Summer Lands

"Somerset" is an Anglo-Saxon name, meaning "Somerton Settlers" - people who settled the land around Somerton. Somerton is a small market town, 20-odd miles to the South-West of here, pretty much bang in the centre of the county.

"Somerton" (again Anglo-Saxon) means "summer dwelling" - meaning that the land around there could only be used in summer - when it wasn't flooded.

So with a little etymological sleight of hand, these are the Summer Lands of South-West England - fairly apt, since it is well shielded from the prevailing winds by Dartmoor and Exmoor, yet still lush and green from the many small rivers which flow off those two uplands, as well as from the Quantocks and Mendips.

Sir Isaac Pitman Farleigh Hungerford