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Langport Hall of Fame Walter Bagehot How to get here is an ancient market town, occupying Many notable people are associated with Langport. Walter Bagehot (1826-1877) a strategic position at a crossing of the River As well as the Bagehots and Stuckeys, we also was a famous Victorian banker S BRISTOL, THE NORTH Parrett, with evidence of Celtic, Roman and Saxon celebrate: and writer on economic and Bristol Channel occupation. It was the site of a significant Civil War constitutional matters, who J23 Glastonbury A361 battle in1645. The Kelways remains influential to this day. Bridgwater A39 J24 It boasts a fine mix of historic buildings and James Kelway (1815-1899) was a successful plant Born on 3 February 1826 in A37 M5 modern facilities. Its small independent shops and breeder and nurseryman, who founded Kelways Bank House, Cheapside, he was Langport Taunton A372 A303 J25 LONDON, EAST wide range of amenities make it a vibrant hub for of Langport. Long known worldwide as the Royal the son of Thomas, a senior director of Stuckey’s A358

The Battle of Langport S the surrounding area. There are lively community Nurseries, and later run by his son William and Bank, and Edith, a member of the Stuckey family. A378 The Battle of Langport, which took place on Langport activities, original arts and crafts on sale and grandson James, it still flourishes today. The family The two families dominated Langport commerce EXETER, SOUTH WEST Yeovil interesting places to eat and drink. You can enjoy farmland to the east of the town on 10th July memorial is in St Mary’s churchyard, Huish Episcopi. for over a century. Bagehot was educated in A HISTORIC TOWN AT THE many pleasant walks around the town, with 1645, was an important battle late in the English Langport, Bristol and University College London. attractive picnic areas beside the river and in the Civil War, in the aftermath of the decisive Royalist The Queketts He helped run Stuckey’s Bank, and also wrote on Further information HEART OF THE LEVELS Town Garden, overlooking the moors. defeat at Naseby. The Parliamentarian Army, under William Quekett (1767-1842) was Headmaster of a wide variety of subjects. His two most important • Langport Information Centre, Bow Street, Langport lies at the heart of the the command of Sir Thomas Fairfax, defeated the Langport Grammar School for over 50 years. His works remain classics: The English Constitution Langport TA10 9PR, 01458 253527 Levels, with its fantastic flora and fauna and Royalists, led by General Goring, and chased them sons Edwin and John were famous microscopists, (1867) and Lombard Street (1873). He edited The [email protected] stunning scenery. With its proximity to must-see through the town and out towards Bridgwater. As the former co-founding the Royal Microscopical Economist from 1861 until his death, and was • Langport Town Council (details below) places like Wells, Glastonbury and Taunton they fled through Bow Street many of the houses Society. Another son, Edward, kept a museum in consulted by leading figures like Gladstone. US • Langport Area Business Group: and a wealth of nearby historic houses and gardens, were set alight, but the fires were soon put out by the Hanging Chapel. The family grave is in All Saints’ President made a pilgrimage to [email protected] the residents. Oliver Cromwell himself was present, Langport makes an ideal and welcoming centre for churchyard. Bagehot’s grave in 1896 and 1899. In 1858, Bagehot See also and wrote a detailed account of this “happy victory” exploring – whether on foot, cycling or by car – the married Eliza, eldest daughter of James Wilson MP, www.visitsouthsomerset.com near “a very strong place of the enemy’s called • historic and natural attractions of south Somerset. C H Sisson founder of . They had no children. • www.visitsomerset.co.uk Langport”, describing at the end how “the enemy Charles Sisson (1914-2003), who retired to Langport Bagehot died in 1877 at Herd’s Hill (now Hurds Credits Text: Janet Seaton and Barry Winetrobe; quitted Langport, when they ran out at one end of after a civil service career, was a well-known poet Hill), his Langport home, and was buried in All the town, we entered from the other.” Design: Belinda Magee; Photographs: Brian Hutchings, except and translator. He is buried in St Mary’s churchyard. Saints’ Churchyard. where credited otherwise. Published 2014.

