Archeology Taunton

English Heritage Extensive Urban Survey
An archaeological assessment of

Clare Gathercole

Somerset County Council
County Hall
TAUNTON
Somerset
TA1 4DY

2002
SOMERSET EXTENSIVE URBAN SURVEY
TAUNTON
ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT
by Clare Gathercole
CONTENTS
I. INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
II. MAJOR SOURCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1. Primary documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
2. Local histories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
3. Maps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
III. A BRIEF HISTORY OF TAUNTON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
IV. THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF TAUNTON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
GENERAL COMMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1. PREHISTORIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2. ROMAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
3. THE SAXON TOWN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
4. THE MEDIEVAL AND POST-MEDIEVAL TOWN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
5. PRE-1800 SETTLEMENT (OUTLYING AREAS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
6. INDUSTRIAL (LATE 18TH AND 19TH CENTURY) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
7. 20TH CENTURY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
V. THE POTENTIAL OF TAUNTON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
1. Research interests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
2. Areas of potentially exceptional preservation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
3. Limitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
4. Extent of current protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
5. Management Proposals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
VI. SOURCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
1. General documentary (Somerset/ Wessex) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
2. Taunton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
3. Maps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
VII. EXCAVATIONS IN AND AROUND TAUNTON to 1997 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
VIII. COMPONENT INDEXES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
1. Component to map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
2. Component to page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Appendix: Maps
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Somerset Extensive Urban Survey - Taunton Archaeological Assessment
SOMERSET EXTENSIVE URBAN SURVEY
TAUNTON
ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT
Somerset County Council would like to thank all the people who assisted in the compiling or editing of this report.
I. INTRODUCTION
This report forms one of a series commissioned by English Heritage and prepared by Somerset County Council with
the aim of assessing urban archaeology as part of the Monuments Protection Programme. The work was carried out
from 1994 to 1998 by Clare Gathercole and Miranda Richardson (from 1996), managed by Chris Webster. The
reports are essentially as completed during that period but have been partially updated by Chris Webster with new
archaeological information during 2002.
English Heritage has funded two programmes assess the urban archaeological resource - intensive and extensive.
The former is restricted to the major historic cities, characterised by a great depth of archaeological remains, a wealth
of historical documentation and in many cases, by a great deal of archaeological investigation. The extensive urban
surveys cover the smaller towns and are based on information in the local Sites and Monuments Record with limited
amounts of new information collected during the project. Once the information has been collected and mapped,
attention is focused on the analysis of the town plan and defining topographic units within the town. This will lead
to the preparation of guidance for planners, developers and others involved in the management of the town.
II. MAJOR SOURCES
1. Primary documents
Primary documentary sources for Taunton and its hinterland are of variable quality and quantity. A number of early
charters of the 8th, 9th, and 10th century are known, though some of these may be spurious. The association of the
manor with the Bishopric of Winchester from the Saxon period onwards has resulted in detailed documentation of
certain aspects of the towns history. The Winchester Pipe Rolls, for example, provide much information on the state
of the Castle from the early 13th to the mid 16th centuries. On the other hand, many of the Borough papers have
been lost.
2. Local histories
Though there is no Victoria County History coverage yet, Taunton has been the subject of local historians interest
for at least two centuries. This report leans on the work of Robin Bush in particular, though it is also heavily
influenced by previous archaeological assessments, more numerous and detailed for Taunton than for other towns
in Somerset. The latter include those by the Taunton Research and Excavation Committee (1975) and by Leach
(1984).
Coverage of the surrounding settlements is limited. Whilst Trull has been the subject of detailed study by both
Hallam (1953) and C W Green (1993), there is hardly any easily available material on other parishes
All these sources contain more historical and archaeological detail than can be reproduced in this report.
3. Maps
A number of early 19th century maps, and a very few 18th century, are available for Taunton and the surrounding
area. The earliest detailed map of Taunton town centre located for this report is dated 1791; But though most of the
maps are not particularly early, they do include some very high quality examples. The maps used are listed at the
end of the report.
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III. A BRIEF HISTORY OF TAUNTON
Taunton and the settlements of its immediate hinterland lie within the broad, sheltered vale of the River Tone, which
contains rich agricultural land on which the economic importance of the area has been based. Converging in the vale
are important communications lines from the uplands and the Levels, including the River Tone itself (though the
rivers navigable limit has varied over the centuries). Taunton lies at a crossing point of the river, but other
historically important settlements in the hinterland (including Norton and Bishops Hull) instead overlook the vale.
The hillfort of Norton Fitzwarren represents the first known central place in the vale, and was in many respects the
predecessor of modern Taunton. The site was use in various forms from the Neolithic period onwards, and is
believed to have been during the later prehistoric period an important interchange point on the boundary between
two tribes. The surrounding settlement and landscape pattern is still not fully understood, but it seems clear that
Norton dominated a densely settled and farmed area. A number of settlement sites have already been revealed by
excavation (including one in the town centre) and aerial photographic survey, and it is probable that many more
existed.
The partial abandonment of Norton in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD is the clearest indication in the Taunton area
of the impact of the Romans. However, it appears that eventually (in the 3rd and 4th centuries) the site was
reoccupied, perhaps representing a resurgence of native British traditions. Elsewhere, continuity of settlement seems
likely and, indeed, has been shown on some excavated sites. Ample evidence of Roman activity in the vale has been
recovered in the form of coin and pottery finds, though this can not always be linked to specific sites. Whether there
was settlement on the site of Taunton itself is not yet known: no structural evidence has yet been recovered, except
for the remains of a small number of agricultural drainage ditches.
The first historical reference to Taunton is in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle for 722. The entry records the destruction
(or demolition) of Taunton, built by Ine, by his wife, Queen Aethelburh. This probably refers to a fortified centre
associated with the expansion of Wessex under Ine, which was in 722 slighted by Aethelburh to prevent its use by
rebels against her husband. The omission of Taunton from the later Burghal Hidage (c900 AD) appears to indicate
that the first site was not refortified. Indeed, it is possible that it was not reoccupied, and that it was not the same
site as later Saxon or medieval Taunton occupied. The Tone Vale estates were extensive and it has been suggested
that Ine may have had his fort at Norton Fitzwarren, in the hillfort, or at Bishops Hull (Dunning & Pearson, 1975).
Local traditions also associate the Dragon of Wessex with Norton, though archaeological evidence is lacking.
The foundation of a minster at Taunton, probably by the wife of Ines successor in the mid 8th century, may mark
the beginning of the town of Taunton. The minster, with a limited estate, was granted to the See of Winchester at
a very early stage in its history, and lands were subsequently added to the minster estates in the 8th and 9th centuries.
However, most of the manor was retained by the kings of Wessex, and it was they who first developed it as an
important administrative, judicial and commercial centre for the extensive Tone Vale estate which stretched from
the Quantocks to the Blackdowns. It was not until the early 10th century that the Bishops of Winchester acquired
rights to the profits of the developing commercial centre. The earliest of the 10th century charters (of 904 AD) refers
not only to market tolls and tax exemptions, but also to burgage rents, showing that Taunton was by this date already
a town, and from the mid 10th century onwards, it had its own mint.
Though the minster site has almost certainly now been located under part of the medieval castle, the location of the
town founded by the kings of Wessex and taken over by the Bishops of Winchester remains an enigma. The
obvious site - that later occupied by the medieval borough - has produced worryingly little archaeological evidence
despite relatively frequent interventions. The peculiar relationship of the ancient parish of Bishops Hull (which
included the Saxon minster/ medieval castle site) to the medieval borough has been much discussed , though its
significance remains unclear. Indeed, an alternative site for the Saxon settlement west of the minster in the St Pauls
area is a possibility (one supported by archaeological evidence of at least some Saxon activity there).
By Domesday there were 64 burgesses in Taunton, making it the third largest in the county after Bath and Ilchester.
It was the centre of a vast estate held by the Bishops of Winchester, either directly (the Infaring) or indirectly (the
Liberty or Outfaring). Of the parishes covered (or partly covered) by this report, some were Infaring (Taunton St
James, Ruishton, Stoke St Mary, Wilton, Trull, Bishops Hull, Pitminster, and Staplegrove), others Outfaring
(Cheddon Fitzpaine, Norton Fitzwarren). Much of the Outfaring was granted away during the course of the medieval
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period and became lay property. Cheddon Fitzpaine was one of the separate medieval manors; another was West
Monkton, which was part of the Glastonbury Abbey estates. The histories of the individual settlements eventually
absorbed by Taunton could not be studied in detail for this report. The essential settlement pattern of networks of
farmsteads, hamlets and small villages served by dependent chapels or parish churches can still be descried on the
late 18th century and early 19th century maps. But the results of a number of excavations show a complex picture
of shifting occupation sites within a general framework of continuity.
As the estates town, the jewel in the crown, Taunton was tightly controlled the Bishops of Winchester. Their
influence on the development of Taunton was important throughout the medieval period, but this was perhaps
especially the case in the first half of the 12th century. It was almost certainly at this time, under Bishops William
Gyffard and then Henry of Blois, that the medieval town plan was established. Gyffard (who was also King William
IIs Chancellor) was responsible for the conversion of the Saxon minster into an Augustinian Priory. His successor,
Henry of Blois (who was also Abbot of Glastonbury), built the Great Keep and the town defences, thus ensuring the
towns military importance. He also moved the Priory beyond the town defences, primarily in order to relieve
pressure of space on the castle, which was gradually enlarged under his successors.
Henry of Blois was also the brother of King Stephen, who granted Tauntons first borough charter in 1136. This
represents not the creation of a new town - since Taunton was already a borough before the Conquest - but a
formalisation of the existing situation. The changes to the Castle and Priory represent aspects of this process of
formalisation. However, the implications for the town itself are unclear. Only a little archaeological evidence of
occupation on the site before the 12th century has been recovered, and it is possible that the focus of the town was
deliberately shifted at this time, perhaps because of a fire recorded in the Annals of Winchester for 1111. However,
Taunton does not have the regular appearance of the archetypal early medieval planned town, and no entirely
satisfactory interpretation of the transition from pre-Conquest borough to medieval town can yet be given.
The influence of the Bishops, and subsequently of the Priory, remained strong throughout the medieval period. The
Priory controlled all the churches and chapels, but the Bishops continued to shape and foster the economy of the
town. The Castle, occupied mainly by the Constable and occasionally by the Bishops or the King, was expanded
in the 13th century, and the scheme also involved the construction of a fulling mill. This, the earliest documented
fulling mill in the west country, was the first of several as the cloth trade was deliberately fostered by the towns
masters. The town defences were also improved in the 13th century, though the town was already expanding beyond
them. The value of the borough rose steeply between the 11th and 13th centuries, and maintained a high average
despite occasional slumps. By the 14th century Taunton was one of the largest and wealthiest towns in the county
after Bath and Bristol, and two fairs, one in the Borough and one in North Town, head been established.
Taunton returned Members of Parliament from the late 13th century onwards, and in 1360 a regional Parliament was
held there. Both Castle and town were of strategic regional importance and, though the town defences were never
seriously tested, the medieval period was not without incident. The first Keep of Henry of Blois is believed to have
been destroyed during the wars of succession waged between Stephen and Matilda, for example. The later medieval
period saw further unrest: in 1451 the Castle was besieged during the Wars of the Roses, and in 1497 Perkin
Warbecks rebellion against Henry VII came to an end in Taunton.
Severe disruption of the medieval status quo occurred in the 16th century, under Henry VIII. However, it can be
argued that the Dissolution (and rapid demolition) of Taunton Priory had, in the end, a positive impact on Taunton.
It freed for residential and commercial development a large amount of land adjacent to the town (subsequently
included in the Parish of St James). However, the Priory had already begun this development, both north and south
of the river, and subsequent expansion was not over-rapid. Much of the land was not built over until the 19th
century, but in the meantime Taunton continued to thrive. The accounts of 16th and early 17th century travellers,
such as Leland (1542) and Gerard (1633) describe a fair, extremely prosperous market and cloth town: indeed,
Gerard describes it as the chief town in the county (barring Bath and Bristol).
The town remained under the influence of the Bishops of Winchester. But by the early 17th century, the Borough
was trying for incorporation, and its first grant of incorporation was received in 1627 - whilst the Bishopric was
vacant. This can be seen as an early manifestation of the anti-establishment currents which repeatedly swept the
town into trouble in the mid to late 17th century, when it was described as that insolent town, the sink of all
4
rebellion in the west (Bush, 1977). During the Civil War it was a Parliamentary centre in a predominantly Royalist
area, and was several times besieged between 1643 and 1645. Much of the east side of the medieval town was
destroyed by siege and fire and the trauma of these events, together with the subsequent demolition of the Castle
keep after the Restoration, led to festering resentment. This can only have been exacerbated by the quashing of the
Grant of Incorporation when the Bishops estates (temporarily seized by Parliament) were restored. Though a new,
more extensive Charter of Incorporation was granted in 1677, the new Corporation was under the control of a
loyalist, establishment minority. There followed a period of extreme persecution of the many dissenting
congregations which had been established in Taunton, culminating in serious assaults on meetings in 1682-3. In
response, the town welcomed the rebellious Monmouth in 1685, and was deeply scarred by the brutal reprisals which
followed his defeat at Sedgemoor. More than 500 rebels were tried in Taunton Castle by Judge Jeffreys, and a total
of 38 were executed in the market place (R. Bush, in.litt., 1998), many more being sent for execution in surrounding
towns and villages.
Despite the inevitable disruption caused by war, Tauntons economy remained fairly buoyant throughout the 17th
and early 18th centuries. Textiles were still its main product and trading commodity, however, and by the second
half of the 18th century the town was suffering the effects of the widespread failure of the Somerset cloth industry
in the face of competition from the mechanised northern mills. The effects were mitigated in Taunton by the growth
of the silk mills, but also by great improvements in communications. Between the turn of the 18th century and the
end of the 19th the turnpikes, the Tone Navigation scheme, the two canals, and finally the railways, improved access
to the town and allowed considerable industrial and trade development to take place. Meanwhile the administration
of the town was revamped, with the establishment of Market Trustees in 1768 and the dissolution of the Corporation
in 1792; and the Bishops manor was sold off in 1822 and fragmented.
Though the Corporation was revived in the later 19th century, the borough was absorbed in 1974 into the borough
of Taunton Deane. This change reflects the huge expansion of Taunton in the 20th century, which has led to the
absorption or virtual absorption of a number of surrounding settlements. The development of the town has been
heavily influenced since the early 1970s by the M5 motorway, and subsequent road developments and estate infill
have obscured much of the historic settlement pattern.
IV. THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF TAUNTON
GENERAL COMMENTS
0.1 Coverage area
The area covered by this report includes the whole of the modern urban area of Taunton, and extends some way
beyond it to include some villages very close to the current limits of suburban development. The limit of coverage
has had to be defined somewhat arbitrarily, however, because of the density of settlement around Taunton. Covered
are the entire civil parishes of Taunton and Comeytrowe. Large parts of Bishops Hull, Cheddon Fitzpaine, Norton
Fitzwarren, Staplegrove, Trull, and West Monkton are also covered, as are small areas of Bradford-on-Tone,
Kingston St Mary, Pitminster and Stoke St Mary. Not all parts of the coverage area have been discussed in equal
detail.
0.2 Archaeological work in the town
Taunton is one of the few towns in Somerset in which considerable archaeological work has taken place and
continues to take place. The results of the earlier work at least are relatively accessible, being discussed in the
volume by P. Leach (1974), which focuses very much on the main elements of the medieval town core. Subsequent
work in the town centre has continued to investigate the origin and development of the medieval town. Far from
producing redundant information, this represents a continuing search for the origins of the town in the as yet
unlocated Saxon settlement.
Outside the town centre, early work focussed on the obvious monuments, notably the hillfort at Norton Fitzwarren.
Work in advance of M5 construction considerably widened the scope of archaeological investigation of the
landscape and settlement of the vale from the prehistoric period onwards. A number of major projects and smaller
interventions have since carried this work forward.
Section VI contains details of excavations and interventions in the study area (p78).
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0.3 Standing structures and visible remains
Visible remains in the area of Taunton Deane covered by this report are limited. In part this is because of a long
history of intensive farming. The only major prehistoric monument, for example, is the hillfort at Norton Fitzwarren,
which itself presided over an agricultural landscape of which little survives. However, destructive urban
development has also played, and continues to play, a large part in the erosion of the historic landscape. So whilst
the large area covered by this report contains a very high number of Listed Buildings, the greatest concentration of
these is in Taunton town centre, with a disappointingly small number of isolated historic structures surviving in the
absorbed settlements. Likewise, the medieval town plan survives at least in part in the centre, whilst some of the
surrounding hamlets, such as Holway or Lyngford, have been engulfed by 20th-century sprawl.
The Listed Buildings, Scheduled Monuments and other surviving remains are, where appropriate, discussed in more
detail in the text or shown on the maps.
1. PREHISTORIC
(Map A)
1.1 Archaeological work in the town/ Archaeological knowledge
With the exception of the Norton Fitzwarren area, the pattern of known prehistoric sites shown on Map A represents
not the actual settlement pattern but the pattern of sites encountered through aerial photographic survey of
undeveloped land and through development work from the 1970s onwards. The line of the M5, for example, shows
clearly. The number of sites already discovered in this manner suggests a densely settled and worked landscape.
Finds of prehistoric artefacts in the urban area of Taunton itself support this picture, though the archaeological
survival of structural remains of the prehistoric period may be compromised in the town core. It is therefore
impossible to predict accurately the full potential of the overall area at the moment and, where possible,
archaeological work is being directed towards establishing a more complete and detailed image of the landscape(s)
dominated by Norton Fitzwarren from at least the Neolithic period onwards.
1.2 Context
Taunton is one of five out of the 45 historic towns covered by this project at which there is evidence of a major
prehistoric defended enclosure or hillfort functioning as a central place, either within or close to the later town and
representing some form of predecessor to it. In this case, the site in question is that at Norton Fitzwarren, which may
have been the first real centre in the vale of Taunton Deane, acting first as a Bronze Age distribution centre for a very
influential local metalworking industry (after which a metalworking tradition is named), and subsequently as an
iron age hillfort controlling the vale, which was heavily occupied.
In fact, Taunton is one of eight out of the 45 historic towns covered by this project in the vicinity of which prehistoric
activity and/or occupation has been shown, and at which there is also good evidence of settlement on or near the site
of the later town - possibly, though not necessarily, implying continuity of settlement. It is probable that the figure
is far too low, for it is notoriously difficult for archaeologists to demonstrate a prehistoric presence in modern urban
areas. Though towns were not, generally speaking, a feature of prehistoric landscapes, many of the same factors
which made settlement sites desirable in later periods would already have been operative.
The major visible monument of the prehistoric period is Norton Fitzwarren hillfort (SMR 43399, SM 24022),which
was in use by at least the neolithic period and was several times remodelled. Traces of a possible ritual landscape
around it are barely visible today.
1.4 Archaeological features, shown on Map A
1.4.a Roads and routeways
Not mapped There are several theories regarding prehistoric routes converging at Norton hillfort. These are
not shown on Map A, though some possible routes have been recorded on the GIS. They include
a route shown in Leach (1984, Fig 26) linking the line of Silver Street and Canon Street with Chip
Lane via an earlier fording point. No archaeological evidence in support of this theory has been
recovered, but nor has it been disproved.
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Some possible old routes along the north side of the Tone valley are defined by the Cheddon Field
Group in their 1992 field survey. These are mostly based on detailed observations of local
topography, but in one instance the existence of a route in the Roman period has been proven by
excavation (see below, p12). Other parts of the suggested routes either still function or are visible
on historic maps: in these cases the antiquity of the route remains unproven.
1.4.b Military sites
TAU/107 Norton Fitzwarren hillfort (SMR 43399, SM 24022)
The large hillfort at Norton Fitzwarren occupies a low hill which commands the broad vale of the
Tone. The site, which contains its own spring, is situated by a natural route junction, and current
knowledge of later prehistoric territorial organisation suggests that it stood at a boundary between
tribal territories at least in the iron age and possibly earlier. It can be seen as the direct
predecessor of the central place of Taunton, and is an exceedingly complex archaeological site.
Chance finds, fieldwalking and excavations, which took place on the hillfort in 1908 (Gray, 1908),
and 1968-71 (Ellis, 1989), indicate use of the site from the Palaeolithic period to at least the
Roman period (later Saxon occupation is also suspected, but remains unproven).
Prehistoric occupation
Unstratified earlier prehistoric material from the site includes Palaeolithic implements (SMR
44292) and scatters of Mesolithic and Neolithic flakes and tools (together with some Neolithic
pottery. Though no structures have been found in association with the Neolithic material, the site
must be seen in the context of the pit or post circle (SMR 44211) and possible barrows just to the
north (see TAU/109, p7). It remains a matter of some importance to establish the role of the site
in the Neolithic period.
Excavations have found structural and artefactual evidence of probable continuous use of the site
from the early or middle Bronze Age at least to the later iron age and possibly into the Roman
period. It has been shown that part of the surviving earthworks - the outer works on the west side -
are of early or middle Bronze Age origin. They were part of a hilltop enclosure of about two
hectares, smaller than the later prehistoric hillfort. The exact form and function of the site in this
period remains enigmatic, however. Both the nature of the rampart, with the original bank
apparently outside its accompanying ditch, and the discovery of an associated hoard of Bronze
Age bracelets and axes, may imply a non-defensive ceremonial use of the site in this early phase
(Ellis, 1989). Norton is one of a very small number of such sites, which are generally regarded
as occurring at particularly sensitive points bordering several ecological and political zones.
Other finds, including important stratified sequences of both pottery and metalworking debris,
indicate that the site remained in use in the later Bronze Age, when it is likely that modifications
to the form and function of the original enclosure were made. A similar spread of material from
the early iron age included pottery and ironworking debris in rubbish pits. By this time the site
had already acquired substantial defences, revealed by excavation; it may have housed an lite
group and its material resources (Ellis, 1989)
A remodelling of the defences in the later iron age created the ramparts which partly survive
today. In this phase the site consisted of a univallate hilltop enclosure enclosing over five
hectares. The surviving ramparts stand up to three metres high seen from the outside, though there
are several breaks in their length, some of which certainly postdate the occupation of the site. But
there exist three possible original entrances, through which holloways up to 150 metres in length
and 6 metres in depth lead. These are very unusual features on a hillfort of this size and type, and
have been interpreted as drove ways (though they could also be later quarry pits).
The remodelling of the defences was accompanied by the construction of large roundhouses, some
of which have been partially excavated, though many more can be seen on aerial photographs of
the hillfort interior. They mark a change to less exclusive or less specialised occupation at
Norton, which was at this time a frontier interchange point for two tribal groups. Fine wheel
7
thrown pottery has been found in association with this latest prehistoric phase of occupation, and
the number of known surrounding sites of the period suggest that it was a highly significant central
place.
Later occupation
From the Roman period 3rd and 4th century pottery has been recovered. Though many of the
associated features have been lost to ploughing, the evidence so far available suggests that
occupation was similar in character to that of the later iron age and represents a resurgence of pre-
Roman identities in the far west under the less stringent controls of the later Roman period (Ellis,
1989).
Tradition, in the form of the legend of the dragon (of Wessex) which ravaged the area from
Norton and the folklore When Taunton was a furzey down, Norton was a market town, suggests
Saxon reuse of the hillfort as a campaigning fort and/or as a settlement preceding that of Taunton.
But Robin Bush (in litt., 1998) points out that the Norton of the rhyme might refer to Tauntons
North Town, which was also known as Nurton, and no archaeological evidence to support this
interpretation of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle entry for 722 has yet been obtained. Nevertheless,
it can certainly not be ruled out at present.
Visible remains
The iron age ramparts and traces of the Bronze Age one can still be seen, though the site has been
somewhat eroded by medieval and later agricultural use. Aerial photographic evidence suggests
that archaeological remains of considerable importance survive both in the interior of the hillfort
and beyond (where Ellis, 1989, notes a possible outer ditch). Most of this area is a Scheduled
Ancient Monument (SM 24022).
The area mapped is from the SMR, the Schedule and Ellis, 1989.
1.4.c Burial sites, religious houses and places of worship
TAU/103 Creechbarrow Hill (SMR 44249)
Creechbarrow Hill is an isolated outcrop similar to Glastonbury Tor or Burrow Mump. There are
earthworks of unknown form and period on the hill, which may represent scarping or terracing of
the slope (Gray, 1944), but the barrow name may be more descriptive than indicative of
prehistoric burials. Aston (n.d.) concludes that significant archaeological remains of fortification
or barrows are unlikely on the hill, whilst Bush (1977) suggests that it may have been a beacon
hill.
The archaeology on the hill should be treated with caution at least until it can be more closely
dated and interpreted.
From the SMR.
TAU/109 Pit or post circle and possible barrows at Norton
A possible Neolithic or Bronze Age small pit or post circle (SMR 44211) to the north of Norton
hillfort is suggested by aerial photographs showing three concentric circles.
Ellis (1989) mentions marks visible on aerial photographs which could represent the remains of
ploughed out barrows, just to the east and south of the pit or post circle. One of these is included
in the marked area, the other is marked separately.
From the SMR, and from Ellis (1989).
1.4.d Settlement
Work in advance of the M5 led to the discovery of several prehistoric settlement sites indicative of widespread
farming activity in the vale. More recent work in the town and outlying parts of the study area has supported this
8
picture, whilst also suggesting a high degree of continuity with the Roman settlement pattern. It is expected that in
the vicinity of known prehistoric or Roman sites, other related but slightly shifted sites may occur, though predicting
their presence from the limited artefactual evidence available is at present difficult.
(a) Excavated sites
TAU/112 Iron age occupation in the town centre
Whilst the evidence of prehistoric occupation on the site of Taunton itself has inevitably been
fragmentary, enough has been recovered to suggest the existence of a late iron age farmstead in
the town centre. Gullies, postholes and artefactual evidence, including possible signs of smelting,
were excavated on a site at the corner of Fore Street and High Street (SMR 44442; Bennett, 1974;
Leach 1984, p91). Other evidence of activity including possible traces of an adjacent field system
have also been revealed by excavation behind Fore Street (SMR 44450) and at Hawkes Yard
(SMR 44464).
