Langport

England, United Kingdom

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Article History

Langport, town (parish), South Somerset district, administrative and historic county of Somerset, southwestern England. It lies at the head of the Somerset marshes and for centuries was the main crossing point of the River Parrett.

Founded as a royal borough in Saxon times, by 1086 the town had 34 burgesses. It remained in direct communication with the Bristol Channel until the establishment of the port of Bridgwater downstream on the Parrett in 1200. In 1563 the first charter of the town granted it fairs and a market. The river trade, which had made Langport such an important market, declined with the advent of railways. Borough status was lost in 1886. Pop. (2001) 1,052; (2011) 1,081.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.