The ancient English county that has survived for over thirteen centuries
While borders shift and empires fall, some administrative boundaries remain remarkably stubborn. Somerset is one of the world's oldest surviving units of local government, with a lineage stretching back to the law codes of the 7th-century Saxon King Ine.
The longevity of Somerset is rooted in the early medieval period. The first recorded use of the name 'Somersæte' appears in the legal framework of King Ine, who ruled the Wessex kingdom from 688 to 726 CE. This makes the county, alongside Hampshire, Wiltshire, and Dorset, among the oldest continuous administrative entities in existence.
The county's history is defined by layers of successive occupations. Following Paleolithic human presence and Celtic settlements, the Roman Empire expanded into the region in 47 CE under the authority of the future emperor Vespasian. Even after the Roman departure around 409 CE, the area remained a site of significant conflict and transition, notably during the rise of Alfred the Great and the later English Civil War.
Geographically, the county's identity is shaped by its diverse landscapes, from the limestone Mendip Hills to the vast, low-lying Somerset Levels. This central wetland area, spanning approximately 647.5 square kilometers, is drained by rivers such as the Axe, Brue, and Parrett. The region's strategic importance is evidenced by ancient engineering, such as the Sweet Track—one of the world's oldest known engineered roadways, dating back to roughly 3807 BCE.
Today, Somerset remains a predominantly rural landscape with an estimated 2024 population of over one million people. While its industrial past includes prominent coal mining in the 18th and 19th centuries, the modern county is characterized by its historic cities like Bath and Wells, and its significant role in the UK's cultural and agricultural heritage.
Source: Somerset
