West Country

The West Country is a loosely defined area of south-western England.[1] The term usually encompasses the historic counties of (from west to east) Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, and Somerset, and is often extended to include Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, in the South West region.[2] Some definitions also include Herefordshire. The West Country is host to distinctive regional English dialects and accents[3] as well as to the Cornish language.

For the region in Norway translated as "West Country", see Vestlandet.

West Country
One interpretation of the West Country, shown on this map as identical to the South West region of England, incorporating the counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Bristol, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.

Extent

The West Country is bounded by the English Channel in the south and (perhaps partly) by the Bristol Channel in the north. However the West Country's eastern limit is not precisely defined, as different definitions are used. Some definitions are roughly synonymous with South West England,[4][5][6] while others refer to only the southwestern part,[7] or in a wider sense to include areas such as Herefordshire (in the West Midlands region).

West Country Carnival events take place in Devon, Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire. ITV Westcountry is an ITV franchise covering the Isles of Scilly, Cornwall, Devon and areas of Dorset and Somerset. Local news and sport website "This is the Westcountry", part of the Newsquest group, similarly covers Cornwall, Devon and Somerset.[8]

"West Country Lamb" and "West Country Beef" have EU Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status which can be applied only to lamb and beef products from animals born and reared in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire or Gloucestershire.[9] Similarly, "West Country Farmhouse Cheddar" is a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) that can be applied to cheddar cheese made in the traditional way only in the four counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset.[10]

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport-supported website "Icons of England"[11] defines the West Country as including Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Wiltshire, and the former Avon area, but excluding Dorset (in "South England") and Gloucestershire (defined as part of the "West Midlands").

The "West Country" edition of the 2005 BBC TV series Seven Natural Wonders featured "wonders" in Somerset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, and Herefordshire (Symonds Yat), but not those in Cornwall or Devon which were the subject of a separate programme on the "South West", nor Dorset which was covered in a programme on "The South".

The "West Country Clothing District" was an area that made woollen cloth. It covered east Somerset and parts of the counties of Wiltshire and Gloucestershire and at some periods extended into Oxfordshire and Berkshire. The clothing district around Tiverton and Exeter in Devon and west Somerset tended to make different kinds of cloth and is usually regarded as distinct.

Other uses

The term is also used to refer to sports matches between such cities as Bristol and Bath[12] or Gloucester and Bath.[13]

The former brewery in Cheltenham traded as West Country Ales; their ceramic plaques can still be seen built into pub walls.[14]

See also

References
  1. "the West Country". Dictionary.cambridge.org. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  2. "Town Hall - The West Country". 140townhall.com. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  3. "THE DEVON DIALECT CHALLENGE". Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  4. "BBC - "ITV West Country staff to be axed", referring to Bristol and Plymouth". BBC News. 30 September 2008. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  5. "Blue Badge Tourist Guides - The West Country". Blue-badge-guides.com. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  6. "The West Country". Pictures of England. 2 August 2007. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  7. "Latest local news from Thisisthewestcountry.co.uk covering Cornwall, Devon and Somerset". Thisisthewestcountry.co.uk. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  8. "Latest local news, sport, what's on, weather, travel from Somerset, Devon and Cornwall, South West". Thisisthewestcountry.co.uk. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  9. "West Country meat wins EU protection". BBC News. 8 November 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  10. "PDO - our provenance". West Country Farmhouse Cheesemakers. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  11. "West Country - Icons of England". Icons.org.uk. Archived from the original on 27 August 2010. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  12. "Derby match excites Hill & Meehan". BBC News. 4 July 2008. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  13. "The Times & The Sunday Times". Thetimes.co.uk. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  14. "West Country Ales Ceramic Plaques". CAMRA Gloucestershire. Retrieved 20 November 2019.

Further reading
  • Jenner, Michael (1996) Traveller's Companion to the West Country. Claremont Books (Godfrey Cave Associates) ISBN 1854718266 (first published by Michael Joseph, 1990)
  • Weir, John (1993) The West Country. (Great Walks.) London: Ward Lock ISBN 0-7063-6943-2
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