Minehead Hotels
Hotels in the town of Minehead are often required for tourists who want to visit the region. Some may want to stay at a hotel that has a good reputation. Some may want to stay at a large hotel or a small hotel. Some may want to visit luxury or cheap hotels. Some tourists may want to stay at hotel that are in the town or near the town. Some tourists may want to stay at hotels that have good parking facilities. Many tourists may want to stay at a hotel that is well known and has had good reviews. Some may want to stay at hotels that have classic or modern designs.
Hotels in the town are often required for tourists who want to see the culture and history of the town. Some tourists may want to see the entertainment and history of the town. Some tourists may want to explore the town or region. Many want to stay at hotels that are top quality.
Much of the landscape of Somerset falls into types determined by the underlying geology. These landscapes are the limestone karst and lias of the north, the clay vales and wetlands of the centre, the oolites of the east and south, and the Devonian sandstone of the west. To the north-east of the Somerset Levels, the Mendip Hills are moderately high limestone hills.
Minehead is a coastal town and civil parish in the west of the the English county of Somerset.
The original name of the town was 'mynedd' which means hill in Welsh.
Minehead has a long history as a port with the current harbour incorporating a pier dating from 1616. Trade was primarily with Wales for cattle, sheep, wool, butter, fish and coal. These are commemorated in the town arms which include a woolpack and sailing ship.
Major rebuilding took place in the town following a fire in 1791.
In Victorian times tourism grew as an important industry.
The town is overlooked by North Hill, and is close to Exmoor National Park. The cliff exposures around the shoreline are dramatic and fossils are exposed.[5]
The town has been a popular seaside resort since the 1850s.
The town's location—sea to the north and Exmoor to the south—means that transport links are limited.
There was a small port at Minehead by 1380, but it was not until 1420 that money given by Lady Margaret Luttrell enabled improvements to be made and a jetty built. Vessels in the 15th century included the Trinite which traded between Ireland and Bristol, and others carrying salt and other cargo from La Rochelle in France. Other products included local wool and cloth which were traded for coal from south Wales. The harbour silted up and fell into disrepair so that in 1604 James I withdrew the towns charter. Control reverted to the Luttrells and a new harbour was built, at a cost of £5,000, further out to sea than the original, and this harbour is the one which can be seen today. Privateers based at Minehead were involved in the war with Spain and France during 1625-1630 and again during the War of the Spanish Succession from 1702–1713. The first cranes were installed after further improvements to the port in 1714. Trade continued with Ireland but Minehead vessels started to trade further afield in Virginia and the West Indies, but these dwindled by the 19th century and in 1894 control passed to a newly created Urban District Council. In the 20th century most trade transferred to larger ports, but pleasure steamers did call at the port. The pier was demolished during World War II as it obstructed the view from the gun battery on the quay head. The lifeboat house was established in 1901.
Minehead is located on the A39 road. The Minehead Railway was opened on 16 July 1874, linking the town to Taunton and beyond. It was closed on 4 January 1971 but has since been reopened as the West Somerset Railway. Minehead railway station is close to the beach.
The parish church of St. Michael dates from the 15th century. The tower used to display a beacon light for ships approaching the harbour.
St. Andrew's Church was built of red sandstone in 1877-1880, by George Edmund Street.
The Catholic Church in Minehead is Sacred Heart, built in 1896. The parish, which includes a mass centre in Watchet, covers an area of 200 square miles (520 km2).
Near the quay a cellar dating from 1628 was given by its owner Robert Quirke for prayers to be offered for those at sea, and dedicated a ship and its cargo to God's service after being in a violent storm at sea.
Minehead's beautiful scenery is said to have inspired the Irish born hymn writer Cecil Frances Alexander to write the hymn All Things Bright and Beautiful.
A Monty Python's Flying Circus sketch set in Minehead, features a Mr Hilter (sic) as a 'national bocialist' (sic) candidate for mayor of Minehead and re-unification with Taunton. He is staying at a boarding house with his friends Ron Vibbentrop and Henrich Bimmler.
One popular ancient local tradition involves the Hobby Horse, or Obby Oss, which takes to the streets on the eve of the first of May each year, with accompanying musicians and rival horses, for four days. In fact there are two rival hobby horses, the Sailor's Horse and the Town Horse. They appear on May Eve (called "Show Night"), on May Day morning (when they salute the sunrise at a crossroads on the outskirts of town), 2 May and 3 May (when a ceremony called "The Bootie" takes place in the evening called "Bootie Night" at part of town called Cher). Each horse is made of a boat-shaped wooden frame, pointed and built up at each end, which is carried on the dancer's shoulders. As at Padstow, his face is hidden by a mask attached to a tall, pointed hat.
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