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| Norton Fitzwarren | |
  Norton Fitzwarren shown within Somerset |
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| Population | 2,325 |
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| OS grid reference | |
| District | Taunton Deane |
| Shire county | Somerset |
| Region | South West |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | TAUNTON |
| Postcode district | TA2 |
| Dialling code | 01823 |
| Police | Avon and Somerset |
| Fire | Devon and Somerset |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| European Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament | Taunton |
| List of places: UK • England • Somerset | |
Norton Fitzwarren is a village and parish in Somerset, England, situated two miles north west of Taunton in the Taunton Deane district. The village has a population of 2,325 .
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History
The village is on the southern slope of Norton Camp, a large hillfort that shows evidence of occupation from neolithic times, through the Bronze Age, to the Roman occupation of Britain.
Railway
Norton Fitzwarren is on the former Bristol and Exeter Railway mainline, and site of the former junctions for branch lines to Minehead and Barnstaple. Taken over by the GWR in 1890, serious railway accidents happened here on 10 November 1890 and 4 November 1940. It is now on the First Great Western network. Most of the Minehead branch is now operated by the West Somerset Railway as a heritage railway. After much delay, work is underway to extend regular operations from the current terminus at Bishops Lydeard to Taunton via Norton Fitzwarren.
Canal
Norton Fitzwarren was the site of a boat lift on the now disused section of the Grand Western Canal from 1839 to 1867.
Industry
For many years Norton Fitzwarren was the site of the main factory of the Taunton Cider Company producing cider brands such as Blackthorn Cider. Production was moved to Shepton Mallet after Matthew Clark plc, the UK division of Constellation Brands, bought Taunton Cider in 1995
PoW Camp
It was the location of a 300 person Prisoner of War camp during World War II, initially housing Italian prisoners from the Western Desert Campaign, and later German prisoners post the Battle of Normandy. POW Camp Number 665 - 'Cross Keys Camp', Norton Fitzwarren.
Royal Marines
Just north of the village is Norton Manor Camp, home of 40 Commando, Royal Marines.
See also
- Norton Camp Bronze Age hillfort
- Norton Fitzwarren rail crash (1940)
- Norton Fitzwarren rail crash (1890)
References
- ^ Somerset County Council, 2002. Population estimates.
