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Wincanton in Somerset County England History and GeographyWINCANTON, a market town and parish in the hundred of NORTON-FERRIS, county of SOMERSET, 34 miles (E.) from Taunton, and 108 (W. by S.) from London, containing 2143 inhabitants. This place is of very great antiquity; it was anciently called Wyndcaleton, and derived its name from its situation on the windings of the river Cale, by which it is bounded on the west. At a very early period it was the scene of many sanguinary conflicts between the Britons and Saxons, and subsequently of numerous encounters between the latter and the Danes, who made frequent irruptions into this part of the country. During the parliamentary war, some of the earliest engagements between the contending parties took place in the immediate vicinity of this town, in which, according to Burnet's 'History of his own Times,' was shed the first blood in the Revolution of 1688; though some state this to have occurred at Cirencester. In 1747, it suffered material injury from an accidental fire, which destroyed a considerable portion of the town, to which calamity may be attributed the regular and uniform appearance it afterwards assumed. The town is pleasantly situated on the western declivity of a hill rising gently from the river Cale, and consists principally of four regular streets, containing some well built houses. The environs, which are pleasant, abound with interesting scenery, and on the south is an uninterrupted view of the fine Vale of Blackmore, extending for many miles: the land is extremely fertile; and within a short distance of the town are several gentlemen's seats. The manufacture of linen and bed-ticking was formerly carried on to a considerable extent; but within the last few years it has greatly declined, and at present affords employment only to a small number of persons: a branch of the silk manufacture has lately been introduced. The market is on Wednesday, and is well supplied with corn, cattle, cheese, and butter: the fairs are on Easter-Tuesday and September 29th. The town, which is within the jurisdiction of the county magistrates, is divided into two parts, called the borough and the tything; two constables for the former, and a tythingman for the latter, are annually appointed at the manorial court, and a court leet for the hundred is also held annually. The living is a perpetual curacy, in the archdeaconry of Wells, and diocese of Bath and Wells, endowed with £400 private benefaction, £200 royal bounty, and £1100 parliamentary grant, and in the joint patronage of U. and G. Messiter, Esqrs., as owners of the impropriate rectory. The church, dedicated to St. Peter and St.Paul, is a spacious and neat edifice, with a square embattled tower; the interior consists of a nave, aisles, and chancel, and, as well as the exterior, has within the last few years undergone a thorough repair. There is a place of worship for Independents. Various charitable bequests have been made for distribution among the poor. At Stavordale, the north-eastern extremity of the parish, a small priory of Augustine canons, dedicated to St. James, is said to have been built by Sir William Zouch, which, in the 24th of Henry VIII., was annexed to the priory of Taunton: the remains, especially the roof and some portions of the chapel, are in good preservation. The Earl of Illchester, among his other inferior titles, enjoys that of Lord Illchester and Stavordale. At Horwood, about a mile south-east of the town, are two mineral springs, resembling in their properties those at Cheltenham. An urn, containing several Roman coins, was discovered in this parish, many years since. From Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of England 1831, courtesy of Databases 4 Sale |
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