Digby Denham Portcullis Digby Denham (1859-1944) was born in Bow Street, Janet Seaton Walter Bagehot’s grave Langport adopted the symbol of the son of a baker. He emigrated to Australia where Langport Town Council the portcullis with flying chains in the 15th he became a successful businessman and politician, Langport Town Hall century. It was the badge of Lady Margaret serving as Premier of Queensland 1911-1915. Bow Street, Langport TA10 9PR Beaufort, a generous benefactor who had 01458 259700 [email protected] inherited the manors of Curry Rivel, Langport www.langport-tc.gov.uk Eastover and Langport Westover from her Langport, a well frequented market-town, on the father John, Duke of Somerset. It can be seen river Parr, which is navigable for barges to Briftol, Walk Langport project is supported by in the arches under the Town Hall and on the and occafions a good trade here. Eels are exceeding tower of All Saints’ Church, a reminder of the cheap and plentiful here. Department town’s historical importance. Daniel Defoe: 1727 for Environment The Tour of Britain cycle race coming through Langport Food & Rural Affairs to Viaduct 11 16 to Kelways Bow Bridge Town Garden KEY Moors All Saints’ Church The River Parrett was crossed here in Roman Tesco funded the development of 1 Bow Bridge Langport’s moors, once All Saints’ Church has dominated times, and a bridge was first mentioned in 1220. the Town Garden for community important as pasture to Somerton, the skyline since the 15th century. 2 Great Bow Wharf Bridgwater It was rebuilt by the Parrett Navigation Company, use, when they opened their and grazing, now have Viaduct & M5 North St Gildas Convent There are many impressive ‘hunky and opened in 1841. Just upriver is the modern North Street supermarket in 3 Ensor House community amenity uses. Viaduct Supermarket Hill House was the home of the noted banker, punks’, exterior grotesque stone footbridge, installed in 2006. April 2002. Renamed the Walter 4 Town Hall Cocklemoor forms part At one time Langport had two Vincent Stuckey. In 1903, the French Sisters of carvings unique to Somerset. The School Bagehot Town Garden in 2013, of the popular riverside rail stations, Langport West, and Christian Instruction bought it, renamed it St Church was declared redundant 5 Town Clock Great Bow Wharf it contains two finely illustrated walks, hosting many local Langport East, but both closed Gildas Convent, and ran a school here until the in 1994, but is regularly used for community River-based trade was vital to Langport’s interpretation boards, one about Bagehot and the 6 Town Garden events. Northmoor and in the 1960s. Now the trains early 1990s. The adjacent Church of St Joseph purposes. The east window has a fine collection of commercial prosperity for centuries. This restored other about the pump that saved Langport from 7 Bank Chambers Langport Common Moor speed past on the 14-span was added in 1929. medieval stained glass, and the west window was warehouse, next to Bow Bridge, was once operated serious flooding in October 1960. lie to the north. To this installed in memory of Walter Bagehot. 8 Langport Arms viaduct without stopping. by the trading company, Stuckey & Bagehot. day, a limited number St Gildas ConventRecreation centre 9 Herald House Hanging Chapel Railway transport brought the decline of river Bank Chambers of Langport residents Health commerce, and the warehouse is now a multi- In 1770 this became the 10 Moors – ‘commoners’ – retain Centre Social centre The Grade 1 listed Hanging purpose community facility, including a ‘Bagehot HQ of Stuckey’s Bank, later traditional grazing rights N O R T H S T Chapel is the jewel in 11 Viaduct Room’ and a ‘Stuckey Room’. one of the most influential on Northmoor. Chemin Neuf Photo: Langport’s crown. It is a 15th St Gildas Convent regional banks, with a 12 century structure with 12th Ensor House banknote circulation 13 All Saints’ Church century origins. Over time Walter Bagehot Herald it has been the town hall, a Ensor House is named after Thomas Ensor, a second only to the Bank of itself. Walter 14 Hanging Chapel 6 Town Garden House N o r t h m o o r 10 Milborne Port glove manufacturer who operated Bagehot was born here in 1826 when his family 9 Sunday School, an armoury, 15 Hurds Hill here in the 1930s. The factory mainly made up lived above the bank. In 1875 the Bank expanded to Town Hall museum, grammar school and, Kelways & Clock T H E ladies’ dress gloves from pre-cut leather supplied their new premises next door. 16 Langport St Gildas since 1891, a masonic lodge. Information 5 12 from Tintinhull, employing 30-40 people, mostly MOOR 4 8 Langport Arms Convent Footpaths LANE Centre 7 = H I L L = women, with many more ‘outworkers’. It closed Langport Arms Bank Chambers Hurds Hill

Taunton and K buildings on the Somerton Road. Now at their C All Saints’ Church clockmakers. William Preddy, who worked here in and the Herald offices beside it are now residential. M5 South A B new nursery down the road, Kelways are still the 1820s-1830s, has over 20 signed clocks still in r 10 famous for their peonies and irises, regularly existence. Despite this, the present clock was made to Hurds Hill o e t t o a r r C P winning medals at the Chelsea Flower Show for o c k l e m in London. 15 r Photograph of Hurds Hill: Clifford Lee / David Holmes e their displays. R i v Hurds Hill