Frome
Co-ordinates
51°13′40″N 2°19′17″W / 51.2279°N 2.3215°W
Frome
/ˈfruːm/ is a
town and
civil parish in northeast
Somerset. Located at the eastern end of the
Mendip Hills, the town is built on uneven high ground, and centres around the
River Frome. The town is approximately 13 miles (21 km) south of
Bath, 43 miles (69 km) east of the
county town,
Taunton and 88 miles (142 km) west of
London. In the 2001 census, the population was given as 24,510. The town is in the
Mendip district of
Somerset and is part of the
parliamentary constituency of
Somerton and Frome.
In April 2010 a large hoard of third-century Roman coins was unearthed in a field near the town. From AD 950 to 1650, Frome was larger than Bath and originally grew due to the wool and cloth industry. It later diversified into metal-working and printing, although these have declined. The town grew substantially in the 20th century but still retains a very large number of listed buildings, and most of the centre falls within a conservation area.
The town has road and rail transport links and acts as an economic centre for the surrounding area. It also provides a centre for cultural and sporting activities, including the annual Frome Festival and Frome Museum. A number of notable individuals were born in, or have lived in, the town. ( Full article...)