From Speed's Atlas 1627. This card with its overleaf text (see below), was among a collection of old negative photographs provided by Bruce Cleaver, The Old Rectory, Thurlbear, September, 2001.

The accompanying 1627 text reads: Sommerset-shire is both a rich and spacious countrey, having the Severn Sea beating upon it on the North side, the South part bordering upon Devon and Dorset-shires, the West confined with Devon-shire, and the East and North-East upon Wiltshire and Gloucester-shire. It took the name of Sommerton (sometime the chief Town of this shire) whence in the Ancient Historian Afferium, this County is called Sommertunensis, that is, Sommertun Shire. (2) The form thereof is large, bearing itself still wider as it stretched into the middle part thereof and contains in length from Brackley near unto Frome Selwood Eastward to, Oure in the West, Miles 55. In breadth from Parsbut Point in the North, to Chard Southward, is somewhat above 40 miles. the whole circumferance is about 104 miles. (3) The air is milde and pleasing, and for the most part subject to such temperate disposition as the Summer-season affordeth, whence some have erroniously conceited, that the Region borrowed her name from the nature of her Clime: yet how delightful foever it is in the time of Summer, with change of the season it may well change her pleasing name, and borrow some Winterly denomination; so full of wet, so miry and moorish it is, in so much as the Inhabitants can hardly travel to and fro without their encumbrance. (4) Howbeit they pass over this with all patience, knowing their ensuing seasonable profits far to exceed any present detriments and displeasures; for as it is fowl, so it is fruitful, which makes them comfort themselves.