Wells an ecclesiastical city in the heart of Somerset! A place where bells from the Cathedral and surrounding churches ring out across the countryside. Set at the foot of the Mendip Hills with views across the flat-lands known as the Somerset levels, Bristol (England's second most important sea port in the 17th century) lies to the north as does the county of Gloucester, with Bath to the north east, and Taunton (county town) to the south. All down the west coast lies the seaward side stretching to the north Devon coast - to the east lies Wiltshire and Dorset. To the south lies Devon, and the Cornish Peninsular.
Is it any wonder, when from this, my home town (albeit I lived in the nearby countryside) and thence to the dreaming spires of Oxford, and living in houses that hid secrets within Inglenook fireplaces, that I should one day write English Civil War, Georgian and Regency novels...
Inspiration was all around me, speaking from the walls; as did the passing feet of time through well-trodden cloisters; the ever flowing wells spilling over, the waters constant in trickling along road gutters for the entire length of the town, where horses had drunk from the crystal flow for centuries. Likewise, ancient trees whispered on the wind, the sweet scent of violets drifting from Park Woods. It was a dream place for a child who loved history.
The county of Somerset is steeped in history, and by taking a couple of incidents of myth and legend combined with true facts - King Alfred and the burnt cakes - Camelot and King Arthur...
Cadbury Hill from a distance - the site of Camelot?
See Camelot
View of the iron age hill fort.
Somerset has its famous Admirals too - Hood, Rodney, Somerville, and Blake. The latter headed Oliver Cromwell's Parliamentarian Navy.
And what of glorious castles and grand country houses...
Clevedon Court
Dunster Castle - but two of many glorious residence across the county.
Was Lorna Doone - the novel - pure fiction?
Lorna was pure fiction? But was she based on someone of the time who was indeed involved within a love triangle?
It's a fact the Doone family existed and their depiction within the novel is close to reality in as much as they were pro-royalists who turned to highway robbery and stock rustling due to betrayal, or so their life story reveals. The family was originally exiled from Scotland in 1620 and settled in the valley on Exmoor known as Oare Valley in support of Charles I. It is said they were despised and feared, but one must take into account the fact they ended up residing in a particular area renowned for its support of Cromwell and Parliament in opposition to the crown. The Doones later returned to Perthshire in 1699. Equally a family by the name of Ridd existed, but not quite as depicted. Tom Faggus a notorious 17th century highwayman existed too.
Smuggling in the county was every bit as rife as that within Cornwall, Devon, and Dorset. So all in all, a county with a rich history. Not to mention it hosted the Monmouth Rebellion which resulted in the Battle of Sedgemore between the Duke of Monmouth's rebel forces against the royal army of James II. It was the last hand-to-hand battle fought on English soil, and the novel Lorna Doone is set during the time of the Monmouth rebellion.
The city of Bath synonymous with Regency romances and the iconic image of Pulteney Bridge.
Inspired by Jane Austen's writings and the fact the lady herself resided in Bath for a short while, it's hardly surprising Georgette Heyer (queen of the Regency genre) highlighted Bath almost as much as she did London (her home town) as the heart of haut ton and the beau monde - call it what you will when the elite and royalty congregated and partook of or hosted social events prior to Brighton becoming the in Vogue venue.Though Brighton's short-lived glory in Regency England was barely enjoyed by the Regent himself who died shortly after the Pavilion's completion.
Hence, my home county features a great deal within my novels, depicting the mid 1600s -1800s - though on occasion characters do venture farther afield, even overseas!
