Taunton Heritage Trail - Somerset Routes Town... · Taunton Heritage Trail Welcome to the county...

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Transcript of Taunton Heritage Trail - Somerset Routes Town... · Taunton Heritage Trail Welcome to the county...

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Taunton Heritage TrailWelcome to the county town of Somerset. Taunton is a thriving, forward-looking townwhere modern life sits alongside relics of its dramatic past dating back to Saxon Times.

Taunton began as a Saxon village and was called Tone Tun. The Saxon word tun meansfarm or estate. The word Tone is Celtic and may mean roaring river. By the 10th centuryTaunton had grown from a village into a small town (although it would seem very smallto us with a population of only a few hundred). In AD 904 a charter (a documentgranting the townspeople certain rights) was given to Taunton by King Edward the Elder.

Taunton has a turbulent past most notably in 1685 when the Monmouth Rebellion wasbrutally quelled by Judge Jeffrey’s Bloody Assize in the Great Hall of Taunton Castle.

Taunton’s skyline is perhaps best recognised for its soaring towers and spires especiallySt Mary Magdalene Church, which boasts the tallest tower in Somerset.

Taunton’s future is equally exciting with the start of Project Taunton. This newchapter in the town’s development will see extensive regeneration of the townmaking it the centre for sustainable and prosperous living in the South West - and afantastic place to be.

For now take a step back in time and witness the historic buildings and sites whichhave made Taunton what it is today.

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Taunton Heritage Trail(marked with plaques)Page 3 - 11The official Taunton Heritage Trail is marked withheritage plaques in the ground tomark the route. The trailtakes in 44 historic sitesand properties. Usingthe map overleaf as aguide each numberrelates to the relevantproperty, photographand descriptive text.

Taunton HistoricBuildings and SitesPage 12 - 17There are many historic sitesin Taunton not on the officialtrail route.

This sectionhighlights keysites on themap whichcan beviewed.

Taunton Heritage TrailIn the Heart of Somerset there are some beautiful, original heritage sites, many of which aremarked on the Taunton Heritage Trail. Using this booklet you can visit the historic sites andproperties on a self-guided tour. Follow the shaded route on the map starting at TauntonTourist Information Centre and using the numbers on the map learn more about Somerset'sHistoric County Town.

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Trail Route

Pedestrian Area

Site of Interest

No of Site

River/Stream

Open Spaces

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Taunton Heritage Trail

© Crown copyright. All rights reserved.Taunton Deane Borough Council.100019499 (2007)

1. 4 Fore Street – “Vision Express”Built as the “new” Wilts andDorset Bank in 1865, it waslater occupied by the InlandRevenue and then altered in1892 to house Drayton’sJewellers, which closed in about1994. The shop front ofDrayton’s is in situ today and isone of the earliest, completeexamples of its kind in the

town. Note the plaque to Alfred Bult Mullet, whowas born next door, he designed the Old ExecutiveBuilding, adjacent to the White House inWashington DC and also designed the first builtskyscraper in Washington - the Baltimore Sun. Alsonote the polychromatic stonework.

2. Street LightingOn the 1 May 1886,Taunton was the firsttown in the southwestto permanently adoptstreet lighting. The1930’s street lamps,which formerlydelineated the “triangle”

in front of The Market House, have been resited tothe rear.

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3. The Market HouseThis centrepiece buildingwas originallyconstructed in 1772. In1930, the former singlestorey wings weredemolished to allowhighway improvementsand the main buildingwas also revamped. Until the comprehensive highwayimprovements were carried out in 1996, the long-standing “triangular” area of land in front of TheMarket House remained, albeit no longer in its formeruse as the town’s main market which operated until1929. Traditionally, the centre of the town, this area, astoday, has always been busy. This was confirmedduring the “recent” highway improvements, whenmore than 11 public houses, dating from about 1750,were found in the immediate vicinity!!

4. 15 Fore Street - “Café Nero”Due to the timberframing, this building wasknown for a long timeas the Tudor/TudorTavern. Re-fronted in1578, it was at one timeowned by theTrowbridge clothiers, whose initials appear on thefaçade. In 1685 it was occupied by wealthy grocer,Thomas Baker, father of two of the “Maids ofTaunton”, who welcomed the Duke of Monmouth tothe town. It was subsequently occupied by one of theinfamous, ill fated, Duke of Monmouth’s Privy Council.

