West Mendip Through Time

This book portrays the Mendip Hills, an upland region of unspoilt villages, quiet country lanes, valleys and spectacular gorges. Nicola Foster uses old and new photographs to illustrate how this part of the world has changed over time. The journey begins on the western fringes, where the hills rise abruptly from the Somerset Levels soon to reach the highest point at Beacon Batch, Black Down 1068 feet above sea level. The summit of the limestone ridge affords spectacular views north-west over the Severn Estuary to Wales and west across the Somerset Levels to Exmoor. The limestone plateau with its escarpments continues eastward where the limestone grasslands and exposed rocks steadily give way to the more gentle landscape of the winding lanes and wooded valleys of eastern Mendip. Ask any visitor about the Mendips and they will talk of Cheddar Gorge and Burrington Combe, as these natural features are such a spectacular sight to behold, but Mendip has a far greater diversity of beauty and ruggedness beyond these two giants.
This book reveals the true extent of the countryside and villages that nestle amongst the contours of the Mendip Hills, many with traditions that can be traced back over the centuries.