 The history of Somerton dates back to the Anglo @-@ Saxon era , when it was an important political and commercial centre . After the Norman conquest of England the importance of the town declined , despite being the county town of Somerset in the late thirteenth century and early fourteenth century . Having lost county town status , Somerton then became a market town in the Middle Ages , whose economy was supported by transport systems using the River Parrett , and later rail transport via the Great Western Railway , and by light industries including glove making and gypsum mining . 
