Langport
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  Map sources for Langport at grid reference ST4226
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Langport is a small town and parish in Somerset, England, situated five miles west of Somerton in the South Somerset district. The village has a population of 1,067[1]. Langport lies on the east bank of the river Parrett, near the point where that river debouches from the hills on to the Somerset Levels through which it flows to the Bristol Channel. It was previously also known as Langport Eastover, with the part on the western bank being Langport Westover, now known just as Westover.
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[edit] History
Langport (old forms are "Langeberga", "Langeport") owed its origin to its defensible position on a hill, and its growth to its facilities for trade on the chief river of Somerset. Its name looks like Anglo-Saxon for "long port", but it may be the place that occurs in old Welsh sources as "Llongborth" = "Ship-port", where the Battle of Llongborth happened. It was a town before the Anglo-Saxons came and was important during the Roman occupation. It was a royal borough in Saxon times, and in 1086 had 34 resident burgesses.
The first charter, given by Elizabeth I in 1562, recognized that Langport was a borough of great antiquity, which had enjoyed considerable privileges, being governed by a portreeve. It was incorporated by James I in 1617, but the corporation was abolished in 1883. Langport was represented in parliament in 1304 and 1306.
The charter of 1562 granted three annual fairs to Langport, on the 28th of June, the 11th of November and the second Monday in Lent. One fair only is now held, on the 3rd of September, which is a horse and cattle fair. A Saturday market was held under the grant of 1562, but in the 19th century the market day was changed to Tuesday.
Around 1840 the Westport Canal was built which joined the river at Langport.[2]
The main street leads up a slope from the river to the fine Perpendicular church of All Saints, which is a grade I listed building.[3] Close to this an archway crosses the road, bearing a Perpendicular building known as the hanging chapel.[4] After serving this purpose it housed first the grammar-school (founded 1675), then the Quekett museum, named after John Thomas Quekett (1815-1861) the histologist, a native of the town, whose father was master of the school. The hanging chapel afterwards became a masonic hall. Not far distant is the church of Huish Episcopi, with one of the finest of the Perpendicular towers for which Somerset is noted.
Recently two buidlings in the town, The Tudor house and The Warehouse in Great Bow Yard has been restored by the Somerset Buildings Preservation Trust.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Somerset County Council, 2002. Population estimates.
- ^ Dunning, Robert (1983). A History of Somerset. Chichester: Phillimore & Co. ISBN 0850334616.
- ^ Church of All Saints. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-11-06.
- ^ The Hanging Chapel. Images of England. Retrieved on 2006-11-06.
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
[edit] External links
- The Somerset Urban Archaeological Survey: Langport, by Miranda Richardson
- Photos of Langport in 3d (Anaglyphs)