A conjectural area centred on the excavation recorded in the SMR (SMR 44442) has been
mapped.
TAU/529 Hankridge
The Hankridge evaluations found some evidence of late iron age or Roman features in one of the
trenches (Wessex Archaeology, 1992). Though the significance of these is not entirely clear, they
could represent traces of a possible predecessor to the medieval farm (see p59). The site lies
within an area of cropmarks (see below, TAU/106).
The area marked is the medieval farm site from the Wessex Archaeology report (1992).
The M5 work in the early 1970s revealed a number of settlement sites (Fowler & Bennett, 1972)
TAU/101 Iron age occupation at Bathpool (SMR 43079)
Linear ditches and pits were found in association with early iron age pottery on this site during
excavations in the 1970s in advance of road development (M5 Committee, forthcoming). No iron
age structures were recovered from the site, though they may have existed in the vicinity.
Considerable evidence of medieval and later occupation was also recovered (see p59).
From the SMR.
TAU/102 Iron age occupation near Holway (SMR 43671)
Excavations in 1972 which took place in connection with the construction of the M5 revealed iron
age occupation underlying the Roman site (see p11).
From the SMR.
TAU/111 Occupation south of Staplehay
Several sites were encountered to the south of Staplehay. One (SMR 43493) was an extensive site
which produced evidence of Bronze Age and iron age occupation - and, indeed, subsequent
Romano-British and early medieval occupation (see p12). The Bronze Age evidence consisted
of pits and ditches, flint and pottery. In the iron age there were at least two roundhouses on the
site, and furnace pits were also found in association with iron-working slag and pottery.
Two further sites (SMR 43494, 43510) contained evidence of bronze age and iron age occupation.
The Bronze Age was represented by an elliptical enclosure ditch (about 60m by 45m) containing
pottery, whilst the iron age was represented by at least one, possibly two, roundhouses, pits and
gullies, together with pottery, bones and slag. The sites were overlain by a Romano-British ditch.
From the SMR.
9
TAU/205 Nerrols Farm
The Roman site at Nerrols Farm (see below, p12) also contained features and artefacts dated to
the prehistoric period. These included a Neolithic ditch, pits, postholes, flints and pottery,
indicative of settlement on the site (Hawkes, 1992). Bronze Age and iron age pottery were also
found, indicating settlement nearby: and one late iron age hut gully was recorded (AC
Archaeology, 1992b).
The mapped site is from the SMR.
(b) Sites identified from aerial photographs
TAU/106 Cropmark and earthwork sites classified as prehistoric
Good aerial photographic coverage is available for the area around Taunton and a number of
cropmark and earthwork sites have been provisionally identified by their forms as possible
prehistoric enclosures and other features. These sites, which all need confirmatory archaeological
work, are detailed on the SMR: see SMR 43042, 43046, 43077, 43387, 43394, 43407, 43408,
43702, 44183, 44192, 44218, 44224, 44225, 44229, 44235,44237, 44238, 44239, 44359, 44365,
44366, 44451, 44519, 44542, 44546, 44576.
The sites marked are from the SMR.
1.4.e Agricultural sites
TAU/113 Agricultural sites
An excavation to the rear of Fore Street in 1979 (SMR 44450; Burrow, 1979) encountered late
iron age or Roman remains, including a field ditch and possible ard marks. These may represent
remains of a field system belonging to the possible farmstead partially excavated on High Street
(see above, TAU/112).
The mapped area represents the excavated site recorded in the SMR.
1.4.f Artefact scatters
TAU/104 Miscellaneous metal finds
Well-provenanced finds of bronze artefacts (of Bronze Age date) include a hoard of bronze
implements (SMR 44416), found in the 1870s in Trinity Road, and a Bronze Age sword from the
river south of Bathpool (SMR 44228).
From the SMR; the Trinity Road hoard is from the 1888 1:500 OS map.
TAU/110 Mesolithic chipping floor, Fideoak Park, Bishops Hull (SMR 43362)
A Mesolithic tool manufacturing site was found at Fideoak Park in the 1950s during the
construction of foundations for electricity pylons. The assemblage recovered included an axe, and
over 40 tools and blades, including a small number of diagnostic microliths. It has been suggested
that this may have been a specialised site, perhaps dedicated to the manufacture of fishing
equipment (since tools characteristic of hunting and animal skin preparation are not well-
represented) (Norman, 1975).
From the SMR.
TAU/105 Flint finds
Many other flint scatters and isolated finds have been recorded in and around Taunton,
demonstrating widespread activity throughout the prehistoric period in the vale. The SMR should
be consulted for details of these finds.Palaeolithic handaxes have been found in the area. One
well-provenanced handaxe came from Cotlake Hill (SMR 43525), one from Comeytrowe Lane
(SMR 44295), one from Creech Castle (SMR 44293) and another from Cheddon (SMR 43163).
Two others (not mapped) came from the area of Cotlake Hill.
10
In addition to the site at Fideoak (see above), a well-stratified Mesolithic (and later) flint scatter
suggestive of hunter gatherer activity and subsequent occupation on the northern edge of the flood
plain was found during excavations at Maidenbrook Farm in 1990 (SMR 43152; see TAU/202,
p12). Individual flakes have also been found on Compass Hill (SMR 44417), and at Norton
Fitzwarren (SMR 43411).
Neolithic stone axes have been found in north Taunton (SMR 44420) and beside the River Tone
(SMR 44418). A Neolithic flint knife was found in North Town (SMR 44424), and another in
Blackbrook Rd (SMR 44621)..
Flint finds not so far attributed to any particular period of the prehistoric include several along the
line of the M5 (SMR 43500, 43513, 43676, 44214, 44215) and others in Staplegrove (SMR
44245, 44246).
The sites marked are from the SMR or from details in PSANHS.
Not mapped Unprovenanced finds in the SMR include the following: a chert tool (SMR 43374), three
Palaeolithic implements (SMR 43385) a bronze dagger (SMR 43410), more handaxes (SMR
43508, 43525), bronze palstaves (SMR 43571), a Palaeolithic implement (SMR 43710), a flint
knife (SMR 43713), two bronze axes (SMR 44421), a bronze torc (SMR 44425), a bronze fibula
(SMR 44429), a bronze lance head (SMR 44430), and a Mesolithic blade or flake (SMR 44432).
1.4.g Other
TAU/108 Palaeo-environmental evidence
Preserved vegetation, trees and the bones of reindeer and woolly rhinoceros were found at a depth
of about six metres on sites near Wilton Gaol (SMR 44412, 44413) and Tangier Gas Works (SMR
44414) in the 19th century. It is likely that similar deposits may survive in the area.

From the SMR.
2. ROMAN
(Map A)
Archaeological knowledge of Roman activity in the centre of Taunton is fragmentary, based on occasional artefact
finds. But whilst the only structures located so far have been field or drainage ditches, it remains possible that a
Roman site of some description did exist in or near the town centre, since discoveries elsewhere appear to indicate -
at least on some sites - continuity of iron age or earlier agricultural settlement into the Roman period. The M5 work
and subsequent development work has uncovered a number of Roman farmsteads - south of Staplehay, at Holway,
at Maidenbrook and Nerrols Farm - which demonstrate this. However, much remains to be learnt about the Roman
settlement pattern in these and other areas of the vale.
2.2 Context
The Roman period was one of deliberate, strategic urbanisation. The area which is now Somerset appears to have
been less affected than some other areas by this, in that few really urban sites are known, and this probably reflects
its marginal position. However, the widespread distribution of Roman or Romanised settlements shows that the
county - particularly east of the Parrett - was heavily populated and exploited in this period.
Taunton is one 12 of the 45 historic towns covered by this project at which there is evidence for Roman settlement
in the area of the later town, though not necessarily at its core. The area, which was still a rich agricultural area,
continued to lie within the sphere of influence of Norton Fitzwarren, which was only briefly abandoned in the Roman
period. Current evidence suggests that the Taunton area formed part of the most westerly cluster of Roman
settlement in the county, with the upland areas to north and west producing far less evidence of occupation - or, at
least, of Roman influence.
11
There are no standing structures of Roman origin in the study area; and though part of the communication and
settlement pattern is probably of Roman or earlier origin the details of this remain unproven.
2.4 Archaeological features (centre), shown on Map A
2.4.a Roads
Many of the roads and lanes around Taunton may be of very early origin, but in few cases is there any archaeological
evidence. The Cheddon Field Group has been particularly active in studying the history of the roads in its area, and
some of the early tracks suggested by its work (Cheddon Field Group, 1992) have been entered on the GIS though
they are not shown in this report.
Not mapped Part of a minor Roman trackway was recovered during excavations at Nerrols Farm (see below,
TAU/205: not mapped separately). The OS 1st edition marks the old roads to Bathpool and to
Stonegallows from Galmington as being of Roman origin, possibly from the tradition of a road
running parallel to the Foss Way cited by Savage (1822). There is no archaeological evidence for
the antiquity of these roads in particular.
2.4.b Burial sites, religious houses and places of worship
TAU/203 Cremation and coins, Holway (SMR 44244)
In 1871, 15 late Roman coins were found in association with a possible cremation on this site, and
other isolated Roman coin finds were made in the vicinity in the 19th century.
From the SMR.
2.4.c Settlement
Work in advance of the M5 led to the discovery of several Roman settlement sites indicative of widespread farming
activity in the vale. More recent work in the outlying parts of the study area has supported this picture, whilst also
suggesting a high degree of continuity with iron age and even bronze age settlement patterns. It is expected that in
the vicinity of known prehistoric or Roman sites, other related but slightly shifted sites may occur, though predicting
their presence from the limited artefactual evidence available is at present difficult.
TAU/102 Roman occupation near Holway (SMR 43671)
In 1971-2 the M5 excavations revealed the existence of a Roman settlement, successor to a late
prehistoric settlement (see p8) on this site. Several timber structures were excavated, together
with a possible boundary ditch. Many artefacts were recovered, including pottery indicative of
occupation over a long period (possibly between the 1st and the 4th centuries), a rotary quern
animal bone and coins.
The area in which the settlement was excavated had been producing Roman material since the
19th century. A late Roman (mostly 4th century) coin hoard, now dispersed, was found there in
1821, and was said to have been in association with burials (Pring, 1879). Further coins have
continued to turn up ever since: the 1971-2 work located 51 in the fields. Two funnel shaped pits
were filled in in the later 19th century: they were interpreted at the time as possible storage pits,
and, indeed, the existence of a complex settlement on the site was suggested.
From the SMR.
TAU/207 Black Land (SMR 44622)
The 1821 Wilton map shows a field called Black Land some way west of the Holway site. This
field name sometimes indicates the presence of a Roman site. However, there is no archaeological
verification of this as yet.
From the 1821 map.
12
TAU/111 Sites south of Staplehay
Two of the prehistoric sites located to the south of Staplehay (see p8) also contained evidence of
continued Roman activity. One (SMR 43493) remained in occupation, at least in the second
century AD, whilst another (SMR 43494) was cut by a Roman ditch of much the same date.
From the SMR.
TAU/202 Roman settlement at Maidenbrook (SMR 43152)
Maidenbrook, which is documented from the 11th century onwards, has been farmed at least from
the Roman period, and possibly from the bronze age or iron age. Excavations in 1990
(McDonnell, 1990; Ferris, 1990; Ferris & Bevan, 1993) showed that cropmarks detected on aerial
photos represented the remains of a Roman settlement to the south-east of the later site of
Maidenbrook Farm. There were three main Roman phases of activity, though earlier flints without
definite associations with structures were also recovered. The earliest Roman phase consisted of
a 1st/2nd century rectangular ditched enclosure containing postholes and gullies. In subsequent
phases of enclosures, interpreted as possible stock pens, appeared to replace the structures, which
had perhaps been relocated to an adjacent site.
The mapped area is from the SMR.
TAU/205 Roman settlement near Nerrols Farm (SMR 44496)
Not far from Maidenbrook, and possibly related to it (Ferris & Bevan, 1993), another Roman
occupation site also with prehistoric antecedents (see above, p9) was discovered after fieldwalking
by the Cheddon Field Group had recovered a scatter of black-burnished ware at the highest point
of a field west of Nerrols Farm. Trial excavation recovered more pottery and an apparent Roman
road metalling aligned with surviving lanes. The subsequent discovery of further pottery and a
stone spread some 50 metres to the north-west of the original site suggests a settlement adjacent
to the road. Two phases of activity were noted during excavations in 1999 (SMR 11686). The
first phase was indicated by a single undated, east west ditch which was cut by a later Phase 2
gully. The majority of the evidence related to the 3rd-4th centuries and comprised a ditch aligned
NE/SW, a wall foundation, a cobbled area, and a rectangular arrangement of gullies, interpreted
as a rectangular building, and courtyard with associated drainage. A pit with metalworking debris
was recorded to the north of the wall foundation. Further features were identified during a
subsequent watching brief (SMR15020) including a substantial ditch, a stone-built well and other
features just to the W of the excavated areas.
The mapped area is from the SMR.
TAU/204 Roman sites at Norton
Fifteen sherds of Romano-British pottery (SMR 43397) were found in a field called Lower
Blacklands in 1914 (The adjacent field is called Higher Blacklands; the name Blacklands is often
indicative of Roman occupation). Part of the site has been built over, but part remains open. Just
to the north of the find spot aerial photographs show cropmarks possibly representative of Roman
buildings (SMR 44547).
3rd-4th century potsherds were found by Norton Bridge during the construction of the railway in
1861-2 (SMR 43398). No further finds have been recovered from the site, which is now flooded.
Roman pottery has been recovered from a field west of the hillfort (SMR 43402), though aerial
photographs of the field have not yet indicated any features there.
From the SMR.
Further slight evidence of Roman was recovered at Hillyfields to the south of Taunton in 1998 (SMR 57173) .
13
2.4.d Agricultural sites
TAU/206 Field boundaries
Apart from ditches associated with settlement sites, Roman field boundaries have been found in
the west end of town at the Benhams Garage site (SMR 44466). The ditches lay in a shallow
valley, which later silted up: they represent field systems which existed before later flooding
episodes.
A Roman ditch (SMR 43495) has also been located in Poundisford Park.
Not mapped A possible Roman ditch was encountered at the Priory Barn (Hinchcliffe in Leach 84).
2.4.e Artefacts
TAU/201 Roman finds
Several finds of Roman artefacts unassociated with other evidence are recorded in the SMR.
These consist of pottery finds (SMR 43572, 44226, 44422, 44433, 44483) and coins (SMR
43711, 43987, 44227, 44248, 44247, 44423).
The SMR should be consulted for details of these finds, some of which are also detailed in the
work of Pring (1882).
From the SMR.
Not mapped Unprovenanced finds include pottery from Fore Street, excavated during sewerage operations in
the mid 19th century (Pring, 1879), and several Roman coins (SMR 43366, 43409, 43712, 44426,
44427, 44428, 44431). Dunning & Pearson (1975) also report the discovery of Romano-British
material in the Wellington Road Cemetery. A Roman bronze figurine (SMR 43162) from the
garden of Cheddon House is now thought to be a fake.
3. THE SAXON TOWN
(Map B)
Saxon remains in the outlying settlements are considered with the pre-1800 occupation in Section III.5, p42ff.
The location, extent and character of the pre-Conquest town of Taunton remains enigmatic. Despite numerous
archaeological interventions in possible settlement areas, only fragmentary evidence, in the form of occasional
pottery or pits, has been recovered from most of the medieval town. Whilst it is possible that the focus of the
settlement differed from that of the medieval town, the discovery of the Saxon cemetery under the medieval Castle
(see TAU/303, p15) has provided a fixed point with which the Saxon town would be expected to have a close
relationship. Given the oddity of the medieval town plan, and given both the topography of and the fragility of
archaeological deposits in Taunton town centre, it remains quite possible that the Saxon town did underlie the
medieval one, but that its remains have been severely damaged by later developments. It is therefore important that
archaeological interventions in the centre, as well as those in other suggested settlement areas (such as St Pauls),
continue to seek to accumulate fragments of evidence wherever possible.
Caution: The nature of this report required that an attempt be made to map pre-Conquest Taunton. However,
because of the uncertainty over the form and extent of Saxon Taunton, no area of the town, whether or not it is
included in one of the conjectural areas shown on Map B, can be dismissed without investigation.
3.2 Context
Though the Post-Roman and early Saxon periods were characterised by a return to non-urban lifestyles, the later
Saxon period (from the 9th century onwards) saw the beginnings of a resurgence of trading places and towns. This
was controlled, in England, by the Saxon royal families (though it was part of a wider trend), and took place in the
context of a network of royal estate administration centres which was already established (in some cases long-
established). The reasons for the changes were many and complex, combining defensive, adminstrative and
14
ecclesiastical considerations with, increasingly, purely commercial aspirations. As one of the heartlands of the kings
of Wessex, Somerset played an important part in the early re-urbanisation of the south, and there are a number of
places amongst those studied for this project which can claim to have been towns before the Norman Conquest.
Taunton is one of fifteen out of the 45 historic towns covered by this project which already had some urban functions
or features before the Conquest. In fact, it is one of six boroughs recorded in the Domesday Survey, all of which
were established as commercial annexes from adjacent royal estate centres (though in the 10th century, the borough
at Taunton was transferred to the Bishops of Winchester). Taunton was the second largest borough in the area which
is now Somerset, and is one of at least three places which appear to have been defended for at least part of the Saxon
period, though it does not appear in the Burghal Hidage and the fortification may not, in any case, have been on the
site of the later borough. It is one of eleven places which may have had a mint in the 10th or 11th centuries, and one
of seven towns at which the probable or possible existence of a pre-Conquest market has been noted (though this
figure may be misleadingly low). Taunton is also one of 22 of the towns in the survey to have been associated with
a known or probable pre-Conquest minster.
There are no visible Saxon remains in Taunton town centre. However, the church at Wilton (see p32), which is
shown on Map D, contains possible remnants of pre-Conquest masonry.
3.4 Archaeological components (centre), shown on Map B
3.4.a Redevelopment in earlier settlement components
The relationship of the Saxon settlement at Taunton to previous occupation in the general area has not been
established, and all components have been redefined.
3.4.b Communications
(a) Roads, streets and routeways
TAU/301 Roads of possible Saxon origin
The Saxon road pattern may have been obscured by the medieval town, though it is possible that
more elements of it than are shown on Map B in fact survive: we do not know. Topography
suggests an east-west communication line running approximately along the alignment of East
Reach. A westward extension (perhaps roughly on the line of present Bath Place) is also possible,
though the early topography of the St Pauls area is uncertain. A north-south route may have
followed approximately the line of North Street, though it has also been suggested (Bush & Aston
in Leach, 1984) that an alternative north-south route via later Silver Street and Canon Street
crossed by a ford further down river before it was deliberately blocked during the layout of the
medieval town.
The lines of the roads shown are from the 1791 map, and their attribution to the Saxon period
is conjectural.
(b) Bridges and fords
TAU/417 The bridge and ford
The medieval ford (later bridged) may have been in use long before the Conquest. There is
therefore a slight possibility that some artefactual evidence may survive in its vicinity, though
subsequent alterations to the river and bridging point have been extensive.
For main entry, see p20.
The marked area is from the SMR (PRN 44467).
Not mapped The postulated downstream ford cannot at preseent be mapped.
3.4.c Water
TAU/304 Watercourses
In the medieval period the mill stream, French Weir and two major water leats were constructed.
15
The water system in the pre-Conquest and early medieval period was therefore significantly
different. In most cases details of river and stream courses remain to be established. However,
the Benhams Garage excavations (SMR 44466; Leach & Pearson in Leach 1984 p37ff) and a
1985 watching brief in Tower Street (SMR 90014) have produced evidence of a stream flowing
through a small valley just to the west of the main minster site: this appears to have been diverted
in the medieval period into the Castle moat. As mentioned below (see p23ff), excavations have
also produced evidence of a substantial bank within the area later occupied by the Castle, which
may have been a pre-Conquest flood bank.
Further information on early watercourses in the town centre is likely to be of some value in
establishing pre-Conquest topography and likely settlement sites.
The stream course marked is from the Benhams Garage excavation report (Leach & Pearson in
Leach 1984 p37ff).
3.4.d Military sites
Not mapped Town defences:
Whilst it has been suggested that Taunton should have been defended at least in the tenth century
because of the presence of a mint (Dunning & Pearson, 1975), evidence is tenuous. On the one
hand, a substantial bank has been found underlying part of the Castle site (Radford & Hallam,
1955; Clements in Leach 1984, p26, 31f; and see below, p23ff), though this could just as well be
a flood bank (Bush & Meek in Leach 1984, p11) or a natural feature (AC Archaeology, 1992a).
On the other, Taunton is conspicuous by its absence from the Burghal Hidage which recorded
fortified centres; nor have any archaeological remains of pre-Conquest defences been located yet -
all the excavations into the medieval defences have suggested a construction date of the 11th/12th
century.
3.4.e Burial sites, religious houses and places of worship
TAU/303 The minster and Bishops residence (SMR 44397, 44407)
Little is known about Tauntons Saxon minster and Bishops residence for, though the minster,
founded in the 8th century, was the mother church of an estate of some considerable size and
importance, it was, even after Winchesters acquisition of the borough rights, but an outpost of
the Bishops power. Even the approximate site was uncertain before accumulating evidence of
Saxon burials in the Castle bailey (see below) made it almost certain that the minster must be close
by. Before this, many scholars believed that the medieval church of St Mary (see below, p32) was
the more likely site. Until the minster church itself is discovered, this debate may not be entirely
over, for it involves not only archaeological evidence, but also interpretation of historical
documents and parochial boundaries (see, for example, Clements in Leach 1984 p26ff).
The minster was converted in the medieval period into an Augustinian Priory and moved out of
town (see below, p29).
The precinct
The limits of the site of the Saxon minster and Bishops residence are not known for certain,
though they may have been similar to those of the medieval Castle precinct. To the north, the site
is likely to have been bounded by the river, the exact course of which in this period is not known.
The bank found underlying the 12th century and later Great Halls may represent the northern limit
of the minster site, but this need not be the case.
The cemetery
A Saxon cemetery (SMR 44407) picked up by excavations and observations in the Castle bailey
(see the excavations list in Section VI, p78) almost certainly represents the minster cemetery.
Burials within the Castle have been coming to light since the 19th century: a group of burials seen
below Castle Green is marked on the OS 1:500 1st edition. However, these have only relatively
16
recently been identified with the minster cemetery (SMR 44407). A group of at least twelve
individual burials, cut by early 13th century features, was discovered during excavations carried
out when the Local History Library floor was replaced in 1972. Samples have subsequently been
radio-carbon dated to the 9th century (AD 860 70) (Clements in Leach 1984).
Since 1972 further burials have been encountered on the site (eg SMR 44602). However, much
more information is needed in order to establish the scale of the cemetery. The situation is
complicated: not only do medieval and post-medieval burials also occur within the Castle (at least
one burial has been found in association with a bullet, for example), but groups of possible Saxon
burials have been found beyond the Castle site (see below, TAU/310). It is conceivable that a
very large cemetery built up between the mid 8th and the mid 12th centuries, given the number
of surrounding dependent chapels without burial rights for most of this time.
The minster buildings
Whilst the site of the minster church is not known, it may have been commemorated by the
medieval chapel of St Peter, which stood near the gate to the inner ward of the Castle (Bush &
Meek, Clements, both in Leach 1984). A 1973 trench found traces of a building with a fine
mortar floor being succeeded by a much poorer - though not necessarily much smaller - building:
Clements (Leach, 1984, p36) tentatively suggests that this could represent the minster church -
which could have remained in use as a chapel after the conversion into a Priory (R. Bush, in litt.,
1998) - and a later replacement, but more evidence is needed.
The Bishops residence
Excavations in the 1920s on the site of the medieval Keep, which stood at the highest point of an
otherwise low lying site, recovered fragments of high quality Saxo-Norman ware, indicative of
a prestige residence, most probably that of the Bishops, on the site. But no elements of the plan
appear to have survived later alterations.
Survival
The Taunton minster site should not be expected to be comparable with diocesan centres such as
Wells. Nevertheless, given the history of the site, which, though affected by the construction of
the Castle and its moats, has been partially preserved from other damaging developments, it is
possible that important remains of minster buildings, including the as yet unlocated church, may
survive.
The mapped area is based on the medieval castle area, and contains the known burials east of
the stream. It is conjectural in detail.
TAU/310 Other possible Saxon burials
Two burial sites containing remains of possible Saxon date have been discovered independently.
The possibility should be born in mind that they once formed part of a larger site, though the
topography of the area suggests otherwise.
Burials encountered near St Pauls House in 1970 and 1989 (SMR 44473) are attributed in the
SMR to the Saxon period, though the dating seems is less secure than that of the Castle burials.
They are close both to the possible site of the medieval St Pauls chapel (see p31), though this
may never have acquired burial rights, and to a 19th century convent. The site would have been
separated from the main minster cemetery to the east by the marshy valley encountered in the
Benhams Garage excavations (see below). But this is not inconceivable, if more exacting
constraints on expansion were operating to north (the river), south and east (settlement) (Clements
in Leach, 1984, p31).
The smaller marked site is from the SMR and represents the known burials. The extent of the
burial site is not known, but a conjectural area of potential has also been marked.
17
During the construction of the gasworks at Tangier in 1868 a large number of human bones were
found (SMR 44493). It is suggested in the SMR that they too may have been part of the Saxon
minster cemetery, or may represent reinterments of Saxon burials from the minster on the
construction of the Castle moats and other building ranges in the 13th century. Again, dating
evidence is insecure.
The marked site is from the SMR.
3.4.f Settlement (Urban)
TAU/302 The Saxon town
Taunton was a town by the early 10th century, as shown by references to burgage rents in a charter
of that date, and by Domesday it had 64 burgesses, making it one of the largest towns in Somerset.
However, the location of the Saxon town (SMR 44389) remains surprisingly mysterious. The
obvious assumption that it occupied the same site as the medieval town - at the western end of
a ridge defended by marshy ground to west, south and north-east (Bush, 1977) has not been
supported by 25 years of archaeological investigation, though nor has it been disproved. An
alternative location for the Saxon town west of the Castle, in the St Pauls area, has been proposed
(see below), but the evidence for this is just as sketchy.
