The district of West Somerset covers a largely rural area, with a population, according to the 2011 census, of 35,300[3] in an area of 740 square kilometres (290 sq mi).[4] The largest centres of population are the coastal towns of Minehead and Watchet. The council's administrative headquarters are in the village of Williton.
There are 33 Grade I listed buildings in West Somerset. The oldest is either Culbone Church, one of the smallest churches in England,[5] and pre-Norman in origin,[6] or Tarr Steps, which may originate in the Bronze Age, although other sources date them from around 1400.[7]Dunster has the greatest concentration of Grade I listed buildings, including Dunster Castle, which was built in 1617 on a site which had supported a castle for the previous 600 years;[8] the Yarn Market, which was built in 1609;[9]Gallox Bridge, which dates from the 15th century[10] and the Priory Church of St George which is predominantly from the 15th century but includes part of the earlier church on the same site.[11] Other sites include manor houses such as the medieval buildings at Nettlecombe Court[12] and Orchard Wyndham.[13] Somerset has many religious structures, most of which are from the Norman or medieval eras. Some of the churches are part of the Somerset towers, a collection mostly spirelessGothic church towers.
^The date given is the date used by Historic England as significant for the initial building or that of an important part in the structure's description.
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