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