Of the many archaeological interventions which have taken place in the town centre (see Section
VI, p78), a few have produced late Saxon (or early Norman) pottery or other artefacts. The
Hawkes Yard excavations (SMR 44464; Leach, 1984, p65), for example, produced a
Scandinavian style buckle sealed by the medieval defences - but the context in which it was found
suggested that it may have been thrown out with the rubbish beyond any settlement area. A few
pits unassociated with other structural or boundary evidence but containing pottery have also been
found, most recently during the Taunton town centre enhancement excavations (Exeter
Archaeology, 1997). At 1 High Street (Bennett, 1974) medieval occupation appeared to directly
overlie prehistoric occupation. The evidence of these sites appears to imply that the market area
lay open - but probably close to settlement - in the Saxon period: it could mean either that the
medieval market area was outside the Saxon town, or that it was already in use as the market
place.
A possible site for the town within the area of the later medieval town is shown, though it is highly
conjectural. Any discoveries of Saxon archaeological deposits within or beyond its limits will be
of great importance.
The marked area is conjectural.
TAU/311 St Pauls
In the 1970s excavations took place at Benhams Garage (SMR 44466; Pearson, 1974; Leach &
Pearson in Leach, 1984), between the minster and the St Pauls burial sites. Topographic
evidence from the site showed that in the late Saxon and early medieval period this site was on
a low spur, suitable for occupation, overlooking the west side of the stream valley (see above).
Whilst no structural features earlier than the early 12th century were found, the excavations
recovered pottery of probable 10th and 11th century date, together with a Saxon tin alloy brooch.
The pottery appeared to consist mostly of broken pitchers, at least one of which was broken in situ
(Pearson, 1974), the collection is therefore probably indicative of water being fetched for a nearby
settlement, presumably to the west of the stream. However, the exact location, extent and
character of such settlement is unknown at present. It may just as well have been a farm or small
settlement perhaps connected with the minster properties, rather than the borough itself.
The area shown is highly conjectural.
Not mapped There was a mint (SMR 44385) at Taunton by at least in the late 10th century (997-1003), but its
location is unknown.
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3.4.g Mills
TAU/306 Saxon mill (SMR 44491)
There were three mills on the Taunton estates at Domesday, one of which was probably at
Taunton itself. However, the site of the mill which predated the cutting of the medieval mill
stream is not known, nor is the early leat system understood. The SMR marks a possible site west
of the minster, but it is also possible that a pre-Conquest mill may have stood downstream of this
point, closer to the site of the later medieval mills. Both possible sites are marked on Map B. In
neither case is the likely extent of archaeological survival known.
The marked sites are conjectural, though one is from the SMR.
3.5 Archaeological features (outlying area), shown on Map D and Maps E1-E9
For the outlying area, possible Saxon settlements and other features are considered together with other evidence for
pre-1800 settlement: see Section III.5, p42.
4. THE MEDIEVAL AND POST-MEDIEVAL TOWN
(Maps C and D)
Tauntons post-medieval form was more or less established during the medieval period and the two periods are
therefore considered together. Two maps at different scales are provided for clarity.
There is far more archaeological knowledge of medieval Taunton than of its Saxon predecessor, despite the fact that
many opportunities have been lost. Archaeological observations began to be made in the 19th century: these mainly
concentrated on the Castle area and culminated in the early 20th century excavations by Gray, which were
unfortunately never properly recorded. From the mid 1960s onwards, archaeological interests have widened to
include the town defences (knowledge of which has been substantially increased), the Priory, and, subsequently, the
entire medieval urban area. However, only a limited proportion of the area destroyed by modern development has
been archaeologically recorded. Much, therefore, remains to be learnt of the details of the development of the plan
of the medieval town and this is also true of the extra-mural Priory, which remains largely unknown, though part of
its cemetery has been found.
In general, less interest has been shown in the post-medieval town, with the possible exception of its Civil War
features. Nevertheless, many of the excavations in the medieval town core have also produced evidence of post-
medieval occupation and several documented inns, for example, have been archaeologically identified.
The archaeological excavations which have taken place in Taunton are listed in full in Section VI, p78.
4.2 Context
Both in Britain and on the continent, the medieval period saw the growth of town foundation and, to an extent, urban
living (though the bulk of the population continued to live in villages). The reasons for this growth were many and
complex. In England they included both general factors - such as the growth of mercantile trade (especially the cloth
trade) - and more specific ones - such as the post-Conquest establishment of a network of (theoretically) loyal
magnates and prelates with large estates and commercial priveleges. The latter led to the increasing relaxation of
the royal stranglehold on the profits of towns and chartered boroughs (where tenants paid cash rents and were free
of feudal ties), which in turn enabled the establishment of new purpose-built commercial areas (the majority of places
classed as towns in the medieval period have at least some planned elements). Of course, some boroughs were
already in existence by the Conquest, and the existing pattern of Saxon urban or semi-urban centres was an important
influence on the medieval one. This is evident in Somerset which, like many parts of the south and west (where the
majority of the Saxon burhs and boroughs had been established), was peppered with small boroughs in the medieval
period.
In archaeological terms, the medieval towns are characterised by evidence of partially planned, intensive occupation
of restricted areas. Typical features which may occur include: regular, or semi-regular, street layouts; large market
places (usually obscured by later encroachments); blocks of regular, long, narrow, plots end on to the commercial
19
frontage; churchyards, either within the medieval layout or outside it - the latter often indicative of a deliberate shift
of activity; regular or irregular suburbs or marginal areas occupied by quays, or industrial sites such as mills; and
high status sites such as castles, manor sites and large religious precincts.
Taunton is one of the fifteen places out of the 45 historic towns covered by this project which either were boroughs
or at least had some urban functions before the Conquest. It was one of five out of the six pre-Domesday boroughs
which retained their status in the medieval period, and, indeed, had in the 14th century the third largest population
of the 45 towns in the survey (after Wells and Bridgwater); it became one of two assize towns in the county in the
later medieval period (the other was Chard). Taunton was one of eight of the 45 towns associated with a castle, but
it was the only pre-Conquest borough to have a castle imposed on it (in this case by the Bishops of Winchester on
the old minster site). It was one of only three of the 45 towns with major town defences (though at least one other
may have had some defences), and, as at Bridgwater, contained a rather peculiar street plan within that circuit.
Taunton was one of eleven of the 45 towns (and one of four of the castle towns) which had known quays in the
medieval period (though these were not particularly important ones at Taunton). The town was also one of eight
which had at least one large or important religious establishment (in this case the Priory) affecting its development
in the medieval period.
The basic pattern of towns had been established by the end of the middle ages, and there were very few major
changes in the post-medieval period, though the economic fortunes of particular towns rose and fell. Nearly all the
Somerset towns depended on either cloth manufacture or cloth trade to some extent. Taunton was no exception, and
was one of many of the 45 historic towns covered by this project which held its own economically for much of this
period, and, indeed, was an important cloth town , although it was one of the few Somerset towns which suffered
directly in the Civil War.
Relatively few buildings of known medieval origin survive in Taunton, partly because of the destruction wrought
during the Civil War. Those which do survive include elements of the Castle (SMR LB 45931, 45932, 45933),
together with the old Grammar School (SMR LB 45950), the two churches (SMR LB 45942, 46133), St Marys
Vicarage (SMR LB 45938), the Priory Barn (SMR LB 46131). The only other building of known pre-16th century
origin in Taunton town centre is the Tudor Tavern (SMR LB 46006).
Only a relatively small number of buildings of known post-medieval origin are identified on the List for Taunton,
though others may survive. Of those which survive, some, such as the Fore Street buildings (eg SMR LB 46005,
46007, 46008), represent 16th and 17th rebuilding of existing houses by prosperous traders. See Taylor (1974) for
discussion of the 16th and 17th century houses in Taunton town centre. Other buildings include Castle Lodge (SMR
LB 45934), the Grade I Listed Grays Almshouses (SMR LB 45981), the Unitarian Chapel (SMR LB 46067, Grade
II*), Wilton House (SMR LB 46035) and a possible mill on Tower Lane (SMR LB 46194).
Listed Buildings of known medieval or post-medieval origin in the central area are shown on Maps C and D.
4.4 Archaeological components (centre), shown on Maps C and D
The extent of continuity between the Saxon and the medieval town is not known, though it is known that the minster
site had been completely redeveloped by the 13th century. All archaeological components have been redefined for
the medieval period.
TAU/427 Medieval roads
Many of the streets in Taunton town centre (with notable exceptions, such as Corporation Street
and Hammet Street) are of medieval or earlier origin. Some details of their development are
known either from documentary studies or from archaeological excavations, but understanding
of the town plan development is far from complete. In many parts of the town centre, the
medieval road surfaces have been shown to lie relatively close to the surface: they have now been
lost in the area covered by the recent town centre enhancement. However, in the vicinity of the
20
river, there have been changes of level which have partially protected the earlier road surfaces:
trenching (SMR 44490) in 1974 in Bridge Street, for example, found the old road level and
ditches which flanked the old road, more than a metre down from the current road surface.
Some of the main streets may have been deliberately laid out in the 12th century, though Taunton
does not have the appearance of a typical planned town. The main northward and eastward routes
may well have predated the 12th century (see above, p14), with their junction therefore forming
a natural focus for the medieval market area (R. Bush, in litt., 1998). Details of their lines and
widths remain to be archaeologically established, as do the details of the intrusive development
which is known to have obstructed both North Street and East Street at times. It is known from
the Benhams Garage excavations that a new road west from the Castle was constructed in the
12th or early 13th century, obliterating some earlier 12th century buildings; this, however, was
replaced in the 13th century by a road on the line of modern Tower Street.
High Street and Upper High Street are thought to have been slightly later developments, but were
probably in existence by the 14th century. High Street, which sits oddly with North Street and
East Street, served a double purpose, providing an extra market area and leading to the south-west
exist from town via the Vivarium dam (see p22) and Upper High Street: the latter route partially
superseded the westward roads via the Castle and St Pauls, which had been affected by repeated
flooding in the 13th and 14th century. The change of preferred route is referred to in 1362 (Bush,
1977).
Some details of the minor streets and lanes, some of which had disappeared by the time of the
earliest detailed maps (late 18th century), are known. Great Magdalene Lane, on which Huishs
almshouses stood, is, however, referred to in sources postdating the construction of Hammet
Street, and its stub is shown on the 1791 town centre map. The history of Bath Place is of
particular interest as its relationship to early westward routes and to the medieval Castle moat
remains unclear.
Most of the roads shown are from the 1791 map. Tower Streets predecessor is from the
Benhams Garage report (SMR 44466; Pearson, 1974; Leach & Pearson in Leach, 1984); the
line of Great Magdalene Lane is partly conjectural, based on the evidence of the 1791 map.
TAU/510 Post-medieval roads
Other roads are marked from the post-medieval maps which may have been later developments.
From the 1718 and later maps.
TAU/432 Cross sites
Apart from the market place crosses (see below), St Johns Cross (SMR 44488) stood at the
junction of Mary Street and Mount Street.
From the SMR.
(b) Bridges
TAU/417 Tone Bridge (SMR 44467)
A ford probably preceded the medieval bridge, a ford on the route to Norton. This utilised an
island in the river, known as Sealys island in the post-medieval period, which was large enough
to have buildings on it at that time. The bridge, first mentioned in 1362, lay on the site of or just
to the west of the ford and was narrow - just over three metres in width (Bush, 1977) - though it
had a six arch span.
An island of properties divided the lanes approaching the ford and the bridge until the 19th
century, when the bridge was rebuilt several times. Archaeological trenches in Bridge Street and
more recently in North Street (Dunning & Pearson, 1975; Exeter Archaeology, 1997) have shown
21
that the 19th century operations raised levels and sealed the medieval deposits rather than
destroying them. The recent town centre work found the top of a possible southern bridge
abutment (and/or gate foundation), at a depth which made it unnecessary to disturb it.
From the SMR.
TAU/430 Polebridge (SMR 44486), shown on Map D
The Polebridge is referred to in 1362 as the main westward exit from the town, being in need of
repair. This reference seems to place it at Shuttern Bridge, close to the Vivarium dam or Poolwall
if the supposition that the main westward route had shifted south following flooding around St
Pauls is correct. This identification is supported by an early 15th century lease, which refers to
the bridge in connection with a burgage in Shuttern (R. Bush, in litt., 1998). However, the bridge
is identified by some sources (including the SMR) with the more northerly crossing carrying the
old road from St Pauls. Both sites are therefore marked. Very little is known of the structure of
the bridge, which may have been of timber or stone.
The marked sites are from the SMR (44486) and from the OS 1890 1:2500 first edition (Shuttern
Bridge).
(c) Harbour and quays
TAU/434 Quay at Castle (SMR 44494), shown on Map D
There is a reference in the Winchester pipe rolls of 1232/33 to a quay in the moat outside the
western gate of the Castle. This is rather puzzling since we know from other documents that
heavy goods - including stone for the Castle - were being landed at Bathpool, and since it was also
about this time that the millstream was cut between the Castle and the river. Pearson (1974)
suggests that the quay, which is also referred to slightly earlier in 1210/11, really belonged to the
early medieval period, before the western leg of the moat was formalised (see below) - at this time
there was probably a riverine/ marsh defence controlled by weirs, possible evidence of which was
recovered from the Benhams Garage site (SMR 44466).
A possible area within which the quay might have lain is shown, though it is highly conjectural.
Though the quay may not have been particularly substantial, since it may have handled only light
goods, it is possible that remains of timber structures may have survived in the silts of the marshy
area to the west of the Castle - if they were not destroyed by the cutting of the western moat.
The area shown is conjectural.
4.4.c Water
During the medieval period considerable alterations were made to the existing watercourses in Taunton, and these
may have contributed to the serious flooding episodes of the 14th century which were referred to in the Pipe Rolls,
and which may have been detected in the silt horizons of the Benhams Garage excavations (SMR 44466; Pearson,
1974; Leach & Pearson in Leach, 1984). Large parts of the manmade watercourses, including the Castle millstream
and the Sherford leat, still survive.
TAU/527 The river
Though the medieval river course is of importance to the understanding of the development of the
medieval town, little definite information is available regarding it. By the time of the earliest
maps, the Tone had already been altered in a number of places by the Tone Navigation Scheme,
a programme of lock building and river improvements which was undertaken between the late
17th and the early 19th centuries. More detailed study of the documented river works in both the
medieval and the post-medieval periods would be essential in understanding the relationships
between the medieval and post-medieval rivers. However, it is possible that the Post-Medieval
river course, shown on Map C, is close to the medieval one in the town centre.
The river line shown on the map is that of 1840 (from the Tithe Map).
22
TAU/445 French Weir, shown on Map D
French Weir was constructed in the early 13th century as part of the mill reorganisation when the
new mill stream was cut (see below). There are references in the Winchester Pipe Rolls to its
destruction by flooding in 1356 and further damage in 1362/63.
The marked site is from the 1791 map.
TAU/407 The millstream
The Castle millstream was constructed in the early 13th century, replacing an earlier leat which
ran to the east of the Castle (not shown on the maps: see Burrow, in Leach (1984).
The marked course is from the 1791 and 1840 maps.
TAU/433 The Sherford Leat or Potwater (SMR 44492)
Until 1332 the Sherford stream supplied water to Castle, town and Priory, but in that year two
major leats were begun. One was the Sherford Leat (or Potwater), which was cut straight through
the Vivarium to the Poolwall (see below). Here the water drove the Poolwall mill (see p41) and
was subsequently channelled via sluice gates into the south-west corner of the Castle moat or at
need, into the market place conduits. At least to the north of the Poolwall the Sherford Leat
appears to have roughly followed an existing stream line, which may have been acting as the
western limit of the borough and was probably part of the stream encountered at Benhams Garage
(see p14). This stretch of the leat also forms part of the medieval defences (see p26) and is
marked as such on the map. The northern part of the leat has been culverted under modern car
parks, though remains of the earlier leat may survive: the southern part can still be seen running
through Vivary Park as far as the duck pond.
The course of the leat south of the Poolwall is from the SMR.
TAU/408 The Blackbrook Leat or Stockwell (SMR 44394), shown on Map D
The other early 14th century leat was the Blackbrook Leat, also known as the Stockwell. This
specifically supplied the Priory in the medieval period and was partially undergrounded at least
by 1387 to carry it through the suburbs surrounding the Priory. The Stockwell became an
important water source for tanneries and other industry in the area in the post-medieval periods,
and was therefore re-culverted at least once. The Tancred Street evaluation (SMR 44445; Collard,
1987a,b; Collard, Wait & Croft, 1988) located the post-medieval culvert, but the medieval culvert
has not been confidently identified in this area. South of the town, much of the course of the
Blackbrook Leat still survives.
The line of the Leat shown on the map is from various sources. The southern course is still visible
and is taken from the late 19th century maps; an outfall of the leat into the river Tone is also
taken from these maps. Where the leat passed underground the course is uncertain: a partial
reconstruction is shown from the SMR.
TAU/431 The Poolwall dam (SMR 44487)
Upper High Street originated as a dam or causeway north of the fishponds of the Vivarium (see
p41). This was a routeway out of town but it was also a water control feature, and possibly held
back a mill pond for the Poolwall Mill (see p41).
From the SMR.
TAU/533 Other water features
These include the Horse Pool, by Tone Bridge.
The horse pool is from the 1840 Woods map.
23
4.4.d Military sites
TAU/401 Taunton Castle (SMR 44204)
Taunton Castle is unusually well-documented during the medieval period due to its association
with Winchester, the Pipe Rolls of which contain many details of construction projects and repairs
there. Moreover, many archaeological excavations and observations have provided details of
some of its structures. In fact too many have taken place for them to be mentioned individually
in the text: see Section VI, p78.
The following description considers first the history of the Castle, then the structural elements -
the Keep and inner ward, the outer bailey, the perimeter defences gates - and finally the potential
of the site.
History
The first Castle was built in the early 12th century, with Henry of Blois probably responsible for
the construction of the first Keep, which was completed in the 1130s. This was apparently
demolished by Henry II in the 1150s, whilst Henry of Blois was in temporary exile (Bush, 1988),
but subsequently rebuilt. The Castle was refortified and enlarged from 1207 onwards, work
including the construction (or renovation) of a moat and palisade (the latter suggested by the
purchase of hundreds of oaken boards). There was also considerable rebuilding of the inner
ranges of buildings in the 1240s, under Bishop William Raleigh, but this was the last major
alteration in the medieval period.
The Castle functioned mainly as an administrative and judicial centre for most of the medieval
period. It was usually occupied by the Constable, and only occasionally by the Bishop or the King
(depending on national politics). It saw little direct military action between the mid 12th and the
mid 15th century, though it was besieged in 1451, during the Wars of the Roses.
In the post-medieval period, the Castle continued to be used for military purposes. The
fortifications were improved in 1578 against the possibility of a Spanish invasion, and again by
General Blake for the Parliamentary forces during the Civil War (see also p28). The history of
the Castle in the Civil War has been much studied, but cannot be detailed here: see, for example,
Green (1880). The Siege of Taunton resulted in heavy damage to the Castle both from
bombardment at the time and from subsequent slighting after the Restoration (at which time the
Keep was partly demolished). The inner ward continued house prisoners, scholars and public
meetings and was partially refurbished in the 18th century. In the 19th century, many of the
buildings, which were in a derelict state, were demolished instead of being restored, this process
continuing even after part of the Castle was purchased by Somerset Archaeology and Natural
History Society (SANHS). However, some of the main buildings (SMR LB 45932) of the inner
ward survived and were restored in the early 20th century.
The Keep and Inner Ward
The Castles inner ward, which extended for over a hundred metres east-west and nearly seventy
north-south, contained the Keep and the prestige buildings - the Bishops Great Hall, his private
chambers and gardens, the chapel of St Nicholas, and associated service buildings. The Bishop
had already had a residence on the site before the Conquest (see p15), but it is possible that the
inner ward was extended in the medieval period across reclaimed land (Dunning & Pearson,
1974). More elaborate buildings were erected in the early medieval period and altered,
refurbished or substantially rebuilt in the 13th century and later. The inner ward was separated
from the outer bailey by a moat and gatehouse, which partially survive.
The 12th century Keep (SMR LB 45932), the approximate area of which is indicated on the map,
was constructed on a slight mound to the east of the successive Bishops residences. Historical
documents describe it in the 13th century as having five towers, a hall and soldiers chamber. The
Great Tower was partially excavated in the 1920s by Gray (Vivian-Neal & Gray, 1941; Pearson
in Leach 1984 p17ff). The excavations were not properly recorded or written up, but uncovered
24
foundations surviving to a height of nearly three metres, which were left in situ, and revealed that
the Keep was about 20 metres by 30 metres in size. It was possible to resurvey the ruins in 1977
(Rodwell, 1978; Rodwell in Leach 1984, p20), though the information contained in archaeological
deposits removed by Gray is entirely lost.
The resurvey of the Keep, together with limited further excavations on the site, has enabled some
details of structural alterations which took place over several centuries (including major changes
of access to the Castle during the 13th century alterations) to be identified, but many questions
remain unresolved. For example, the relationship of the Keep to features possibly associated with
the Saxon minster or earlier medieval activity on the site is largely unclear. Nor is the history and
structural development of the Keep itself fully understood. It appears to have been demolished
and rebuilt at least once (Bush, 1988), and may at one stage have had its own moat. The Keep
was partially demolished in the 17th century, after the Civil War, and was not rebuilt; the ruins
uncovered by Gray survive in a garden owned by SANHS and leased to the Castle Hotel.
Details of some of the residential and ancillary buildings in the inner ward referred to in the
Winchester Pipe Rolls have been revealed by excavations. For example, the stone vaulted cellars
or undercroft of the 12th century Great Hall (the upper storeys of which may have been of timber)
were discovered in the 1950s (Radford & Hallam, 1955). The Hall was rebuilt in the 13th century
as a longer, narrower building and a new kitchen range constructed, but the Pipe Rolls show that
for some time after this date the old kitchen range also continued in use, parallelling developments
at Winchester itself. It was also at this time that the Bishops private chamber (the camera) was
constructed in the mid 13th century to the south of the main hall and at right angles to it (Bush,
1988).
The 13th century buildings of the inner ward, which also accommodated a prison and courtrooms
until, respectively, 1754 (when Wilton Gaol was opened) and 1857 (when Shire Hall was built),
remain largely intact, and are occupied by the County Museum and by SANHS. Redundant parts
of the complex were made into gardens in the 18th century and excavations have demonstrated
that at this time the inner ward area was levelled up: this means that remains of the medieval
buildings have been protected beneath a sealing deposit. They have shown to survive well,
making the inner ward an area of high archaeological potential.
The Outer Bailey
The outer bailey of the Castle is far less obvious than the inner ward today, having been repeatedly
built across since the post-medieval period. It was laid out across the old minster cemetery (see
p15) in the 12th/13th century, extending for about 140 metres east-west and 120 metres north-
south, as far as Corporation Street to the south, the bus station to the west and Castle Bow to the
east. Historical documents show that it contained storage facilities and auxiliary buildings,
including the constables apartments, the Chapel of St Peter, offices, guard chambers, barns, a
cowshed and dairy, a granary, stables, dovecote, and press.
It also contained the Old Grammar School (SMR LB 45950), which is referred to from at least
the early 16th century onwards. Bishop Foxs scolehouse was built in 1522-23, at which time
older buildings on the site, referred to as the hall and masters house, were also refurbished and
repaired. Whether these represented the earlier medieval school buildings is debatable: Robin
Bush (in litt, 1998) argues that the school was elsewhere in the town prior to Bishop Foxs work.
The buildings - now the Municipal Buildings (SMR 44203) - were in use until 1874 and were
purchased by the Corporation in 1886, at which point a number of domestic buildings to the west
were demolished. The main building was much altered in the early 20th century: it is no longer
Scheduled (though the ground beneath it forms part of SM 22851), but is Grade II* Listed (SMR
LB 45950).
In the later post-medieval period, many other changes took place in the outer bailey. During the
Civil War, houses which had been constructed against the ramparts were cleared away, and there
25
was widespread damage during the sieges. In the 17th and 18th century most of the Bailey lay
open, and became known as Castle Green. It was surrounded by those Castle buildings which had
survived. Many of these were converted into inns, for Castle Green was used for cattle and sheep
markets from the late 18th to the early 20th centuries, and others, such as Castle Lodge (SMR LB
45934) built. From the early 19th century onwards, the construction of new buildings - including
the Castle Hotel (SMR LB 45930) and Winchester Arms (SMR LB 45935), and later the Odeon
(the Bingo hall: SMR LB 44629) - and new roads (Corporation Street) obscured the bailey.
The information so far obtained from archaeological work about the medieval bailey has been
limited, and survival of deposits is likely to be patchier than in the inner ward. But the Benhams
Garage site produced evidence of stables and leather working just outside the Castle curtilage to
the west, where evidence was preserved by silting.
The perimeter defences
Parts of the Castle moat and ramparts are still visible either as obvious features or as changes of
level. Documentary studies and archaeological excavations have shown that their history defences
is complex. The Pipe Rolls contain references from the early 13th century onwards to ditches
being cut, either for defensive or for drainage purposes, though it is not absolutely certain that
these represent the earliest moats. At its maximum extent the medieval Castle had two main
artificial defensive lines - the outer moat and rampart, crowned by a curtain wall, and the inner
moat, which separated the outer bailey from the inner ward. Continuing references show that the
outer moat was maintained throughout the 13th and 14th centuries, when extra flood barriers had
to be installed.
The outer moat was constructed in the early 13th century, when the Castle formally took in the
outer bailey, and a rampart with curtain wall thrown up along its inner bank. The construction of
Castle defences and access routes was evidently a major project. The Pipe Rolls mention the
necessary demolition of houses (which later encroached again on the ramparts), and the Benhams
Garage excavations may have picked up evidence of the same construction phase. But the scheme
did not include most the northern side of the Castle, which was protected by the river Tone.
Whether the western side of the Castle was included in this phase of development is not certain:
it may have had a riverine/ marsh defence until somewhat later (see, for example, Pearson, 1974;
Leach, 1984).
