Introduction

The town of Frome, in the ancient royal forest of Selwood that straddles the borders of Wiltshire and Somerset, was once renowned for its prosperous woollen cloth industry and is now noted as an emerging provincial centre for the arts and crafts. The town and its environs has a fascinating and little-known history.

Here we will discover stories of medieval kings and bishops, political intrigue and judicial murder, religious dissent and rebellion, battles and sieges, criminals and crime-fighters. Here too are stories of eminent philosophers and authors, entrepreneurs and artists. Stories of ghosts and witchcraft share space with histories of personal triumphs and disasters in the lives of the residents of Frome. The hidden histories of its archaeological remains, extant surface structures and those deep underground combine to further reveal the tale of the town and its Selwood hundred.

About the Book

Fully illustrated throughout, Secret Frome investigates many of the town’s secrets and invites readers to discover the lesser-known events and stories from its past.