5. The Old Market CentreEnter this moderncentre via the narrowPig Market Lane intoJarman’s Court, thelatter so named afterEdward Jarman, anearly Tauntonchemist, who died in

1690. Pig Market Square, pleasantly remembered bythree wooden pigs, recognises the area of the pigmarket, established by 1614 and operating until 1882.

6. 18 Fore Street- “Former Going Places”

Outside 18 ForeStreet, movetowards the roadto view thisbuilding. Whilst ithas a modestVictorian façade, ithides medieval

buildings with a wealth of decorative plasterwork.Note the early gable projecting above the currentparapet and the original side passage to the left, nowgiving access to Bath Place.

7. 25 Fore Street - “Prezzo/Jaeger”Built 1908 as a bank forStuckey’s, this prominentbuilding has housed asuccession of banks,latterly the TSB, whichvacated in about 2001.

8. Bath PlaceThis was the formermain thoroughfare tothe west of the town,until Corporation Streetwas cut in 1894. BathPlace is home to aseries of small specialistshops operating from a near complete set of 19thCentury shop fronts, characterised by theiroctagonal glazing fanlights.

9. Mechanics Institute, Bath PlaceThis purpose built structure,constructed by WilliamBeadon in 1838, housed theSchool of Art from 1856 andsoon after the School ofScience and Art whichoccupied the building untilabout 1905 when it movedinto new, purpose builtpremises, Hunts Court, inCorporation Street.

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10. Mos Food/4 AllsThese two buildings,acting as focal points onthe approach to thetown from the west,highlight the existenceof the historic BathPlace, now mainly athoroughfare of small,specialist retailers.

11. County Hall - A Block

Understandably designed to have an impact on thestreet scene, this purpose-designed civic building byEmanuel Vincent Harris OBE RA (1935) houses awealth of contemporary detailing including stainedglass and panelling. The architect was alsoresponsible for a number of local authority buildingsincluding: County Hall, Cardiff (1909), Nottingham(1925), Sheffield (1932), Leeds (1933), Bristol(1939).

12. Mitre HouseThis building formed partof the Convent ofPerpetual Adoration, built1867, to the design of J. F.Bentley. Ghostly sightingsof a nun have beenreported on occasion.Formerly known as St.Paul’s House, it is the siteof the medieval Chapel of St. Paul.

13. Mecca BingoThis purpose builtcinema, was erected1931-2,to the designof W. T. Benslyn Notethe sculptured panelabove the entrance,depicting “Love andLife Entangled in theFilm”.

14. Hunts CourtPurpose designed bySamson and Cottam,this 1905 Art Schoolhas the most imposingneo-classical façade inTaunton.

15. Cider Press GardenThe old stone cider presswas a gift to Taunton and itspeople from Taunton CiderCompany in their GoldenJubilee year in 1971.

16. The Old Library Building -“Pitcher & Piano”

The town’s public librarywas opened here in 1905,to the design of architectAlexander Little ofLondon and part fundedby the CarnegieFoundation. It remained

the town’s library until 1996 when its conversion toa public house raised some eyebrows, due to thecovenant applied by the Carnegie Foundation, thatalcohol must not be consumed on the premises!!

17. Old Municipal BuildingsThe section to the right ofthe main door was built in1522 to house the town’sGrammar School.Founded by Richard Fox,then Bishop of Winchester,it cost £226 to build.

Badly damaged in 1645 during the Civil War, it wasrestored and continued as a school until 1885. Itthen became offices of Taunton Corporation until itswidespread offices were centralised in 1987.

18. Castle BowThis is the last survivingremnant of the Castle’s outerbailey, the keep beingdestroyed on the orders ofCharles II. Originally, this wasthe East Gate of the Castleand had a drawbridge - notethe modern portcullis, set inthe original grooves.

19. Castle HotelBuilt about 1815 bythe Easton family, as aprivate 2-storeyhouse, it wasoriginally designed tomirror theWinchester Arms. A3rd and subsequently4th storey were added in the 20th Century, thusdestroying the original concept. The building wasfirst converted to its current use in 1834, when itopened as Sweets Hotel. Well known today, for itscuisine and elegant accommodation, famous pastguests have included the future Tsar Nicholas I in1817, the Duke of Wellington in 1819, the Emperorof Mexico in 1824 and the then Princes of Wales in1856 and 1932.

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22. St James AlmshouseThis almshouse wasone of several whichonce stood in St. JamesStreet. They wereremoved in 1897, withthe frame of this oneinitially being reerected in former moat. In 1992, it was moved toits current site and restored, now serving as animportant social record of living conditions in themedieval period.