Excavations in Mill Lane in 1980 (SMR 44446; Burrow, in Leach 1984) picked up the eastern
moat, where its constructional history is particularly complicated because of the proximity of the
early Keep. The excavations found traces of a possible earlier, narrower, ditch phase, which may
have represented a 12th or very early 13th century moat around the Keep: the situation was also
complicated by the remains of an early mill leat. At this point the moat was twelve metres wide
and over three metres deep. It abutted the medieval town properties behind North Street and
would have been encroached upon in the later medieval period: there are documentary references
to houses built over the ditch (and maintained by the Castle itself) by the mid 14th century, though
it seems not to have been completely infilled. At the excavation site a post-medieval phase of
refortification, widening and revetting the ditch, had obscured the medieval encroachment.
The inner moat was probably constructed at approximately the same time as the outer moat. Both
were partially filled in in the 17th and 18th centuries, firstly on the orders of the restored Monarch
and subsequently for use as gardens.
Gates
The Castle had two main exits, to east and west. The locations of both of these access points are
known from archaeological observations to have changed over the Castles history. An earlier
eastern exit, to the north of Castle Bow, was detected from the Mill Lane excavations (Burrow in
Leach 1984) and a timber barbican (aligned with the roadway discovered at Benhams Garages
(Pearson, 1974; Leach & Pearson in Leach, 1984) was observed to the south of the Castle West
26
Gate during the construction of the Odeon. Castle Bow (SMR LB 45931) was the main entrance
from town after the 13th century, and had a barbican and drawbridge: some 13th century masonry
survives and illustrations of it before the construction of Castle Hotel exist (eg see PSANHS vol
4, 1853, p27).
The inner ward was reached from the outer bailey through the inner gatehouse, of which a 15th
century version survives. This building housed the Treasury and Exchequer, and was defended
by a drawbridge and portcullis. There was also a Watergate, the exact position of which is not
known: it has been suggested that it lay on the site of the present Wyndham galleries (Ralegh-
Radford, 1954)
Potential
Though there has been later urban development over parts of the medieval castle area, survey and
excavation work has shown that much of the core survives, either as standing structures or as
archaeological deposits. Archaeological remains of the outer areas are also expected to survive
relatively well, their preservation enhanced in some areas by sealing deposits and in others by the
waterlogging associated with the moat line.
Taunton Castle has recently been re-Scheduled as SM 22851 and a number of buildings within
its area are Listed (SMR LB 45930, 45931, 45932, 45933, 45934, 45935, 45950, 45951).
The inner ward, outer bailey and moat are based on the map in Bush (1988), together with
information in the SMR, including relevant excavation reports. Some aspects of the plan,
including the north-west extent, should be regarded as slightly conjectural however.
TAU/404 The town defences (SMR 44207, 44459)
The first documentary reference to town defences occurs in 1158, in connection with Bishop
Henry of Blois re-establishment of the Priory beyond a pre-existing town ditch running from the
Northgate to the Eastgate. Later records mention the remodelling of the castle and town defences
in 1215-19, during which process a new bank between the Castle and Northgate was erected. But
while the Castle was well-maintained throughout the medieval period, the town defences were
apparently neglected - in 1267-8 the palisade was blown down by the great wind (Bush, 1977),
in 1290-1 a plot in the ancient ditch of the town was let, and in 1320 the Vicar of St Marys was
granted the pasture of the ditch (Aston, n.d.). By the 15th century the bank was evidently
unimportant, and though references to the Townditch (the north-eastern ditch) and the Hurleditch
(the southern ditch) marking the Borough limits still occur in the 17th century, there had been
steady encroachment of houses onto the ditches. At the onset of the Civil War Taunton was
regarded as an open town (but see p28).
Several excavations have located the town ditch at various points, and the SMR contains fuller
details of their results than can be detailed here. The excavations are listed in Section VI, p78:
particularly significant have been those at Hawkes Yard (SMR 44464), and Tancred Street (SMR
44445). Nevertheless, the exact line of the defences remains unclear in many places. The line
between North Gate and East Gate mentioned in the 12th century document, and a continuation
from the East Gate as far as the Vivarium can be approximated from 19th century maps, surviving
plot (and parish) boundaries, building subsidence and breaks of slope, and has been established
more precisely in some places by excavations. However, archaeologist have not yet been able to
establish with complete confidence the marshy south-western and western stretches from the
Vivarium to the Castle. The Poolwall mill stream is occasionally referred to as the Town Ditch,
but it remains possible that the defences extended further to the west. The dam to the Great Pond
of the Vivarium may also have formed part of the defences.
The excavations on the line of the town defences have encountered remains of the ditch more
frequently than remains of the bank. The ditch has been shown in a number of places to be 10
metres or more in width, and several metres deep. From the lower fills have come artefacts
27
consistently dated to the 11th or early 12th centuries - nothing earlier - which strongly suggest an
early medieval construction date. The middle fills have contained a variety of medieval artefacts,
representing a period of partial silting. From the topmost fills have come late 17th and 18th
century assemblages representative of the period in which the ditch finally went out of use: in
some places there appears to have been deliberate backfilling with deposits of clean clay or of
industrial or demolition debris (Bellamy, 1996). Evidence of recutting has been found at Hawkes
Yard (Leach in Leach, 1984, p65) and possibly at Corfield Hall (SMR 44463), but whether this
is to be associated with any of the documented remodellings of the defences is not clear. One site,
at Tancred Street (SMR 44445; Collard, 1987a,b; Collard, Wait & Croft, 1988) revealed the
existence of two smaller outer ditches running approximately parallel to the main ditch and
containing 12th century pottery (suggestive of a short life span). However, since only a short
stretch of each fell within the trench, which was at 90 to the main ditch, the exact alignment and
relationship of the smaller ditches to the defences could not be established. They could have been
part of a multivallate defence of the 12th century, but this cannot be confidently stated.
Remains of the inner town bank have proved elusive. Our chief source of knowledge is the
surviving stretches of bank near St Marys Church, which may have been reused and remodelled
in the Civil War. A stretch of bank about 21 metres wide and 2.4 metres high is Scheduled (SM
Som 338, SMR 44207). Archaeological remains of the rampart were also recovered from the
Hawkes Yard excavations, though no archaeological evidence of the timber palisade has yet been
recovered.
It is almost certain that further substantial remains of the town defences will survive, even if they
are heavily truncated in places. Much remains to be learnt, including the detailed course, the date
and relationship to any earlier (and later) defences, and the detailed structure and phasing of the
bank and ditch(es).
The mapped defences are based on the map in Leach 1984 (Fig.26), supplemented from
excavation evidence contained in the SMR.
TAU/425 The town gates
There were two major medieval town gates, the North Gate, and the East Gate. Documentary
references to the renewal of timbers in the mid 13th century indicate that these were originally
merely wooden bars across the road.
The North Gate (SMR 44462) was near the junction of North Street with St James Street, and was
first mentioned in 1158. The 1996/97 town centre work (Exeter Archaeology, 1997) found what
may have been part of the gate foundation (and/or the top of a possible southern bridge abutment),
at a depth which made it unnecessary to disturb it.
The East Gate (SMR 44461), first mentioned in 1158, was at the top of East Reach near the
junction with Silver Street. It therefore served traffic both from the east and from the south, and
was the most important entrance to the borough. Originally a timber bar, it may have acquired a
gatehouse by 1555, when a burgage over the way is mentioned: this was probably destroyed
during the Civil War. The street used to be very narrow at this point.
There is also a single late 17th century reference to the Great Gate in Bath Place, which may have
stood at the point at which the modern pathway is spanned by a building (R. Bush, in litt. 1998).
This gate may have recalled an early medieval exit to the town (SMR 44460), but the absence of
references indicates that it was not a major gate in the medieval period. After the remodelling of
the Castle in the 13th century, the main western access appears instead to have been through the
West Gate of the Castle (known as Pauls Gate). There is no evidence that the later alternative
route along Shuttern went through any gatehouse, though it could presumably be barred; and there
is no evidence of any other South Gate in the medieval period.
28
The marked sites are from the SMR and from Leach (1984, Fig26).
Not mapped Several minor gates, not large enough to admit any but pedestrians, are referred to in the historical
documents. There was a gate across the ditch for the Vicar of St Marys by 1438-9, and another
gate to which Whirligig Lane led in the post-medieval period. The name of the lane refers to a
turnstile in the gate, which was in existence by 1588.
TAU/501 The Civil War defences (SMR 44378)
In the Civil War Taunton was several times besieged. For most of the war, Taunton was without
substantial defences, but the several sieges in 1644-5, and in particular the final siege by Royalists,
prompted a number of attempts to build defences. These consisted of defensive ditches and
entrenchments, outworks and barricades, many of which were destroyed by order after the
Restoration. The Civil War defences are of varying archaeological significance: some, such as
the barricades, are unlikely to have left much trace. However, the greater earthworks will have
had a more marked effect on the town. The approximate positions of some are known, from
historical or archaeological evidence (see, for example, Ellison, n.d.), though many details remain
to be resolved and only a few of the sites are therefore shown on Map C.
There are references to an outwork called the Vicars House on the east side of town, which may
relate to the Borough Bank ( SM Som 338), perhaps a refortified part of the medieval town
defences (see TAU/404, p26). The Maidens fort, which was probably in the same area, has not
been located. There was a major defensive work outside the East Gate (Bush, 1977), and a
smaller one at the Bath Place gate, neither detected archaeologically. In 2002 the truncated
remains of a substantial defensive ditch was located 80m to the east of East Gate under the former
Whites Garage (SMR 15631). The material from within this suggests that this is probably Civil
War in date. Other Civil War features have been discovered recently along the eastern side of the
town including a possible outwork or fort at the junction of Canon Street and Magdalene Street
(SMR 44688) and human burials in the medieval ditch near Corfield Hall (SMR 57136).
An additional line of defences to the east, enclosing parts of the Priory area, is also referred to in
documents. This may have been encountered during the Canon Street excavations of 1977 and
1994 (Hinchcliffe in Leach, 1984, p106; Hollinrake, C & N, 1994), which revealed a substantial
ditch, 5 metres wide and 1.5 metres deep, containing 17th century pottery in its lower fills,
crossing the medieval cemetery. A map in the SMR apparently by Jeboult (under SMR 44440)
identifies the course of the Stockwell Stream as a defensive line, but this may not be a reliable
source.
A siege work was constructed on the north-eastern side of the Castle, partially overlying the
medieval rampart. It consisted of a trapezoidal earthwork with banks up to three metres high. The
earthwork has been built over, but was partially excavated in 1924 by St George Gray. Outside
Castle Bow there is supposed to have been another earthwork, which may have been briefly
observed during the 1996/7 work in the Market Place (C J Webster, pers. comm., 1997).
The marked sites are from the SMR; the map of the Civil War defences of Taunton is, however,
incomplete and further study necessary.
TAU/532 Tangier, shown on Map D
Tradition states that Tangier is named after the Tangier Regiment, famously employed to round
up Monmouths rebels in 1685. They were billeted or encamped in this area, but it is unlikely that
many archaeological traces remain of this episode (though both fortifications and burials are a
possibility: see TAU/310, p16). However, Robin Bush (in litt., 1998) has shown that the name
Tangier also belonged to a late 17th century inn in the area, and that this may have predated the
arrival of the Tangier Regiment.
The area shown is generalised.
29
TAU/502 The Bridewell (SMR 44384)
The Bridewell had been established by the end of the 16th century, either at the north end of North
Street or - as shown on Map C - on the island in the river. There are records of several repairs,
and of the use of the building as an additional workhouse. The Bridewell was replaced by Wilton
Gaol in 1754.
From the SMR.
Not mapped Archery butts are recorded on the Mount from the 15th century onwards (Bush, 1977; in litt.,
1998). The exact site has not been identified.
TAU/402 The Priory (SMR 44434)
Tauntons medieval Priory is another of its major archaeological mysteries. Though the overall
area in which the Priory must lie is known from land grants, though further clues from historic
documents, maps and illustrations are available, and though parts of its lay cemetery and of its
ancillary buildings have been archaeologically excavated, remarkably little has so far been found
to pinpoint the position of the major buildings, including the Priory Church. This may be due to
the high level of destruction in the 16th century, when most of the Priory was demolished, and in
the 19th century, when the St Augustine Street residential area was laid out.
The following discusses first the history of the Priory, the general position and layout, then some
excavated details and finally the potential of the area.
History
The Saxon minster (TAU/303, p15) was converted into an Augustinian Priory in the 1120s by
Bishop William Gyffard. The site came under pressure from the Castle and town as the 12th
century progressed. New lands, comprising that part of the later parish of St James which lay
south of the river, were granted in 1158 under Bishop Henry of Blois, Gyffards successor. The
extent and position of the new lands allowed the Priory to build a little way beyond the town
boundaries and to encourage the development of a suburb on its land (see p37).
The Priory had a number of dependent chapels, partly because of its origins as a minster, but it
had a special relationship with its adjacent parish church of St Mary. The Vicar of St Marys took
over responsibility for some of the dependencies (Trull, Wilton and both the Taunton Castle
chapels) in 1308. St Marys was therefore referred to in some contexts as the mother church,
though it is now considered highly unlikely that it was the minster site. The Priory retained direct
control of other dependencies, including the Chapel of St James (p32), St Margarets at the leper
hospital (p31), St Pauls (p31), Staplegrove (p51), Stoke St Mary, Ruishton and St Leonards at
Pyrland.
Documentary evidence implies that the Priory was constructed gradually over a period of decades,
with the accommodation buildings perhaps built first (as the Priory church is not mentioned until
the 13th century). It was an extremely wealthy house and, though the number of Canons declined
from 26 to 15 during the 14th century, and there were at times problems with debt, there is
evidence of repeated building and rebuilding. The Priory was still very valuable in 1539, when
it was dissolved. The buildings remained for a few years after that (when Leland visited the site
in 1542, they were still standing), but were destroyed in 1552 and a grand house built on the site
by Thomas Mores family. By the 17th century the surrounding ruins were hardly visible except
as earthworks, and the Mores house had itself gone by 1796, when the site was a garden (R. Bush,
in litt., 1998). At the turn of the 19th century, Priory House was built: this too has since been
demolished. The Priory earthworks were evidently still visible in the earlier 19th century, for
accounts of the Priory area report that it was marked by uneven ground which had been much
quarried for stone. The area was developed for housing in the 19th century, and this development
obliterated the remaining traces of the Priory.
30
Position and layout
The land granted to the Priory in 1158 was extensive. South of the river it stretched from the
borough boundary ditch (in the west) to East Reach (south), St Margarets leper hospital (east),
and West Monkton parish boundary, and the river (north) (Bush, 1977). The Prior also held
substantial estates north of the river (see p52).
Most of this area would have been meadow and field, with the Priory buildings concentrated in
a much smaller area. Documentary evidence, together with the limited evidence of historic maps
and excavations, suggests that the focus of the buildings would have been at the north end of
Canon Street, with the main gatehouse looking down what became St James Street. But the
extent of the Priory Precinct is uncertain. Excavations have shown that burials were taking place
as far east as Augustine Street (SMR 44438). A possible eastern limit may be suggested by the
results of a 1988 evaluation off Winchester Street (SMR 44452; Croft, 1988a,b): the land at this
point appeared to have been field until the 19th century when it was used as a rubbish dump. The
discovery of quantities of 14th century pottery during development in Priory Bridge Road suggests
the northern extent (Dunning & Pearson, 1975). However, information is too limited to be certain:
only repeated observations of the fragmentary remains which may survive in the St Augustines
area will enable the Precinct limits to be defined.
Few details of the layout within the Priory Precinct have been established. It is expected that such
a valuable Priory would have consisted of an extensive complex of ecclesiastical, residential and
ancillary buildings. In addition, extensive cemeteries serving the dependent chapels, as well as
the canons, are known to have existed; and the Priory had an elaborate water supply system, with
leats leading from the Sherford Stream, and later from the Blackbrook (see p22).
Parts of a guesthouse complex or an officials quarters perhaps located on the north-western fringe
of the Priory, and parts of the surrounding cemeteries, have been located by excavation:
The Priory Barn
Few remains of the Priory are evident, and the Priory Barn (SMR 44205, SMR LB 46131, SM
Som 195) is the principal survival. The standing structure is a two-storeyed stone building of
probable late 15th or early 16th century date (though it may incorporate earlier material).
Excavations and surveys in 1977-8 and 1988 (Leach in Leach 1984 p111) showed that it was in
fact not a barn in the medieval period.
The first phase of medieval activity on the site was represented by the remains of fishponds and
water channels. The fragment of fishpond which was excavated produced 12th and 13th century
pottery, building rubble and abundant waterlogged organic material, including shoes, preserved
wood and straw, as well as two medieval scabbards. Some of the organic material was
subsequently carbon dated to the 11th-13th century (Hollinrake, C & N, 1994b). The debris has
been interpreted as being associated with the construction of the Priory. By the late 13th century,
with the ponds filled in, there may have been a courtyard, on the fringe of the Priory, flanked by
a stone building, the predecessor of the Priory Barn. The Barn itself replaced this structure
in the late 15th or early 16th century and formed part of a range of buildings flanking a gatehouse
apparently opening onto the meadows between the medieval town and the river. It appears to have
been originally a building of some quality and may have been a guesthouse or quarters for a Priory
official. However, the reason why this particular building was retained after the Dissolution (and
subsequently used as a chapel by French refugees) when so many other Priory buildings were
quarried is not immediately clear; survey and restoration work revealed that it had suffered
structurally from being built across filled in ponds.
Though it was suggested by the excavators that the gatehouse represented the western limit of the
Priory, a further evaluation and watching brief (SMR 44437), which took place in 1994-1995 on
construction work at the Cricket Ground near the Priory Barn (Hollinrake, C &N, 1994b, 1995),
uncovered further medieval building foundations - again associated with waterlogged features -
31
to its west (and north). A 1982 excavation (SMR 44435) in the grounds of the Vicarage, a little
way south of the Priory Barn, had already revealed the remains of another medieval building
which incorporated ashlar footings and a stone conduit, and was associated with medieval floor
tiles and both medieval and Post-medieval pottery.
The cemetery
The lay cemetery of the Priory was located by excavations in 1977 in Canon Street (SMR 44436;
Hinchcliffe in Leach, 1984, p106), during which the remains of more than 100 individuals were
excavated. The burials excavated in 1977 were of late medieval date (mid 14th century and later);
the remains of a bell pit predated them. The cemetery clearly extended further to the north than
the area excavated. Further reports of burials have come from the area to the east (as far to the
east as St Augustine Street: SMR 44438), suggesting either that the cemetery was extensive or that
more than one cemetery existed (or both).
Not mapped Reused masonry and other artefacts from the Priory
Stonework from the Priory has been tentatively identified in a number of town buildings and local
churches (for example, some of the window tracery at Oake is supposed to have come from the
Priory church).
Several artefacts probably associated with the Priory have been recovered from the vicinity.
These include medieval floor tiles, an early 12th century bronze bowl.
Potential
Excavations have shown that stratified waterlogged deposits and surviving foundations exist on
at least part of the Priory site (the Priory Barn area). The bulk of the site lies beneath the St
Augustines residential area, however, and the state of preservation of the main buildings cannot
be assessed. Since the Somerset Archaeological Society noted massive foundations and masonry
during the 19th century housing developments, it must be assumed that there has been extensive
disturbance, if not destruction, of much of the Priory area. This makes the recovery of surviving
fragments all the more important.
The Priory area shown on the map is conjectural, based on the 1791 and 1840 (Woods) maps of
the town centre, together with excavation evidence contained in the SMR and the Scheduling
Papers for the Priory Barn.
TAU/405 Leper Hospital of Holy Ghost & St Margaret (SMR 44379), shown on Map D
St Margarets was founded as a leper hospital, possibly in the early 12th century (R. Bush, in litt.,
1998). Glastonbury Abbey acquired the patronage of the hospital in the late 13th century and it
was rebuilt as almshouses in the early 16th century by Abbot Bere (they still housed lepers in the
early 16th century. The associated chapel is referred to in a grant of 1545 as being to the south
of the hospital (R. Bush, in litt., 1998). It may have been on the same site as a building shown on
the 1791map of Taunton, although the chapel itself was demolished when the alsmshouses were
sold after the Dissolution. They functioned as a poor house for West Monkton from 1612 to 1938,
and were used by the Rural Community Council from 1938 until the early 1990s when the roof
was destroyed by fire. The building was restored in 2001-2 and reopened as sheltered housing.
From the 1791 and 1890 maps.
TAU/412 Chapel of St Paul (SMR 44408), shown on Map D
The Chapel of St Paul may have been founded in the late 12th or early 13th century. It is referred
to as standing outside the west gate of the town and is presumed to have stood on the site of the
building which used to be known as St Pauls House. This is marked on Jeboults 19th century
map of Taunton, but is archaeologically unproven. Burials found to the east may be Saxon (see
p16), since there is no evidence that the medieval chapel had burial rights, but this is too is
unproven. Many questions remain to be answered, including that of its exact location and form,
32
and that of its relationship with the known burial site and with possible medieval settlement in the
St Pauls area (see p38).
The marked site is from the SMR.
TAU/414 St James Church (SMR 44481)
The Chapel of St James is referred to by 1186. It was presumably established to serve the suburb
of St James, the growth of which was deliberately encouraged by the Priory, on whose land it lay.
St James only became a parish church and acquired burial rights after the Dissolution, when the
parish of St James was created, partly out of Priory lands. The church building (SMR LB 46133)
is of medieval origin. Though it was extensively restored in the 19th century, some 15th century
fabric survives. Examination of the floor void during 2001 located parts of the medieval structure
and allowed a more detailed structural history to be written (SMR 15200).
The post-medieval churchyard is shown on the map, for the sake of clarity. But archaeological
excavations and observations have shown that some at least of this area was occupied by other
suburban development in the medieval period. A 1974 excavation at the west end of the church
produced 13th and 14th century occupation deposits. To the east of the church in the 19th century
grave diggers reported stacks of medieval inlaid tiles, suggestive of a nearby tile kiln (SMR
44485). After the Dissolution, suburban occupation was cleared away and the churchyard
established across it, perhaps using material from the Priory itself: it is thought that a cross head
(SMR 44415) of probable 12th century date found in the 1870s may have originated there.
The marked area is from the 1791 map. The site actually occupied by the medieval chapel would
not have been this extensive.
TAU/418 St Marys Church (SMR 44456)
It used to be assumed that St Marys, the borough church, was the minster site (eg Hunt, 1958a),
but it is now more commonly held that it was established during Henry of Blois 12th century
reorganisation as a dependent of the Priory. It is certainly referred to by 1186, and continues to
occur in medieval documents, most notably the 1308 Ordination, in which responsibility for a
number of dependent chapels of the Priory (including Trull, Wilton, and Taunton Castle) was
formally transferred to the Vicar of St Marys. This may have been an acknowledgement of an
informal situation, but after this date the Vicar acquired a number of assistant priests. The church
became a centre of some importance and was appropriately embellished by the successful
merchants of Taunton. The present grand building (SMR LB 45942) is mainly 15th and 16th
century work, but contains some 13th century fabric. Its fine tower is a 19th century copy of the
tower put up by the townspeople in the late 15th and early 16th century.
St Marys acquired burial rights in the late medieval period: the churchyard was consecrated in
1446 (Bush, 1977). The original - indeed, the post-medieval - extent of the churchyard has been
obscured by late 18th century developments (chiefly, the creation of Hammet Street). But it is
probable that there was a large open area to the west of the church: the construction of Henleys
Almshouses (SMR 44383) in Church Square is documented in the 17th century. The lanes in the
area may also have been little more than pathways: roadworks in both Hammet Street and
Magdalene Street have disturbed deposits of human bones (Hollinrake, C & N, 1993; SMR
44463), suggesting widespread burial in the post-medieval periods.
The marked area is from the SMR.
TAU/305 Wilton St George (SMR 44482), shown on Map D
The parish church of Wilton originated as a dependent chapel of the minster and subsequently the
Priory. Whilst it would have served the area to the south-west of the pre-Conquest borough, it
may have primarily functioned as the chapel of the holy well, the Fons Sancti Georgii or Fons
George.
33
The church building (SMR LB 45992) contains fragments of Saxon stonework in the nave,
implying that the medieval church directly overlies the foundations of its predecessors. The
church was reconstructed in the 13th and 15th centuries and enlarged in the 19th century, at which
time the tower was also rebuilt. The chapel only acquired burial rights after the Dissolution and
the extent of its early enclosure is unknown.
The area marked is the 19th century churchyard from the 1802 to 1840 maps.
TAU/504 Post-medieval chapels with burial grounds
Taunton was a centre of Dissent. There were twelve dissenting congregations by 1669 (Bush,
1977) and several chapels were built in the post-medieval period. These have not been studied
in detail: only those which acquired burial grounds are shown.
A breakaway group of Baptists established their New Meeting on Magdalene Street in 1732. It
had its own burial ground, which was in use until 1815 when the chapel was demolished. The
New Meeting appears on the 1791 map, but the exact location of the burial ground has not been
established, despite archaeological work in the Tancred Street area.
The United Reformed Church, formerly Pauls Meeting House (SMR 44472), was built in the late
17th century, on the site of a bowling green behind the building which became the County Hotel
(Bush, 1977). It was attacked and badly damaged shortly after opening but reopened in 1689.
The burial ground to the rear was in use at least between 1785 and 1860, perhaps earlier. The
present building (SMR LB 46128) dates from the late 18th century.
The Unitarian Chapel in Mary Street was built in 1691, though the present building (SMR LB
46067) dates from 1721. The burial ground to the rear was in use at least by the early 19th
century, for it is mentioned by Savage (1822) as being particularly commodious, but it is likely
to have been earlier.
The Friends Meeting House in Bath Place (shown on Map D) was built in 1693 and rebuilt in
1814. Until the 19th century, however, the Quakers were still using an older out of town burial
ground (see p58).
The approximate site of the Magdalene Street meeting is shown from the 1791 map. The sites of
the URC and the Friends Meeting House are from the 1791 map together with Woods 1840
map; and the Unitarian Chapel is from the 1791 and 1890 maps.
