History UsefulNotes / TheWestCountry

* Music/Coldplay were formed in Devon, and singer Chris Martin was born in Exeter.

* ''Series/{{Casualty}}'' is set in the fictional city of Holby, but was filmed in Bristol until production was moved to Cardiff. Despite the fact that it is meant to be set in the same hospital in the same city, spin off series Series/HolbyCity wasn't filmed in Bristol - it was filmed at the BBC studios in Elstree, by London, instead.

** Adjoa Andoh, who played Martha’s mother Francine, and who also played Lady Danbury in Series/{{Bridgerton}}, is from the small village of Wickwar, Gloucestershire.

* Michael Praed, otherwise known as Robin of Loxley in ''Series/RobinOfSherwood'', is from Berkeley, Gloucestershire.

* OneHitWonder's EMF, best known for their song "Unbelievable," are from Cinderford in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire.

* Series/AgathaRaisin is meant to be set somewhere in North Gloucestershire, presumably by Moreton-in-the-Marsh or Bourton-in-the-Water. It’s a bit hard to tell, since the geography in the show is all over the place.

* Series/BroadChurch: The fictional titular town presumably meant to be in Dorset, with the real life towns of Bridport, Dorset, and Clevedon, Somerset used for filming.

* Series/{{Casualty}} is set in the fictional city of Holby, but was filmed in Bristol until production was moved to Cardiff. Despite the fact that it is meant to be set in the same hospital in the same city, spin off series Series/HolbyCity wasn't filmed in Bristol - it was filmed at the BBC studios in Elstree, by London, instead.
* Series/TheCoroner: Set in fictional small town on Devon's coastline.

* Joel Dommett, host of Series/TheMaskedSingerUk, is from Rockhampton, a small village just north of Thornbury, Gloucestershire.
* Series/FatherBrown: Set in the fictional village of Kembleford, in the Northern Cotswolds of Gloucestershire.

** Dr Alice Roberts, who was also on Series/TimeTeam, but who now present's Creator/TheBBC's archaeology show ''Digging For Britain,'' was born and brought up in Bristol.

* Michael Praed, otherwise known as Robin of Loxley in Series/RobinOfSherwood, is from Berkeley, Gloucestershire.

* Russell Howard, along with his sister Kerry: [[OverlyLongGag And yet again, another comedian!]]. Both born in Bristol.

* Series/FatherBrown: Set in the fictional village of Kembleford, Gloucestershire.
* Phil Harding from ''Series/TimeTeam'' who, despite being a highly accomplished and internationally renowned archaeologist, took a particular delight in cultivating a West Country yokel image with WildHair and [[CoolHat poacher's hat]].

* Creator/BillBailey: Yet another actor/comedian. Born in Bath, Somerset. You can probably see the trend here.

* Lee Evans: [[OverlyLongGag One more comedian for you.]] Born in Avonmouth, Bristol.
* Russell Howard: [[OverlyLongGag And yet again, another comedian!]]. Also born in Bristol.

* Fictional example: Bomber from ''Series/AufWiedersehenPet'', portrayed as a Bristolian by Creator/PatRoach (really from UsefulNotes/TheMidlands).

* ''Series/DocMartin'' is set in a small [[QuirkyTown fishing village]] somewhere Cornwall-ish.

* OneHitWonder's EMF, best known for their song "Unbelievable," are from Coleford in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire.

* Robin Cousins, who won Gold in the Men's individual ice skating the 1980 Winter Olympics was born in Bristol.

** Adjoa Andoh, who played Martha’s mother Francine, and who also played Lady Danbury in Series/{{Bridgerton}}, is from the small village of Wickwar, Gloucestershire, as is the playwright behind Theatre/MammaMia, Catherine Johnson.

* Judd Trump, a former world champion in snooker, is from Bristol.

