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Wellington the earliest written
records is to be found in a grant made
between 899 and 909 where it was called "Weolingtun". Wellington was
like a lot of West Country towns and villages was also mentioned in the
Domesday Book of 1088, which recorded that area of "Walintone" and West
Buckland was being worked by 61 farmers, 65 smallholders and 32 serfs.
Wellington was another town who's prosperity was built on the
wool trade.
The town figured prominently in the Monmouth Rebellion in 1685 ( also
known as the Pitchfork Rebellion,because his army consisted mostly of
poor untrained farm workers ) it was an attempt to overthrow the King
of England James II, who became king when his elder brother ,Charles
II, died on 6 February 1685 James II was a very unpopular King
because he was Roman Catholic and many people were opposed to a
catholic King. James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth, played on the people
resentment.The protestant Duke laid claim to be rightful heir
to the throne and led a rebellion in an attempt to displace
James II. Indeed at Taunton Monmouth went as far as to have
himself declared King of England. And with nearly 8000
ill-equipped men he marched on Bristol. After a minor skirmish with
royalist cavalry under the command of Lord Churchill, he abandoned
plans to take Bristol and just seemed to wander aimlessly in
the direction of Brigewater. It was in a Inn in
Wellington ( the Half Moon ) that details of the Duke of
Monmouth's movements were revealed. This news of Monmouth's
where-abouts led eventually to Monmouth's defeat, by a
royalist army commanded by Lord Feversham. at the Battle of Sedgemoor.
Monmouth was captured imprisoned in the Tower of London and
after a formality of a trial executed
One famous resident of Wellington was Sir John Popham, who as
Lord Chief Justice of England took part in the trials of Mary Queen of
Scots, Guy Fawkes and Sir Walter Raleigh. His residence in Wellington
stood on what are now the Court Playing Fields. The mansion was
however destroyed during the English Civil War. There is a
monument to him in Wellington Parish Church. An altogether more famous
person associated with the Town was Arthur Wellsley
the victor at Waterloo,Wellsley became Viscount
Wellington of Wellington and Talavera in 1809. His
title refers to this town where he had an country estate. He
later became Duke
of Wellington. However, he is believed to have
visited the town only once, apparently he much preferred the London
socialite scene?. The 175 feet high Wellington
Monument was built in his honor and is a major
landmark in the area.
By the mid 19th century the town had a town hall, a corn and provision
market, a market house, a police station and of course the ubiquitous
workhouse. The main industry was the wool trade, supplemented by brick,
tile, and agricultural implement manufacturers, in addition, to the
coal mines and lime quarries that were in the area. Today Wellington is
still a small country town situated between the River Tone
and the lovely Blackdown Hills. In addition to the usual high street
shops, it has a number of specialty shops supplying a wide range of
goods. A farmers’ market is held on the third Saturday of
every month. There are several pubs, cafés and restaurants,
in addition to other amenities. Wellington Park was
given to the town by the Fox family in 1903 and has
recently been restored. The park is an fine example of late Victorian
design and a great place to relax in. Wellington is close to the M5
motorway and there is plenty of holiday accommodation in the area.
Wellington is ideally placed to explore not only many parts of Somerset
but Exmoor and adjacent North Devon.!
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