Bloody battles, dark deeds and ancient torture devices all lurk beneath the surface of Somerset's charming past.

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.