* Even though he grew up in [[UsefulNotes/EastAnglia Ipswich]], Music/NikKershaw was born in Bristol.
* Playwright Creator/DennisPotter was born just north of Coleford, in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire.
* Michael Praed, otherwise known as Robin of Loxley in Series/RobinOfSherwood, is from Berkeley, Gloucestershire.
* Creator/WilliamMoseley is from Sheepscombe, a small village by Stroud, Gloucestershire.
* ''Series/ThisCountry'' takes place in the Cotswolds in Gloucestershire. Daisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper, the sibling pair who created and star in the series as first cousins, are both from Cirencester (the main town in the Cotswolds) and speak in exaggerated Gloucestershire accents on the show, which was filmed in Northleach.
* The events of ''Literature/LornaDoone'' are mostly set in Exmoor (with a few visits to London); Lorna herself and the Doone clan are actually Scottish in origin, but John Ridd, the novel's hero and narrator, and his family are locals.
* Series/AgathaRaisin is meant to be set somewhere in North Gloucestershire, presumably by Moreton-in-the-Marsh or Bourton-in-the-Water. It’s a bit hard to tell, since the geography in the show is all over the place.

* Creator/JohnCleese of Creator/MontyPython and ''Series/FawltyTowers'' was born in Weston-super-Mare in Somerset and was educated in Bristol. ''Fawlty Towers'' is also set in Torquay (in Devon), being based on a hotel in Torquay the Pythons stayed at with an owner so unpleasant they all packed up...except Cleese, who started writing.
* Creator/JamesPurefoy, who played Literature/SolomonKane, as well as Mark Antony in ''Series/{{Rome}}'', is a lad from Somerset.

* Most working-class characters from Radio/TheArchers ''sound'' like they're from here even though the series is allegedly set in UsefulNotes/TheMidlands. The series was originally conceived at a time when not many BBC employees would have known the difference, and it's stood ever since.


* Ross Hornby of ''LetsPlay/HatFilms'' is from Swindon, but doesn't have the accent as you might expect. The other two members are from the same sort of area, but also do not have the accent and sound more like they're from London.
** Most younger people from Swindon don't have a noticeable Wiltshire accent, or have a fairly mild one of if they do, mostly because the town borders the UsefulNotes/HomeCounties and has received a steady influx of London commuters over the last thirty years or so. Go a bit further west, to (say) Devizes or Calne, and you'll hear it then.
* The Parkinson family of ''Series/{{Butterflies}}'', which was filmed on location in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire -- although until the final episode stated outright that they lived in Cheltenham, most viewers assumed it was [[BritainIsOnlyLondon an upscale suburb of London]].
* Location filming for the Creator/MontyPython sucessor show ''Series/RutlandWeekendTelevision'' was done in Bristol. Creator/NeilInnes' parody of Music/StevieWonder's ''Superstition'' ([[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjyvP1qMucY "Front Loader"]]) can be identified as being on one particular street.
* Creator/MaisieWilliams, best-known as Arya Stark on ''Series/GameOfThrones''.
* James May of ''Series/TopGear'' and ''Series/TheGrandTour'' was born and spent his childhood in Bristol; his accent has become a bit muddled by spending his adolescence Oop North and his adult life in London. However, he pulls out a stereotypical West Country accent for comedic effect on occasion, especially during a visit to that region on ''[[Series/OzAndJames Oz and James Drink to Britain]]''.
* ''Series/{{Shoestring}}'' was filmed in Bristol, although the city is never mentioned by name.
* Mrs Crocombe from ''WebVideo/TheVictorianWay'' is apparently from the West Country (she first notes it when she mentions the region's small saffron industry in the saffron buns video, though the rhoticity of her accent gives an inkling).
* Joel Dommett, host of Series/TheMaskedSingerUk, is from Rockhampton, a small village just north of Thornbury, Gloucestershire.
* Creator/RichardOBrien, of Film/TheRockyHorrorPictureShow was born in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.

* The moles of ''Literature/{{Redwall}}'', with their infamously incomprehensible FunetikAksent, were [[WriteWhoYouKnow based on some Somerset inhabitants]] Creator/BrianJacques met during RAF training.

