Ilminster
The town gets its name from the near by River Ile and its lovely 15th century Minster. The early town grew up around this church and its soaring perpendicular architecture and fan vaulting in both the tower and Wadham Chapel and the addition of engraved glass doors at the nave entrance, commissioned to celebrate the Millennium, make it well worth a visit. To the north of the Minster is Court Barton, a collection of attractive ham stone buildings which include the Chantry, Cross House and the old Grammar School founded in 1459.
One of the first chapels to be built in the area, around 1719, can be found in East Street. Known as the Meeting House, it has been converted into an exhibition gallery, with an information centre and cafe.
The Ilminster streets still follow the medieval pattern with the Market Square and colonnaded Market House at its centre. From the eighteenth century onwards, the town became an important staging post for travellers, with mail and passenger coaches arriving from all directions –east, west, north and south.
In and around Ilminster are traces of the industrial revolution. One example can be found at the western end of the Recreation Ground - a section of the Bridgwater to Chard Canal that opened in 1842. The canal tub boats carried coal and roof slates from Wales, and building materials from Wellington and Bridgwater into the area. The arrival of the railways brought an end to the canal and by 1960 the railway had also closed. The old railway line now forms part of the coast to coast Sustrans cycle track, linking Chard and Ilminster.
Also to be found in and around Ilminster is evidence of the defensive measures that were put in place in 1940 to halt the German invasion it was feared would be mounted on the south coast. The ‘Stop Line’ as it was known ran from the Bristol Channel at the mouth of the River Parrett to the English Channel at Seaton. On walks round the surrounding countryside, especially along the old railway line, you will find, sometimes hidden in the undergrowth or hedge line ‘pill boxes’, ‘gun emplacements’, and ‘tank traps’.
The town has always had a large selection of shops and today is no exception. The range of ‘Specialist Shops' is extensive and varied. Top quality locally sourced meat can be found at Bonner's the Butcher. Dyers, a long established emporium sells modern clothing and haberdashery in its quaint Edwardian style premises. The Silver Street Gallery holds a stock of contemporary limited etchings and original painting. Lanes Garden Shop sells an interesting selection of garden related items from pots to garden statues. The Amazing Doll's House Shop a delight for anyone with in interest in all things miniature – the list is endless!
The traditional autumn Carnival Parade, and the well established November Victorian Evening that heralds the switching on of the town's Christmas Lights and the new venture of the French Market shared with Crewkerne and Chard and held in March all add to the vibrancy of the town.