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.