Thursday, August 29, 2013

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. 

Frome, Somerset

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.   


Frome, Somerset

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.  


Frome, Somerset

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. 

Church in Frome

St. Catherine's Hill in Frome
 
Nut House in Frome

Frome, Somerset

Cheap Street in Frome

Cheap Street in Frome

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. 

St. John the Baptist Church in Frome

St. John the Baptist Church in Frome

St. John the Baptist Church in Frome

Frome, Somerset

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.


Jenson Button Bridge in Frome

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.

41 comments:

  1. I love Frome but have only visited once popping in on the way back home from Dorset last summer. There is a lovely fabric shop on the hill in your pic and we had coffee at the end of the road with the water down the middle! You should tweet this to @thinlyspread who lives in Frome x Oh, I cannot believe the cafe in Paris!!?? Disgraceful!

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  2. Looks like we need to put this town on our day trip agenda. Thanks!

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  3. it looks like such a sweet little town

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  4. What a beautiful place! It reminds me just of what I imagine a small English town to look like! :)

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  5. What a beautiful town! It looks very idyllic, like something out of a story book!

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  6. Frome! I went to Frome in February with my sister and dear friend, and it was absolutely charming. We actually stayed in a little cottage in Nunney (a tiny but wonderful town a short cab or bus ride away), which is definitely worth a visit. They have an old ruined castle, moat and all!, and a fantastic restaurant called the George Inn: http://www.thegeorgeatnunney.co.uk/, with superb food and service. As travelers from the US, it was the perfect way to experience idyllic British countryside life (even if it was a bit cold!).

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  7. Never been to Frome but it's obviously a place I need to add to my list! Such beautiful photos of the church - that would be my first destination in Frome!

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  8. I haven't heard of this town before either, but it's so charming! I'd love to see it myself! The church is just gorgeous! I love the shot with the empty pews!

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  9. It looks lovely! I'm going to put it on my 'must visit' list! Great pics too. (I have to point out that center is American. It should be centre. Sorry, I'm a pedantic English Teacher!)

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  10. It should definitely go on the list. I've made the correction. Being American it's so hard to remember all of the differences. And if I adjust to the British version, it feels odd and like it's not in my voice. Thanks for the reminder!! I'm always so embarrassed by my typos!
    xoxo
    Selena

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  11. I have a few more posts about Frome. It really is lovely.

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  12. It should definitely go on the list!

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  13. I heard about Nunney and the castle. I'm going to have to go back. Thanks for the recommendation of the George Inn. We'll try it out!

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  14. All of England looks like a story book to me. Such a pretty country.

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  15. It was such a pretty day to walk around. Thanks for commenting!!

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  16. It is a great town. It had a really good feel to it.

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  17. That list just keeps getting longer, doesn't it? So much to see and do!!

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  18. I was pretty ticked off about the Paris thing. They weren't nice about it and it was obvious that I really needed to use the facilities. I don't normally dance through a cafe. I'll have to check out the fabric shop next time we're in Frome!!

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  19. I love seeing this little towns highlighted, I dream of one day doing weekend trips just like this!

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  20. Thanks for the comments about the town where I live, it warms the cockles of my heart. It is all that you say, a lovely friendly and very creative quirky place to be. if you do come and visit, pop into OWL which is the arty crafty shop I share with 5 other artists on the Hill. We love Frome.x

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  21. this is a very nice review but you are misled if you think the most of the inhabitants are artists, craftspeople and entrepreneurs. I would suggest that whoever hosted you was very selective in the people you met. I live in Frome and have connections with the town going back over 30 years.It is a dormitory town for both Bath and Bristol and a substantial number of the population now commute to London. Also we have the usual supermarkets including Asda (Wallmart to you) which also employ over 500 people. And being a small town in the rural south west of England with the decline of farming there are a significant number of people living on welfare. Don't let that deter you from visiting but this is not some rural idyll created in the minds of a publicist from Notting Hill. It is a living breathing working town with all it's diversity

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  22. Beautiful pictures. I will put Frome on my list of places to see.

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  23. Thanks so much for commenting, Criss. It's good to get a local's perspective to add to the picture. I'm purely writing as an American expat visiting a local town for the weekend to shop, visit the pubs and the market. It's impossible to get the whole picture of a place in that short a time (it would take a lifetime.) But in the short time I was there, I got the picture that Frome is a special place and maybe a little different from some of the rest. Thanks again.

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  24. Thanks, Mel! We had a great weekend. By the way, we did visit your shop and it's featured in today's post!

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  25. Selena,
    Well done. I thoroughly enjoyed your post and seeing Frome (Froome) through your eyes. CHeap Street is my favorite place.

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  26. Thanks so much, Kerwin! Where are you at this week? Still in the UK?

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  27. De rein :-). Im in Florida; have been for the past week or a little more. Heading to Houston and then to Australia next.

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  28. Criss, I met a few of the locals as well as I strolled through the markets and the streets. You have a beautiful town and great people. I grew up in a rural area, so I loved your town :-D.

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  29. Wow what a gorgeous town! Love the church shots!!!

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  30. "a majority of them seem to be artists, craftspeople and entrepreneurs" rather a bold assertion but not actually true.

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  31. Another lovely spot to explore Selena, it was wonderful to see it through your eyes and I think you wrote about it beautifully :) x

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  32. That is certainly how it seemed during our short visit, but I see what you mean. It's a very broad assumption, isn't it? I changed it to "many" instead of "majority." Thanks so much for your comment.

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  33. My favourite place on Cheap Street is the Hunting Raven Bookshop. Great selections of childrens and adults books with happy smiley staff always willing to help! Great to see local independent bookshops still thriving!

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  34. Frome has always had a corner full of arty-crafty- type people, more than our fair share of 'hippy-type' culture, and it does make us unique. We also used to have a strong industrial base which balanced it out, probably in favour actually of industry, but now most of that has gone, and we are left with the small businesses and the art and craft sector seeming to dominate. In the 1970s when there was a huge influx of people moving to Frome for the jobs that were aplenty, the demographic of the town changed, and it did so again from around the millennium, when the attraction of a quieter life appealed to many from big cities, London in particular, who bought with them their desire for peaceful living and their taste for art, music and culture. Frome changed once again, to the place you described so well. Those of us who have lived here for a long time are adjusting, slowly being lured into this colourful artisan world. I for one love it, from a distance, its not in my blood yet, but it does make the place I live a very colourful and interesting place. There is always something to do, if you look for it.
    We could do with some more affordable housing for the young people starting out in life though, as an inevitable consequence of our appeal to people moving from London and other better paid areas is that house prices are steep to those who now do not have jobs in industry, there is only so much scope for employment in bespoke quirky little town centre shops and art galleries. It will be fascinating to watch where the next 10-15 years takes us.....

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Thanks for commenting. I love to hear from you!