23. The Winchester ArmsThe Winchester Armswas built by JosiahEaston in 1816 on thesite of another inncalled the Horse andJockey. Easton built whatare now the ground and first floors of the CastleHotel at the same time, and they initially formed amatching pair.

24. Millers (Ina Cottage),Mill LaneMillers (was calledFleur de lys in 1800’s)is in Mill lane - thesite of old mill. Itbecame a Fulling Millin the 1200’s.

20. Castle GreenThe area defined by theCastle, Castle Hotel, OldMunicipal Buildings,Winchester Arms andMecca, once formed part ofthe outer Bailey of the

Castle, added in 1215-16. It was also the site ofTaunton’s only burial ground from Saxon Times untilthe 12th Century. Skeletons have been discoveredand others will no doubt follow, when deep digging isfound necessary in the area. Understandably, this area(and beyond) is a scheduled Ancient Monument. Theoriginal Saxon Minister almost certainly stood onCastle Green. The Castle was sleighted in c1662,with Castle Green becoming the site of a cattle andsheep market from 1788, with the Assize fairs, finallybeing banned by the Market Trustees in 1871.

21. Taunton CastleThe remains of the Castle and later buildings, house

the County Museum, MilitaryMuseum and Gallery. By the early10th Century, this was possibly thesite of the Bishop’s Hall. TheCastle was the scene of the“Bloody Assize” when JudgeJeffrey’s tried over 500 supporters

of the failed Monmouth rebellion in 1685. It alsoserved as a prison. The last trial in the south west forwitchcraft was held here in 1707, when Maria Stevenswas acquitted. Threats to demolish the remains of theCastle and associated buildings in order to redevelopwere thwarted by Somerset Archaeological & NaturalHistory Society purchase in 1874.

28. St James ChurchThis late medieval church withits fine 15th Century font andpulpit (1633) was originallybuilt to serve inhabitants wholived outside the town’sdefences. The tower, incommon with most medievalchurches, was rebuilt in 1871-1875. A notable grave here is that of JosephWhidbey, the explorer and engineer, who was incharge of building Plymouth Breakwater.

29. St James Close AlmshousesBuilt in 1845, thesedelightful almshouses area group of several in thetown, owned by TauntonTown Charity, to serve theneedy of the community.

30. Former Brewery (corner of StJames Street/Canon Street)These fine maltingsare all that are left ofthe breweryestablished in CanonStreet at the turn ofthe 18th century.They were built in1904, at a cost of£4,000. The buildingwas converted in 2007 into apartments.

25. Post Office, North StreetThis imposingpurpose-built buildingwas opened in 1911.It occupies the site ofthe Spread Eagle Inn,demolished as “surplusto requirements”,when magistrates

closed many houses in the town, at the behest ofteetotallers in the early 20th Century! (Note theBlack Horse logo on the adjacent property!)

26. North StreetCongregational Church

Built 1844 as NorthStreet IndependentChapel.

27. Tone BridgeThe medieval ToneBridge, firstmentioned in 1362,was rebuilt in 1810and again in 1834.

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33. Octagon ChapelOpened in 1776 by JohnWesley. By the 1970’s theChapel had beensurrounded or extended foruse as a nightclub. Theaccretions were removedbut the Chapel was onceagain “hidden”, by thehousing today.

34. Somerset HouseAnother buildingattributed to RichardCarver, SomersetHouse served as thefirst District RegistrarOffice, where the firstcivil marriage since theCivil War, took placein 1837.

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31. Somerset County Cricket GroundSCC established inTaunton 1875,moving to thisground in 1881. Forfixtures please call0845 337 1875.

32. Somerset County Cricket Museum(“Priory Barn”)

This building islikely to be partof the medievalAugustinianPriory. The latterdisappeared in1539 with thedissolution ofthe monasteries

under Henry VIII. The “barn” now houses theCricket Club Museum, which is open throughoutthe summer Tuesday to Friday between 10.30amand 4.00pm, whilst on match days (apart fromTwenty20 games) it opens one hour before thestart of play.

37. Former Central Primary SchoolBuilt in 1866, byHenry Davis, tothe design ofBenjamin Ferrey,the schoolreplaced themedieval St.Mary’sworkhouse.

38. East Reach POA former usewas a butchers,with foodhygiene not tooapparent in thisPhotograph.

39. Grays Almshouses/East GateThese Almshouseswere founded byRobert Gray in1635 and still hasit’s original chapelwith paintedceiling. One formerfemale occupant,went to sleepevery night in a coffin, to avoid being handled afterher death! (1814).

