Somerset - Ilminster

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

“ 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.

Ilminster is a small market town and parish in the hundred of Abdick and Bulstone, 135 miles W.S.W. from London, 48 S.S.W. from Bristol and Bath, and 12 S.E. from Taunton, which is the nearest railway station; it is well built, many of the houses are large, and several of the shops are handsome and superior, and have the appearance of carrying on an excellent trade. This town enjoys an especial and very ancient privilege, that of granting licenses and proving wills. The market place has lately been much improved; shambles which formerly stood there, and were extremely unsightly, are now removed, and the market-house has been adapted to meet the public convenience with far greater accommodation; the Crown inn has also been newly built, and has now a commanding stone front which adds much to the appearance of that part of town. Ilminster as it stood originally was of greater extent, but owing to severe fires which have from time to time taken place, its dimensions have been considerably curtailed, the parish church, which is styled a quarter minster, and stands about the centre of the town, possesses great claims for admiration, it is a spacious cruciform gothic edifice, its pinnacled and beautiful tower rises in graceful proportion from the intersection, and its peal of bells strike upon the ear with a peculiar richness and melody of sound; the interior of the church can boast of some very ancient monuments. There is a grammar school here, founded by Edward the VI th., possessing great advantages and exhibitions to the universities, and there is also an excellent commercial school; the business of the town principally depends upon the assiduity of its trades-people, formerly the woollen trade flourished here to a very considerable extent, but now it is nearly obselete; there is a branch of Stuckey’s bank, and there are chapels for the various Dissenters; the market days are Wednesdays and Saturdays, and an annual fair is held on the last Wednesday in August. The principal inns are large and capable of affording every accomodation, and from them run coaches daily to Taunton, Bridport, Weymouth, &c. Ilminster is situated in a valley surrounded by a rich fertile undulating country, possessing great attraction as regards salubrity and beauty of scenery; at the entrance of the town from the Ilminster and Crewkerne roads; the lodges of Dillington park ( the seat of the lord of the manor ) with its embankment, and the view of the distant hills beyond the town, have a very striking and pleasing effect. In the centre of this place the two main roads, viz. London and Taunton, and Bristol and Exeter, intersect each other. The magistrates hold monthly meetings in the winter season, and the lord of the manor a court annually. The population in 1841, amounted to 3,227.

Post-Office, Silver street, Post Master, William Thomas Hagley. Letters delivered from London and all parts at 7 a.m., and from Axminster, Chard, Lyme, Crewkerne, and Bridport, at 7 p.m. Despatches for Axminster, Chard, Lyme, Crewkerne and Bridport, at 6 30 a.m. For London and all parts at 7 p.m. Box closes at 6 45 p.m. Late letters may be despatched by affixing an extra stamp, till 7 p.m.

Money orders granted and paid from 9 a.m. till 6 p.m.

Gentry, Clergy , &c. Allen Rev. Chas.,Jeffery, Stocklinch Allen Rev. John, Church yard Baker John , Townsend Bernard Madame Georgina, Silver street Burnard Mrs. Catherine, East st Collins Mrs. Mary, West street Collins Robert, Horton Collins Samuel, West street Eastmead John S. West street Freeborn Rev. John Wm West st Hine Mrs. Mary, Haselwell Hull Joseph, West street Hyde Rev. William, Donyatt Lee John Lee, Dillington house Manley Rev. Henry, Packington Masters John, Cornhill house Molle Mrs. Agnes, Silver street Mules Rev. Jno. Hawkes, Vicarage Ommanney Lieut. John C. East st Palmer Miss Margaret, West st Palmer Rev. Henry, Broadway Paull Mrs. Esther, Silver street Shorland Misses , West street Slater Rev. James, Broadway Speke William, Jordans Stayner James, East street Summers Mrs. Ann, Ditton street Sutton Mrs. Alicia F. & Miss Juliet, Ditton street Whitfield Rev. Edwd. West street Woolley Thmas, Court barton Auctioneers and Appraisers. Tapscott, William R. and Henry, ( & surveyers) Cornhill Bakers, Clarke William Charles, West st Hickman Edwin, West street Jacobs Eliza, Silver street Leigh Robert, Knot oak Moore William & Son ( & confectioners), West street Trickey George, Silver street Wallbridge George, Ditton street Webb Louisa, East street Bank. Stuckey’s Banking Co. Market pl. Agent, Stayner James, draw on Robarts, Curtis, & Co. London Beer Retailers. Bowring Edward, Ditton street Harris Simon, Ditton street Hill James, Ditton street Spark William, West street Watts John, Ditton street Blacksmiths, Cape Francis, Knot oak Clarke John, East street Harris Simon, Ditton street Booksellers and Stationers. Moore John ( and printer ), Silver street Stoodley Elizabeth, East street Boot and Shoe Makers. Barber Thomas, Silver street Batten John, Court Barton Dinham Eli, Silver street Eastment Edwd. Silver street Every Richard, East street Gould Samuel, East street Harwood Joseph, Langport street Hockaday Charles, Ditton street Hockaday Henry, Strawberry bank Meacham George, West street Savidge William, Court Barton Stowell John, Langport road Stowell Thomas, Silver street Taylor William, Ditton street Towells Charles, Frog lane Warry William, East street Webb Eli, West street Webb Samuel, East street Wheller John, Ditton street Wootten Peter, East street Wootten Samuel, West street Brewers. Lumbard George ( & maltster ), East street Tapscott Wm. Robert, Cornhill Brick & Tile Maker. Lang Giles ( & potter ), Chard road Butchers. Blackmore John, Horton Bowring Edward, Ditton street Brown Hugh, Winterhay Bryant John, Broadway Murren William, Love lane Phelps George, Langport street Carpenters, Champ James, West street Cotterill John, West street Hazelwood Henry, New road Legge Hugh, Strawberry bank Munden Charles ( & Builder ), Love lane Patch William; ( & builder ) West st Taylor John, Silver street Way John, West street Wilkins Thomas, Knot oak Chemist and Druggists, Hagley Wm. Thos. Silver street Mullett Charles, West street Williams George, Silver street Clothes Salesmen, Morris Henry, Strawberry bank Kirby Thomas, Court Barton Coach Builders. Cooper Thomas, Ditton street Hull John, Town End Corn Dealers. Lang Thomas ( & coal merchant ), Silver street Minson & Taylor, Strawberry bank

