Somerset - Somerton

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

“ 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.

Is a parish and market town in the hundred of its name and union of Langport, 123 miles W.S.W from London 30 S.S.W. of Bath, 17 E. by N. from Taunton, the like distance from Bridgewater, the two latter places being railway stations. This town is situated south of the river Cary, over which is a stone bridge, the houses are principally built of blue lias stone, as this strata is abundant in the locality;some of the buildings in the principal street are erected in good taste and have a neat and pleasing exterior, but generally throughout the town the houses are low and irregular. The church dedicated to St. Michael is a fine ancient building, possessing an octagonal embattled tower. Somerton is of great antiquity, and abounds with objects and reminiscenses of an interesting character; formerly Ina, one of the best and wisest of the west Saxon kings resided here, the site of his palace is still ascertainable, and it is evident it must have been spacious, if not splendid, some portion of the building still remains, and a porch of sculptured stone work was standing within these last 9 or 10 years; but some of its most beautiful parts were lately taken away, and are now in possession of a gentleman, who deposited them in his museum on Holden Hill. The palace contained a frontage of 270 feet, and was formerly known by the name of the castle. A report is current, that at one time it had within its walls many illustrious prisoners, among whom was John, King of France, confined by order of Edward III.; but Hume and many other of our historians make no mention of it. In the Saxon era, Ethelbald king of Mercians, besieged and took the place, at that period the chief town in the county. Asurius who was chaplain of Alfred the Great, and abbot of Banwell in Somerset, wrote the annals of that monarch, which are still extant, this biographer repeatedly calls the county Somertonshire. Not far from the town the river Parret glides along with its collected waters, and associating in its progress with another river from the east, which passes by Somerton. There are almshouses here for four aged men, and an endowed Charity School. The market days are on Tuesdays, and fairs are held on the last Monday in January, on Palm Tuesday, and the Tuesdays 3, 6, & 9, weeks after it. On September 30th and November the 8th, a great quantity of superior cattle, sheep, hogs, and corn, are brought here, and the fairs and markets are very numerously attended; the rearing of and dealing in cattle are much thought of, and to the frequency of its fairs and the business transacted here, Somerton is much indebted for still being able to retain in some degree its importance. The government is vested in constables chosen by the inhabitants. There are branches of the west of England and South Wales district bank, and also of Stuckey’s banking company, and a Saving’s bank. At the last census in 1841, the population consisted of 1,981 persons.

POST-OFFICE, Broad street; Post Master, William Goodridge. Letters are delivered from London and all parts, at 7 30 a.m., and from Sherborne, Yeovil, and Ilchester, at 6 30 p.m. Despatches for London and all parts, at 6 5 p.m. and for Sherborne, Yeovil, and Ilchester 6 15 a.m. Box closes at 5 55 a.m., and 5 35 p.m. Late letters may be despatched by affixing an extra stamp untill 6 p.m.

Money orders are paid and granted from 9.a.m. until 5 35 p.m.

Gentry Clergy. Barnard William, New street Barrett John, New street Brymer Rev. D.D. Charlton Mackrell Dickinson Francis Henry, King Weston Erith Miss Anne Frances, Somerton Field Miss Elizth. Broad street Gibbs William, Langport road Harris Mrs. Elizth. Long Sutton Newbolt Rev. William Robert Vicarage Nicholas Capt. Somerton Court Parsons Miss Eliza, North street Parsons Mrs. Eliza, North street Pinney William, M.P. Somerton House Pope Charles, M.D. Vale house Pyne Capt. Charlton Adam Ramsey James, Charlton house Taylor Rev. Richd. West street Trimlett Capt. G.N. R.N. Somerton Woollams Mrs. Sarah North street Auctioneer & Appraiser. Walton Vile Board, (& land agent) Broad street Bakers. Crocker Benjamin, Market place Frampton Theophilus, West street Perry William, New street Puddy Elijah, West street Rodges David, West street Somers William, West street Bank. Stuckey’s Banking Co. New st agent , Estlin Alfred; (draw on Robarts, Curtis & Co. London) West of England & South Wales. District Bank, Market place, (draw on Glyn, Hallifax & Co. London); Agent, Sams Joseph Saving’s Bank ( West Somerset), open on Wed. from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, and on Sat. from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Agent, Estlin Alfred Basket Makers. Hellier John, West street Laver Joseph, West street Beer Retailers. Brain Joseph, Langport road Churchill David, New street Edmonds Edwin Loader, Market place Lewis Joseph, West street Parsons John, West street Williams Jesse, Market place Blacksmiths. Lewis Joseph, Langport road Roles William, New street Salisbury John, Long Sutton road Watts John, New street Booksellers and Stationers. Flower James Bown, (& bookbinder & printer) Broad street Rumsey John, Broad street Peddard Vile, Langport road Milliners & Dress Makers. Beacon Sarah, Market place Rogers Louisa, Market place Painters, Plumbers, and Glaziers. Newton John, North street Taylor James, New street Plasterers Tilers, and Painters. Peddle John, Long Sutton road Peddle William, Broad street Piddard Samuel, West street Professor of Music. Rumsey John, (& Dancing) Broad street

