Mike Dean

The name ‘Somerset’ usually conjures up visions of green hills, picturesque harbours and sleepy villages with thatched cottages and quaint pubs – but this is only part of the story. What about the slaughter on Sedgemoor in July 1685, or its terrible aftermath, the infamous Bloody Assizes? What dark deeds took place on the coast during the heyday of the smugglers? Who was the curate who ended up in a cauldron, or the abbot who was hanged, drawn and quartered? Why were there riots at Radstock in 1830? The answers to these and many other morbid questions can be found in this book, as we take a look into the darker corners of Somerset’s history, and meet the unusual people who shaped the history of this popular county in unexpected (and sometimes horrifying) ways.

Did you Know? The first postage stamp in the world was issued in Bath – by mistake! Bath’s Royal Victoria Park contains two stone vases originally intended as gifts from Napoleon Bonaparte to Josephine, who became his first wife. The thermal waters of Bath are the only truly hot springs in Britain. According to legend, the healing springs of Bath were discovered by pigs. Bath is one of the most visited cities in the world and countless books have told the history of its beautiful buildings and parks – yet the chances are that this fact-packed compendium will enhance your knowledge further.From ancient Roman curses to the discovery of a planet from a back garden, and from the arrest of Jane Austen''s aunt to the pub visited by Charles Dickens, The Little Book of Bath is full of surprises. Perfect for dipping into as well as reading cover to cover, here is the Bath few people get to know!