Not mapped The Carmelite Friary (TAU/446)
In the 14th century a grant to establish a Carmelite house at Taunton was made. This was not
carried through, and though it is possible that some building work was begun (Bond, c1990), there
is no evidence of this. The grant was for nine acres of meadow, at Cokesmead. The site was
identified by 19th century scholars (eg Savage, 1822) with Pauls Field, now the site of County
Hall; but Bush (1977; in litt., 1998) convincingly disputes this identification and places the site
somewhere in North Town. There is only a small chance that archaeological remains associated
with this house - which may, after all, never have been begun - would survive.
4.4.f Settlement (Urban)
General material on the medieval town is held in the SMR under PRN 44440.
(a) Commercial core
(i) Market place(s)
TAU/413 The market place (SMR 44479)
A market at Taunton is first referred to in the 904 charter, though the site on which it was held has
not been certainly identified. In the 12th century town the Market Place was a large open triangle
before the Castle. It became considerably built up during the medieval period: the roofing over
34
of previously temporary stalls is referred to as early as 1266. Further grants to allow fixed stalls
and shop buildings are documented throughout the 13th and 14th century, and there are early 14th
century references to the Bredcage (probably a lock up) in the early 14th century. The medieval
Guildhall was built in 1467 (it stood just to the north-west of the present market house site),
though there may have been an earlier market hall on the southern edge of the Market Place before
the development of High Street: remains of such a structure were recovered by excavations at 1
High Street (Bennett, 1974; and Bennett in Leach 1984 p91). The central island became further
defined by the provision of water conduits around its edges during the 13th to 15th centuries.
Excavations in 1996/97 during the town centre enhancement revealed late medieval street levels
and large postholes of timber buildings, overlying cess pits and rubbish pits of 11th to 14th
century date (Exeter Archaeology, 1997).
In the Market Place stood several crosses (the sites are not shown on Map C but are marked on
the GIS). A market cross is first mentioned in 1321. The early 16th century version (SMR
44380) was destroyed in 1769, but an illustration exists. A copy (SMR 44489) was put up at the
north end of the market by Kinglake in 1867, but removed in 1934. The Chuse (Cheese?) Cross
(SMR 44381), recorded in 1415, probably stood in the centre of the market place (the site of the
later market house), and the Rix or Ruish Cross (SMR 44382) stood at the south-eastern exit until
the early 17th century.
Further building occurred in the post-medieval period, and during the 17th century an assembly
room was built on the site of the present market house. By the 18th century, there were eleven
public houses on the central island, as well as the Guildhall, the Assembly rooms and a hundred
fixed stalls. These are shown on a plan of c1770, which also marks the Shambles Lane and sundry
features including bull rings. The 1996/97 excavations found well-preserved remains of some
of the medieval and post-medieval structures and channels, though they showed that post-medieval
cellaring had destroyed some evidence.
The Market Trustees were founded in the mid 18th century, and from 1768 onwards embarked
on a process of remodelling the Market Place, clearing away many of the early features, and
piping the water supplies. By 1772 they had created the Parade and a new market house and
assembly room flanked by arcades: the central block of this survives (SMR LB 46115). The
market continued to be held on the site until 1929 and for the period between 1769 and 1926 it
is well documented in the papers of the Trustees. New building and demolitions continued: the
New Market was built along the west of Fore street in 1822 (and demolished in the 1960s) and
a corn exchange later added (demolished 1937).
The limited excavations which took place in connection with the 1996/97 town enhancement
scheme may have been the last opportunity to study the archaeological remains of the Market
Place, because of the unanticipated destructiveness of the works.
The area marked as the medieval Market Place is somewhat conjectural in detail, though its core
is well defined by the post-medieval maps. The area shown is taken from the SMR.
TAU/411 The fair site (SMR 44398), shown on Map D
In 1256 a grant for a manor fair, St Thomas fair (as distinct from the borough fair, St Botolphs,
which was probably held in the Market Place: see above) was made. The exact location of the
fair site referred to in the grant is unclear, but it is usually identified with the Mill Land (or Mill
Lane) tithing - the area of North Town to the west of Bridge Street and south of Staplegrove Road.
The triangular area at the southern end of Staplegrove Road may mark the focus of the fair (Bush,
1977), but there are references to it extending as far as the Bridge (Gerrard, 1984), either on the
streets or the surrounding open land. Both fairs continued until the early 20th century.
The site shown is the area which still lay open in 1791. It is unlikely to represent the full extent
of the fair.
35
(ii) Burgages and tenements
Numerous archaeological excavations and observations in the medieval tenement areas have provided some details
of the development of the medieval town, though they have tended to raise as many questions as they have answered.
TAU/403 The south-west quarter
The south-west quarter of the medieval town, including High Street, Paul Street and part of Fore
Street, was a prime commercial area. Excavations have shown that its burgages were developed
from the late 12th or 13th century onwards, that it occupied a site settled in the iron age (see p8),
but unlikely to have been inhabited in the intervening period (Bennett, 1974), and that it contained
industrial as well as commercial activity. The establishment of tenement boundaries across
irregular pit patterns occurred to the south of Fore Street at the end of the 12th century (Burrow,
1979), whilst Paul Street may have been laid out slightly later (SMR 44447; Clements in Leach
1984, p79). It is often suggested that High Street may have been established - or perhaps enlarged
- as an overflow market area in the 14th century (see, for example, Burrow, 1982; cp Burrow &
Dennison, 1988), though this remains archaeologically unproven and is really based on the ad
hoc nature of the resulting town plan.
On specific sites, archaeological - and documentary - studies have shown complex patterns of
development. At 1 High Street (SMR 44442; Bennett, 1974; Dunning & Pearson, 1975), for
example, a 12th (or early 13th) century substantial stone building was cleared away and the area -
which was right on the Market Place - used as a dump during the 13th century, before a large
timber structure (possibly a Market hall) was erected on it at the turn of the 14th century. This
probably functioned until the mid 15th century and was replaced in the 16th by the White Hart,
which survived until the 20th century. Other excavations or watching briefs on burgage tenements
have taken place at 5-8 Fore Street (Burrow, 1979; SMR 44450), at Boots (SMR 44448) and at
18 Fore Street (SMR 44474). Those further away from the Market Place have found evidence of
small scale industrial activity taking place to the rear of the plots. In Paul Street, for example, it
was leather and horn working (SMR 44447), and at the corner of High Street and Mary Street it
was tanning and cloth working (SMR 44449; Burrow, 1982; Burrow & Dennison, 1988).
In the post-medieval period, the tenements of this area continued to be valuable commercial
properties and activity may indeed have intensified. For example, the early 17th century
establishment of the Pig Market between High Street and Paul Street was necessary because of
overcrowding in the Market Place (which was by then heavily encroached upon, it is true). The
Grade I Listed Tudor Tavern (SMR 44206; SMR LB 46006) was one of a number of houses taken
on and embellished by rich clothiers, and is one of the very few buildings of known medieval
origin to survive in Taunton (see Bush 1975, 1977). Other adjacent properties were probably
rebuilt in the 16th or 17th centuries (eg SMR LB 46004, 46005, 46007). Excavations have shed
a little light on the kind of commercial activity which was being undertaken here. A coin hoard
(SMR 44409) from Fore Street (the rear of 16/17 Fore Street) contained a number of bronze
forgeries of mid to late 15th century French coins, together with the blanks for producing more.
The find was not in context, but appears to indicate that forging was taking place on the site!
As already noted, few medieval structures survive above ground in this area, and the historic plan
of the tenement boundaries has been much obscured by large scale commercial developments
behind Fore Street and Paul Street. Excavations have produced varying levels of evidence and
have shown the variability of archaeological survival in the area, caused by the fact that
archaeological deposits do not lie very deep beneath the modern levels in Taunton. However, it
is variable, not negligible, and information of considerable interest and importance to the question
of the origins, of High Street, for example, may still be obtained.
The tenement areas are drawn from the 1791-1840 maps.
TAU/426 The south-east quarter (incl Mary St S)
The south-east quarter of town included the southern frontages along the main London road, but
36
also more marginal areas on the rising ground included within the town defences, use of which
may have increased in the post-medieval period. A number of excavations have taken place in the
area. As in the south-west quarter, these have shown mixed use of the area and variable
archaeological survival. Work in Kennedys Yard and Billet Street in 1974 (SMR 44441;
Bennett, 1974), for example, produced abundant high quality post-medieval artefacts (including
Venetian glass and Spanish pottery) but few structures unrelated to garden activity. Nearer the
Market Place and nearer the frontages, limited work at the County Hotel (Wessex Archaeology,
1995b) revealed heavily truncated building sequences, with open ground and possible small scale
quarrying to the rear, though it was not able to answer one of the questions raised by the areas
street plan - the significance of the irregular junction between East Street and Fore Street.
The eastern extremity of East Street would have abutted the East Gatehouse and is known to have
been constricted. Much of the area around the gate - and, indeed, much of the rest of the area -
was destroyed during the Civil War. Some must have survived, for the Grade I Listed Grays
Almshouses (SMR 44386, SMR LB 45981) were founded in 1635, and form one of the earliest
brick buildings in the county. Only to the south of Mary Street do any other buildings of even
post-medieval date still stand (SMR LB 46083, 46067), though there are several of 19th century
date. Little is known about the latter block, which may have been only partially developed in the
medieval period. Another area - the mount, behind East Street and within the town ditch (more
lightly shaded) - may well have remained undeveloped until relatively late, but most work in this
area has focussed on the ditch line rather than the surrounding area.
The areas shown are from the 1791-1840 maps.
TAU/419 The north-east quarter
The north-east quarter of the town, between the Castle and Market Place and St Marys church,
was intensively occupied in the medieval period. It contained a number of narrow lanes leading
to the church, some of which, such as Whirlygig Lane and Magdalene Lane still survive. At least
one other - Great Magdalene Lane - has been obscured by the later developments of Hammet
Street.
Some archaeological information has been obtained from developments at the western end of East
Street in recent years. A 1994 watching brief during excavation of foundations at 5-6 East Street,
for example, found limited evidence of continuous occupation from the 11th-12th century to the
present day, including iron slag possibly indicative of small-scale smithing in the 12th to 13th
centuries (Hollinrake, C & N, 1994). There were Post-medieval cellars, which had destroyed
many of the earlier archaeological deposits, but beyond their limits survival was good for a site
so near the frontage. A further watching brief took place in 1997 at 1 East Street, and this
produced mainly post-medieval material (C Hollinrake, pers. comm., 1997).
Though evidence of small scale industrial activity has been detected in the area it also contained
some more substantial medieval houses and municipal buildings (Dunning & Pearson, 1975), as
well as almshouses. Osbornes Almshouses, in Magdalene Lane, were founded in the 15th century
(part of their 19th century rebuild still stands: SMR LB 46057). Other almshouses were founded
in the area in the post-medieval period. Henleys Almshouses (SMR 44383), founded in 1637,
were in Church Square but were pulled down (and moved to East Reach) when Hammet Street
was built. Huishs Almshouses, which stood on Great Magdalene Lane, survived the new street
but were pulled down in the mid 19th century. The poor house also stood on Magdalene Street
until the 19th century.
Many details remain to be learnt of the complex history of this relatively large area, which abutted
both the East Gate (close to which was found a Civil War coin hoard in 1980: SMR 44477) and
the North Gate. Those archaeological interventions which have occurred have been limited in
scale, and the overall coverage is patchy. The watching briefs appear to show variable
archaeological survival below ground, not surprising given the intensive later development. Few
37
buildings of known medieval origin survive (the County Stores building is one possible exception)
and only one building of known post-medieval origin is included on the List (45-46 Fore Street:
SMR LB 46014).
TAU/424 The north-west quarter
There is relatively little archaeological information on this area, squeezed between Castle and
Market Place. Much of the development here may have begun as encroachment on the Castle
perimeter, including the moat. Because of the presence of the moat it is possible that
archaeological survival may be better than in other parts of the medieval town, but as elsewhere
the surviving buildings are relatively late. This is especially true of the southern part of the area,
cut by the 19th century Corporation Street.
The area shown is from the 1791-1840 maps.
(b) Suburbs
TAU/415 St James Street suburb
The Priory encouraged suburban development on its land, the area which is now St James Street
and Canon Street, from the late 12th century onwards, though parts of the land were liable to
flooding. The details of the development, particularly north and east of Canon Street, where the
suburb may have directly abutted the Priory, have not been ascertained for this report. Further
documentary study might be productive, as Post-Dissolution land grants recorded the late
medieval state of some at least of the plots.
The area contains the site of a set of almshouses which, though not referred to directly as
almshouses until the 19th century, may have been in existence at least by the early 17th century
(R. Bush, in litt., 1998). In the late 19th century the site was sold and two of the timber-framed
buildings preserved: subsequent study of the timberwork and building construction suggests a
date of 1500 or earlier. The best surviving parts of these have been combined and restored in the
late 20th century and the resulting reconstruction stands in the Castle courtyard (McDowall &
Jeffries, 1962).
Other archaeological interventions in the area have been limited. A site at 18 St James Street, just
west of St James Church, produced 13th and 14th century pits and Post-medieval walls,
succeeded by a late 18th century house (Bennett, 1974; and Bennett in Leach 1984, p98). A
watching brief on the Octagon Chapel site in Middle Street (SMR 44444), which was in the backs
of the medieval plots, also revealed 12th to 19th century rubbish pits, and finds included a carved
stone head which had probably from the Priory. These finds show relatively early medieval
occupation in the area, but have provided only limited information of the kind of activities
expected to have been going on there. We know, for example, from the finds of medieval tiles
by grave diggers in St James churchyard that a kiln existed somewhere in the area - perhaps close
to the Priory site, which it was presumably supplying - but this has not yet been located.
The suburb of St James was badly damaged during the Civil War and, apart from St James
Church, no buildings of known medieval origin survive in the area, though two of 17th and 18th
century origin are recorded in the List (SMR LB 46077, 46081).
The marked areas are from the 1791-1840 maps.
38
TAU/447 The Vicarage
Adjoining the St James Street suburb, but separated from it by the town ditch, was the medieval
Vicarage. The building itself (SMR LB 45938, 45939) appears largely 16th and 17th century but
may contain elements of the medieval structure, and it is possible that remains of other medieval
structures, and gardens, may also survive within the grounds.
From the 1791-1840 maps.
TAU/423 East Reach, shown on Map D
Development along East Reach was also encouraged by the Priory, which owned the land on the
north side of the road, and it was continuously built up in the medieval period. Medieval property
boundaries still partly survive at the western end of the street, though the eastern end has been
more radically affected by later 19th and 20th century road and residential developments. The
actual limits of medieval suburban development remain to be established, though it is possible
that the suburb extended nearly as far as St Margarets Hospital (see p31).
The area became one of the more industrialised of Tauntons suburbs in the post-medieval period.
It contained many poor quality clothworkers dwellings (Bush, 1977) and there was a workhouse
on the north side of the road by 1735; the area did, however, acquire two theatres by the end of
the 18th century. The Tancred Street evaluation (SMR 44445; Collard, 1987a,b; Collard, Wait
& Croft, 1988) put small trenches into the western end of the East Reach suburb, immediately east
of the town defences and close to the Stockwell Stream. Results did not indicate intensive activity
beside the ditches until the late 18th and 19th century, when this area contained a tannery
(Murless, 1985). Closer to the street frontage, the western end of East Reach, is likely to be
archaeologically complex. Here the intersection of the medieval East Gate itself (p27), and of the
islands of property which stood in the street (R. Bush, in litt., 1998) with the Hurleditch(p26),
the Civil War defences (p28) and Silver Street, remain to be sorted out. Like the St James Street
suburb, East Reach suffered during the Civil War and no buildings of Listable quality of known
medieval or post-medieval origin survive on East Reach.
The areas shown represent the extent of development on the 1791-1840 maps. It is possible that
the entire area was already occupied in the medieval period, though this remains to be
established.
TAU/428 St Pauls, shown on Map D
In the earlier medieval period, and possibly before that (see p17), some settlement in the St Pauls
area, west of the stream, is recorded in the Pipe Rolls, which refer to a chapel (see p31), a barton
and a pound. There was certainly some form of occupation in the 12th century, for the
excavations at Benhams Garages in the 1970s (SMR 44466; Leach & Pearson in Leach 1984,
p37) located structures of that date. However, on this particular site occupation was soon
abandoned, or deliberately cleared, and the area used as a rubbish dump and for stock watering
and flood overflow. The Castle stables are documented as having been in that area, and the
excavations found evidence of trackways down to the stream. But even these activities were
interrupted by the flooding of the late 13th and 14th centuries, which appears to have turned the
area into a pool for a while. It was not fully reclaimed until the 18th and 19th centuries, though
some remains of 17th century occupation (erroneously interpreted as the remains of a medieval
friary) were recovered in the 19th century from an area just outside the Great Gate (R. Bush, in
litt., 1998).
Further from the Castle and borough perimeters, and from the stream valley, there is little
information on the extent of settlement in the medieval period. It may have remained a barton
(Bush, 1977) - perhaps relocated to the west because of the wholesale reorganisation of the town
in the early medieval period. Or it may have developed into a small suburb, as yet unlocated but
probably centring around the chapel and possibly extending south of the road (Leach, 1984: Fig
26). If so, it was abandoned as the area grew wetter. By the early 18th century much of the land
39
was in the hands of the Gale family, who had a house in the area: by 1706 they had erected a
locked gate across the road, claiming it was a private route. The road did not become public again
until the 19th century (Bush, 1977).
Because of the waterlogging of deposits in part at least of the St Pauls area, important
archaeological information relating to the medieval or earlier periods may survive. So, though
there have been some very destructive modern developments, St Pauls remains an area of great
potential interest.
The areas shown as part of St Pauls are of two types. The first includes post-medieval plots
shown on the 1791-1840 maps. The second includes conjectural areas possibly occupied in the
medieval period: these are based in part on Fig 26 in Leach, 1984.
TAU/312 Wilton,shown on Map D
A possible early settlement area close to the chapel is shown on Map D, but this is extremely
conjectural. The later suburb of Wilton is discussed below.
The area shown is highly conjectural.
TAU/420 Shuttern and Wilton, shown on Map D
Shuttern became the western suburb in the later medieval period. Documentary references show
that it was developing by the mid 13th century, but in the next century it was about the limit of dry
land. The extent of later medieval occupation is unclear, for Savage (1822) states that it was once
more populous than it appeared in the early 19th century. It may have been a poorer suburb than
those patronised by the Priory, and probably contained informal cottage and mean housing
developments. The area changed as the Gaol was established (see p63) and the Grove was built
on the north side of the road, both probably replacing medieval cottages. To the north of the
house, a weir was built across the stream and this, together with poor sewerage at the expanding
Gaol caused problems in the early 19th century. The area underwent considerable further changes
in the 19th century, when Shire Hall was built.
Very few details of the suburban development at Wilton, adjacent to Shuttern, have been obtained
for this report. It is likely that the area contained larger, more desirable properties - as it did in
the 19th century - such as Wilton House (SMR LB 46035), built in 1705.
The areas shown as part of Shuttern are of two types. The first includes post-medieval plots
shown on the 1791-1840 maps. The second includes conjectural areas possibly occupied in the
medieval period: these are based in part on Fig 26 in Leach, 1984. Most of the plots in Wilton
are from the 1840 map.
TAU/422 North Town, shown on Map D
Little is known about the development of North Town, which lay on Priory land, though suburban
occupation is referred to by the late 13th century. This probably stretched up to the Staplegrove
Road junction, where St Thomas Fair (see p34) may have been centred (Dunning & Pearson,
1975). The pattern of post-medieval development (which may, however, be misleading), suggests
that suburban development was concentrated on the east side of Bridge Street, and around the
junction, with land to the west and north remaining largely open. Bush (1977) implies that both
Flook House (named after a family recorded in North Town tithing in the 13th century) and Yarde
House (named as early as the mid 17th century according to Savage), which dominated the area
in the 18th century, originated as medieval farms before being rebuilt as gentlemens residences
in the post-medieval period. Flook House survives, though its extensive gardens have been
obliterated. The area was electing its own mayor in the 18th century (R. Bush, in litt., 1998), but
was noted only as a hamlet by Savage in the early 19th century: it subsequently became much
developed, largely due to the construction of the canal and railways.
40
No buildings of known medieval or post-medieval origin in this area are included on the List, and
the state of archaeological survival is largely unknown. Exceptions occur at the south end of
Bridge Street where good preservation of deposits sealed at depth during the construction of Tone
Bridge has been demonstrated (Dunning & Pearson, 1975). An evaluation in 1992 (SMR 44453)
showed that no medieval occupation underlay the 19th century buildings along the east side of
Black Horse Lane (near the present Safeways) and that this area (to the east of the possible
occupation areas marked on the map) was a rubbish dump - albeit one producing valuable
assemblages of ceramics - in the 18th century (Woods, 1992).
The areas shown are from the 1791-1840 maps. They include both Yard and Flook House,
together with isolated developments to the west along Staplegrove Road: some of these areas are
likely to be of post-medieval rather than medieval origin. Also shown (differently shaded) are
other roadside areas which may have been occupied but - if so - were unoccupied at the time the
post-medieval maps were made.
TAU/505 Post-Medieval suburban development
The distinctions between medieval and post-medieval suburbs are not clear in Taunton.
Documents show that medieval suburban activity was extensive and even areas marked on Maps
C and D as being of possibly post-medieval origin - where they overlie major medieval features,
such as the Vivarium, the Priory or the town ditch - may in fact have already been occupied in the
later medieval period. Some - including the areas of the Priory which became a farm and a private
house - certainly were. But others, such as the site of Wilton House (SMR LB 46035), built in
1705, are unlikely to have been.
4.4.g Industrial sites
(a) Mills
TAU/409 The Castle mills (SMR 44491, 44395)
There are a number of documentary references to at least two phases of medieval castle mills at
Taunton. It is recorded that the original corn mill (SMR 44491) was moved in the early 13th
century to allow the construction in 1218-19 of a fulling mill (SMR 44395) and, indeed, a new leat
system. This fulling mill is of some importance, for it may have been one of the earliest of the
new water-powered fulling mills in the West country. Later medieval references occur to the
moved corn mill, which was housed in the same building as a malt mill.
None of the medieval mills has been definitely located, though in the documents they are
consistently referred to as being by, below or against, the Castle. The obvious site for at least
one of them is therefore that occupied in the 19th century by the Town Mills (see p65).
Excavation of the Town Mills site in the 1960s (P A Langmaid, 1968) failed to identify a mill site.
The excavator in fact suggested that the site had only been reclaimed from the river in the second
half of the 19th century. Since the historic maps clearly refute this, it appears more likely that the
construction of the 19th century mill was particularly destructive. Excavations in Mill Lane in
1980 found an early leat, predating the establishment of Mill Lane and possibly contemporary
with an early phase of the Keep. The course and direction implied it was running off a feature to
its west and heading round towards the Town Mills site (Burrow, 1980). It therefore still seems
that the area directly to the north of the Castle is the most likely site both for the early corn mill
and for the fulling mill which replaced it. Whether any remains of the mill survive will need to
be reassessed, should any further work take place between the Town Mills site and the Castle.
It is not clear how far the corn mill was moved in the early 13th century. It may have been very
close to the fulling mill, given the apparent references to it being below the Castle. However, this
remains uncertain. Hunt & Pearson (1973) suggest the mill was almost due north of the Castle
Westgate, but there appears to be no evidence for this.
41
The marked area is based on the 1791-1840 maps together with excavation evidence, but remains
conjectural.
TAU/410 Poolwall Mill (SMR 44396)
There are medieval references to New Mill, later known as Poolwall Mill, which stood close to
the Vivarium on what is now Upper High Street. It may have been in existence as early as the
13th century. It was converted to a silk factory in the late 18th century.
From the SMR.
TAU/503 Other early mills, shown on Map D
Another potential mill site is suggested by the buildings List, which indicates a building of
possible 17th century origin on Tower Lane (SMR LB 46194) as having perhaps originated as a
mill.
The area is conjectural, based on the analysis contained in the Buildings List.

Not mapped There are documentary references to a fulling mill and mill house built at Firepool (SMR
44393), between Obridge and the Town Mills, in the medieval period (Bush, 1977; in litt., 1998).
This was purchased by the Tone River Conservators in 1763 and demolished in order to improve
navigation. The exact site is unknown.
(b) Other industrial sites
TAU/421 Racks
According to Bush (1977), drying racks were widespread along the Tone. The only site identified
for this report - Coal Orchard (which used to be called Rack Hay) is shown on the map. Other
sites could probably be identified through more detailed research, but their archaeological
importance is limited.
The area is approximately that of Coal Orchard.
Not mapped Grave diggers in St James churchyard in the 19th century reported stacks of inlaid tiles suggestive
of a nearby tile kiln (Dunning & Pearson, 1975). These may have been associated with the Priory
construction, like the bell pit discovered beneath the cemetery levels of the Priory (see p31). A
later bell foundry was in operation from 1584 to 1832 (Bond, c1990).
The County Hotel evaluation (Piggott, 1995; Wessex Archaeology 1995b) suggested that small
scale quarrying was taking place in the 12th or 13th century within the town core in the area to the
back of East Street and Fore Street.
4.4.h Agricultural sites
TAU/406 The Vivarium (Fishponds, Vivary Park) (SMR 44388), shown on Map D
There are many references in the medieval documents (including the Winchester Pipe Rolls) to
two fishponds, in existence by 1207-8, which lay just beyond the medieval Town in what is now
Vivary Park. These were large enough not only to supply the Castle but also to provide large
quantities of fish for the Bishops feasts in Winchester, or on occasion for royal banquets. The
documents show that at least by the 14th century the Vivarium covered at least 70 acres; and there
are frequent references in the later medieval period to repairs of dams, walls, sluices and fishtraps
and to dredging activities. The Great Pond was controlled by a dam and causeway (SMR 44487)
which ran between the Poolwall mill stream and the Gaol Stream. The ponds eventually silted up
but their presence is commemorated in the name of Vivary Park.
The exact plans of the ponds are not known, but a sewer trench cut through the area in 1982 may
have established their approximate locations (Clements, 1982). This revealed two hollows filled
with black, organic deposits which may have been pond silts. The larger was traced for nearly 75
42
metres across the area which is now the golf course and the smaller was near the fountain in
Vivary park itself. Clements (1982) records that previous work in the park and on the golf course
had encountered similar deposits which were not recorded archaeologically.