35. St Mary Magdalene ChurchThere has been achurch on this sitesince at least the12th century. Themagnificent 163 foottower, was rebuilt toits original design in1862. In order toraise the stone

during construction, a pulley system was used,operated by a donkey walking down HammetStreet. When the work was complete, the donkeywas hauled to the top of the tower to admire theview it had created! Taunton’s first known fire enginewas housed in the church tower (1734).

36. Hammet Street/Church SquareHammet Streetwas named afterSir BenjaminHammet, a formerTaunton MP whowas the primemover in thecreation of the

road in 1788. Apart from a few alterations, HammetStreet and Church Square, still retains it’s originalGeorgian houses, albeit now in different uses.

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43. Waterstones/Marks and SpencerUntil the mid 1990’s, thisbuilding was occupied bythe County Hotel, being thelast in a series of Inns/Hotelsoperating from the site since1529, when it was recordedas the Three Cups.

44. CheapsideA range of fine Regencybuildings, built in 1822 andoccupying an unusualisland site. Cheapside wasdesigned as a vista leadingto the town centre.

40. Venture (Former “CouncilHouse”)

Offices of the Local Boardof Health, later known asOld Council House, thename, still in evidence athigh level.

41. Phoenix InnThe former Inn, was run from1855 until his death in 1865by John Gill, England’s firstgreat lion-tamer, under thename of Manchester Jack.

42. Swan InnOnly the façade of the formerInn remains, enveloped in thebody of Wilkinsons. Thisapproach is dated and not oneto be advocated today.

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KeyPedestrian Area

Site of Interest

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River/Stream

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Bus Station

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Car Park

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© Crown copyright. All rights reserved.Taunton Deane Borough Council.100019499 (2007)

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Taunton Historic Properties

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48. Toll House/Eye InfirmaryThis now unimpressive buildingwas constructed by TauntonTurnpike Trust, 1815-16 and usedas a tollhouse until 1853.Taunton’s Eye Infirmary, startedby James Billet, a surgeon andoculist, occupied the site from1854,until its closure in 1904. Asa result of “recent” re-rendering,evidence of the former design of the building, canbe seen on the west elevation.

49. Shire HallThis large gothic building,designed by W.B.Moffat,and constructed 1855-58, now houses theCrown Courts.

50. Taunton JailPart of the formerCounty Gaol, can beseen behind the existingPolice Station. Theoriginal gaol, built in1754 and calledBridewell, was enlargedin 1815 and 1843 andsince the latter, called the County Gaol. 16murderers were hanged here between 1844 and1884, such being carried out on the prison roofuntil 1867, attracting crowds of up to 8,000. Most ofthe former cell windows on this side have beenenlarged for modern office purposes.

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45. Queens CollegeThis independent school wasbuilt 1845-7, to the design ofJames Wilson of Bath andLondon, as the WesleyanCollegiate Institution, Taunton.

46. Haines HillDesigned and built bylocal architect, RichardCarver, as a speculativedevelopment. The firsthouses were underconstruction in 1858and Carver’s hand can

clearly been seen on most of the villas on the northside of the site and around the central green. HainesHill was the birthplace of Hugh Montague Trenchardin 1873, father of the RAF, later (1936) ViscountTrenchard.

47. Lowlands, Trull RoadThis imposing building,whose former groundsare now regrettablyoccupied by moderndevelopment, was thedesign and home ofTaunton’s most prolific

architect, Richard Carver architect and CountySurveyor, whose building designs are evidentthroughout the town.

51. Corner House Hotel/Park StreetThe road itself wasconstructed 1847-8. Houses,including the formerCannsfield House, (now theCorner House Hotel), onthe north side, were largely

erected by a local but prolific builder of the time,Henry Davis. His commissions included housebuilding at Billet Street, Cyprus Terrace, Haines Hill,Billetfield (including his own house) and granderprojects e.g. rebuilding of St Mary’s Tower, constructionof the Church of St John, Park Street.

52. Church of St John The Evangelist,Park StreetDesigned by Sir GG Scott and builtby Henry Davis, the church wasconsecrated in 1863, with theorgan being played in by composerSamuel Sebastian Wesley in 1864.

53. Masonic Hall/The CrescentThe Masonic Hall terminates thegrand Georgian terrace in TheCrescent, the latter so named forobvious reasons! The Masonic Hall,opened in 1879, is a conversion of aCatholic Chapel, which operated from

1822-1860, when the congregation relocated to thenewly opened St Georges Church at the top of BilletStreet. In the intervening years, the Chapel was usedas a wine and spirit warehouse, before being occupiedby Huish’s School for Girls between 1876 and 1891.

