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Somerset

Somerset - Ilchester


HUNT & CO.’S 1850 DIRECTORY & TOPOGRAPHY OF THE TOWN OF ILCHESTER.

“ in all places, where there are objects worthy of detail or observation, there should be a short printed Directory, for the use of the stranger.” Dr.Johnson.

Ilchester, in the hundred of Tintinhull, and formerly the county town of Somerset, is 5 miles N. of Yeovil, 125 miles W.S.W. from London, and 20 S.E. from Bridgewater, which is the nearest railway station; it is built on the river Yeo, over which a stone bridge connects it with Northover, the adjoining parish. The county prison was situated here but is now pulled down and demolished, and the gaol removed to Taunton, since which Ilchester has considerably lost much of its importance, its inhabitants are few, and the number of houses very limited. During the Roman era it was a place of considerable consequence, and at the time of William the Conquerer boasted great distinction, being a city and having several churches, but nothing now remains to bring to mind its by-gone celebrity, and scarcely a stone is to be seen remaining to recall its past position, or tell what it once was, excepting the church, which appears to be of great antiquity, and the tower is evidently of roman design; the living is a rectory in the gift of bishopric of Bath and Wells. Ilchester is celebrated as the birthplace of that great philosopher Friar Bacon, and here it is said he died; in this town also was born Mrs. Elizabeth Rowe, the authoress of “ Letters from the Dead to the Living ,” which are so much admired for piety of sentiment and elegance of style. There are two Dissenting chapels here, one for Independants and one for Wesleyans; the market-day, which originally was held every Wednesday, is now quite neglected and fallen onto disuse; formerly there were three fairs held anually, but at the present only one is kept, which takes place on the Monday before Palm-Sunday. The land in the neighbourhood is generally flat, but held in high estimation for the grazing of cattle; the government of the town is a corporate body, consisting of a bailiff, twelve burgesses, a constable, and sub-bailiff. In 1841, the population ( including Northover ), consisted of 972 persons.

Post-Office, Market place. — Post-Master, Philip Handover. Letters are delivered from London and all parts at 8 a.m. and from Yeovil, Sherborne, and Dorchester, 6 p.m. Despatches for London and all parts at 5 28 p.m,: and for Yeovil, Sherborne, and Dorchester, at 7 a.m. Box closes at 6 30 a.m. and at 5 p.m.

Money Orders granted and paid from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Saturdays to 8 p.m.

Gentry, Clergy, & c.

Brancker Rev. Thos. Lymington
Buckler Rev. William, Rectory
Culliford Misses Mary & Elizabeth, Market place
Edgell Chas. W. Northover
Mildmay Henry St. John, Haselgrove house
Moody Chas. Aaron, M.P. Kingsdon
Peace Mrs. Elizabeth, Chilthorne
Pickford George, Church street
Pole Rev. Reginald, Yeovilton
Williams George Thos. Limington

Bakers.

Bartlett William, Almshouse st
Cox Robert, Church street

Bank.

Stuckey’s Banking Company,
Northover, agent, Baker James,
draw on Robarts, Curtis, & Co.,
London

Blacksmiths,

Harding Isaac, Church street
Masters John, Almshouse street

Boot and Shoe Makers,

Hucker Samuel, Almshouse street
Masters John, Mead
Pipe Thomas, Almshouse street
Sugg John, Almshouse street
West George, Almshouse street

Butchers,

Ballen William, Mead
Culliford Thos. Almshouse street
Culliford Thos. jun. Almshouse st
Gaylard Henry, Almshouse street
Miller Richard, Almshouse street
Payne Henry, Back street
Pitts John, Mead

Carpenters,

Cox John, Almshouse street
Cox John, Mead
Culliford James, Mead
Culliford James jun. Mead
Evans George, Almshouse street
Evans Henry, Almshouse street
Gaylard George, Almshouse street
Miller John, Almshouse street
Parfett James, Almshouse street
Stone John, Almshouse street
Webb James, Almshouse street

Coopers,

Cox John, Northover
Miller John, Church street

Fire and Life Assurance Agents.

Architects, Engineers, Builders, & General ( F. & L ), Handover Philip, Market place
West of England ( F. & L.), Baker James, Northover

Flax Spinner.

Arnold Thomas, Hanbury Mills

Groceries and Sundries — Dealers in.

Bartlett William, Church street
Gaylard George, Almshouse street
Guppy John, Church street
Handover Thomas, Church street
Pitts John, Mead
Richards Sarah, Almshouse street
Sharp Claude, Almshouse street

Inns & Public Houses.

Bull Inn, Market place, Morey Amey
Cow, Church street, Streets Frederick E.
Dolphin, Almshouse street, Huish William
Swan, Back street, Gear James

Linen Drapers,

Richards Sarah, Almshouse street
Sharp Claude, Almshouse street

Masons.

Edwards Daniel, Almshouse street
Gillett Henry, Almshouse street
Masters William, Almshouse street
Sibley Samuel, Almshouse street

Millers.

Gaylard John, Northover
Simpson Geo. Northover cottage

Painters, Plumbers, and Glaziers,

Handover Henry, Church street
Handover Thomas, Church street

Schools.

Handover Philip, Market place
National, mistress, Gillet Frances
Walker Ann, Church street

Solicitor.

Tuson Henry ( & clerk to the trustees of the Ilchester turnpike roads), Northover

Surgeons.

Francis John, Market place
Francis William, Market place
Margetts Frederick, Market place

Tailors,

Bartlett Thomas B. Almshouse st
Bartlett William, Almshouse street
Masters Stephen, Mead

Miscellaneous,

Beer Retailer, West John, Almshouse street
Brewers and Maltsters, Mills James & Young George, Limington
Chemist & Druggist, Guppy John, Market place
Engineers, Harris Charles and Bowne John, Church street
Milliner & Dress Maker, England Honor, Market place
Registrar of Birth & Death, Francis Wm. Market place
Plasterer & Tiler, Lye Lionel, Almshouse street
Saddle & Harness Maker, Morey James, Almshouse street
Wheelwright, Evans Hen. Almshouse street

Omnibuses — to

Bath, Edwards’ from the Cow Inn, Church street, every Mon. Wed. & Fri, at 8 30 a.m
Bristol, daily, at 10 a.m.
Yeovil, daily, at 3 p.m., and van every Tues. Thurs. and Sat. at 5 p.m.

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