The area marked includes the sites of the two main fishponds as detected by trenching through
the area. It has been extended to include an area of approximately 70 acres through which the
Sherford Leat runs straight. However, the southern part of the area should be regarded as highly
conjectural.
4.5 Archaeological components (outlying area), shown on Maps E1-E9
For the outlying area, medieval and post-medieval settlements and other features are considered together with other
evidence for pre-1800 settlement: see below.
5. PRE-1800 SETTLEMENT (OUTLYING AREAS)
(Maps E and E1 - E9)
Within the confines of the Assessment project only limited research could be carried out for the outlying areas of
Taunton. The following should not, therefore, be regarded as a complete archaeological assessment.
Most of the material within this section is arranged by historic (Tithe Map) parish (ignoring the small detached
parts). The maps also follow this pattern, though an overall map has also been produced..
5.1 Archaeological work
Archaeological coverage over such a wide area has of course been variable. The whole area has been overflown for
aerial photographs, and many sites, some of possible medieval or post-medieval date, thereby identified (these are
detailed in the SMR). A major programme of survey and excavation took place in the early 1970s in advance of the
construction of the M5 and this too produced much information along the course of the motorway, which passes to
the south and east of the town. Apart from these projects, archaeological study has been much more localised and
quite limited. Local groups and individuals have produced studies of aspects of Priorswood (Cheddon Field Group,
1992) and Trull (Gree, 1993), based on field survey. Actual excavation of Saxon to medieval sites, however, has
been restricted to a relatively small number of sites. These include the areas most notable monument - Norton
Fitzwarren hillfort (see pp6, 48) - and a few of the sites under threat (chiefly Maidenbrook, Nerrols and Hankridge
farms, east of the town).
Archaeological understanding of the development of the area around Taunton therefore remains exceedingly
fragmentary, though its potential has been demonstrated by the aerial photographic and M5 survey programmes.
There is very little evidence of the relationship between the Saxon and the later settlement patterns, for example, nor
of the role of Norton Fitzwarren - which later accounts suggest was itself a place of some importance - in the
medieval period and afterwards. Many other questions of local and wider interest could easily be listed.
5.2 Archaeological context
(to be completed later)
Many of the historic settlements around Taunton retain their street plans, together with some Listed Buildings of
medieval or post-medieval origin: the latter are mentioned where appropriate in the text. Others, such as the hamlets
of Holway or Galmington, or the farms at Musgrove and Hankridge, have been swallowed and obscured (or
destroyed) by the growth of 20th century suburbs.
The Listed Buildings of known medieval or post-medieval origin are shown on the appropriate maps.
5.4 Archaeological features (by parish)
43
5.4.a Bishops Hull
(Map E1)
Bishops Hull was part of the infaring (the direct holdings) of the Bishop of Winchester, a connection
commemorated in its name. The inner part of the parish, which lies within the town centre, has been considered in
previous sections.
(a) Roads
TAU/510 Pre-1800 roads
Most of the pre-1800 road network in the parish of Bishops Hull survives, with the exception of
the old road from Taunton to Wellington via Galmington, which was replaced in the 19th century
by the new turnpike road to Wellington. The new turnpike also resulted in the downgrading of
the other main route from Taunton (itself an early turnpike), which ran through Bishops Hull
village; this still survives as a local road.
Most of the roads shown are taken from the 1791 map for Toulmins history and the 1802 OS
drawings, with others from the local maps for Barr (1790) and Roughmoor (1718).
(b) Military sites
TAU/532 Gibraltar
Spencer (1911b) suggests that a defensive position associated with the presence of the Tangier
Regiment in town existed here to guard the ford and bridge near Long Run Farm and Mill. He
suggests that buildings other than the mill existed on the site, and that traces of earthworks were
once visible.
From a sketch map in Spencer (1911b).
(c) Burial sites and places of worship
TAU/437 Bishops Hull Church (SMR 43820)
The earliest references to a church at Bishops Hull are from the early 12th century, when the
Great Tithes were granted to Taunton Priory. Fabric of the early 13th century and later survives
in the Grade I Listed church (SMR LB 40444): the chancel and tower are largely 16th century,
but the building was restored and enlarged in the 19th century.
Some archaeological observations have been made within the church in the last 20 years (Ellis &
Levitan, 1980; McCrone, 1993a). A small watching brief inside the church in 1989 found
evidence of a layer of make up under the chancel, which had been cut through by medieval and
later graves. This may mean that underlying structures - if any - will have been protected.
The marked churchyard is from the 1843 Tithe map.
TAU/506 Stonegallows (SMR 43361)
A 1615 petition refers to the execution of convicted murderers at this site at least by the late 16th
century, and the site was probably in use from the medieval period until 1810, when the last
execution tool place there (Bush, 1988b; in litt, 1998). Though the gallows were taken down in
the 19th century, it is possible that burials may have been made on the site.
From the SMR.
(d) Manor houses and estates
TAU/438 Bishops Hull Manor House (SMR 44057)
The Grade II* Listed manor house at Bishops Hull (SMR LB 40441) is 16th century or earlier.
Whilst it may stand on the site of an earlier - perhaps even a pre-Conquest - Bishops residence,
Bush argues that the documentary evidence for the landholding suggests otherwise and that it was
an ordinary tenement remodelled in the 16th century (R. Bush, in litt., 1998). The standing
44
building has been the subject of architectural study (the Buildings List refers to an unpublished
Vernacular Architecture Group report held in the SRO), but little attention has been paid to the
below ground archaeological potential of the site (which has already been reduced by modern
development close to the house). Remains might include those of earlier stone and timber
structures of variable quality, together with their associated gardens and outbuildings.
The area shown includes the house itself and land which was orchard in the 19th century to its
east. It seems possible that considerably more land may once have been attached to the rear of
the house, but no early maps were available: further documentary research might clarify the extent
of the manor house grounds.
The area shown is from the 1802 and 1843 maps.
(e) Settlement
As well as the village of Bishops Hull, the parish contained by the late post-medieval period a number of other
hamlets and farms.
TAU/518 Bishops Hull
Settlement at Bishops Hull may date from before the Conquest, and it was the head of one of the
Taunton Deane hundreds by 1207. By the time of the earliest maps (the earliest available detailed
map is the Tithe Map of 1843) it consisted of a number of rather spread out farms and houses.
Three of known 17th century date survive on the fringe of the village (SMR LB 40443,
40448,40449), and others may also do so. Whether the late 18th/ early 19th century settlement
pattern reflects the earlier ones is entirely unknown at present, but it is known that quite extensive
developments have taken place within the village in the later 19th and the 20th centuries. Whilst
some of these have been of interest in their own right - the settlement contains a number of Listed
19th century buildings (not shown on Map E1), they may have damaged the archaeology. Given
the potential importance of the settlement - there is even an outside chance that the first Taunton
(the fortified site demolished by Ines wife in the 8th century) may have been located here - it is
a matter of some interest to establish the character and quality of archaeological deposits wherever
possible.
The settlement areas shown are from the 1802 and 1843 maps.
TAU/509 Roughmoor
Roughmoor House is of at least 17th century origin. It is depicted on a map of 1718, on which
are named the owners from the early 17th century onwards. The map shows the early 18th century
house, gardens, and outbuildings to the south, as well as surrounding closes, and it appears to
show a watercourse, since disappeared, running to the south of the enclosure. However, the
details and the exact extent of the farmyard to the south are hard to determine because of later
changes in the landscape. Because the area, now Roughmoor House, has been little disturbed it
is possible that significant archaeological remains of the post-medieval farmyard will survive.
From the 1718 map.
TAU/516 Barr, Frethey, Upcott & Fideoak
The prosperous post-medieval farm and house complexes at Barr and Frethey are depicted on a
map of 1790, which also shows gardens (subsequently orchard) to the west and ponds to the south
at Barr. The surviving 17th century farmhouse at Barr (SMR LB 40437) lies east of the lane, with
an early 18th century cottage west of the road (SMR LB 40438). But the 1790 map also marks
the site of the old barton well to the north, adjacent to the river: this site has probably been
affected by later river works, though it is possible that some archaeological remains may survive.
Upcott is not shown on the 1790 map, but here too Listed 17th century farmhouses (SMR LB
40467, 40470) are accompanied by an early 18th century dwelling, in this case a more substantial
45
country house, Upcott Hall (SMR LB 40469).
The areas shown are from the 1790, the 1802 and the 1843 maps. The site of the old barton is
approximate.
TAU/517 Rumwell
Rumwell was an agricultural hamlet on the Bishops estates. It probably existed as a settlement
by the early 13th century, when it was the head of a tithing (R. Bush, in litt., 1998). One
farmhouse of known medieval origin survives (SMR LB 40458), together with two others of at
least 17th century origin (SMR LB 40459, 40463). An 18th century or earlier inn (SMR LB
40457) was built on the turnpiked road rather than the lane winding past the earlier farms.
Though Rumwell Hall itself is a 19th century building (SMR LB 40462), it may have replaced an
earlier structure: the grounds are already visible on the 1802 map.
The areas shown are from the 1802 and 1843 maps.
TAU/534 Other settlement
Other pre-1800 farms and occupied plots included Long Run Farm, east of Roughmoor. Two
small plots actually in the parish of Bradford are also included.
(f) Mills
One mill at Bishops Hull is mentioned in the Domesday Survey (1086). By the post-medieval period there was a
string of them along the river.
TAU/531 Mills
The site of the mill referred to at Domesday is not known. Nor are the sites of the Bishops mills
(SMR 43370) referred to in medieval documents, which record both the construction of a second
(fulling) mill at Bishops Hull in the mid 13th century, and the destruction of the mill(s) during
the 14th century floods. It was not repaired for some years.
The closest of the Post-Medieval sites to Bishops Hull village is that containing Bridge House
(SMR 43371, SMR LB 40454), itself an old mill building. Two mills existed here in the Post-
Medieval period and it may, therefore, be that the site does indeed represent the earlier medieval
(and, perhaps, the pre-Conquest) milling site. The area between the known mills is therefore
marked on Map E1 as an area of potential interest.
Other mills (from west to east) include the following:
Fideoak Mill (SMR 43369), which was in existence by the turn of the 19th century, but may have
been much earlier. The site is in continued industrial use; some remains of the earlier milling
activity survive, though the leat off the Tone is partly filled in.
Longaller Mills (SMR 43363), which were in existence by 1719. They had a complex history,
functioning at times as flour mills, at other times as a clothing factory or flax processing plant (R.
Bush, in litt., 1998). Part of the 19th century mill building (SMR LB 44638) survives with the
machinery.
Greenbrook Mill, near Roughmoor, which is shown on the late 18th/ early 19th century map but
may be earlier.
Long Run Mill (SMR 43365), which is shown on the 1718 map of Roughmoor. This portrays a
mill, house and stables straddling a leat off the river, the early 18th century course of which is also
shown at this point. The mill leat formed an island in the river, which was occupied by a nursery
belonging to Roughmoor.
The mill and leat sites are from the 1718 and the 1802/1843 maps.
46
(g) Other industrial sites
TAU/535 Other industrial sites
Other industrial sites noted in Bishops Hull include a possible old brick making and/or clay
digging site at Barr (marked as Brick Orchard on the 1790 map: SMR 44623), and a smithy at
Upcott.
Both sites are from the 1790 map of Barr.
5.4.b Bradford
(Map E1)
Only the very easternmost corner of Bradford on Tone is included in the study area and this is considered with
Bishops Hull (above).
5.4.c Cheddon Fitzpaine
(Map E2)
Cheddon Fitzpaine, which occurs in the Domesday Survey as Opecedne (Upper Cheddon) and Cedne (Cheddon)
was part of the Taunton Deane estates before the Conquest, but was granted away after the Conquest. It was held
so long by knights service that in the end it became lay property and not subject to the Bishop in the way other parts
of the estate were (Savage, 1822). The area included in the study, which is only the southern part of the parish, also
includes Maidenbrook, which is mentioned as a separate landholding (Maidenbroche) in the Domesday Book.
Some of the area of modern Cheddon Fitzpaine was previously included in Taunton St James (see p52).
(a) Roads
The pre-1800 network of roads in Cheddon remains much as it was, except for a realignment at
Maidenbrook. The Cheddon Field Group has studied the trackways of the area, not all of which
are shown on Map E2 (Cheddon Field Group, 1992).
The roads shown are from the 1791 and 1802 maps.
(b) Burial sites and places of worship
TAU/443 St Marys Church, Cheddon Fitzpaine (SMR 43384)
Cheddon was not a dependent of the Priory and it is likely, therefore, that burials have been taking
place in the churchyard since the medieval or the pre-Conquest period. The Grade I Listed church
(SMR LB 40477) contains 13th to 16th century fabric, but was heavily restored in the 19th
century. The restored remains of a 14th century cross stand in the churchyard (SMR LB 40478).
From the 1802 OS drawings and the 1837 Tithe Map.
(c) Manors and estates
Hestercombe is excluded from the study. For information on Priors Wood (TAU/416), see p52.
(d) Settlement
The area covered by the report includes Cheddon Fitzpaine, Rowford, Maidenbrook and Nerrols Farm.
TAU/520 Cheddon Fitzpaine
The history of Cheddon village has not been studied for this report, but further historical research
would be of value in understanding its development. Its appearance on the early 19th century
maps is that of a partially depopulated row village. For that reason some areas are shown which
were not occupied at that date but may previously have been. This hypothesis requires to be
archaeologically - or otherwise - tested, however, since the Rectory glebe land may have
constrained building east of the road and south of the Church .
The north end of the village is dominated by the Old Rectory. The present building (SMR LB
47
40483) is of 19th century date, but it had at least one predecessor, shown on a 1783 map of
Warres estates. This map shows a complex of buildings with fishponds (SMR 43160) to the west
and orchards to the east. Whether any medieval remains can be expected on the site is not clear
without further research, but until proven otherwise it should be regarded as a possibility.
Elsewhere in the village there survive three or four 16th century or earlier buildings, including
Glebe Farm (SMR LB 40482) and Glebe Cottage (SMR LB 40481), which may be of medieval
origin, together with another farm and barn (SMR LB 40474).
From the 1802 and 1837 maps, except for the Rectory, which is from the 1783 map, and for the
more lightly shaded areas east of the road and south of the church, which are partly conjectural.
TAU/444 Possible SMV at Cheddon Corner (SMR 43394)
Cropmarks visible in fields south of Cheddon Corner may represent house platforms of a shrunken
settlement.
From the SMR.
TAU/307 Maidenbrook
There may have been continuous occupation at Maidenbrook from the Roman period onwards,
as excavations in 1990 ((McDonnell, 1990; Ferris, 1990; Ferris & Bevan, 1993) showed the
existence of a Roman farmstead or settlement to the south-east of the present farm (see p12).
There was certainly a separate landholding called Maidenbrook (or Maidenbroche) by 1086, for
it is recorded in the Domesday survey, and this remained a separate manor - a sub manor of
Cheddon - in the medieval period.
The post-Roman site has not been archaeologically identified, but may have been either on the site
of the present farm or immediately to the south, where traces of a moat system, reused as
fishponds (SMR 44012; McDonnell, 1990), are visible. Unfortunately work in progress at the
time of writing has revealed that archaeological deposits may have been destroyed in this area by
past stripping (R A Croft, pers. comm., October 1997). The present farmhouse (SMR LB 44636)
is mostly 17th century and later, though it contains a late 15th century fireplace. In the late post-
medieval period and 19th century there was a waterwheel on site (SMR 43393) fed by a leat and
header pond; it is possible that this may have replaced an earlier mill.
The farm area is mapped from the work of McDonnell (1990).
TAU/521 Other settlement in Cheddon
The southern part of Cheddon Fitzpaine also includes the hamlet of Rowford and Nerrols Farm,
together with a few other plots probably occupied before 1800. Rowford, one of the old ford
settlements of the area, contains a 17th century farmhouse (SMR LB 44637), but may also contain
the archaeological remains of much older occupation.
Nerrols Farm may have been associated with the manor of Maidenbrook. Bush (in litt., 1998)
suggests, on the basis of 17th century documentary evidence, that it may formerly have been
called Norrals, or Northwalls, a name of potential significance, given the farms position in
relation to both Maidenbrook and Priorswood. The farmhouse also dates from the 17th century,
but may be an adaptation of an earlier house (Williams, 1992). The possible site of another
building was discovered by fieldwalking to the west of the present farm (Cheddon Field Group,
1992).
48
(e) Mills
TAU/536 Mills in Cheddon
The southern part of Cheddon Fitzpaine was not a major milling area. However, the SMR records
an overshot waterwheel (SMR 43156) fed by a leat and culvert at Nerrols Farm.
From the SMR.
Not mapped The SMR also records the existence of a waterwheel (SMR 43393) at Maidenbrook Farm, within
the area indicated above.
(f) Other industrial sites
TAU/537 Other industrial sites
Also noted in Cheddon is the site of a smithy at Rowford.
5.4.d Kingston St Mary
(Map E5)
Only the very southernmost tip of Kingston St Mary is included in the study area and this is considered with Taunton
St James (p52).
5.4.e Norton Fitzwarren
(Map E3)
The area which became the parish of Norton Fitzwarren, that around the prehistoric hillfort and centre, was of
importance from an early period. The hillfort has been suggested as a possible location for the early Saxon fortified
site, the first Taunton referred to in Anglo-Saxon documents. In the medieval period, Norton was part of the
Bishops Outfaring, the estates not under his direct control, and was split into two manors; during the medieval and
post-medieval periods Norton itself became (or remained) an important settlement in its own right. Early 19th
century accounts state that it was formerly populous but now greatly reduced in the number of houses and
inhabitants (Savage, 1822). The part of the parish under consideration (the eastern part) also includes the large
hamlets of Langford and Fitzroy and the smaller ones of Ford, Fenhampton (or Venhampton) and Norton Rectory.
(a) Roads
There have been few changes to the pre-1800 network of roads in Norton Fitzwarren, with the
exception of the realignment of the Milverton road to bridge the railway.
(b) Military sites
TAU/107 Norton hillfort
It is possible that the hillfort at Norton Fitzwarren was reused by the Saxons under Ine during the
expansion of Wessex in the 8th century. Evidence for this consists mainly of folklore, in the form
of the legend of the dragon (the emblem of Wessex) which ravaged the area from Norton. No
archaeological evidence of Saxon occupation of the site has yet been forthcoming, but the
possibility can certainly not be ruled out.
For main entry, see p6, 48.
From the SMR.
TAU/308 Norton Fitzwarren Church (SMR 43396)
Norton Fitzwarren church was certainly in existence by 1219, but it may be of pre-Conquest
origin. Saxon masonry has been recorded in the church building, though it is not absolutely
49
certain that these fragments are original to the site. The Grade I Listed church (SMR LBM 40587)
also contains 13th century fabric, but parts of the church were virtually rebuilt in the 19th century.
Norton was not a dependent of the Priory and burials will therefore have been taking place in the
churchyard from at least the medieval period. The churchyard and the church interior may also
contain the remains of previous ecclesiastical structures.
The churchyard is mapped from the 1839 Tithe Map.
(d) Manors and estates
Collinson records that two manors existed in the medieval period, the larger (Norton Fitzwarren) eventually
swallowing the smaller (Norton-Veel). However, insufficient information was obtained during the writing of this
report to sort out the locations and relationships of the possible manor sites (see also below, p68.
TAU/436 Norton Court (SMR 44084)
The present Norton Court House (SMR LB 40594) is a late 16th or early 17th century house in
grounds reduced by the establishment of a brewery in the 19th century. The earlier history of the
Court site was not researched for this report, but from maps as late as 1839 it appears to have lain
within a much wider associated area which may have contained gardens and outbuildings, as well
as - potentially - the site(s) of an earlier house(s) in the medieval and post-medieval periods.
Much more historical - and archaeological - research will be needed for a reliable assessment of
this sites archaeological potential.
The areas shown are from the 1839 map and the SMR.
Not mapped Norton deer park:
A document of 1317 refers to a deer park at Norton Fitzwarren belonging to the Bishop of Exeter.
The location of this park is unknown: no signs of a park pale have been found.
(e) Settlement
TAU/522 Norton Fitzwarren
As mentioned above, Norton Fitzwarren, which is mentioned in Domesday (as Nortone), is
reputed once to have been a more populous settlement than it had become in the early 19th
century. Though the earliest available detailed map is from 1839 (the Tithe Map), this still shows
the traces of the more vigorous medieval and post-medieval market settlement, which was as large
as some of the smaller market towns of Somerset. Blocks of plots are set out north and south of
the road both east and west of the Court. In 1839 some were vacant and others fragmenting, but
it is likely that all were once occupied, perhaps intensively.
Extensive 19th and 20th century developments have taken place in Norton and, though the historic
core is still discernible, no buildings of known pre-1750 origin have survived in Listable
condition. It is possible that archaeological remains of medieval (or earlier?) settlement may
survive, however, particularly in the area east of the Court and north of the road, which has seen
less major development.
The areas marked are from the 1839 map.
TAU/523 Langford and Fitzroy
Langford is a large agricultural hamlet at a stream ford. It contains two Listed Buildings of known
medieval origin (SMR LB 40583, 40584), together with another - the Grade II* Listed Giffords
Farmhouse (SMR LB 40585) - which is regarded as a particularly fine survival of a 16th century
farmhouse. Langford has always been and remains slightly off the beaten track, and it is possible
that archaeological remains of medieval or earlier occupation may be as well preserved as some
of the standing buildings.
50
Few details of Fitzroy were obtained for this report. The 1839 map shows a complex of house,
gardens and farm buildings. The only Listed element of the settlement is of 19th century date,
however. (Fitzroy is not shown on Map E3)
The areas marked are from the 1839 map.
TAU/538 Other settlement in Norton
The several smaller settlements in the eastern part of Norton parish have not been studied in any
detail for this report. Some may be of early (medieval or earlier) origin, whilst others will be
relatively late. No Listed structures survive in any of the identified areas.
As well as roadside development on the major routes through the parish (at Cross Keys and Pen
Elm, for example), the mapped areas include: the hamlet of Fenhampton , mentioned in medieval
documents (Collinson, 1791), which now lies on the edge of Norton Camp and has virtually
disappeared; the complex of buildings associated with Norton Parsonage to the north-west of the
village itself; the hamlet of Ford, west of Norton village, mentioned as a separate landholding in
Domesday (Aeford). The 1839 map shows that at the latter the road, which widened considerably
at this point to accommodate the water, was flanked by farm buildings and possible mills (see
below).
The marked areas are from the 1802 and 1839 maps.
(f) Mills
TAU/526 Mills in Norton
Two mills on the Norton estates are recorded in the Domesday Survey, but their locations are not
known. One of the old mill sites in Norton may, however, be that directly to the south-west of the
Norton Court complex. No details of this site, which was still in operation in the 19th century,
have been obtained for this report. By 1839 there may also have been a mill on the farm north of
the road at Ford, where the stream has clearly been artificially channelled. The SMR also records
a post-medieval waterwheel (SMR 43404) at Ford Farm on the other side of the road (this has now
been removed to Combe Sydenham).
The sites marked are from the 1839 map and the SMR.
5.4.f Pitminster
(Map E7)
Only the northernmost part of Pitminster parish, covering Staplehay, Kibbear and Canonsgrove, has been included
in the survey. This area now lies largely within Trull parish, and parts of it did before the post-medieval period. The
area has therefore been considered together with Trull (see p54).
5.4.g Ruishton
(Map E8)
Only the very westernmost corner of Ruishton is included in the study area, and this is considered with West
Monkton (see p58).
5.4.h Staplegrove
(Map E4)
Staplegrove was one of the five hundreds of the manor of Taunton in the early 13th century, indicating a probable
early (pre-Conquest?) origin to the settlement after which it was named (Shorrocks, 1992), and was one of the
manors held directly by the Bishops in the medieval period. The southern part of the parish of Staplegrove is
included in the coverage area of this report.
(a) Roads
The network of pre-1800 roads is still largely in place in Staplegrove, with the only major
51
alteration being the creation of Silk Mills road at the western parish boundary.
TAU/435 Staplegrove Church (SMR 43567)
Staplegrove was a dependent chapel of the Priory, and the date at which it acquired burial rights
was therefore relatively late. Burials may, however, have been taking place from the late medieval
period and will have been doing so from the 16th century onwards. The Grade I Listed church
(SMR LB 40606) contains 12th or 13th century fabric but has been much altered since. The
churchyard contains a number of Listed Tombs, of which one (SMR LB 40607) is of 16th or 17th
century date. It may also contain in its south-west corner the remains of a structure interpreted
by Collinson as a small cell or oratory, associated with a Priory Grange, though Bush (in litt.,
1998) is sceptical about Collinsons interpretation.
The churchyard is from the 1837 map.
(c) Settlement
TAU/524 Staplegrove
Settlement in the part of the parish covered by this report was somewhat dispersed and it is
unlikely that a single site can be identified as a focus of early occupation. A mid 13th century
survey lists only six tenants. The available maps (which are not particularly early) show no
nucleated settlement around the church, but rather a small number of occupied plots
Some of the settlement shown may originally have been associated with the small Priory Grange
which Collinson (1791) states existed at Staplegrove, and which was succeeded by the Rectory.
In 1837 the new Rectory building (SMR LB 40605) lay directly to the north of the church but was
associated with a largish area of land: it is possible that the remains of earlier buildings and
garden features might lie within this area. Other plots, particularly that adjacent to the churchyard,
may have been infill onto the wasteland (lightly shaded on the map)which was still evident on the
early 19th century maps between the church and the road. Two Listed 17th century farmhouses
survive in this area (SMR LB 40600, 40616). Another cluster of settlement was evident by the
early 19th century at the turnpike junction, and this area contains a surviving 17th century house
(SMR LB 46185).
A small hamlet, Whitmore, existed to the east of Staplegrove and there were several large farms,
including Yallands, Fairwater and Staplegrove Farm. In the 18th or 19th century Fairwater, which
was of medieval origin (Bush, 1977), was rebuilt as a house (SMR LB 46182) on the edge of
town: it now forms part of Taunton School. Yallands too has been partly lost to development,
though the 16th century farmhouse (SMR LB 40624) survives. The old Staplegrove Farm was
a mill house (SMR LB 40622) by the early 19th century.