Rope Makers. Brooks Robt. West street Fone John, West street Syms William, Langport road Saddlers and Harness Makers. Sawtell George, Market place Williams Jesse, Market place Boot and Shoe Makers. Feltham Thomas, Broad street Hannam Charles, New street Hill Ann, West street Howe Robert, North street Pittard John, West street Webber William, West street Butchers. Brown Edwin, Market place Francis John, West street Leaver Edward, West street Carpenters. Clark William, North Field Cox John, West street Hawkins Benjamin, West street Philips John, West street Thomas John, West street Watts James, New street Weech John, Langport road Chemists and Druggists. Chant George, West street Goodridge William, Broad street Jones Anna, West street China and Glass Warehouse. Steel Richard, West street Coopers. Watts Henry, West street White Walter, Curcumb street Currier. Leaver James S. West street File Cutter & Manufacturer. Steel Richard, West street Fire & Life Assurance Agents. Clerical, Medical, and General (L), Oram Elias, Broad street Economic (L), Sams Joseph, Market place Legal & Commercial ( F. & L.), Goodridge William, Broad st West of England ( F. & L.), Estlin Alfred, New street Yorkshire (F.), Sams Joseph, Market place Grocery and Sundries— Dealers in. Barnard Hannah, New street Bishop George, West street Brain Joseph, Langport road Churchill David, New street Gibbs David, West street Goodridge William, Broad street Hart Joseph, West street Lewis Joseph, West street Oram Elias, Broad street Penny Lucy, Broad street Somers William, West street Sugar John, Broad street Talbot James, West street Welsh Peter, Broad street Inns and Public Houses. Globe Inn,, Market place, Cox Thomas King Weston Inn, King Weston, Gregory William Jolliffe New Inn,, New street, Peddle Philip Red Lion Inn, (commercial and posting house) Broad street, Walton Vile Board Unicorn, West street, Hurd Saml White Hart Inn (commercial), Market place, Brown Edwin

Ironmongers. Davis Phillis, Broad street Indoe John, Broad street Linen and Woollen Drapers. Oram Elias, Broad street Penny Lucy, Broad street Welsh Edward, Broad street Maltsters. Walton Vile Board, Broad street Schools. Chant John, West street Free School, Broad st.; Master, Woolgar John Infant, Long Sutton road; Mistress, Wakefield, C. Noon Thomas, Broad street Seedsmen and Florists. Gibbs Francis, North street Indoe James, Long Sutton road Wheeler Maria and Levy, West st. Solicitors. Barrett John William, New street Estlin Alfred, New street Pyne John, Curcumb street Welsh James (& clerk to the magistrates), Broad street Stone Masons. Mead Arthur, West street Rowley James, New street Richards Samuel, New street Straw Hat Makers. Lemon Harriet, Market place Rich Harriet, North street Surgeons. Edkins Clement, North street Sparke William, West street Valentine John, Broad street Tailors. Bishop George, West street Deacon William, Market place Jones William, New street Rich Charles, North street Shearman Richard, North street Symes John ( and Draper) Broad street Talbot James, West street Wheelwrights. Coggan James, Langport road Cox John, West street Cox Samuel, New street Weech George, Langport road Miscellaneous. Clothes Salesman, Hull Elias, New street Coach Builder, Crawford George, New street Confectioner, Baker Robert, West street Hair Dresser, Cozens Simon, New street Registrar of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, Davies Thomas H., North street Stay Maker, Gunning Thomas, West street Veterinary Surgeon, Burnell Richard, Lower Somerton Watch & Clock Maker, Sulley John, Market place PUBLIC BUILDINGS, & c. Alms Houses, West street, for 4 aged men Engine House, Town Hall, keys at Jesse Williams, Market place Inland Revenu Office, The Red Lion; officer, John Barnett Stamp Office, Broad street; sub-distributor, Peter Welsh Town Hall, Market Place; keeper, Phillis Davis, Broad street