Given its strategic position as a river crossing, Langport’s chief activity was trading, both through river trade and its livestock markets. The Stuckey family founding a successful banking business in the town, and the Stuckey & Bagehot company owned a fleet of trading and passenger ships. By contrast, farming, horticulture and quarrying were important occupations in Huish Episcopi. There was a tannery in Huish Episcopi, and a glove factory in Langport. Several families were engaged in withy-growing.