The areas shown are from the 1837 map.
(d) Mills
TAU/507 Staplegrove Mills
Staplegroves two streams lie at the western and eastern parish boundaries. The former drove two
mills in the late post-medieval period, both of which may be of early origin. Staplegrove Mills
(SMR 43568), was fed by a long leat from Kingston St Mary. Parts of the wheel bay were still
visible when the SMR entry was written (1989), though the wheel pit was filled in. Bush (in litt.,
1998) has traced the history of the other mills (SMR 44006, 44470), recently known as Silk Mills,
but formerly Backbridge Mills, back to the turn of the 16th century. At this date it was a fulling
mill, but in 1780 a newly built grist mill and malt mill on the same site are documented. The mill
was converted to a silk mill in 1802, but gutted by fire in 1833, and a factory was later built on
the site, which is now bisected by Silk Mills Road.
52
The SMR also marks a channelled mill stream on the eastern edge of the parish.
From the 1837 map.
Not mapped Collinson (1791) implies that there was another mill on the east side of the parish. The site of this
mill has not been located for this report.
5.4.i Taunton St James
(Map E5)
Part of the parish of Taunton St James, created out of Priory lands at the Dissolution, has already been covered with
the town centre. The remaining area includes Priors Wood, Obridge, Rowbarton, Lyngford and Pyrland. Part of
this area now lies within the modern parish of Cheddon Fitzpaine.
(a) Roads
Though some of the early routes survive, particularly in the western half of the area under the
consideration, others have been obscured or destroyed by the suburban road developments which
have taken place around Priorswood, Lyngford and Obridge. The Cheddon Field Group has
studied the trackways of the Priors Wood area, not all of which are shown on Map E5 (Cheddon
Field Group, 1992).
(b) Water
TAU/527 The River Tone
From the 17th century onwards the River Tone was subjected to various alterations because of the
Tone Navigation Scheme (which has not been studied in detail for this report: for historical
details see Haskell, 1994). Some of these were relatively minor, such as the creation of locks -
one near Obridge (SMR 44476) is mentioned as early as 1699. The intention in this area was to
clear away the Obridge Mills (see p53). Whilst this did not occur within the lifetime of the
scheme, the river channels and mill site shown on Map E5 at Obridge have since been
significantly altered.
The river course is from the 1840 map.
(c) Military sites
Not mapped Bush (1977; in litt., 1998) mentions archery butts in Greenway Road in the mid 16th century, but
the site is not known.
(d) Burial sites and places of worship
TAU/449 St Leonards Chapel
There was a dependent chapel at Pyrland in the medieval period. Though the site has not been
archaeologically established, Bush (in litt., 1998) has identified a possible site on Cheddon Road
from documentary evidence.
The site marked is from Bush (in litt., 1998).
(e) Manors and estates
TAU/416 Priorswood (SMR 44439)
The Priory held woodland north of the Tone as part of its estate. The Priorswood is referred to
in a number of documents of both the medieval and the post-medieval period, which show that it
was an important source of coppice and brushwood for the Priory.
The Cheddon Field Group has studied the extent of the wood (Cheddon Field Group, 1992), using
documentary evidence (including survivals of field names such as Great Woods and Little Woods
53
on the Tithe Maps and Apportionments) backed up by field survey. Their work suggests that
Priors Wood in one phase extended as far as the boundary of the Maidenbrook landholding to the
east, which takes it into the current parish of Cheddon Fitzpaine, for which the documentary
evidence of the woodland boundaries is less convincing than in Taunton St James (Cheddon Field
Group, 1992). Nevertheless, here boundary banks may still survive in some places (near Nerrols
Farm, for example: see also McDonnell, 1991a) now under threat from development: these banks
could even represent pre-Conquest land boundaries. In other places (including the northern
boundary of the wood), continuous lines of hedges may mark the boundary, whilst to the west the
Kingston Stream is the suggested extent.
Within the area of the wood lies the site of Priorswood Farmhouse, now obliterated. Savage
(1822) describes this as the Priory grange, and it probably served as a woodland management
centre.
The area of the wood is taken from the work of the Cheddon Field Group (1992), whilst the site
of Priorswood Farmhouse is from the 1802 and 1840 maps.
TAU/528 Pyrland Hall
The history of Pyrland has not been studied in any detail. Pyrland Hall (SMR LB 40495) is
described in the List as being built c1760; whether the emparked area (SMR 43821) shown on
Map E5 was established earlier than this has not been established for this report. If it was, then
the archaeological remains of earlier houses and landscape features may survive. If not, then the
remains of earlier occupation may still survive, closer to the site of Old Pyrland (see below). The
area has seen little very damaging development, having been preserved as a private school, and
features possibly of 18th and 19th century dates survive (SMR 43392, 43997).
The emparked area is from the SMR, whilst the site of the house is from the 1802 and 1840 maps.
The old line of both an east-west drive and a north-south avenue are also shown, from the 1802
map.
(f) Settlement
TAU/515 Settlement in Taunton St James
The early settlement foci in the area which became Taunton St James were at Rowbarton,
Obridge, Lyngford and Old Pyrland. Both Obridge and Pyrland were the heads of tithings by
1207 (R. Bush, in litt., 1998), but very few details of these settlements, which have been badly
affected by suburban developments have been obtained. Listed 17th century farmhouses survive
at Lyngford (SMR LB 46232), Wellsprings (SMR LB 46054), Old Pyrland (SMR LB 40494) and
Obridge (SMR 46113), the last two of which at least may be of medieval origin (Bush, 1977).
Though much else has been lost, archaeological survival of possible medieval or earlier remains
is a possibility on these and other sites in the parish. Further historical and archaeological
research would be needed to clarify the situation.
(g) Mills
TAU/429 Obridge (Lambrook) Mill (SMR 44478)
Mill weirs at Obridge (or Tobrigge) are referred to in medieval documents by at least the 15th
century (Hugo, 1860; Bush, 1977). The early 19th century maps show a complex of mill
buildings, ponds and leats, though the site had been purchased by the Tone Conservators in the
mid 18th century with the intention of demolishing it. The mill has now been destroyed though
it is possible that archaeological remains of the buildings and water system may still survive.
The marked site is from the 1802 and 1840 maps.
54
5.4.j Taunton St Mary
(Map E6)
Part of the parish of Taunton St Mary has already been covered as part of the town centre. The remaining part
includes Holway (which was also the head of one of the five hundreds of the manor in the early medieval period)
and Haydon.
(a) Roads
The pre-1800 road system in the south-east part of what was Taunton St Mary has been bisected
by the M5, which has caused local realignments. West of the motorway, 20th century suburbs
have obscured - but not destroyed - the old road lines.
From the 1802 map.
(b) Settlement
TAU/508 Holway and Haydon
Both Holway and Haydon consisted in the post-medieval period of a small core of one or two
farms, probably originating in the medieval period (Bush, 1977), with a string of smaller farms
and cottages strung out around a green to the north (shown more lightly shaded in each case). In
the 20th century suburban sprawl of Holway, it is hard to locate the original settlement, which was
probably in existence by the early 13th century (R. Bush, in litt., 1998). Though fragments of its
layout have survived, the surviving buildings are not of Listable quality.
Haydon has been much less damaged by later development and retains both its plan and several
Listed structures, including the 16th century Haydon Farmhouse (SMR LB 40829) and the 17th
century Haydon House and a contemporary brick outbuilding (SMR LB 40826, 40827).
Important archaeological remains of earlier structures may survive on this site.
Other settlement in the area includes two farm sites in the vicinity of Haydon which were
abandoned in the later 19th century (and may contain archaeological remains). Another
abandoned barton site (SMR 43674) to the south of Dowsland Farm (now demolished) was
identified during the M5 work.
The areas shown are mostly from the !802 and 1840 maps, with the abandoned site south of
Dowsland Farm being from the SMR.
5.4.k Trull (and Pitminster)
(Map E7)
The northernmost part of the 1839-42 parish of Pitminster, part of which was formerly within Trull, has been
included in this section. The relatively large area under consideration contains a network of hamlets and farms, with
a main settlement focus at Trull itself. Much of this area has been studied by C W Green (1993), whose work should
be consulted for further details.
(a) Roads
Much of the pre-1800 road network shown on Map E7 survives, though parts of it have been
realigned within the modern suburb of Comeytrowe and adjacent to the M5.
From the 1791 and 1802 maps, together with the 1805 parish map.
TAU/441 Trull Church and church properties (SMR 43696)
The recovery of evidence of pre-Conquest occupation in Trull village (see below) implies that an
55
early origin for the church is possible. Indeed it has been suggested that the roughly circular
boundary of the churchyard as it appears on the 1842 Tithe Map is its original form (Hallam,
1953) - the implication being a possible association with an earlier enclosure. Since the 1842 plot
between the church and the road was also church land, however, this may be a misleading
impression.
There is no evidence that burials were being carried out before the late medieval period. Trull was
a dependent of the Priory (and perhaps previously the minster) until the Dissolution. However,
it acquired burial rights in 1476 and was a parish church by the 1530s. The churchyard contains
a Listed 17th century tomb (SMR LB 40635) as well as a set of stocks. The Grade I Listed church
itself (SMR LB 40633) contains 13th century and later fabric. Trull possesses a series of
exceptional late medieval carved bench ends which are believed to be original to the building,
though not necessarily in their original locations (McDermott, 1994). In addition an unusually
early seating plan, dated 1569, forms part of a good collection of documentary sources for the
church.
The church owned the field which lay between Mill Lane and Wildoak Lane, and this was known
as Ladyland. On this land, adjacent to - or within - the churchyard, there also lay several other
church properties. Chantry Cottage (SMR LB 40652), to the north of the churchyard, may have
been a medieval priests house (Green, 1993). To the south of this lay a row of buildings which
may have included a tithe barn, church house and stables. This was converted into a school in the
18th century and subsequently demolished when the churchyard was enlarged and the new school
built on the other side of the road. An almshouse was also established in 1623, to the east of the
churchyard; this was removed in 1904.
Remains of not only early medieval (or Saxon) church buildings, but also the ancillary structures
shown on historic maps, may survive in Trull churchyard. Together with the hints of an early
origin to the site, they make it an area of great potential archaeological interest.
(c) Manors and estates
TAU/439 Poundisford Park (SMR 43503)
Poundisford Park lies at the very edge of the area covered by this report and has not been studied
in any detail. The SMR contains more information on the Park itself and on the house and other
features (eg SMR 43506, 43507), including some possible evidence of pre-enclosure occupation
found during the construction of the M5 through the park (eg SMR 43491, 43493, 43494; cf
TAU/111, p8, p12).
The Park was part of the Bishop of Winchesters estate and may have been established by the 12th
century, or even earlier: Vivian-Neal and Gray (1941) suggest that it had a Saxon predecessor.
There are medieval references to both deer and wolves in the park (Bush, 1977). From the early
16th century onwards it was leased for agriculture. The pale (SMR 43502), which is probably
from the first half of the 13th century, has a circuit of over three miles, and survives well in places.
Poundisford Park is included on the Parks and Gardens Register (Grade II), and most of the pale
is Scheduled (SM Som 430).
From the SMR.
TAU/513 Batts
Batts probably existed by the mid 13th century (Green, 1993; Bush, 1977, in litt., 1998), first as
a farm and then as a substantial residence. In the 19th century the attached estate included Trull
Mill and Haygrove Farm (see below) as well as the main house and park. Batts briefly became
a school in the 19th century, but this closed late in that century. The house burnt down in 1937;
56
the site became a military camp, and has subsequently been redeveloped. However, it is possible
that partial remains of the medieval and later farm and house complexes may still survive in
places.
(d) Settlement
(i) Trull
Trull has a dual settlement focus, one around the church and another around the green and Buces (later Trull) Farm.
TAU/309 Possible Pre-Conquest settlement at Trull
The eastern settlement nucleus, by Trull Church, is likely to have been early. 10th century and
later potsherds have been recovered on a site not far west of the church (Newson, 1978: SMR
44624). No structural remains have yet been found, and the extent of the early settlement, which
may have been very limited, has not been established.
The area shown is highly conjectural, based on the position of the church and the approximate
position of the potsherds.
TAU/511 Trull and Eastbrook (pre-1800 settlement)
By the end of the post-medieval period Trull was a straggling settlement, stretching from Buces
(Trull Green) Farm in the west down past the church and over the stream into Eastbrook. The
Buces Farm focus consisted of the main farm together with further settlement around a green
(shown more lightly shaded), which was already being infilled by 1805. Several Listed Buildings
survive around the green, including part of a late medieval farmhouse (SMR LB 40649; Green,
1993), the 16th century (or earlier) Buces Farm and a later, 17th century, cider house (SMR LB
40646, 40647) and Kings Gatchell (SMR LB 40650), described in the List as 16th century and
by Green as a converted medieval hall house (Green, 1993). These show that the settlement area
was becoming established by the late medieval/ early post-medieval period and it may be that
remains of earlier buildings survive on some of the sites, particularly Trull Green (Buces) Farm.
Farms and cottages also flanked Church Road. Of these, Haygrove Farm (SMR LB 41015),
known as Batts Farm in the 19th century, when it formed part of the Batts estate) and Eastbrook
House (previously also a farm) may be of medieval origin (Green, 1993). Other sites may also
have been occupied in the medieval period.
Apart from the buildings studies by Green (1993), little archaeological information is available
on Trull. However, there is enough to make it clear that some sites in the village may be of
considerable interest and potential.
From the 1805, 1810 and 1842 maps.
(ii) Other areas
TAU/512 Dipford, Chilliswood and Comeytrowe
Dipford, Chilliswood and both Higher and Lower Comeytrowe may all contain elements of
medieval origin. Most of the sites have not been heavily disturbed by later development, though
Lower Comeytrowe is now part of the suburbs of Taunton. Several Listed farmhouses survive,
attributed in the List to the 16th and 17th centuries but possibly earlier, and important
archaeological remains of medieval - or possibly earlier - occupation may exist on some of the
sites.
At Dipford, which was probably settled by the early 13th century since it was the centre of a
tithing (R. Bush, in litt., 1998), surviving buildings include Dipford Farm (SMR LB 40641).
Here, ownership has been traced back to at least the 16th century and the farmhouse may be a
converted medieval hall house (Green, 1993); Higher Dipford Farm (SMR LB 40643), also
57
possibly medieval; Boxenhedge (SMR LB 40640), at least 16th century (Green, 1993); and the
17th century Greenacres (SMR LB 40642).
Parts of the present Chilliswood Farmhouse (SMR LB 40631) date from the 16th and 17th
centuries, but the history of the site has been in part traced back to the early 14th century (Green,
1993). An even earlier (mid 13th century) document notes the name of an inhabitant of
Chillewardeford, which is probably Chilliswood (R. Bush, in litt., 1998).
Higher Comeytrowe Farmhouse (SMR LB 40630) is of at least 17th century origin and, though
there are no Listed Buildings of known pre-1750 origin in Lower Comeytrowe it is likely that this
too was a medieval farmstead or agricultural hamlet. The mid 13th century document referred to
above also notes the name of one Randulph de Comertroue (R. Bush, in litt., 1998).
The areas shown are mostly from the 1805 map.
TAU/514 Kibbear, Amberd, Staplehay, Sweethay and Canonsgrove
A document of the mid 13th century refers to inhabitants of Kibbear, Sweethay and Canonsgrove
(R. Bush, in litt., 1998) and this area also contains a large number of farm sites of possible
medieval origin. At Kibbear, these include the site of Kibbear Cottages (SMR LB 41009),
remnants of a late medieval or 16th century hall house (Green, 1993), whilst the surviving Kibbear
Farmhouse (SMR LB 41010) is 17th century.
Amberd may have existed by the 13th century, though the name in its present form has not been
recorded before 1735 (R. Bush, in litt., 1998). The main house is 19th century , but the site
contains 18th century landscape features and buildings including a haha and very unusual barn
(SMR LB 40987). However, Amberd Farm (SMR LB 40986), across the road from the 18th
century site, is of medieval origin; Green (1993) suggests that it may have been a longhouse, thus
extending further to the west. Whether Amberd Farm was the original site or a supplementary site
remains to be established archaeologically.
The group of farms constituting Staplehay includes sites of 16th/17th century - or earlier - origin,
such as that of Spearcey Farm (SMR LB 41045). The SMR records a further abandoned barton
(SMR 43522) to the south of Spearcey. Both Sweethay and Canonsgrove may include areas
occupied in the medieval period. Green suggests that Lower Sweethay was the earliest site there,
though Middle Sweethay Farmhouse (SMR LB 41047) is of 16th century or earlier origin. Higher
Sweethay (Sweethay Court) may also be 16th century or earlier (Green, 1993); the SMR also
notes the site of a post-medieval horse gin for pressing cider (SMR 43701). Excavations at
Canonsgrove in 1971-72 in advance of motorway construction found medieval or post-medieval
walls, metallings and a trackway in the south part of the farm (SMR 43511), as well as a heavy
scatter of post-medieval rubbish to the south (SMR 43499).
Most of the marked areas are from the 1805 Trull map or the 1810 Pitminster map, with
additional information from the SMR.
(e) Mills
TAU/539 Haygrove (Trull) Mill
A 1207 reference to Trendle Mill may refer to Trull Mill, though the boundaries later changed and
the mill was in Pitminster for much of the post-medieval period. This mill belonged to the Batts
estate in the 19th century, and operated until the mid 20th century, latterly as part of Haygrove
Farm (Green, 1993).
From the 1810 map.
(f) Other industrial sites
Not mapped The SMR notes a field named Kiln Close near Canonsgrove. Though no sign of a kiln was found
58
in the M5 excavations, one may yet be found (SMR 43511).
5.4.l West Monkton and Ruishton
(Map E8)
West Monkton, or Monechetone as it appears in the Domesday Survey, did not belong to the Bishop of Winchester,
but was part of Glastonbury Abbeys estates. In fact, it was one of the Abbeys earliest endowments, being held from
the 7th or 8th century, throughout the medieval period and until it was privately purchased in the 17th century.
Only the southern part of West Monkton parish (excluding the village of West Monkton itself) and the very
westernmost corner of Ruishton are considered in this report. This area includes Bathpool, Monkton Heathfield and
Sidbrook, as well as the farms around Hyde and Hankridge.
(a) Communications
(i) Roads
South of the river the pre-1800 road system has been greatly altered by 20th century suburban and
motorway access routes, though this is not so on the north side of the river, where the pre-1800
road network largely survives.
From the 1791-1839 maps
(ii) Bridges
TAU/448 Bathpool Bridges
There were two bridging points at Bathpool, one across the mill run and one across the river
meander to the north. The former was the narrower crossing until the making of the New Cut in
the 19th century, at which time the bridge was rebuilt. Collinson refers to a stone bridge of two
arches at Bathpool, though it is not absolutely clear which crossing is referred to.
(iii) Harbour and quays
TAU/440 Medieval quays at Bathpool
There are 14th century records of trade goods - including raw materials, such as stone for Taunton
Castle and food - being landed at Bathpool in the 14th century. There is no archaeological
evidence of the location of the quays, and little enough is known about changes to the river in the
area. However, it is possible that the landing area may have been either just east of Bathpool
Bridge, or close to the other river crossing to the north-west, where an enclosure plan of c1830
shows a widening of the river. Archaeological survival is unknown.
The area shown is conjectural, based on the c1830 and 1837 maps.
(b) Water
TAU/527 The river
The course(s) of the River Tone at Bathpool were complex and the changes which took place in
the medieval and post-medieval periods are not well understood. A better understanding of the
history of the river - and the mill leats - in this area would be useful for distinguishing, for
example, possible quay areas.
The river lines (and leats) shown on Map E8 are from the 1839 Tithe Map and the 1889 map.
TAU/504 Quaker burial ground
Before a burial ground was established behind the Meeting House in the town (p33), the Quakers
had a burial site near Halcon Corner. This was in use by the mid 17th century and was still in use
59
in 1822 (according to Savage), though it later went out of use.
The burial ground is from the 1791 area map.
(d) Settlement
TAU/525 Bathpool
There were two foci of settlement at Bathpool, one around Bathpool Bridge and the mills, the
other along the road to the north. Both consisted of a straggle of farms, cottages and inns. The
mill settlement, which is marked on both the 1791 and the 1802 maps as the main hamlet, may
once have been larger: evidence of occupation on sites not in use in the late post-medieval period
was found during road developments (see below). There are no Listed buildings of earlier than
19th century date; the site has been badly affected by late 20th century developments, and much
of the archaeological evidence may now have been destroyed.
The settlement which straggled along the road to the north was already in existence by 1802,
though it subsequently became a canalside settlement and was the more important of the two foci
by the later 19th century. There are no Listed Buildings, though archaeological survival may be
better than to the south.
TAU/101 Medieval occupation at Bathpool (SMR 43079)
On a site which also produced evidence of prehistoric occupation (see p8), an area of settlement
enclosed by a bank and a ditch was excavated in advance of road developments in the 1970s
(Bolton, 1972a). The ditch was up to 2 metres wide and 1.5 metres deep, and contained a number
of interior structures. These included internal ditches and at least five phases of timber buildings.
One of the latter, which was at least 20 metres by 25 metres in extent, was probably an aisled
building, with internal partitions indicated by a series of stakeholes. The earliest of these features
may have been 12th century or earlier.
A later (probably 14th century) medieval circular structure, interpreted as a limekiln, was also
found on the site, as was late medieval pottery (15th and early 16th century). In the post-medieval
period a series of large pits of uncertain significance was dug through earlier features.
From the SMR.
TAU/530 Monkton Heathfield and Sidbrook
By the end of the post-medieval period Monkton Heathfield and Sidbrook still consisted of a small
number of farms concentrated around the Heath itself (shown more lightly shaded), which was
enclosed in 1812 (R. Bush, in litt., 1998), and the surrounding lanes. Archaeological remains
may survive of some of these on the fringes of existing suburban development; one Listed
Building of known post-medieval origin (SMR LB 40662) survives north of Sidbrook.
TAU/529 Farms in the south part of West Monkton (and Ruishton)
Set back from the main roads through the south of the parish were a number of farms. South of
the river, these have been badly affected by road and retail developments. It was the which latter
prompted archaeological work at Hankridge in the early 1990s (Wessex Archaeology, 1995a).
The surviving farm building (SMR LB 40656) may be 16th/17th century in origin, or perhaps late
medieval. However, earlier (12th century) farm buildings were located in 1992 to the south-east
of the existing farm. At Rexhill (Hyde), farm buildings of the 16th and early 18th century also
survive (SMR LB 40665, 40666).
Most of the areas shown are from the 1802 and 1837 maps. The earlier Medieval farm at
60
Hankridge is from the Wessex Archaeology Report (1992).
(e) Mills
TAU/442 Bathpool Mills
Bathpool Mills (SMR 43084) were probably descendants of the medieval mills, owned by the
Abbots of Glastonbury, which are referred to in several documents because of the obstruction to
navigation they (and other mills downstream) caused (Bruce Watkin, in litt., 1993; Haskell, 1994;
Hugo, 1860, p48f). The exact site of the medieval mills has not been located, but it may have
been very close to the later, post-medieval, mills. The latter were burned down in 1812 and their
replacements also burned in 1915 (see Haskell, 1994). The mills were not rebuilt. The site has
subsequently been affected by the construction of the railway and of new river cuts, but it is still
possible that archaeological remains of successive mill buildings or water systems may survive
in places.
The area marked includes a complex of ponds, leats, together with known and possible mill sites.
It is based on the 1839 Tithe Map.
5.4.m Wilton
(Map E9)
Part of the parish of Wilton has already been covered as part of the town centre. The remainder includes part of
Wilton itself, Galmington, Musgrove and Sherford.
(a) Roads
Much of the pre-1800 road network of Wilton survives, obscured in 19th and 20th century
suburbs. However, the old main route which passed to the north of Galmington, via a ford to the
east (and is marked on the 19th century OS maps as a Roman road), is no longer in use and has
virtually disappeared.
(b) Water
For the Stockwell Stream (TAU/408), see p22.
For St Georges Church (TAU/305), see p32.
(d) Settlement
For Wilton see TAU/312 (p39) and TAU/420 (p39).
TAU/519 Galmington
Galmington may have originated before the Conquest, and had a tithing named after it by 1207
(R. Bush, in litt., 1998). It remained a small nucleus of farms and cottages until it was swallowed
by 20th century suburbs. At least one structure of medieval origin survives (SMR LB 46015),
together with another of post-medieval origin (SMR LB 46016).
The areas shown are from the 1840 map.
TAU/540 Other settlement in Wilton
Wilton parish included no other settlement nuclei, but there were a number of substantial farms,
some of which survive. Amongst those which do not is Musgrove Farm, though the 17th century
(or earlier) farmhouse (SMR LB 45900) still stands. Other sites became more substantial
residences in the post-medieval period. Sherford House (SMR LB 46136), for example, is dated
1679. At Fullands (see Bush, 1985), medieval documents refer only to the creation of fields,
61
though Bush suspects the existence of a house before the documented mid 17th century one. This
was one of the largest near Taunton at the time, and had by the 18th century a range of
outbuildings and gardens and an adjacent malthouse. The house was rebuilt in the early 19th
century, was briefly an asylum in the 19th century and a school from 1839. It was renowned for
its cricket pitch, which lay to the north of the house and housed Somerset County Cricket Club
at first. The school closed in 1887.
6. INDUSTRIAL (LATE 18TH AND 19TH CENTURY)
(Maps F and G)
Only certain aspects of Tauntons late 18th and 19th century heritage has been archaeologically investigated, and
these have mainly been industrial in character. Individual studies have been carried out on, for example, the Taunton
brickyards (Murless, 1977, 1981) or the Canals (Hadfield, 1967; Harris, 1973; Haskell, 1994) and these have in turn
prompted excavations when such sites are threatened by development.
