The name ‘Somerset’ usually conjures up visions of green hills, picturesque harbours and sleepy villages with thatched cottages and quaint pubs – but this is only part of the story.

• What about the slaughter on Sedgemoor in July 1685, or its terrible aftermath, the infamous Bloody Assizes?

• What dark deeds took place on the coast during the heyday of the smugglers?

• Who was the curate who ended up in a cauldron, or the abbot who was hanged, drawn and quartered?

• Why were there riots at Radstock in 1830?

The answers to these and many other morbid questions can be found in this book, as we take a look into the darker corners of Somerset’s history, and meet the unusual people who shaped the history of this popular county in unexpected (and sometimes horrifying) ways.

'A highly readable and entertaining journey into the dark corners of a seemingly tranquil county.'

MIKE DEAN is a retired primary school teacher and has many years' experience as a professionally registered Blue Badge Tour Guide, specialising in the West Country. A graduate of Bristol University, his hobbies include reading, walking, music and travel. He is passionately interested in sailing ships, history and folklore. He is the author of The Little Book of Bath and The Little Book of Somerset, both published by The History Press. He lives between Bristol and Bath.