Portal:Somerset/Selected location/12
Midsomer Norton
Co-ordinates 51°17′03″N 2°28′54″W / 51.2842°N 2.4817°W
Midsomer Norton is a town in Somerset 10 miles (16.1 km) south-west of Bath, 10 miles (16 km) north-east of Wells, 10 miles (16 km) north-west of Frome, and 16 miles (26 km) south-east of Bristol. It has a population of 10,458. Along with Radstock it is part of the conurbation and large civil parish of Norton Radstock, and the unitary authority of Bath and North East Somerset.
The town, on the Mendip Hills has a long history, shown by the early churches, but really started to grow, and become a transport hub, with the development of the Somerset coalfield with several pits providing employment until their closure in the 1960s. The town's railway stations have also closed. Midsomer Norton is now home to printing and other industries and provides shopping and service industries for the surrounding area.
It has a rich cultural history and supports several music venues and bands. The town has four primary schools, two large secondary schools and a further education college. Midsomer Norton is home to a leisure centre and several sports clubs. It has been the birth place or home to several notable people. (Full article...)