Ilminster
Ilminster is a community and civil parish in the countryside of south west Somerset, England, with a population of 5,808. Bypassed in 1988, the town now exists simply eastern of the junction of the A303 (London to Exeter) as well as the A358 (Taunton to Chard and Axminster). The parish includes the district of Sea. Ilminster is discussed in records dating from 725 as well as in a Charter given to the Abbey of Muchelney (10 miles (16 km) to the north) by King Ethelred in 995. Ilminster is also stated in the Domesday Book (1086) as Ileminstre indicating 'The church on the River Isle' from the Old English ysle as well as mynster. By this duration Ilminster was a prospering area and also was given the right to hold a weekly market, which it still does. Ilminster became part of the numerous Abdick and also Bulstone. In 1645 during the English Civil War Ilminster was the scene of an altercation in between legislative troops under Edward Massie and also Royalist forces under Lord Goring who defended control of the bridges prior to the Battle of Langport. The community consists of the buildings of a sixteenth-century grade school, the Ilminster Meeting House, which functions as the town's art gallery as well as music hall. There is also a Gospel Hall.
