FROME, a market town in the Frome parliamentary division of Somersetshire, England, 1o14 m. W. by S. of London by the G.W.R., at the junction of a branch line to Bristol (242 m. N.W. by N.). Pop. of urban district (1931) 10,738. It is unevenly built on high ground above the river Frome and was formerly called Frome (or Froome) Selwood, after the neighbouring forest of Selwood ; the country round is richly wooded and picturesque. The parish church of St. John the Baptist, with its fine tower and spire, was rebuilt about the close of the 14th century, and, though largely restored, has a beautiful chancel, Lady chapel and bap tistery. The market-hall, museum, school of art, mechanics in stitute and a free grammar school, founded under Edward VI., may be noted. The chief industries are woollen cloth manufac tures, brewing and art metal-working, also printing, metal-f ound ing, and the manufacture of silk, tools and cards for wool-dressing. Selwood forest was long a favourite haunt of brigands and high waymen. The Saxon occupation of Frome (From) is the earliest of which there is evidence, the settlement being due to the founda tion of a monastery by Aldhelm in 705. A witenagemot was held there in 934, so that Frome must already have been a place of some size. At the time of the Domesday Survey the manor was owned by King William. Local tradition asserts that Frome was a mediaeval borough, and the reeve of Frome is mentioned in documents after the reign of Edward I. It was not represented in parliament until given one member by the Reform act of 1832; its separate representation was merged in that of the county in 1885. A charter of Henry VII. to Edmund Leversedge, then lord of the manor, granted the right to have two fairs and in the 18th century two others were held. An agricultural show and cheese fair is held on the last Wednesday in September. The manufac ture of woollen cloth has flourished since the 15th century.