Frome

Frome (pronounced [fruːm]) is a medium-sized town in Somerset, England, near the Mendip Hills. From AD 950 to 1650, it was larger than Bath, 13 mi (21 km) to the north. The town originally grew due to the weaving industry, and weavers' cottages can still be found, while grand Georgian terraces also grace the town. The town has grown substantially in recent years but still retains its charming centre most of which falls within a conservation area. Notable modern day attractions include the museum, the Cheese and Grain hall (sometimes referred to locally as the "Cheeser" or "cheesy groin") where many bands play, and the restored Rook Lane Chapel.Also attracting many people to the town are the extensive range of coffee houses/cafes, including Monmouth Coffee House, Cork Street. On February 12, 2003, Frome was granted Fairtrade Town status.

Frome's most famous son of late is Formula 1 racing driver Jenson Button, who recently got his first Grand Prix win at the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix on 6 August 2006; his mother stills lives nearby.^[1]

Frome has a thriving arts scene with two theatres (The Merlin and the Memorial) and the Cheese and Grain concert hall. Local residents include American saxophonist Pee Wee Ellis; frequently broadcast Hardcore punk band "Baysix"; the well known Beatles' tribute "Sgt. Pepper's Only Dart Board Band" and the Singer/Song-writer Al O'Kane .

It is unevenly built on high ground above the River Frome, which is here crossed by a stone bridge of five arches. It was formerly called Frome or Froome Selwood, after the neighbouring forest of Selwood; and the country surround is still richly wooded and picturesque.

The parish church of St John the Baptist, with its fine tower and spire, was built between the late 12th and early 15th centuries replacing a saxon building that had stood since 685AD, and, though largely restored around 1860, has a beautiful chancel, Lady chapel and baptistery. Fragments of Norman work are left; the interior is elaborately adorned with sculptures and stained glass.

The market-hall, museum, school of art, and a free grammar school, founded under Edward VI, may be noted among buildings and institutions. The chief industries are brewing and art metal-working, also printing, metal-founding, and the manufacture of cloth, silk, tools and cards for wooldressing. Dairy farming is largely practised in the neighbourhood. Selwood forest was long a favourite haunt of brigands, and even in the 18th century gave shelter to a gang of coiners and highwaymen.

The Saxon occupation of Frome (From) is the earliest of which there is evidence, the settlement being due to the foundation of a monastery by Aldhelm in 705. A witenagemot was held there in 934, so that Frome must already have been a place of some size. At the time of the Domesday Survey the manor was owned by King William. Local tradition asserts that Frome was a medieval borough, and the reeve of Frome is occasionally mentioned in documents after the reign of Edward I, but there is no direct evidence that Frome was a borough and no trace of any charter granted to it. It was not represented in parliament until given one member by the Reform Act of 1832. Separate representation ceased in 1885. Frome was never incorporated.

A charter of Henry VII to Edmund Leversedge, then lord of the manor, granted the right to have fairs on July 22 and September 21. In the 18th century two other fairs on February 24 and November 25 were held. Cattle fairs are now held on the last Wednesday in February and November, and a cheese fair on the last Wednesday in September. The Wednesday market is held under the charter of Henry VII. There is also a Saturday cattle market. The manufacture of woollen cloth has been established since the 15th century, Frome being the only Somerset town in which this staple industry has flourished continuously. Population of the urban district in 1901 was 11,057. The town's main college, Frome Community College, has specialist "media arts" status and has many professional media staff to aid the students learning to best effect.

1 Frome Festival
2 Politics
3 Badgers Hill
4 Cheese and Grain Hall
5 External links
6 References

[edit] Frome Festival

The annual ten-day Frome Festival, starting the first Friday in July, is Somerset’s largest community festival, with more than 160 events held at various venues in and around the town.

[edit] Politics

Frome has a thriving liberal political scene. The current representative for Somerton and is Liberal Democrat MP David Heath CBE, although the seat has been hotly contested for many years by the Conservatives. ^[2] During the general election of 2005, in which 70% of those eligible turned out to vote, David Heath increased their majority to over 800 votes (1.5% of the total). ^[3]

[edit] Badgers Hill

Badgers Hill is the home of Western Football League side Frome Town F.C. It is a small ground but does the job for the club. The Frome Town ladies' team also plays at Badgers Hill.

[edit] Cheese and Grain Hall

This former farm produce warehouse was converted into a market and concert hall in 1997. With a capacity of up to 800, the hall has become one of the most important popular music venues in the South West of England.