Visitor Centres

Peat Moors Centre
	Peat Moors Centre. 01458 860697 Shapwick Road, Westhay, Near Glastonbury, BA6 9TT

CLOSED UNTIL SPRING 2000, thereafter: Open all week 10am to 4.30pm.

Owned and run by Somerset County Council.

What the Centre can offer:

Reconstructions of many prehistoric structures including Iron Age roundhouses, prehistoric trackways, Roman pottery kilns and an Iron Age canoe. Displays on the history and archaeology of the local area.

Information on the latest issues and events in the Levels & Moors. Details of places to visit where you can experience the local wildlife.

Presentation of the story of peat cutting  A tour of the centre with the Wardens for groups of ten or more people. Tours can include information on the prehistory of the area, more recent local history, peat extraction, and the ecology of the Nature Reserves. A range of Iron Age activities are available for schools groups and students in addition to tours.

Special weekend activity courses are run on such themes as coracle building, green woodworking, Roman pottery making and the reconstruction of prehistoric trackways.

Evening tours and visits can be made by special arrangement.

Other facilities include:

Classroom/lecture room New green toilet block Car and coach parking Cafe in adjoining Garden Centre

About the Centre

The centre was established in 1982 and since 1992 has steadily improved its range of facilities and activities. It has several roles to play in the life of the Somerset Levels and Moors. Discovery of the past through the presentation of reconstructed Iron Age buildings, prehistoric wooden trackways, Roman pottery kilns and more. These, combined with a range of 'hands on' activities such as pottery making, wattle and daubing, spinning and dyeing and metalworking help to bring the past to life in a practical way. Research Experimental archaeological work, such as the making of an Iron Age logboat in 1996, can also help archaeologists discover more about past technologies. Education The centre is an important local education base where school groups and students can learn about the past and nature conservation. Tours and activities at the centre are used as part of a wide range of national curriculum courses. Raising awareness of the special qualities of the Somerset Levels and Moors Area by working with The Levels and Moors Partnership (LAMP) and Nature Conservation bodies to present information to local people and the visiting public.

Opening and Booking information.

The Centre is open seven days a week during the summer but has more restricted opening during the winter (telephone for details). Bookings and enquiries should be made to The Peat Moors Centre, Shapwick Road, Westhay, Nr Glastonbury, Somerset BA6 9TT Tel: 01458 860697

The Lake Villages of Somerset

Stephen Minnitt & John Coles

Glastonbury Antiquarian Society ISBN 0 9507122 3 X

A classical text on the lake villages, contains fine details on the artifacts.

Have a look in one of the Round Houses

Link to Peat Moors Home Page