Frome, a quirky little town in Somerset

*We were the guests of the Frome Town Council.


Great Britain is so much more than London and as I've said many times before,  I want to see ALL of it.  We try to get out of London at least once a month to explore.  (You can find some of our other trips on my Travel Destinations page.) 

When I came across an invitation in my inbox to spend a weekend in Frome, I'll admit I had to Google the town. (It rhymes with broom, by the way.)   It wasn't yet on my radar, but I'm so glad we had the chance to spend a weekend exploring this beautiful market town. 

It's only a few hours from London and just 13 miles from Bath in the county of Somerset.  It's location makes it a great base to stay and explore the area, a less expensive and less crowded option than Bath with Stonehenge only 25 miles away.   

Most of our English city breaks have been all about history but Frome is all about the present day.  It still has loads of history and charm.  In fact, it has more listed buildings than any other town in Somerset.  But, what really makes Frome stand out is the community of people.  It's a fun, quirky place and has become a hub for arts and crafts in the area.   

The people of Frome pride themselves on their diverse and distinctive town. The market was mentioned in the Doomsday Book and the town had a thriving clothing industry beginning in the 14th Century.  At one time, it was even "larger and more important than Bath".  The clothing industry in the area started to decline in the 19th Century and the population of Frome remained the same for 100 years until the mid-60's when it suddenly doubled.  

Of its current population of about 27,000, many of them seem to be artists, craftspeople and entrepreneurs.   The town is home to galleries, theaters, craft centers and workshops.  In a time when media is bemoaning the death of High Street (Main Street), Frome has a thriving town centre full of independent businesses and boutique shops.  And there is definitely a tight community feel in Frome. It was obvious from everyone that we had the pleasure to meet, Frome is all about community. 

 

We spent some time strolling along Cheap Street, window shopping and following the leet or runnel which is a spring that runs along the medieval  street.  The spring led us to Parish Church of St. John the Baptist.  There has been a church in this spot since about 685 AD.  The current church has been heavily restored.  Frome is also home to many non-conformists churches. 

I also just have to mention their Community Toilet Scheme.  Can I just tell you as the owner of a 46 year old bladder how comforting it was to know that I had access to clean, safe toilets no matter where I was?  Seriously.  Participating businesses have decided that they will allow the public to use their loos without having to make a purchase.  (Paris, are you listening here?  I was once denied the toilet in a Paris cafe because we only ordered drinks and no food.  Not good.) 

We had a great weekend exploring this interesting city.  In my next few posts, I'll tell you a little more about some of the small businesses in Frome, where to eat and stay when you visit and also about their Super Market (and nope, that's not a grocery store).  

Have you visited Frome?  What did you think?

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 *We were the guests of the Frome Town Council.  Meals and accommodation for our stay were complimentary.  All photos, writing and opinions are my own.
As always, I promise to be open, honest and transparent with my readers.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.