Minehead
Coordinates: 51 ° 12 ′ N , 3 ° 29 ′ W
Minehead is a town on the north coast of Somerset ( England ) and is the largest town in the Exmoor region with around 10,000 inhabitants. Minehead is right on the ocean and is a typical Victorian seaside resort that, although past its prime, is still a tourist destination.
The French town of Saint-Berthevin in the Mayenne department has been twinned since 1991 . There is a school partnership with the Freiherr-vom-Stein-Gymnasium (Bünde) .
location
Minehead is on the Bristol Channel and its beach forms the western end of Bridgwater Bay . The city of Bridgwater is around 30 km east, the county capital, Taunton around 40 km southwest and Exeter a good 70 km south.
history
Minehead was first mentioned in writing in the Domesday Book in 1087. Since 1465, May 1st has been Minehead's feast day. A great fire destroyed the center of Minehead in 1791, only two stone houses remained. Since 1974 Minehead has been administered by the West Somerset District Council . The Town Council was founded in 1983.
In the Monmouth Rebellion in 1685, seven rebels came from Minehead. On July 16, 1874, the railway connection to Taunton was completed by the Minehead Railway . The line was closed on January 4, 1971 by British Railways , but reopened at Easter 1976 as a private heritage railway by the West Somerset Railway .
traffic
Minehead is the terminus of the West Somerset Railway and is located on the A 39 coast road. The next larger towns along the A 39 are west of Porlock and east of Dunster . In Dunster, the A 396 branches off from the A 39 to the south.
tourism
Minehead's time as a seaside resort began with the railroad. The Quay Town, located on the pebble beach, offers what you would expect from an English seaside resort. Tourism reached its peak here in Victorian times when there was finally a train connection to the water. A city tour through the steep old town streets to the thatched houses around the church is recommended. Minehead is the starting point for the South West Coast Path . The Minehead & West Somerset Golf Club , was founded in 1882 and is the oldest golf club in the Somerset region. There is also the Thurso Golf Club. There is a small fishery sacristy at the train station. Minehead is also home to one of the five Butlins holiday camps .
sons and daughters of the town
Science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke was born on Blenheim Road in Minehead on December 16, 1917 ; he died in Colombo in 2008 . British TV presenter Stephen Mulhern was born on April 4, 1977 in Minehead.
Web links
- Official website of the Town Council (English)