[[folder:Stand-Up Comedy]]
* Justin Lee Collins: Another comedian who was born in Bristol.
* Creator/BillBailey: Yet another actor/comedian. Born in Bath, Somerset. You can probably see the trend here.
* Jethro: And another comedian, this one born in Cornwall.
* Russell Howard: [[OverlyLongGag And yet again, another comedian!]]. Also born in Bristol.
* Lee Evans: [[OverlyLongGag One more comedian for you.]] Born in Avonmouth, Bristol.
* Creator/StephenMerchant makes yet another comedian, co-writer of ''Series/TheOfficeUK'' and ''Series/{{Extras}}'' (with a small part in the first, and larger part in the second) and also voiced Wheatley in ''VideoGame/{{Portal 2}}''. He also brought an authentic West Country accent to ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'' where he played Amy Farrah-Fowler's second boyfriend.
[[/folder]]





















* Josh Widdicombe from Series/TheLastLeg makes it another comedian -- he from Dartmoor in Devon.
* Although Creator/TerryPratchett was born in Buckinghamshire, his family moved to Somerset when he was a child and he spent much of his adult life in Somerset and then Wiltshire.
* Creator/RobertEHoward's "somber puritan" Literature/SolomonKane came from Devon.
* Creator/JamesPurefoy, who played Literature/SolomonKane, as well as Mark Antony in ''Series/{{Rome}}'', is a lad from Somerset.
* Phil Harding from ''Series/TimeTeam'' who, despite being a highly accomplished and internationally renowned archaeologist, took a particular delight in cultivating a West Country yokel image with WildHair and [[CoolHat poacher's hat]].
* The novelist and poet Creator/ThomasHardy was from Dorset, and set his novels in a realistic but fictionalized version of the West Country.

* Robert Newton, English actor, whose portrayal of Long John Silver in ''Film/{{Treasure Island|1950}}'' using an exaggerated form of his native Dorset accent gave the world the TalkLikeAPirate trope. Arrrr!
* ''Series/{{Skins}}'' is set in Bristol, and the characters exhibit or encounter those who exhibit certain West Country stereotypes.

* ''Series/DoctorWho''
** Creator/JonPertwee received some of his education in Dorset, although he was born in Chelsea.
** John Levene, who played Sergeant Benton, was born and raised in Salisbury, Wiltshire. While he suppresses his West Country accent on the show, traces of it still come out, especially in his early appearances.
** Creator/BilliePiper was born in Swindon.
** Adjoa Andoh, who played Martha’s mother Francine, and who also played Lady Danbury in Series/{{Bridgerton}}, is from the small village of Wickwar, Gloucestershire, as is the playwright behind Theatre/MammaMia, Catherine Johnson.
* Creator/JohnCleese of Creator/MontyPython and ''Series/FawltyTowers'' was born in Weston-super-Mare in Somerset and was educated in Bristol. ''Fawlty Towers'' is also set in Torquay (in Devon), being based on a hotel in Torquay the Pythons stayed at with an owner so unpleasant they all packed up...except Cleese, who started writing.
* Creator/DavidProwse was also born in Somerset and educated in Bristol too, Vader as a farmer, eh. (In fact, that's why Creator/JamesEarlJones dubbed him over; Prowse's voice was just too friendly.)
* Since TripHop got started in Bristol, its early creators embody this: Music/MassiveAttack, Music/{{Portishead}} (named after their hometown) and ''Tricky'' (from Knowle West, Bristol).
* Michael Adams, Britain's current #1 chess player, was born and brought up in Cornwall, and now lives in Somerset.
* Fictional example: Bomber from ''Series/AufWiedersehenPet'', portrayed as a Bristolian by Creator/PatRoach (really from UsefulNotes/TheMidlands).
* ''Series/DocMartin'' is set in a small [[QuirkyTown fishing village]] somewhere Cornwall-ish.
* The moles of ''Literature/{{Redwall}}'', with their infamously incomprehensible FunetikAksent, were [[WriteWhoYouKnow based on some Somerset inhabitants]] Creator/BrianJacques met during RAF training.
* How could we forget Archie Leach (AKA Creator/CaryGrant), born and raised in Bristol.
* The members of Music/{{XTC}} are from Swindon.
* Two of the biggest musical artists of the New Wave era, Music/{{Tears for Fears}} and Music/{{Naked Eyes}}, were from Bath in Somerset and part of the same musical scene in Bath. Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith of Tears for Fears were even in a band with Pete Byrne and Rob Fisher of Naked Eyes before either band existed, called Neon.
* Creator/StephenMerchant makes yet another comedian, co-writer of ''Series/TheOfficeUK'' and ''Series/{{Extras}}'' (with a small part in the first, and larger part in the second) and also voiced Wheatley in ''VideoGame/{{Portal 2}}''. He also brought an authentic West Country accent to ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'' where he played Amy Farrah-Fowler's second boyfriend.

