast at 22 locations from Clevedon to Porlock began after 19:30. Although there was no loss of life, the resultant flooding covered 12,500 acres (5,100 ha) of land, affecting 1,072 houses and commercial properties, with £150,000 worth of livestock killed and £50,000 of feed and grain destroyed. Wessex Water Authority estimated
10672-440: The southwest of England's summer weather, but convective cloud sometimes forms inland, reducing the number of hours of sunshine. Annual sunshine rates are slightly less than the regional average of 1,600 hours. In December 1998, there were 20 days without sun recorded at Yeovilton . Most rainfall in the southwest is caused by convection or Atlantic depressions , which are most active in autumn and winter, when they are
10788-413: The species Salix triandra (almond willow, black maul ) is grown, while Salix viminalis (common osier) is ideal for handles, bases, and the structural members in furniture and hurdles. Historically willow was used to make salmon traps or " putchers ". Products including baskets, eel traps (kypes), lobster pots , and furniture were widely made from willow throughout the area in the recent past. Among
10904-506: The subsidiary titles of the dukedom of Monmouth were restored to the Duke of Buccleuch . The subsequent Bloody Assizes of Judge Jeffreys were a series of trials of Monmouth's supporters in which 320 people were condemned to death and around 800 sentenced to be transported to the West Indies , for ten years' hard labour. James II took advantage of the suppression of the rebellion to consolidate his power. He asked Parliament to repeal
11020-594: The succession in 1681 resulted in the 1683 Rye House Plot to assassinate Charles II and James. Monmouth, implicated as a co-conspirator, went into exile in the Dutch Republic . On 11 June 1685, Monmouth landed at Lyme Regis in South West England where he had widespread popular support, planning to take control of the area and march on London. His rebellion was coordinated with a simultaneous rising in Scotland led by Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll . In
11136-488: The tidal Pillrow Cut, joining the Brue and Axe. In 1500, there was said to be 70,000 acres (283 km ) of floodable land of which only 20,000 acres (81 km ) had been reclaimed. In 1597, 50 acres (20 ha) of land were recovered near the Parrett estuary; a few years later, 140 acres (57 ha) near Pawlett were recovered by means of embankments; and three further reclamations, totalling 110 acres (45 ha), had been undertaken downstream of Bridgwater by 1660. In
11252-602: The total cost of the damage caused at £6M. This resulted in a three-year programme of sea defence assessment, repair and improvement. With 400 properties affected in Burnham-on-Sea , after emergency repairs, Wessex Water Authority began planning new sea defences. Construction work started in 1983 on a £7M scheme, creating what was then Britain's biggest wave return wall . The Environment Agency 's current "Parrett Catchment Flood Management Plan", published in December 2009, divides
11368-549: The tower of Church of St Mary and may have inspected them more closely from the Church of St Mary in Chedzoy , before deciding to attack them. The Duke eventually led his untrained and ill-equipped troops out of Bridgwater at around 10:00 pm to undertake a night-time attack on the King's army. They were guided by Richard Godfrey, the servant of a local farmer, along the old Bristol road towards Bawdrip . With their limited cavalry in
11484-441: The uncertainties associated with a tidal exclusion project. The Levels are at risk from both tidal and land-based flood waters. During the great storm of 1703 , waves came four feet (1.2 m) over the sea walls. The sea wall was again breached in 1799, filling the Axe valley with sea water. In 1872, another flood covered 7,000 acres (28 km ) and in 1919, 70,000 acres (283 km ) were inundated with sea water, poisoning
11600-411: The vanguard, they turned south along Bradney Lane and Marsh Lane and came to the open moor with its deep and dangerous rhynes (drainage ditches). There was a delay while the rhyne was crossed and the first men across startled a royalist patrol. A shot was fired and a horseman from the patrol galloped off to report to Feversham. Lord Grey of Warke led the rebel cavalry forward and they were engaged by
11716-474: The work was delayed by the English Civil War and later defeated in parliament after local opposition. In 1638, it was reported that nearly 2,600 acres (11 km ) of Tealham and Tadham Moors were not reclaimed, with a total of 30,500 acres (123.43 km ) being undrained. Between 1785 and 1791, much of the lowest part of the peat moors was enclosed. In 1795, John Billingsley advocated enclosure and
11832-455: Was beheaded at Tower Hill by Jack Ketch on 15 July 1685. It is said that it took multiple blows of the axe to sever his head. Though some sources say it took eight blows, the official Tower of London website says it took five blows, while Charles Spencer , in his book Blenheim , claims it was seven. The Hangman in 'Punch and Judy' is named after this notorious character, Jack Ketch. The dukedoms of Monmouth and Buccleuch were forfeited, but
11948-491: Was a much larger royalist force in the vicinity than there actually was. Several historians have speculated that if Monmouth had marched as quickly as possible for Bristol at this point, when it was only protected by the Gloucestershire militia, he would probably have been able to take the city and the outcome of the rebellion might have been very different. Once Bristol had been taken, more recruits would have been attracted to
