Langport

1
Langport Huish EpiscopiPast Future
2
Langport Past

• Langport ancient and historic town, Neolithic
  man first used the ford on the Parrett, raised
  earthworks on the Hill
• The leaning town on the Levels, site of a Royal
  Mint prior to the Norman conquest. Listed in
  Domesday at less than 300 pop.
• Smallest town in England, pop. 1100
• Birthplace amongst others of Walter Bagehot,
  businessman, essayist and economist
• Battle of Langport 1645 saw last Royalist field
  army defeated
• Langport Bank of Stuckey Co, now part of NatWest

3
Langport Past

• Langeburga/Langeport situated on the River
  Parrett has seen continuous rise fall since
  Roman times
• Street plan has changed little since the Middle
  Ages
• Important port until railways came
• With the coming of the railway in 1853, river
  trade declined and so did Langport
• Huish Episcopi was a farming quarrying village,
  its first church appearing by 1179
• Langport remains the town serving Huish Episcopi
  and the locale

4
Langport Today

• In 2000 Langport had a regeneration as part of
  MCTI
• Langport townspeople were consulted but SWRDA
  imposed their grander design and ideas
• The car park received an island, known locally as
  Fantasy Island
• Some buildings were renovated with part funding
  from English Heritage
• Public toilets were replaced with inadequate
  unisex facilities

5
Langport Today

• Langport is more of a thriving town than 10 years
  ago when several premises were empty
• New businesses have set up, two pubs have closed
• Retail outlets have changed since Langport became
  part of Tescoland
• Car parking is still free
• We are a Transition Town
• Huish Episcopi's population continuously expands
  due to new building
• Huish secondary school is expanding to include a
  sixth form
• BUT

6
Langport The Future?

• Langport needs to take more advantage of its
  beautiful countryside to encourage green tourism
• Access to the river is poor and more discussion
  and help from the EA is needed to improve this

7
Langport The Future?

• There are still buildings that need to be
  renovated to avoid a look of a declining town
• Community pride is returning
• Expansion of population is not matched by job
  opportunities, it is now more of a dormitory town
• Traffic volumes are too high for the narrow
  streets.