[[folder: Films--Live-Action]]

* Creator/{{Banksy}}: Well-known graffiti artist born in Bristol.
* UsefulNotes/{{Blackbeard}}: The famous buccaneer was also born in Bristol.
* Jenson Button: 2009 UsefulNotes/FormulaOne world champion. Born in Frome, Somerset.
* Judd Trump, a former world champion in snooker, is from Bristol.
* Creator/SimonPegg: The comedian and actor was born in Gloucester. ''Film/HotFuzz'' was set in a fictional West Country town which pretty much showcases the typical West Country stereotypes; it was actually filmed in Wells in Somerset.

* Music/PJHarvey: An influential alt-rock singer/songwriter, she hails from Dorset.

* Creator/EdgarWright: The director of ''Film/HotFuzz'' and ''Film/ShaunOfTheDead'' was born in Poole, Dorset, and grew up Wells, Somerset.

Known for producing huge amounts of cider and scrumpy, cheddar cheese [[note]]to which Somerset is the original home; the village of Cheddar is there[[/note]], clotted cream, cream teas [[note]]of which there are two key styles or 'methods' -- Devonshire (where you spread the cream on first) and Cornish (jam first) -- both of which are hotly debated over which is the better way![[/note]] and Cornish pasties. Naturally, they are all consumed in greater quantities down there than in the rest of the UK. Also gave us the UsefulNotes/GlastonburyFestival too and also is the location of [[CircleOfStandingStones Stonehenge]] in Wiltshire. Also, [[OopNorth Yorkshireman]] Creator/PatrickStewart trained as an actor in this area. Weston-super-Mare in Somerset was also fairly well known for its pier by the beach and was an icon in the West Country; the pier was seriously damaged by a fire in 2009, but has reopened as of late 2010. Is also quite popular amongst engineers due to having such marvels like the Severn Bridges and the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol. The fact Bristol also had an important role in the Aerospace Industry and helped build Concorde also helps - Concorde's last flight ended up returning it to Bristol, where it stood outside at Filton Airport for several years until a new museum, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerospace_Bristol Aerospace Bristol]], was opened with a purpose-built indoor exhibition for it. The local airport also started doing flights from there to New York City a few years back.

* Creator/JKRowling, author of ''Literature/HarryPotter'' was born in Chipping Sodbury[[note]]Incidentally, Chipping Sodbury is also about 10 miles south of another small town who’s name appears in Literature/HarryPotter a lot: Dursley, which is in Gloucestershire.[[/note]], a small town just north of Bristol, and grew up in nearby Tutshill, Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Forest of Dean. However, the series was conceived in [[UsefulNotes/{{Scotland}} Edinburgh]].

* Creator/{{Banksy}}: well known graffiti artist born in Bristol

* Myth/KingArthur. He was a mythical Romano-British warlord turned king who may have come from Cornwall given that he was half-Cornish on his mother's side and his story did begin here when Uther secretly bedded her to conceive him.

* Lee Evans: [[OverlyLongGag one more comedian for you.]] Born in Avonmouth, Bristol.