12064-437: Was a port at Bleadney on the River Axe in the 8th century which allowed goods to be brought to within 3 miles (5 km) of Wells . In 1200, a wharf was constructed at Rackley near Axbridge . The Parrett was navigable up as far as Langport in 1600, with 15 to 20 ton barges. The Domesday Book recorded that drainage of the higher grounds was under way, although the moors at Wedmoor were said to be useless. In
12180-455: Was an illegitimate son of Charles II. There had been rumours that Charles had married Monmouth's mother, Lucy Walter , but no evidence was forthcoming, and Charles always said that he only had one wife, Catherine of Braganza . Monmouth had been appointed Commander-in-Chief of the English Army by his father in 1672 and Captain general in 1678, enjoying some successes in the Netherlands in
12296-435: Was completed in 1972; water levels are managed by the Levels internal drainage boards . During 2009 and 2010 proposals to build a series of electricity pylons by one of two routes between Hinkley Point and Avonmouth , to transmit electricity from the proposed Hinkley Point C nuclear power station , attracted local opposition. Discussions have taken place concerning the possibility of obtaining World Heritage Site status for
12412-505: Was constructed during World War II with sluices at both ends to provide a guaranteed daily supply of 4,500,000 imperial gallons (20,000,000 L; 5,400,000 US gal) of "process water". It was intended that in the summer, when water supply was lower, it would serve as a reservoir with water pumped from the moors; and in winter serve as a drainage channel, via gravity drainage. Geotechnical problems prevented it from being dug as deep as originally intended and so gravity-drainage of
12528-515: Was devastated by the UK storms of January–February 2014 . The Moors and Levels, formed from a submerged and reclaimed landscape, consist of a coastal clay belt only slightly above mean sea level, with an inland peat belt at a lower level behind it. Early attempts to control the water levels were possibly made by the Romans (although records only date from the 13th century), but were not widespread. There
12644-455: Was formed only during the last 10,000 years, following the end of the last ice age . Glastonbury Tor is composed of Upper Lias Sand . The Poldens and the Isle of Wedmore are composed of Blue Lias and Marl , while the Mendips are largely Carboniferous limestone . Although sea level changes since the Pliocene led to changes in sea level and the laying down of vegetation, the peak of
12760-636: Was given command of the regular foot in the King's army, and the honour of leading the campaign passed to the Huguenot Earl of Feversham . It would take a few days to assemble the army and travel from London to the west country, therefore initial defence was left to local militias. Over the next couple of days volunteers arrived in Lyme offering to serve under Monmouth. By 15 June he had a force in excess of 1,000 men. On 13 June he lost two of his leading supporters when Dare and Fletcher disputed who should ride one of
12876-574: Was later spread over the peat, providing raised stands for occupation, industry and movement, and in some areas thicker clay spreads accommodated hearths built of clay or stone. The area continued to be inhabited during the Bronze Age , when the population supported itself largely by hunting and fishing in the surrounding marshes, living on artificial islands connected by wooden causeways on wooden piles. There have been many finds of metalwork during peat cutting, which may have been devotional offerings. Brent Knoll has been settled by people since at least
12992-524: Was ordered to engage Monmouth's forces. On 30 June the final parts of Feversham's army, including his artillery, arrived and eventually Monmouth was pushed back via Shepton Mallet to the Somerset Levels , where Alfred the Great had found refuge in his conflicts with the Vikings . Becoming hemmed in at Bridgwater on 3 July, he ordered his troops to fortify the town. Monmouth was finally defeated by Feversham with John Churchill, his second in command, on 6 July at
13108-400: Was partially addressed during the 13th century by the construction of a number of embankment walls to contain the Parrett. They included Southlake Wall, Burrow Wall, and Lake Wall. The River Tone was also diverted by the Abbot of Athelney and other land owners into a new embanked channel, joining the Parrett upstream from its original confluence. The main drainage outlets flowing through
13224-542: Was set on the Parrett. The Levels, as part of the West Country, traditionally produced cider , with individual farms having orchards and their own cider, known as scrumpy . However, over 60% of Somerset's orchards have been lost in the last fifty years; and apple production occupies less than 0.4% of the land. Cider is still produced in Somerset by Thatchers Cider , Gaymer Cider Company and numerous small independent producers. Other local industries that once thrived on
13340-594: Was the subject of a coronation in Taunton on 20 June 1685, against the wishes of some of his republican supporters such as Wade. The Taunton Corporation was forced to witness the event at sword point outside the White Hart Inn, to encourage the support of the country gentry. In Taunton, Monmouth was joined by many new supporters and formed a new regiment of 800 men. The king's force of Dragoons under Churchill continued to close on Monmouth, arriving in Chard on 19 June. With
13456-439: Was used to construct a new bridge over the Whitelake River which was dedicated to the memory of Arabella Churchill and named "Bella's Bridge". Water from the river was sampled both upstream and downstream of Worthy Farm before, during and after the 2019 Glastonbury Festival. Concentrations of the illegal drugs MDMA and cocaine from festival-goers urinating in the open fields were high enough to harm aquatic wildlife, including
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