Taunton situated centrally in Somerset, Taunton is the County Town of Somerset, and is ideally situated to accommodate the holiday-maker, for nearby are the area's known as the Blackdown, Brendon and Quantock hills, plus the Somerset Levels and the market towns of Wellington and Wiveliscombe, which are the gateway's to one of Somerset's great assets, Exmoor National Park. Taunton like all towns of the "West Country" has a long and interesting history. It began life as a Saxon village called Tone Tun or to translate "estate on the river." In 904 Taunton was given a charter for by this time the population had increased enough for it to be classed as a town. It was yet another "West Country" town that was turned into a fortress by King Alfred the Great, and by the 10th century it housed, a mint and an market, both sound indicators at that time of a towns importance. The Domesday Book of 1088 tells us that Tauntons population had reached the giddy heights of 1500 small by to-day's standards but we are talking of the 11th century?

The 13th century saw industry come to Taunton, with the advent of an there was a fulling mill in Taunton. After wool was woven it had to be fulled which means it was washed throughly in water to clean and thicken it. The wool then was pounded by wooden hammers a very tiring and labor intensive process, which were worked by a watermill. From the 13th century Tauntons fame as an wool town grew. And by the 15th century wool from the town was being exported to France through Lyme Regis. By the late 16th century it was being exported as far away as Africa.

Taunton has had a very turbulent past indeed, and has always been at the fore-front of uprisings, and unrest, which the "West Country" is renowned for,the people of the "West Country" were not slow to defend themselves against injustice and largess committed by the ruling classes and landowners ( the Bristol riots 30 September 1793 is just one example ). And Taunton featured in many bloody uprising, the most famous being the Monmouth Rebellion of 1685, which ended in Judge Jeffereys' infamous 'Bloody Assize' which was held in the great hall of the castle. In fact the Town had such a reputation for rebellion, and opposing injustices, that Queen Victoria is alleged to have drawn the curtains of the train she was traveling on, to avoid seeing Taunton as it passed through the town! 

And the English Civil War was no exception. For during the Civil War Taunton actually changed hands no less than 5 times. The most memorial of these being when the Parliamentarian Commander of Taunton Col Robert Blake who under siege from Royalist forces. ( Robert Blake was a member of Parliament for Bridgewater during the short Parliament, he failed to be elected to the long parliament and when the English Civil War broke out during the long parliament Blake began his military career on the side of the Parliamentarians ) And it was during this latest and final siege that Blake uttered these immortal words: "I have four pair of boots I will eat three pairs sooner than surrender." he omitted to say how many pairs of boots his men possessed?. A relief force under Col Ralph Wheldon made it into Taunton, but even the combined forces were not able to break the siege. The two parliamentarian commanders held out until after the decisive and important battle of Naseby was won on June 14th 1645. For with this decisive victory the Parliamentarians were able to release enough forces to go to the aid of Blake, and Wheldon, still under sige at Taunton. Robert Blake after the war went on to have a long and successful career as a General at Sea, the equivalent to an Admiral today. Blake also went on to build the largest navy the Country had ever had.

Today as in days gone by Taunton is dominated by the parish church of St Mary Magdalene with its superbly decorated tower, the highest in Somerset. Starting here, follow the Taunton Heritage Trail around the center and discover the towns architectural gems. Taunton is a busy, vibrant West Country market town with an wide variety of shops, complemented by the best in British High Street, names, shopping in Taunton is now even more enticing. Whether you are a resident, visitor, or just passing through. Tauntons Museum is designed for everyone and the best place to start investigating the towns history, situated in the heart of the town center on the Taunton Castle grounds, the Somerset County Museum is open from Tuesdays to Saturdays and there is plenty to see and do. During the summer you can attend one of our Town Center walks that not only enlightens one on Tauntons times past but brings to life history in tactile ways that every age group can enjoy.!

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