Frome offers visitors a variety of reasons to come: medieval lanes, church heritage, market dates, a museum and event venues. Set dates for markets and events can shape the schedule for your stay; in between, there is room for local history and walks.
Markets with Different Rhythms
The Frome Weekly Market takes place year-round on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9:00 to 15:00 and dates back to 1239. The Frome Farmer’s Market follows a different rhythm: it takes place on the second Saturday of each month from February to December at Boyle Cross in the centre of Frome. The difference is clear for planning: the weekly market is held twice a week, while the Farmer’s Market takes place once a month from February to December. If you want to make a market visit the focus of your trip, plan your stay around the relevant day of the week or month; it is a good idea to check the dates shortly before you travel.
Church Heritage and Local History
St John’s Church is a medieval Grade II* listed building on a Saxon site; its foundation is dated to 685 AD. The Via Crucis carved into the churchyard is considered unique among Anglican churches in the United Kingdom. This site brings together a medieval building, a Saxon site and an early foundation story with a distinctive feature of the churchyard.
Frome itself also dates back to around the 7th century. Cloth production marks a later historical period: from around 1475 to 1790, Frome was a recognised centre for this trade. These periods can be distinguished rather than reducing the town’s history to a single era: centuries of recognised cloth production followed its early history.
Cheap Street offers a specific detail of the historic streetscape. The street has retained its medieval character; a leat runs down its middle, carrying water from the stream below St John’s Church. Look out for this combination of lane and watercourse as you explore: it adds a visible feature of the street layout to the historic architecture.
Museum and Event Venues
Frome Museum is housed in a historic building and contains collections on local and industrial history. A permanent exhibition explores the history of Frome. This lets you explore the town’s history not only in its streets but also through the museum’s collection and exhibition. If you want to use the museum’s archives and resources for research, arrange an appointment in advance.
Cheese & Grain and Rook Lane offer different opportunities for music and events. Cheese & Grain is an independent live music venue in the heart of Frome and offers workshops. The venue has also revived a historic market hall; this part of its history dates back to 1998. Rook Lane is a Grade I listed building and hosts a varied programme throughout the year. If you want to plan your stay around live music or an event, check the dates and programmes in advance.
Walks and Time Outdoors
Frome’s parks and green spaces are suitable for wildlife watching. Downloadable information about town and local walks is available for exploring on your own. This gives you another way to shape your stay: market and event dates provide specific set points, while walks and wildlife watching offer a different focus. Plan your overnight stays around the dates that matter to you, rather than trying to fit every activity into one day.
Discover more destinations: Ditcheat, West Camel, Baltonsborough, West Chinnock, Cheddar, Ilminster, Puriton, Glastonbury.
For the main travel overview: Somerset.
