LANGPORT, a market town in Somersetshire, England, 131 m. E. of Taunton by the G.W. railway. Pop. (1921) 781. Langport owed its origin to its defensible position on a hill, and its growth to its facilities for trade on the chief river of Somerset. It occupies the site of the British town of Llongborth, and was important during the Roman occupation. It was a royal borough in Saxon times, and in 1086 had 34 resident burgesses. The first charter (1562) recognized that Langport was a borough of great antiquity, which had enjoyed considerable privileges, being gov erned by a portreve. It was incorporated by James I. in 1617, but the corporation was abolished in 1883. Langport was repre sented in parliament in 1304 and 1306. The charter of 1562 granted three annual fairs to Langport, on June 28, Nov. 11 and the second Monday in Lent. One fair only is now held, on Sept. 3, which is a horse and cattle fair. A Saturday market was held
under the grant of 1562, but in the 19th century the market day was changed to Tuesday. It lies on the bank of the river Parret, where it enters the plain through which it flows to the Bristol channel. The church of All Saints is Perpendicular. Close to this an archway crosses the road, bearing a Perpendicular build ing known as the hanging chapel. After serving this purpose it housed first the grammar-school (founded 1675), then the Quekett museum, named after John Thomas Quekett (1815-1861) the histologist, a native of the town, whose father was master of the school. The hanging chapel afterwards became a masonic hall. Not far distant is the church of Huish Episcopi, with one of the finest of the Somersetshire Perpendicular towers. Langport has a considerable general and agricultural trade.