** Adjoa Andoh, who played Martha’s mother Francine, and who also played Lady Danbury in Series/{{Bridgerton}} is from the small village of Wickwar, Gloucestershire, as is the playwright behind Theatre/MammaMia, Catherine Johnson.

* Creator/DavidProwse was also born in Somerset and educated in Bristol too, Vader as a farmer, eh.
** In fact, that's why Creator/JamesEarlJones dubbed him over; Prowse's voice was just to friendly.

* Josh Widdicombe from Series/TheLastLeg makes it another comedian - he from Dartmoor in Devon.

* Most working class characters from Radio/TheArchers ''sound'' like they're from here even though the series is allegedly set in UsefulNotes/TheMidlands. The series was originally conceived at a time when not many BBC employees would have known the difference, and it's stood ever since.

* The Parkinson family of ''Series/{{Butterflies}}'', which was filmed on location in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire - although until the final episode stated outright that they lived in Cheltenham, most viewers assumed it was [[BritainIsOnlyLondon an upscale suburb of London]].

* Creator/MaisieWilliams, best known as Arya Stark on ''Series/GameOfThrones''.

* Creator/RobertEHoward's "somber puritan" SolomonKane came from Devon.

* Josh Widdicome from Series/TheLastLeg makes it another comedian - he from Dartmoor in Devon.

Gloucestershire has the Cotswolds running through it, and the villages, especially to the north of the county, have lots of picture perfect sandy coloured limestone cottages. Gloucestershire was also an important area in Roman times, and the town of Cirencester, or Corinium, as it was known at the time, was the second most important city in Roman Britain. To the west of the country, on the border with Wales, is the Forest of Dean, a former royal hunting Forest, who’s locals have a dialect only known to them and bit of an reputation with the rest of the county, possibly due to it being one of the most undeveloped parts of the county and one area called Puzzlewood was used for filming Film/StarWars and Series/Merlin2008. Wedged between these parts of the county is the River Severn, which splits almost all the county in half, in an area known as either the Severn Vale. Famous for the Severn Bore, a natural tidal wave phenomenon where too much water tries to get through too narrow a channel (Gloucestershire is where the river widens out into the Severn Estuary, that then leads to the Bristol Channel) comes up through the river twice a month (Usually a couple of days after a new and full moon) and attracts people to try and surf it, until it peters out somewhere north of Gloucester. Due to the Severn having the second highest tidal range in the world, Gloucestershire is bizarrely classed as a coastal county by UsefulNotes/TheEuropeanUnion, despite the fact that the only beach in the county is a man made one on a lake by Cirencester, which is a good twenty miles inland, and the Severn should definitely never be attempted to swam in that section due to it's dangerous tides and quick sand.

* Series/AgathaRaisin is meant to be set somewhere in North Gloucestershire, presumably by Moreton-in-the-Marsh or Bourton-in-the-Water. It’s a bit hard to tell, since the geography is all over the place.

The West Country is the informal term for the area of the UsefulNotes/UnitedKingdom that encompasses the counties of UsefulNotes/{{Cornwall}}, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol[[note]]Between 1974-1997, there would have been another county included in this: Avon, which was made up of Bristol, with bits of Gloucestershire and Somerset added into it for good measure. When the county was dissolved, these bits then became the City and County of Bristol, and the Unitary councils of Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire. With the exception of Bristol, these are technically counted as now being parts of Somerset and Gloucestershire for ceremonial reasons.[[/note]], however with more than a few connections to some South East counties such as Hampshire, Berkshire and the [[UsefulNotes/IsleOfWight Isle of Wight]], the latter of which having a very similar dialect which is largely interconnected with that of the West Country. Known for being very rural with towns and cities being small and spread out. As such it's mostly depicted on TV as farmer towns where the inhabitants wear wellies and tweed and speak with [[UsefulNotes/BritishAccents thick Somerset accents]], even though the majority of people living in the South West actually speak a much diluted version closer to the English of the [[UsefulNotes/HomeCounties home counties]]. Known to everyone else as "Mummerset". Expect plenty of 'oo-ar's!' to be heard and some cunning wit or action to follow. Was known as "Zedland" to wits in the 19th century, owing to the way the accent turns S to Z ("Oi be drinkin' zoider!") Generally a laid-back set of counties too, especially considering the amount of comedians the area has produced. Bristol is the largest city in the region [[note]]with the Bournemouth/Poole conurbation on the eastern edge of the west country coming a close second. Other important towns and cities include Plymouth, Exeter, Swindon, Bath and the Gloucester/Cheltenham conurbation[[/note]] and as such is the focal point for most events of notice.