Curriers. Banger William, Haselwell Dyer Joseph, West street Fire & Life Assurance Agents Alliance ( F & L.) Lang Thos. Silver street Atlas ( F & L.) Langworthy Vincent T. Haselwell County ( F.) and Provident ( L ), Patch William, West street Farmer’s ( Fire, Life, & Hail ), Stephens Simeon, Market place Globe ( F. & L.), Brown Chas. J. East street Minerva (L.), Moore Charles, Silver street National Loan ( F.& L.), Morris Henry, Strawberry bank Norwich Union, ( F.& L.), Lawrence John H. Bay cottage Royal Exchange, (F.& L.), Palmer Samuel, Market place Star, (F.& L.), Taylor John H. East street Sun, (F.& L.), Paull Thomas, Town end West of England (F.& L.), Lang and Coombs, Silver street Grocers & Tea Dealers, Lang & Coombs, Silver street Stephens Simeon H. Market place & Ditton street Stoodley Elizabeth, East street Grocery & Sundries — Dealers in Banfield Charles, Silver street Berryman John, Stawberry bank Brown George, West street Burrow Thomas, Strawberry bank Clarke Wm. Chas. West street Eames Hester, West street Holbrook John, Silver street Morris Henry, Strawberry bank Shutler Samuel, East street Stuckey Mary, West street Wallbridge George, Ditton street Hair Dressers. Luxton John, Silver street White James, Silver street Hatters. Kerby Sarah, East street Wills Eli, Silver street Inns and Hotels. Crown, ( commercial & posting house ), East street, Lumbard George George, ( & posting house ), Langport street, Loaring John Grapes, ( commercial ), Cornhill, Tapscott William Robert White Horse ( & commercial ), Town end, Read John Inns and Public Houses, Angel & Crown, West street, Dawney Charles Bell, Strawberry bank, Tapscott John Dolphin, ( & posting house ), Silver street, Kerby John E. Lamb, Horton, Cossins William Nelson’s Arms, East street, Legg Samuel Swan, Ditton street, Kerby Elizabeth Ironmongers, Braziers, &c. Lang & Coombs ( and copper workers ), Silver street Perry Thomas, West street Perry William, East street Stephens Simeon, Market place Linen Drapers. Cooper Henry, Cornhill Dean Charles, North street Eames Hester, West street Morris Henry, Strawberry bank Palmer Samuel, Market place and Silver street Milliners and Dress Makers, Beer Martha, Ditton street Goodrich Harriet, West street Hucklebridge Phoebe, Langport st James Martha, East street Keates Elizabeth, Silver street Norris Harriet, Silver street Patten Mary, Ditton street Phillips Eliza Ann, Silver street Slade Laura, Market place Painters, Plumbers, & Glaziers Dunn James, East street Goodrich Thomas, Silver street Spark William, West street Towells Charles, Court Barton Saddle & Harness Makers. Dinham Eli, Silver street Eames Edwin, Ditton street Gould Robert, West street Taylor John Henry, East street Schools. Marked thus * take Boarders. *Baker Emily & Sarah, Town end *Brown Ann W. East street Commercial ( Free ), Court Barton; master, Hewings William *Grammar, Church yard; master, Allen Rev. John; assistant master, Freeborn Rev. John W. Hewings William, (commercial ), Court Barton Lake Sarah, West street *Lawrence John Hy. Bay cottage Solicitors. Baker John, jun. North street Brown Charles Joshua, East street Langworthy Vincent Trevanion, Haselwell Rutter John, West street Woodforde George Augnstus, Chantry

