Langport Town in Somerset

Location

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Map showing location of Langport

Langport is a small town of just over a thousand people in south Somerset. It lies 5 miles southwest of Somerton. Langport, historically known as 'Langeberga' and as 'Langeport' consists of two parts, one on the hill and one by the river. The former owed its origin to its defensible position, and the latter its growth to its facilities for trade on the chief river of Somerset. Many of the houses in Bow Street tilt backwards due to settlement of the land behind the causeway. Langport and Huish Episcopi lie on the east bank of the River Parrett, below the point where that river is joined by the River Yeo (Ivel). There is a causeway across the moor and an important bridge over the river. Below Langport the Parrett is tidal. The rivers flow from the southern hills through Thorney Moor and Kings Moor, through a gap between the upland areas around Somerton and Curry Rivel, onto the Somerset Levels through which it flows past Bridgwater to the Bristol Channel.