Gloucestershire has the Cotswolds running through it, and the villages, especially to the north of the county, have lots of picture perfect sandy coloured limestone cottages. Gloucestershire was also an important area in Roman times, and the town of Cirencester, or Corinium, as it was known at the time, was the second most important city in Roman Britain. To the west of the country, on the border with Wales, is the Forest of Dean, a former royal hunting Forest, who’s locals have a dialect only known to them and bit of an reputation with the rest of the county, possibly due to it being one of the most undeveloped parts of the county and one area called Puzzlewood was used for filming Film/StarWars and Series/{{Merlin}}. Wedged between these parts of the county is the River Severn, which splits almost all the county in half, in an area known as either the Severn Vale. Famous for the Severn Bore, a natural tidal wave phenomenon where too much water tries to get through too narrow a channel (Gloucestershire is where the river widens out into the Severn Estuary, that then leads to the Bristol Channel) comes up through the river twice a month (Usually a couple of days after a new and full moon) and attracts people to try and surf it, until it peters out somewhere north of Gloucester. Due to the Severn having the second highest tidal range in the world, Gloucestershire is bizarrely classed as a coastal county by UsefulNotes/TheEuropeanUnion, despite the fact that the only beach in the county is a man made one on a lake by Cirencester, which is a good twenty miles inland, and the Severn should definitely never be attempted to swam in that section due to it's dangerous tides and quick sand.

Gloucestershire has the Cotswolds running through it, and the villages, especially to the north of the county, have lots of picture perfect sandy coloured limestone cottages. Gloucestershire was also an important area in Roman times, and the town of Cirencester, or Corinium, as it was known at the time, was the second most important city in Roman Britain. To the west of the country, on the border with Wales, is the Forest of Dean, a former royal hunting Forest, who’s locals have a dialect only known to them and bit of an reputation with the rest of the county, possibly due to it being one of the most undeveloped parts of the county. However, it is good for hiking, cycling and kayaking/canoeing, due to the River’s Severn and Wye running through it, and one area called Puzzlewood was used for filming Film/StarWars and Series/{{Merlin}}. Gloucestershire is also known for the Severn Bore, a natural tidal wave phenomenon where too much water tries to get through too narrow a channel (Gloucestershire is where the river widens out into the Severn Estuary, that then leads to the Bristol Channel) that comes up through the river twice a month (Usually a couple of days after a new and full moon) and attracts people to try and surf it, until it peters out somewhere north of Gloucester. Due to the Severn having the second highest tidal range in the world, Gloucestershire is bizarrely classed as a coastal county by UsefulNotes/TheEuropeanUnion, despite the fact that the only beach in the county is a man made one on a lake by Cirencester, which is a good twenty miles inland, and the Severn should definitely never be attempted to swam in that section due to the aforementioned tides.

** Adjoa Andoh, who played Martha’s mother Francine, and who also played Lady Danbury in Series/{{Bridgerton}} is from Wickwar, Gloucestershire, as is the playwright behind Theatre/MammaMia, Catherine Johnson.

Technically it's the South West Country but that doesn't have the same ring to it. A crucial note before we begin; in the UK "Cider" refers exclusively to Hard Cider with alcohol in it, anything else is called apple juice.