Stone Masons. Armstrong John, West street Barber William, Silver street Holbrook John, Silver street Legg Samuel, East street Taylor Anasias, Silver street Straw Hat Makers. Banfield Charlotte, West street Perry Mary, East street Warry Elizabeth, Silver street Surgeons. Adney Arthur, West street Burt Giles Richard, West street Masters John, jun. Cornhill house Mules Chas. Hawkes Marwood, Silver street Tailors. Batten Henry, Strawberry bank Burrow Thomas, Strawberry bank Clarke John, Court Barton Colmer William, West street Cross William, West street Eames Samuel, Silver street Hurt John James, Silver street Palmer Samuel, Market place & Silver street Phelps William, East street Sheppard Henry, West street Walker Francis, West street Walker Francis, Silver street Wheeler Joseph, East street Turners and Patten Makers, Coombe Alfred, Langport street Coombe Robert, Court Barton Veterinary Surgeon, Ansten James, West street Watch and Clock Makers, Hansford John, West street Turner John, West street Wheelwrights. Hazelwood Henry, New road Willey John, Ditton street Wine and Spirit Merchants. Lang Thomas, Silver street Lumbard George, East street Tapscott Wiliam Robt. & Henry, Cornhill Miscellaneous. Basket Maker, Bartlett Joseph, Strawberry bank Chimney Sweeper, Cox Robert, Ditton street China & Glass Warehouse, Gould Samuel, East street Clothier, Hine Samuel D. Rush mills Confectioner, Patten Jas. East st Dyer, Ottrey Jane, Ditton street Fancy Repository, and Boot and Shoe Warehouse, Rowles Elizabeth, East street Flax & Tow Spinner, Hutchings Saml. West street & Chard road Newsvender ( & Postman ) &c., Murly Samuel, Silver street Nursery & Seedsman, Webb Wm. West street Law and Public Officers, Baker John, jun. assistant clerk to the magistrates of the Ilmunster division, and to the commissioners of land, assessed, property, and income taxes, and clerk to the trustees of the Ilminster turnpijk roads, and registrar of the peculiar court of Ilminster, North st Langworthy Vincent Trevanion, inclosure commissioner for England and Wales, Haselwell Mules Chas.H.M. Medical inspector of factories in the Ilminster division, and registrar of birth, deaths, and marriages, Silver st. public offices, &c. Engine House, Strawberry hill, keys at Joseph Hawkins and S. Barber’s Gas Works, Chard road, propietor, Thomas Lang, Silver street Inland Revenue Office, the George Inn, Langport street, officer, John Johnson Market House, Market place Stamp Office, Silver street, sub-distributors, Giles and Coombs. coaches & omnibuses, Bridport, Royal Mail, daily, from the Dolphin Inn, Silver street, at 3 15 p.m Lyme, Retaliator Mail, daily, from the George Hotel, at 3 15 p.m. Taunton, Retaliator Mail, at 11 15 a.m. to meet the Express train; Prince Albert Coach at 2 p.m.( both daily ), from the George Hotel; and the Royal Dorset Mail, daily, from the Dolphin Inn, at 10 30, a.m.; Accommodation Omnibus, from the Grapes, Cornhill, every Mon. Thurs. and Sat. at 8 a.m. Weymouth, Prince Albert, daily, from the George Hotel, at 3 15 p.m. Yeovil, .; Accommodation Omnibus, from the Grapes Inn, every Fri. at 8 30, a.m. waggons, vans, & c. Axminster, Chard, Exeter, Yeovil, Taunton, Dorchester, &c. Ford’s waggon, from the Crown, Tues Thurs. & Sat. at 2 p.m. Crewkerne, Bridport, &c. Mon. Wed. and Fri. at 2 p.m Exeter, French’s Waggon, from the same Inn, Tues. 10 a.m. Wells, Bristol, and Bath, Edward’s Van, from the Dolphin, Tues. Thurs. and Sat. at 5 30 a.m., returning to Chard, Axminster, and Lyme, at 8 p.m. Crocker’s Van, from the same Inn daily, to all parts of the kingdom.