Midsomer Norton on the River Somer
Midsomer Norton is a town near the Mendip Hills, about 10 miles south-west of Bath. At the 2021 census, its built-up area had 13,745 residents. The River Somer runs the length of the town centre. Meanwhile, the town closely adjoins Radstock, and the two formed one area called Norton Radstock from 1933 to 2011.
Two tiers of local government cover the town today. Midsomer Norton Town Council is based at the Town Hall, built in 1860 on the corner of The Island and High Street. Bath and North East Somerset Council is the unitary authority. For ceremonial purposes, the area has been part of Somerset again since 1996.
Coal mining in the Somerset coalfield turned the town into an industrial centre from around 1750. However, the local seams were thin and hard to work. The last pit in the town, at Norton Hill, closed in 1966. Both of the town’s railway stations closed at around the same time.
After mining, printing and packaging became major local industries. The disused colliery sites were later developed for light industry. Today, many residents commute to Bath and Bristol for work and shopping. The High Street also has free parking.
The centre was once prone to flooding when the Somer rose after heavy rain. As a result, a flood relief tunnel was built beneath the High Street and completed in 1977. No flooding has reached the High Street since it began operating.
What an installation here tends to involve
An older property near the centre can have solid walls and a compact rear yard. Therefore, an installer may need to plan carefully where the outdoor unit sits and how the pipework reaches it. These plots often leave less room to work with than a modern one. See our 2026 installation cost guide for what fitting a system typically costs.
A newer home is usually simpler. Cavity walls and larger gardens make fixing brackets, running cable and siting the outdoor unit more straightforward. Off-street parking, where a home has it, can also make access for the installer’s van easier. If you’re deciding between the two, our guide to air conditioning and heat pumps explains the difference.
Some outlying parts of town are now rated at higher flood risk from the Wellow Brook. If your home sits near the brook, mention it when you enquire. For example, the installer may suggest mounting the outdoor unit on a bracket or a raised base.
In either case, the outdoor unit needs firm, level ground and space around it for air to circulate. The installer will also arrange a route for the condensate drain. That way, water from the system runs away safely instead of collecting near the wall.
Coverage from Bath
Midsomer Norton is about 11 miles by road from Bath, around 25 minutes’ drive; see Bath air conditioning installation. Next door, the same service reaches air conditioning installation in Radstock, air conditioning installation in Westfield and Shepton Mallet air conditioning installation.
Radstock sits on the northern slope of the Mendip Hills and grew after coal was found in the area in 1763. Westfield, similarly, is the parish between the two towns, and both built-up areas extend into it. Shepton Mallet lies further south, with the route of the Fosse Way running through it. It remains noted for cider production.
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