* Creator/JKRowling, author of ''Literature/HarryPotter'' was born in Chipping Sodbury, a small town just north of Bristol, and grew up in nearby Tutshill, Gloucestershire. [[note]]Incidentally, Chipping Sodbury is also about 10 miles south of another small town who’s name appears in Literature/HarryPotter a lot: Dursley, which is in Gloucestershire. [[/note]] However, the series was conceived in [[UsefulNotes/{{Scotland}} Edinburgh]].

* Creator/EdgarWright: The director of ''Film/HotFuzz'' and ''Film/ShaunOfTheDead'' was born in Poole, Dorset, but grew up Wells, Somerset.

** John Levene, who played Sergeant Benton was born and raised in Salisbury, Wiltshire. While he suppresses his West Country accent on the show, traces of it still come out, especially in his early appearances.

* Creator/JKRowling, author of ''Literature/HarryPotter'' was born in Chipping Sodbury, a small town just north of Bristol. [[note]]Incidentally, Chipping Sodbury is also about 10 miles south of another small town who’s name appears in Literature/HarryPotter a lot: Dursley, which is in Gloucestershire. [[/note]] However, the series was conceived in [[UsefulNotes/{{Scotland}} Edinburgh]].

Known for producing huge amounts of cider and scrumpy, cheddar cheese [[note]]to which Somerset is the original home; the village of Cheddar is there[[/note]], clotted cream, cream teas [[note]]of which there are two key styles or 'methods' -- Devonshire (where you spread the cream on first) and Cornish (jam first) -- both of which are hotly debated over which is the better way![[/note]] and Cornish pasties. Naturally, they are all consumed in greater quantities down there than in the rest of the UK. Also gave us the UsefulNotes/GlastonburyFestival too and also is the location of [[CircleOfStandingStones Stonehenge]] in Wiltshire. Also, [[OopNorth Yorkshireman]] Creator/PatrickStewart trained as an actor in this area. Weston-super-Mare in Somerset was also fairly well known for its pier by the beach and was an icon in the West Country; the pier was seriously damaged by a fire in 2009, but has reopened as of late 2010. Is also quite popular amongst engineers due to having such marvels like the Severn Bridges and the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol, the fact Bristol also had an important role in the Aerospace Industry and helped build Concorde also helps, Concorde's last flight ended up returning it to Bristol, where it now stands at Filton Airport until a permanent museum can be built. The local airport also started doing flights from there to New York City a few years back.

Known for producing huge amounts of cider and scrumpy, cheddar cheese [[note]]to which Somerset is the original home; the village of Cheddar is there[[/note]], clotted cream, cream teas [[note]]of which there are two key styles or 'methods' -- Devonshire (where you spread the cream on first) and Cornish (jam first) [[/note]] and Cornish pasties. Naturally, they are all consumed in greater quantities down there than in the rest of the UK. Also gave us the UsefulNotes/GlastonburyFestival too and also is the location of [[CircleOfStandingStones Stonehenge]] in Wiltshire. Also, [[OopNorth Yorkshireman]] Creator/PatrickStewart trained as an actor in this area. Weston-super-Mare in Somerset was also fairly well known for its pier by the beach and was an icon in the West Country; the pier was seriously damaged by a fire in 2009, but has reopened as of late 2010. Is also quite popular amongst engineers due to having such marvels like the Severn Bridges and the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol, the fact Bristol also had an important role in the Aerospace Industry and helped build Concorde also helps, Concorde's last flight ended up returning it to Bristol, where it now stands at Filton Airport until a permanent museum can be built. The local airport also started doing flights from there to New York City a few years back.

* Michael Praed, otherwise known as Robin of Locksley in Series/RobinOfSherwood, is from Berkeley, Gloucestershire.

* Adjoa Andoh, who played Martha’s mother Francine, and who also played Lady Danbury in Series/{{Bridgerton}} is from Wickwar, Gloucestershire, as is the playwright behind Theatre/MammaMia, Catherine Johnson.

* Blackbeard: The famous buccaneer was also born in Bristol.

* Edgar Wright: The director of ''Film/HotFuzz'' and ''Film/ShaunOfTheDead'' was born in Poole, Dorset, but grew up Wells, Somerset.