Weston-super-Mare
The name Weston is made up of two Old English
or Saxon words meaning the west tun or
settlement. Because there are several
places called Weston in Somerset descriptions
were added to tell them apart.
What is unusual about Weston-super-Mare
is that the descriptive part of its name
has remained in medieval Latin. Super
(with small s) means on or above, and
mare is Latin for sea.
The development of every resort is influenced
by different factors and, as a result,
each has an individual character. Weston's
was formed during the 19th century by
local men of vision, entrepreneurs whose
bold decisions turned Weston-super-Mare
into the town it is today.
The 19th century saw Weston grow from a
tiny village of about 100 inhabitants,
to a thriving Victorian seaside resort
of nearly 20,000 people. One hundred years
later again, it has a population of almost
70,000.
More at www.weston-super-mare.com
With
gratitude to the TIME MACHINE
MUSEUM WSM for providing this
historical record and permission
to use it. |
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Clevedon
Edited exerpt from a Town Guide 1897
At the commencement of the present century
(1800) Clevedon consisted of only a few
farm houses and cottages, which were built
on the road from the court to the Old
Church . The entire population in 1801
was only 334, ten years later it was 455;
and in 1821 the number was 581.
During the next decade the town began to
grow more rapidly, and the population
nearly doubled in 1831, being 1147. Christ
Church was built on May 9th 1838, and
consecrated on August 3rd 1839. In 1841
the population had increased to 1741.
In 1851 the population had increased to
2,000
A new pier head was erected in 1893, the
new head is 100 feet long and 50 feet
wide, and is capable of taking the impact
of a steamer without any shock to the
promenade portion; the pier is now 840
feet long and 18 feet wide. It forms a
pleasant promenade, and a good sea breeze
can be always obtained at the pier head.
More at www.clevedon-civic-society.org.uk |
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Portishead
Portishead’s history dates back to
the Roman times. Its name derives from
the ‘port at the head of the river’.
The town was built on the mouth of a small
tributary; indeed the High Street once
met the water at the top of the river.
Iron rings, evidence of where the old
fishing boats used to moor can still be
seen today on the street’s stone
walls.
The town retains a slightly old-fashioned
atmosphere where local traders and shopkeepers
know the many faces of their customers.
The town centre is a particularly friendly
place to visit with wide pavements and
colourful arrangements of flowers throughout
the main thoroughfare during the summer
period.
The current population of Portishead is
approximately 18,000. Due to the new house-building
programme in the area a further 8,000
people are expected to settle in the area
over the next few years making Portishead
one of the largest towns in North Somerset.
More at www.portishead.gov.uk |
