Coordinates: 51°02′15″N 2°49′39″W / 51.037625°N 2.827454°W / 51.037625; -2.827454

Langport
Langport viewed from the River Parrett
Langport  Langport shown within Somerset
Population	1,067 [1]
OS grid reference	ST420268
District	South Somerset
Shire county	Somerset
Region	South West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Postcode district	TA10
Dialling code	01458
Police	Avon and Somerset
Fire	Devon and Somerset
Ambulance	South Western
EU Parliament	South West England
UK Parliament	Somerton and Frome
List of places: UK • England • Somerset

Langport is a small town and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated 5 miles (8.0 km) west of Somerton in the South Somerset district. The town has a population of 1,067.^[2] The parish includes the hamlets of Bowdens and Combe.

Langport lies on the east bank of the river Parrett, near the point where that river debouches from the hills onto 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.

Contents 1 History 2 Governance 3 Geography 4 Landmarks 5 Education 6 Religious sites 7 See also 8 References 9 External links

[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 is speculated that it is the place mentioned in old Welsh sources as "Llongborth" = "Ship-port", where the Battle of Llongborth happened. It should be noted that "longphort" is a term used in Ireland for a Viking ship enclosure or shore fortress, using an identical etymology.

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, a horse and cattle fair on the 3rd of September. A Saturday market was held under the grant of 1562, but in the 19th century the market day was changed to Tuesday.

On 10 July 1645, the Battle of Langport was fought here, in which the last effective Royalist field army was destroyed and the Parliamentary victory in the Civil War became all but inevitable.

In 1826 it was the birthplace of Walter Bagehot a businessman, essayist and journalist, who wrote extensively about literature, government, economic affairs and other topics.

Around 1840 the Westport Canal was built which joined the river at Langport.^[3]

In 1856 the proprietor of the Langport Herald, James Richard Moreton, printed and published the 107 hymn tunes and 6 anthems written by his father, who was the minister of Langport Independent Chapel. This was the Reverend James Moreton’s “Sacred Music”, used by Congregationalists and other denominations in the nineteenth century. [9] .

[edit] Governance

The parish council has responsibility for local issues, including setting an annual precept (local rate) to cover the council’s operating costs and producing annual accounts for public scrutiny. The parish council evaluates local planning applications and works with the local police, district council officers, and neighbourhood watch groups on matters of crime, security, and traffic. The parish council's role also includes initiating projects for the maintenance and repair of parish facilities, as well as consulting with the district council on the maintenance, repair, and improvement of highways, drainage, footpaths, public transport, and street cleaning. Conservation matters (including trees and listed buildings) and environmental issues are also the responsibility of the council.

The town falls within the Non-metropolitan district of South Somerset, which was formed on April 1, 1974 under the Local Government Act 1972, having previously been part of Langport Rural District.^[4] The district council is responsible for local planning and building control, local roads, council housing, environmental health, markets and fairs, refuse collection and recycling, cemeteries and crematoria, leisure services, parks, and tourism.

Somerset County Council is responsible for running the largest and most expensive local services such as education, social services, libraries, main roads, public transport, policing and fire services, trading standards, waste disposal and strategic planning.

It is also part of the Somerton and Frome county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election, and part of the South West England constituency of the European Parliament which elects seven MEPs using the d'Hondt method of party-list proportional representation.

[edit] Geography

Langport Railway Cutting is a Geological Conservation Review site where Gravels are exposed which show scour-and-fill structures consistent with braided stream deposition from the Pleistocene age.

[edit] Landmarks

Two buildings in the town, The Tudor house and The Warehouse in Great Bow Yard have been restored by the Somerset Buildings Preservation Trust.

Close to All Saints Church, an archway crosses the road, bearing a Perpendicular building known as The Hanging Chapel.^[5] After serving this purpose it housed first the grammar school (founded 1675), then the Quekett museum, named after John Thomas Quekett (1815–61) the histologist, a native of the town, whose father was master of the school. The hanging chapel afterwards became a masonic hall.

[edit] Education

Education for children aged 11 to 16 is provided by Huish Episcopi School.

[edit] Religious sites

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. The octagonal tower, which is in three stages, dates from the 15th century but the top section was rebuilt in 1833. It has a number of interesting gargoyles known locally as ‘hunky punks’.^[6] The East window of the chancel contains a set of late 15th century glass depicting various saints, appropriate to the dedication "All Saints". Although restored in the 19th century it is one of the best preserved medieval windows in Somerset. Additionally it is unusual in that the window contains a full set of glass from the same period. The church is no longer used for services and is in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust,^[7] who have carried out extensive rebuilding work.^[8] Its congregation has been merged with nearby St Mary's.

[edit] See also

• Battle of Llongborth
• Huish Episcopi
• Battle of Langport

[edit] References

This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica, Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.

[9] Op cit. British Library.

[edit] External links

• Langport.org.uk
• The Somerset Urban Archaeological Survey: Langport, by Miranda Richardson