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54. Kinglake House - 42/43 UpperHigh StreetMajor General CharlesGordon lodged in thishouse for five years, while apupil at Fullands HouseSchool, South Road. Hewas a British General whoserved in the Crimean War, nicknamed “ChineseGordon” for the brilliant leadership of ChineseImperial troops during the Taiping Rebellion 1863-4.

55. Temple Methodist Church, UpperHigh StreetThe original Temple wasbuilt in1808 by wealthybookseller, James Lackingtonand named after his Londonbookshop, “Temple of theMuses”. Originallycomprising the central gable only ( aligned N/S), it wasenlarged in1846 and reopened after remodelling to adesign by J.Wilson, in 1869.

56. Vivary Apartments, Upper High StreetOriginally the Full Moon Inn,the West Somerset SavingsBank, formed in 1817,moved here in 1831,following a remodelling bylocal architect RichardCarver. Its use as a bankfinished in the mid 1980’s when it was convertedto apartments.

60. Jellalabad Keep, Mount Street(best viewed from within Vivary Park)This imposing building is allthat remains of the barracks ofPrince Albert’s 13th Regiment,later the Somerset LightInfantry. Built 1879 to 1881and designed by ArmyDivisional Surveyor, Thomas Berry and MajorCrozier RE. The name commemorates theinvolvement of the 13th Light Infantry Regiment inthe siege of Jellalabad, Afghanistan 1841-42. It isnow a private dwelling.

61. 53-55 High Street - “Yates”In 1788, Mathew Colman set up alinen draper in the town. In 1883,the business became “Hatchers”,with its grand new premisesopening here in 1894. Note - thefirst and second floors, which nowwith mirrored glass, weredesigned to be shop displays - arare survival of such a tradition. Compare thisapproach with that of the existing Hatchers on theopposite side of the street.

62. United Reformed Church, Paul StreetOriginally, Paul’s Meeting,erected 1672, its interiorwas wrecked in1683 byAnglican mayor, StephenTimewell. It was rebuilt in1797 and given itspresent façade in 1877.

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57. Vivary Park GatesThese magnificent gateswere built by WalterMcFarlene & Co of‘Glasgow’s’ SaracenFoundry and completedin May 1895.

58. Unitarian Chapel, Mary Street Rebuilt in 1721, this finechapel still has its originalinterior including Flemish oakCorinthian columns, pews andpulpit. Samuel Taylor Coleridgecame to preach at the chapelon several occasions.

59. Vivary ParkThe name derives fromthe area’s historical useas a Vivarium - twofishponds, kept by thebishops of Winchester,since at least 1207.Manuscripts dating from

the 1360’s show that the Vivarium covered some 70acres and provided pike bream and eels forbanquets. The current park was originally laid out in1895 and restored with lottery funding in 2002. Theornate fountain was built as a memorial to QueenVictoria, was turned on by the Mayoress on 31October 1907.1851, marked the first Flower Showto be held here. The Flower Show continues to thisday.

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63. Wessex LodgeBuilt in 1868 by Henry Davis,(the local and prolific builder,already mentioned elsewhere),he occupied it until his death in1892. It was later used as thePortman Estate Office.

64. St. Georges RCCPurpose built to the design ofBenjamin Bucknell, the churchopened in 1860.

65. Silver Street Baptist ChurchBuilt 1815 and enlarged, withit’s Italianate façade, 1870.

66. Former Taunton and SomersetHospitalFounded by Dr. MalachiBlake in 1809 andopened in 1812 tocelebrate George III ’sGolden Jubilee.

Operational as a hospital until?

67. Trinity ChurchTrinity Church built by RichardCarver county surveyor, white liasstone with Bath stone edges.Pevsner said “Starved lancet style,quite original” 90 ft tower with 6bells. Built in 1842.

68. 160 East ReachThe Taunton Ale Brewery wasestablished on this site in1776, this building, the formerowner’s house, the onlyreminder. The brewery’s PaleAle was sold as far a field asBath, where it fetched a higherprice than London Porter.

69. St Margaret’s Leper HospitalRun from the 12thcentury by the monks ofTaunton Priory, thehospital had its ownchapel and cemetery.Rebuilt in about 1510 byAbbot Richard Bere ofGlastonbury, it was later used as almshouses untilthe 20th century, when it was converted to offices.Following two arson attacks in the early 1990’s, thebuilding was sensitively converted and repaired, tofour dwellings, for a local housing association in2003.

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