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Frome is...a shithole. That's all you need to know. Thanks for (not) visiting.'

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+Frome is...a shithole. That's all you need to know. Thanks for (not) visiting.'
-{{dablink|For the various rivers and a lake with this name, see [[Frome (disambiguation)]].}}
-{{infobox UK place|
-|country =                 England
-|latitude=                 51.2279
-|longitude=                -2.3215
-|official_name=             Frome
-|population =       24,510 (2001 census)
-|shire_district=          [[Mendip]]
-|shire_county =            [[Somerset]]
-|region=                  South West England
-|constituency_westminster=      [[Somerton and Frome (UK Parliament constituency)|Somerton and Frome]]
-|post_town=        FROME
-|postcode_district =       BA11
-|postcode_area=            BA
-|dial_code=      01373
-|os_grid_reference=     ST775477
-}}
-'''Frome''' ([[IPA chart for English|pronounced]] {{IPA|[fruːm]}}) is a medium-sized [[town]] in [[Somerset]], [[England]], near the [[Mendip Hills]].  From AD [[950]] to [[1650]], it was larger than [[Bath, Somerset|Bath]], 13 mi (21 km) to the north. The town originally grew due to the [[weaving]] industry, and weavers' [[cottage]]s can still be found, contrasting with [[Georgian architecture|Georgian]] [[Terraced house|terrace]]s. The town has grown substantially in recent years but still retains its centre, most of which falls within a conservation area. Notable modern day attractions include the museum, the [[Cheese and Grain]] hall (sometimes referred to locally as the "Cheeser", "the grain and gravy", "the cheese and chicken" or "cheesy groin") where many bands play, and the restored [[Rook Lane Chapel]].
-It is unevenly built on high ground above the [[River Frome, Somerset|River Frome]], which is here crossed by a stone bridge of five arches. It was formerly called Frome or Froome Selwood, after the neighbouring forest of Selwood; and the country surround is still richly wooded and picturesque.
-Population of the urban district in [[1901]] was 11,057.
-== History ==
-The [[Anglo-Saxons|Saxon]] occupation of Frome (''From'') is the earliest of which there is evidence, the settlement being due to the foundation of a monastery by [[Aldhelm]] in [[705]]. A ''witenagemot'' was held there in [[934]], so that Frome must already have been a place of some size. At the time of the [[Domesday Book|Domesday Survey]] the manor was owned by [[William I of England|King William]]. Local tradition asserts that Frome was a medieval borough, and the reeve of Frome is occasionally mentioned in documents after the reign of [[Edward I of England|Edward I]], but there is no direct evidence that Frome was a borough and no trace of any charter granted to it. It was not represented in parliament until given one member by the [[Reform Act 1832|Reform Act of 1832]]. Separate representation ceased in 1885. Frome was never incorporated.
-A charter of [[Henry VII of England|Henry VII]] to [[Edmund Leversedge]], then [[lord of the manor]], granted the right to have fairs on [[July 22]] and [[September 21]]. In the [[18th century]] two other fairs on [[February 24]] and [[November 25]] were held. Cattle fairs are now held on the last Wednesday in February and November, and a cheese fair on the last Wednesday in September. The Wednesday market is held under the charter of Henry VII. There is also a Saturday cattle market. The manufacture of woollen cloth has been established since the [[15th century]], Frome being the only Somerset town in which this staple industry has flourished continuously.
-On [[February 12]] [[2003]], Frome was granted [[Fairtrade Town]] status.
-== Arts ==
-The town's main college, [[Frome Community College]], has specialist "media arts" status and has many professional media staff to aid the students learning to best effect.
-Frome has a thriving arts scene with two theatres (The Merlin and the Memorial) and the Cheese and Grain concert hall. Local residents include American [[saxophonist]] [[Alfred "Pee Wee" Ellis]]; frequently broadcast Hardcore punk band "Baysix" and the well known [[Beatles]]' tribute "Sgt. Pepper's Only Dart Board Band".
-Also attracting many people to the town are the extensive range of coffee houses/cafes, including Monmouth Coffee House, Cork Street.
-=== Frome Festival ===
-The annual ten-day '''[[Frome Festival]]''', starting the first Friday in July, is Somerset’s largest community festival, with more than 160 events held at various venues in and around the town.
-== Politics ==
-Frome has a thriving liberal political scene. The current representative for [[Somerton and Frome (UK Parliament constituency)|Somerton and Frome]] and is [[Liberal Democrats|Liberal Democrat]] [[Member of Parliament|MP]] [[David Heath]] [[Order of the British Empire|CBE]], although the seat has been hotly contested for many years by the Conservatives. During the general election of 2005, in which 70% of those eligible turned out to vote, David Heath increased their majority to over 800 votes (1.5% of the total).<ref name="Election results">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/vote2005/html/524.stm BBC News Election Results]</ref>
-==Badgers Hill==
-'''Badgers Hill''' is the home of [[Western Football League]] side [[Frome Town F.C.]] It is a small ground but does the job for the club. The Frome Town ladies' team also plays at Badgers Hill.
-== Historic Buildings ==
-The market-hall, museum, school of art, and a free grammar school, founded under [[Edward VI of England|Edward VI]], may be noted among buildings and institutions. The chief industries are brewing and art metal-working, also printing, metal-founding, and the manufacture of cloth, silk, tools and cards for wooldressing. [[Dairy farming]] is largely practised in the neighbourhood. Selwood forest was long a favourite haunt of brigands, and even in the [[18th century]] gave shelter to a gang of coiners and highwaymen.
-=== Church ===
-The parish church of St [[John the Baptist]], with its fine tower and spire, was built between the late 12th and early 15th centuries replacing a [[saxon]] building that had stood since 685AD, and, though largely restored around 1860, has a beautiful chancel, Lady chapel and baptistery. Fragments of Norman work are left; the interior is elaborately adorned with sculptures and stained glass. It is a grade II* [[listed building]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Parish Church of St John the Baptist  | work=Images of England | url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?id=266035 | accessdate=2006-12-31}}</ref>
-===Cheese and Grain Hall===
-This former farm produce warehouse was converted into a market and concert hall in 1997. With a capacity of up to 800, the hall has become one of the most important popular music venues in the South West of England.
-== Notable residents ==
-Perhaps Frome's most famous son of late is [[Formula 1]] racing driver [[Jenson Button]], who achieved his first Grand Prix win at the [[2006 Hungarian Grand Prix]] on [[6 August]] [[2006]]; his mother stills lives nearby.<ref name="BBCWin">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/5250126.stm BBC Reports Button's first Grand Prix win]</ref>
-== References ==
-<div class="references-small"><references /></div>
-== External links ==
-*[http://www.bbc.co.uk/somerset BBC Somerset]
-*[http://www.frometouristinfo.co.uk/ Frome Tourist Information]
-*[http://www.frome.world-guides.com Guide to Frome]
-*[http://www.frome.towntalk.co.uk/index.php Frome Town Talk]
-*[http://www.fromefestival.co.uk Frome Festival]
-* The Somerset Urban Archaeological Survey: [http://www.somerset.gov.uk/somerset/cultureheritage/heritage/projects/eus/frome Frome], by Clare Gathercole
-* [http://www.somerset3d.co.uk/gallery.htm#f Photos of Frome in 3d (Anaglyphs)]
-*[http://www.somersetonline.org.uk/index_somerset.htm The County of Somerset]
-{{1911}}
-[[Category:Towns in Somerset]]
-[[Category:Mendip]]
-[[Category:West Country Carnival]]
-[[ang:Frōm]]
-[[fi:Frome]]