Street, Somerset

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Friends' Meeting House in Street
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Friends' Meeting House in Street
Street
Image:dot4gb.svg
Statistics
Population: 11,100
Ordnance Survey
OS grid reference: ST483363
Administration
District: Mendip
Shire county: Somerset
Region: South West England
Constituent country: England
Sovereign state: United Kingdom
Other
Ceremonial county: Somerset
Historic county: Somerset
Services
Police force: Avon and Somerset Police
Fire and rescue: Somerset
Ambulance: South Western
Post office and telephone
Post town: STREET
Postal district: BA16
Dialling code: 01458
Politics
UK Parliament: Wells
European Parliament: South West England

Street is a town in the county of Somerset, England, situated on a dry spot in the Somerset Levels, at the end of the Polden Hills, two miles south west of Glastonbury. The town has a population of 11,100 (2002 estimate).

Contents

[edit] History

Its earliest known name of the settlement was Lantokay, meaning the sacred enclosure of Kea, a Celtic saint. In the Domesday Book it was recorded as Lega, a name still used throughout the country in the modern form, "Leigh", such as the villages of Lower Leigh, Middle Leigh and Overleigh to the south of the village.

In the 12th century the Roman causeway from Glastonbury was renewed, giving Street its name from the Latin "strata" - a paved road.

[edit] C&J Clark

The Society of Friends established itself there in the mid 17th century and among the close knit group of Quaker families were the Clarks: Cyrus, who started a business in sheepskin rugs, later joined by his brother James, who introduced the production of woollen slippers and, later, boots and shoes. Under James's son, William, the business flourished but most of the profits were ploughed back into employee welfare, housing and education.

Ironically, the Clark children would often be seen barefooted in the town - not through poverty, but because they liked going barefoot (although it was rumoured that the Clark shoe experts believed shoes to be bad for the development of children's feet, and should only be worn when absolutely necessary)

C&J Clark still has its headquarters in Street, but shoes are no longer manufactured there. Instead, in 1993, redundant factory buildings were converted to form Clarks Village, the first purpose built factory outlet in the UK.

[edit] Education

Strode College is a further education college.

[edit] External links

  • The Somerset Urban Archeological Survey: Street by Clare Gathercole
  • Webcam of Ivythorn Road in Street, Somerset can be found here whilst online
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