6.2 Context
The late 18th and 19th centuries saw some changes to the urban pattern, with the beginning of the emergence of
larger centres (often at the expense of smaller ones), linked by vastly improved communication lines (turnpikes,
railways and canals). Somerset was not characterised by the kind of large scale industrialisation and urbanisation
seen in other counties - indeed, the virtual collapse of its most important industry, which was cloth, affected nearly
all of the medieval and post-medieval towns - but some did take place. The changes were reflected in a series of
alterations to town governance, which left the county with a total of only fifteen Municipal Boroughs and Urban
Districts by the end of the 19th century.
Taunton was one of the thirteen existing boroughs and towns which were either Municipal Boroughs or Urban
Districts at the end of the 19th century. These varied in character. Taunton was one of eight of the 45 towns (all
eight of which were either Municipal Boroughs or Urban Districts) which were connected to both rail and canal
networks during the 19th century. In all these cases, industrial activity was encouraged, and Taunton is one of the
towns noted for its 19th century industrial remains. It is also one of seven of the 45 towns at which there was large-
scale expansion in the 19th century.
A great many Listed Building of late 18th or 19th century origin survive in and around Taunton - but particularly
in the town centre, where there are particularly fine examples of Hammets work. However, there are far too many
buildings to mention individually here: for full details the List should be consulted.
The Listed Buildings of late 18th and 19th century origin in the central area are shown on Map F. The outlying
buildings are not shown on Map G for the sake of clarity.
6.4 Archaeological components (centre), shown on Map F
Plan components discussed under earlier periods are shown more lightly shaded. Whilst much of Taunton town
centre retained its medieval shape, encroachment onto the historic town plan began in the 19th century. This was
particularly the case in the old Priory area, but it also occurred in the south-east corner of town (with the
establishment of Billet Fields and Billet Street), and at (and to the west of) the Castle. A number of components have
therefore been defined across areas formerly occupied.
(a) Roads and streets
TAU/606 19th century roads and turnpikes
The Taunton turnpikes were amongst the earliest in Somerset. They mostly used existing roads,
though obstructions in the town centre (particularly in the market place) had to be cleared away.
62
In the central area there were turnpike houses at the junction of Staplegrove Road and Station
Road (earlier at Chip Lane: SMR 44377), Shuttern, Spittle (St Margarets Hospital), and Silver
Street (which had been earlier at Holway Lane). In 1851 the borough gates were moved further
out to Wild Oak Lane, Halcon Corner, Stoke Lane and Cross Keys and a new gate was established
at Wheatleigh Cross, Trull Road (the later gates are not shown). For more information on the
turnpikes, see Bentley & Murless (1985) and Bush (1983).
As well as the turnpike programme, several important new roads were constructed in the 19th
century. In the town centre these included Hammet Street (1788), the Crescent (1807), Billet
Street and Billet Fields (1847), Park Street (1848) and Corporation Street (1894). In addition,
networks of suburban streets began to be constructed in, for example, the St Augustines area, and
the Groves, or behind East Reach. The more important of these roads and streets are shown on
Map F.
Turnpike information is from Bentley & Murless, 1985. The Holway Lane gate is from the 1802
map; the Silver Street gate is from the 1821 map; the Spittle and Shuttern gates are from the 1840
map; the Chip Lane gate is from the SMR.
Other 19th century roads are from the 1840 Tithe Maps and the 1888-90 OS maps.
(b) Railways
TAU/615 Railways
For main entry, see p67. The Bristol & Exeter main line station and railway yard area is shown
on Map F.
(c) Canals
TAU/601 The Bridgwater and Taunton Canal (SMR 43826)
An Act authorising the construction of a canal between the Grand Western Canal (west of
Taunton) and Bristol was passed in 1811. The construction of the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal
began in 1822 and it was opened from Taunton to Huntworth (south of Bridgwater) in 1827. At
Taunton the canal connected to the River Tone at Firepool, where there was a wharf (see
TAU/605, below). The wharf also served traffic from the Chard Canal which connected with the
Bridgwater Canal at Creech (outside the study area for this report).
The Canal Company acquired control of the River Tone in Taunton town centre from the Tone
Conservators, and by 1834 constructed a short extension canal (SMR 44374) to bypass French
Weir, where the Grand Western Canal was originally intended to terminate. This stretch of canal
has been filled in, though its course can still be seen, as can part of a bridge which crossed it. In
the event, the major junction of the two canals was built at Firepool by 1838.
The Canal was bought by the Great Western Railway in 1866, and fell into disuse by the early
20th century, though it has now been restored.
The SMR contains a number of records relating to Canal features in the Taunton area, including
swing bridges (SMR 43085, 43154) and milestones (SMR 43834, 43993). However, for a full,
detailed study of the Canal, the work of Haskell (1994) should be consulted.
The line of the Canal is from the several Tithe Maps of the late 1830s and early 1840s, with
additional information from the SMR.
TAU/603 The Grand Western Canal (SMR 44126)
The Grand Western Canal has been the subject of considerable study and a number of publications
are available which give more detail than can be included here (see Hadfield, 1967; Harris, 1973).
The Canal was intended to form part of a link between Bristol and Exmouth. Its construction was
fraught with difficulties and though the route was first surveyed in 1794, it was not until 1838 that
63
the canal between Taunton and Tiverton was finally open: no more of the proposed route was
built.
Specific Canal features of interest recorded in the SMR include the Silk Mills Canal Bridge (SMR
44131) and aqueduct (SMR 44132). The nearby lift at Norton (SMR 44133) was one of the two
Canal lifts which fall within the study area, the other (SMR 44129) being in Taunton near the
Canal junction. The regulating lock (SMR 44128), which regulated the water levels at the canals
junction (SMR 44127) with the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal, also lay on the Grand Western,
about 65 metres west of the canal junction.
The arrival of the railways made the canal unviable and it was first leased and later sold to the
Bristol and Exeter Railway. The Taunton to Lowdells section of the Canal, which carried tub
boats only, was closed in 1867. Parts of the Canal route, including the aqueduct (SMR 44130)
across Station Road were subsequently reused for the railway and very little now remains of the
route in Taunton itself. However, in other places, significant earthworks survive.
The line of the Canal is from the Tithe Maps and the 1880s OS 1:2500, with additional
information from the SMR.
TAU/605 Firepool Wharf
Firepool Wharf took traffic from three canals, the Bridgwater & Taunton (TAU/601), the Grand
Western (TAU/603) and the Chard Canal (not covered by this report). The wharf was primarily
for coal traffic.
The wharf north of the Canals contained two limekilns which were later integrated into a pumping
station (SMR 44376; SMR LB 44628) to provide water to the railway station after the Canals
transfer of ownership to the Railway. The pumping station initially used a hot air engine but was
rebuilt to include a steam engine in the late 19th century; the remains of the lime kilns survived
to form the base of the structure. The building went out of use in the 1960s.
On the west side of Firepool Lock was a further complex of buildings including an inn.
From the 1840 Tithe Map, the 1888 OS 1:500 and the SMR.
6.4.c Military sites
TAU/609 Jellalabad Barracks (SMR 44458)
The barracks on the Mount is not shown on the 1791 town map, but was built shortly after that
date, in 17965/6, to house a cavalry regiment (R. Bush, in litt., 1998). Until the mid 19th century,
there was one major block in the yard, though some of the accompanying buildings (such as the
Listed house, SMR LB 46088) to west and south were already in existence. Work on the site in
advance of redevelopment (SMR 44455; Wessex Archaeology, 1994/38257; Graham, 1995;
Bellamy, 1996) appeared to show that this barracks complex represented the first building
development on this site, although this cannot be stated with confidence since extensive terracing
clearly took place in preparation for its construction.
Between 1879 and 1881 a more elaborate complex of buildings was created, and the newly named
Jellalabad Barracks opened in 1881 (R. Bush, in litt., 1998). Some of the late 19th century
buildings were demolished in the 1990s; other elements, such as the gatehouse (SMR LB 46243),
survive and some have been converted into apartments.
The area shown is from the 1890 map and the SMR.
TAU/614 Wilton Gaol
Wilton Gaol opened in 1754, and was enlarged in 1815 and then again in 1843, when it became
the county gaol. When the prison at Shepton superseded it in 1884 Wilton Gaol closed. Felons
64
(quicklime) burials are recorded as taking place within the prison as late as 1883 (R. Bush, in litt.,
1998).
6.4.d Burial sites, religious houses and places of worship
TAU/612 Municipal cemeteries
The Staplegrove Road cemetery was established for Taunton St James in 1877.
TAU/619 Churches and Chapels
A number of churches and chapels were established in the town centre in the late 18th and 19th
century. Those shown on the Maps include: Holy Trinity (SMR LB 46196), 1842; Victoria
Methodist Chapel, 1843; St Georges RC Church (SMR LB 45911, 45912), established in 1861;
St John the Baptist (SMR LB 46125) in 1863
In addition, the churchyards of most of the existing churches were extended in the 19th century.
From the 19th century maps.
Not mapped Other chapels not shown separately (falling within areas of medieval and post-medieval
occupation) include the Methodists Octagon Chapel, established 1776 (SMR LB 46072); the
other Methodist Chapel on Upper High Street (SMR LB 46214), 1808 and later; Silver Street
Baptists (SMR LB 46146), 1814; North Street Congregational (SMR LB 46107), 1844; and
Albemarle Street Baptists, 1875. At least one of these (Upper High Street Methodists) had a small
burial ground, which if located would be of archaeological interest. The Crescent contained the
Catholic Church, established in 1821, which was superseded by St Georges and is now the
Masonic Hall (SMR LB 45955).
TAU/611 The South Road Convent
Part of the St Josephs Convent was built as a hospital in 1772 (this was never completed due to
lack of money). Franciscan nuns from Bruges acquired it in 1807 and the buildings were
subsequently extended several times. The main building survives (SMR LB 46157).
From Woods 1840 map.
Not mapped Another convent occupied St Pauls House from 1867. Tower Street was narrower until 1929 and
the site partly lay under what is now road.
6.4.e Settlement (Urban)
(a) Commercial core
TAU/617 Developments in the town centre
Most developments in the previously occupied areas of the town centre took place piecemeal and
have not been individually recorded for this study, though the number of Listed late 18th and 19th
century buildings in that area indicates the extent of such development. Some areas, however, saw
wholesale redevelopment, or new development. Those shown on Map F include Hammet Street
and the Crescent, Grade II* Listed terraces of, respectively, the late 18th century (SMR LB 46031,
46032, 46033) and the early 19th century (SMR LB 45953, 45954, 45955). There was also new
building at Billet Fields and around St Georges Church, across the Hurleditch, just as commercial
buildings spread across the Castle, moat and marsh to the west. In the 19th century Shuttern came
to hold both the new Shire Hall (SMR LB 46137), opened in 1858 on the site of the Grove, and
the expanded Wilton Gaol (see also above).
65
(b) Suburbs
TAU/602 General suburban development
Map F shows the pattern of general suburban and other residential development in the town centre
in the late 18th and 19th century. Some, as in the St Augustines and Trinity areas and around the
station, was workers housing. Trinity also contained the Union Workhouse from 1837. Other
areas, such as those off Staplegrove Road, contained more gracious housing. The suburbs were
relatively late and were only partially completed by the time of the OS 2nd edition (c1904). Many
buildings survive, of which a (relatively small) proportion is Listed (for details, see the Buildings
List).
TAU/604 Suburbs (open areas)
Tauntons suburbs still encompassed a number of large open areas at the beginning of the 19th
century, though these were already becoming built over by the end of the century. Vivary Park,
laid out in 1894, the County Cricket Ground and both Union Gate and French Weir Recreation
Grounds have survived. However, the South Road racecourse later became the site of Kings
College; and the 18th/early 19th century landscaped gardens at Flook House, Yarde House,
Belmont House (Wilton) and St Pauls have all been built over, as have a number of nurseries
which existed around the margins of the early 19th century town.
6.4.f Settlement (Rural): Farms
TAU/623 19th century farms
Close to the town centre, two farms - Lambrook Farm and Moor Farm - were established in the
19th century. Neither has survived 20th century development.
(a) Mills
TAU/607 Town Mills (SMR 44392)
The Town Mills utilised the medieval mill stream and may have been on the site of earlier mills
(see p40). However, excavations on the site in 1967 revealed that the 19th century Mills had been
constructed on an extensive made up layer of industrial refuse representing either original
reclamation from the river (Langmaid, 1968) or extensive remodelling of an existing site. No
evidence of medieval or earlier mills was seen.
The 19th century mill site contained a complex of buildings including not only the mill itself but
also a brewery. They remained in operation throughout the 19th century but were demolished in
1956.
TAU/610 Brickyards
The brickyards of Taunton have been studied by Murless (1977, 1981), whose work should be
consulted for further details. Not all the sites mentioned by him could be positively identified on
the map for this report.
Both documentary and cartographic evidence shows that there was a small brick yard in South
Road by 1791 (SMR 44475; Murless, 1981). It was sold in 1812-3 and the papers describe a
newly erected kiln, two tenements, a coal house and two linhays. The yard expanded in the 19th
century and was noted for the quality of its output (Murless, 1977). Structures are shown on the
66
earlier 19th century maps: they had been demolished by the later 19th century (by which time the
Convent had purchased the field to stop the industrial working), though the clay pit was still open
in the early 20th century. In 1977 evidence of the kiln and brickyard waste was recorded in a
survey and trial excavation (Murless, 1977, 1981) on South Road.
Another brickyard, which also included a rope walk, existed on South Street, backing onto the
South Road site. This is documented in the mid to late 19th century and shown on the 1880s
maps. It was closed in the late 19th century and subsequently used for landfill.
A disused brickyard north of the Canal at Frieze Hill is shown on the 1890 map.
From the SMR and from the 1880s maps.
Not mapped Murless (1981) refers to further brickyards at the Mount (at least by 1779, but possibly earlier),
on an unknown site near the eventual site of the Convent; at the east end of East Reach; and at
Frieze Hill, a second documented brickyard. These sites have not been identified for this report.
There may also have been another brick yard in South Road adjacent to the one marked (in the
field to the south), though this is not certain.
TAU/618 Other industry
There was a concentration of industrial sites along the river in Taunton town centre. Just
downstream of Tone Bridge were the Coal Orchard and North Town Wharves. By the former was
a brewery on the site of which the Brewhouse Theatre (which incorporates the brewers house)
now stands. On the opposite bank stood North Town Mill. Upstream of the bridge, on the north
bank were the Wood Street saw mills, timber yards, stone works, and silk factory, as well as the
Tone Bridge Foundry. On the south bank, at Tangier, was a complex of industrial installations
including the Gas Works, malthouses and foundries.
There were further industrial areas on the northern and eastern margins of the 19th century town.
In the Tancred Street area stood Coxs foundry, established in 1810 (and subsequently relocated
to Tangier), and a silk factory, as well as a pottery (noted by Murless, 1981) and two tanneries not
shown on Maps F and G (see Murless, 1985). The latter were within the previously occupied area
(and in the area evaluated in 1987-8: see SMR 44445, and Collard, 1987a,b). In South Street
were the shirt and collar works and South Street gas works. North of the river were the Augustine
Street clothing factory, the Whitehall Iron Works, an engineering works by the railway and a
malthouse.
None of these sites has been studied in any detail for this report - and the SIAS Gazetteer (Warren,
1996) includes details of small sites which could not be included at all - but all where standing or
underground remains survive are of potential archaeological interest.
TAU/608 Sewage works
East of the town a large sewage works was established in the later 19th century, whilst to its west
was a small manure works.
From the 1880s and 1905 maps.
TAU/620 Quarries
A few small quarries are marked around the fringes of the town on the 19th century maps.
From the 1880s and 1905 maps.
67
6.5 Archaeological components (outlying area), shown on Map G
Components described under earlier periods are shown more lightly shaded. In the outlying area few components
have been redefined for the 19th century: most redevelopment was small scale and low key.
TAU/606 19th century roads and turnpikes
The routes of the turnpikes are shown, but these mainly used existing roads. There were few new
roads built in the 19th century in the area around Taunton, the major exception being Wellington
New Road, opened in 1838, which bypassed both Galmington and Bishops Hull. There were also
a few realignments where roads met railway or canal - west of Norton Fitzwarren, for example.
From the Tithe Maps and the 1880s OS maps.
(b) Railways
TAU/615 Bristol & Exeter Railway
The Bristol & Exeter Railway, later the Great Western, from London reached Taunton in 1842,
and a large station and yard area was established north of the town. This included not only the
station itself, of which the southern range is Listed (SMR LB 46189), but also the Great Western
Hotel (SMR LB 46188) and an inn (SMR LB 46187). After the Railway Companys purchase of
the Grand Western Canal in 1866, this area expanded further.
Norton Fitzwarren railway station (SMR 44371) provided an interchange between the main line
and the Barnstaple and Minehead branches (see below). It has now been demolished and the site
incorporated into an industrial area.
The railway line and the station areas are from the 1889-1890 and the 1905 maps.
TAU/622 Taunton to Barnstaple Railway (SMR 43373)
The Barnstaple branch, opened in the early 1870s, left the main line at Norton Fitzwarren
junction. It was closed in 1966.
From the 1889 map.
TAU/624 The Minehead branch
The West Somerset Railway was opened as far as Watchet in 1862 and Minehead in 1874. It was
a broad gauge line, but was converted to standard gauge in 1882.
(c) Canals
TAU/601 The Bridgwater and Taunton Canal (SMR 43826)
For main entry, see p62. Map G shows the canal wharf at Bathpool.
TAU/603 Grand Western Canal
For main entry, see p62.
6.5.c Water
TAU/625 The river
Shown on Map G is the new cut at Bathpool, which took the river south of the railway line, as well
as a number of other old stream courses.
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6.5.d Manors and estates
TAU/613 Landscaped parks
A number of large landscaped parks were laid out in the 19th century. The largest of these was
at Norton Manor (SMR 43413), which had two associated lodges (SMR 43383, 43384). The park
was turned into army camp grounds in the 20th century, and though the older house site to the
north has disappeared, other features (SMR LB 40572, 40573) survive. It is possible that Norton
Manor may have had an earlier origin: further research is needed to clarify the position.
Rumwell Lodge (SMR 43871) and Rumwell Hall both had landscaped parks attached to them by
the early 20th century (SMR 43869 and 43870 respectively), as did Staplegrove Manor (SMR
43573, 43574), and Lyngford House (SMR 43988; SMR LB 40491, 40492).
For Poundisford see p55 and for Pyrland see p53. Hestercombe (SMR 43395, 43396) is excluded
from the study, though part of the park boundary in the 19th century is shown on Map G.
TAU/619 Churches and chapels (too small to show on Map G)
Several of the parish churches extended their churchyards in the 19th century. New
establishments included the Congregational Chapels at Bishops Hull and Bathpool (SMR 43211),
an independent chapel at Rumwell (SMR LB 40460) and St Andrews at Rowbarton (1881).
From the 1880s maps.
TAU/612 Municipal cemeteries
Wellington Road cemetery was begun in 1854 after a cholera epidemic of 1849.
6.5.f Settlement (Suburban)
TAU/602 Suburbs
Suburbs extended north and south of the town up to Rowbarton and almost as far as Trull.
These areas included three of the major schools of Taunton, founded in the 19th century at a time
when the old Grammar School was having problems. These were: Queens, which began as a
Wesleyan College in 1843, moving to the present site in 1847; Kings, founded in 1880; and
Taunton School, established as the West of England Dissenters School, which began in 1847 in
Wellington Road and moved to the Fairwater site in 1870.
6.5.g Settlement (Rural)
TAU/616 Rural settlement
Considerable dispersed development took place around Taunton. That which was semi-suburban
in character and that which was truly rural has not been distinguished on the map. Most
information is from the historic maps, but some abandoned sites revealed by work along the
course of the M5 are also shown (SMR 43521, 43989, 43492, 43677).
TAU/623 Farms
A number of farms were established in Tauntons hinterland in the 19th century, whilst other
existing ones expanded.
69
6.5.h Industrial sites
(a) Mills
TAU/621 19th century mills
Most of the mills operating in the 19th century may have been of earlier origin, but a number of
expansions took place.
From the 19th century maps and the SMR.
TAU/610 Brickyards
The largest brickworks outside Taunton itself were at Bishops Hull, where there were two
adjacent yards (SMR 43364), one with a mechanised plant and tramway. Another site, near
Sherford, is marked Brick Meadow on the 1821 map.
From the 1821 and later 19th century maps.
Not mapped Murless (1981) discusses the Taunton brickyards. He suggests several other outlying sites,
including ones at Rowbarton and Haydon, which could not be positively identified on the map for
this report.
TAU/618 Other industry, too small to show on Map G
Other industrial sites noted in the outlying area include: Breweries at Norton Fitzwarren (SMR
43403), Rowbarton, and Nerrols Farm; Smithies at Bishops Hull, Rowbarton, Bathpool, Norton,
Cross Keys and Rumwell; Tanneries at Tanpitts Farm, Bathpool (SMR 43090); a timber yard at
Bathpool and a possible kiln in the far south-west of the area.
From the 19th century maps and the SMR.
TAU/620 Quarries, too small to show on Map G
Several small quarries and gravel pits existed in the 19th century around Taunton.
7. 20TH CENTURY
(Map H)
7.1 Context
The 20th century has seen a vast physical expansion of some existing towns, and some expansion in most of the 45
historic towns covered by the project. However, there have only been limited alterations to the overall pattern of
urban settlement. The County Structure Plan still contains fifteen settlements defined as Towns: this is almost
identical to the late 19th century list of Municipal Boroughs and Urban Districts.
Taunton is one of 15 of the 45 historic towns covered by this project which is classed as a Town in the County
Structure Plan. It is one of seven towns which has seen extremely high levels of expansion in the 20th century (the
same seven as saw large scale expansion in the 19th century). It is also one of six Towns identified as having an
important role in accommodating new development, which inevitably leaves its archaeological remains under
increased threat.
There are a few Listed Buildings of 20th century origin, which including the old Library (SMR LB 45946) and the
Art College(SMR LB 45948) in Corporation Street, the old Odeon (SMR LB 44629) and both the fountain and the
war memorial in Vivary Park (SMR LB 46217, 46218).
70
7.3 Settlement components, shown on Map H
Components still functioning in the 20th century but described under earlier periods are shown more lightly shaded.
There has been large scale redevelopment in the 20th century, especially between the town centre and the motorway,
which has resulted in the redefinition of a number of previously defined and described areas both in the town centre
and in the suburbs.
All mapped components are from the 1997 OS digital maps, unless otherwise stated.
TAU/702 Roads
Many new roads have been constructed in the 20th century, of which the more important are
shown on Map H. They include the M5, Tone Way and Silk Mills Road, as well as some of the
arterial suburban roads.
(b) Railways
Not mapped Trams ran from 1901 to 1921 through the town centre and down East Reach, at the end of which
was a tramshed. The trackways were taken up in the 1920s and the tramshed was demolished in
the 1980s.
7.3.c Military sites
TAU/705 Norton Camp (SMR 43413)
TAU/701 Other military sites
A rifle range (SMR 44279) associated with Sherford Camp survives in very good condition.
From the SMR.
Not mapped The SMR contains details of other military sites in the area, including several pillboxes (eg SMR
44280, 44307, 44308, 44309, 44310, 44312, 44313, 44314, 44315, 44316), a battery (SMR
43706) and depot (SMR 44543). The sites of the army camp at Sherford and the American Army
Hospital at Musgrove are not separately shown.
7.3.d Burial sites, religious houses and places of worship
TAU/704 Churches
Several churchyard extensions have taken place in the 20th century. Also shown is the
Crematorium, which opened in 1963 on Wellington Road.
Not mapped New suburban churches have not been distinguished for this report.
7.3.e Settlement (Urban)
(a) Commercial
TAU/703 General urban development (centre)
A considerable amount of drastic redevelopment has occurred within the town centre. This has
been concentrated in the old areas along the river. North-east of Tone Bridge are situated the new
market and supermarket, as well as the Deane and Brewhouse office and leisure complexes. To
its south-west are the Magistrates Courts and County Hall, together with their car parks.
TAU/707 Outlying commercial areas
Large trading estates have been established along the railway and canal and at the motorway
junction.
71
(b) Residential
TAU/710 Suburbs
The pattern of 20th century suburban sprawl is shown on Map H. Major hospital and school sites
are included within these areas, and are not necessarily distinguished, though large areas of open
space are more lightly shaded.
The map shows clearly how some historic centres have been engulfed by modern development,
whilst others - such as Trull, Norton, Staplegrove and Monkton Heathfield - are in immediate
danger of being so engulfed.
7.3.f Settlement (Rural)
TAU/706, TAU/708
Rural settlement and farms
A scatter of rural settlement and farms is shown on Map H.
TAU/709 General industry
Industrial sites and estates are shown on Map H.
V. THE POTENTIAL OF TAUNTON
1. Research interests
Despite nearly twenty years of excavations, most of the issues identified in Leachs 1984 volume on the archaeology
of Tauntons town centre remain unresolved. The locations of neither the Saxon settlements of Taunton nor the main
medieval Priory buildings have been established; the development of the somewhat peculiar medieval street plan
of Taunton is still not understood, partly because of lack of progress on earlier settlement patterns; and the
relationships of specific features - for example, that between the early medieval Castle and the pre-Conquest minster,
or that between the medieval St Pauls area and the Saxon town - have not been elucidated. These questions must
continue to be addressed in town centre evaluations, with the hope that a process of elimination and attrition will
yield cumulative results.
An examination of the list of archaeological work which has taken place will show that the greater proportion of it
has been concentrated within the town centre. Knowledge of prehistoric, Roman, Saxon and medieval settlement
and landscape patterns is therefore fragmentary. Excavations have shown that the pre-1800 settlement pattern as
recorded on the historic maps - and, to a large extent, in this report - is not necessarily, in detail, that of even the
medieval period; for sites not shown by map or field or aerial photographic survey have been located in the field
(during the M5 work, for example). On the other hand, a certain continuity of settlement is suggested by the limited
studies of other sites, such as Maidenbrook. The process of understanding of these patterns has (with certain notable
exceptions) hardly begun.
2. Areas of potentially exceptional preservation
Localised waterlogged deposits exist throughout the Taunton area where rivers and streams either run now or used
to run. This has been shown to be particularly the case in the area west of the Castle, which used to be a marshy
valley and where alluvial flood deposits in some places seal earlier archaeology. The ditches, moats, leats and
fishponds of the central area also provide good survival potential, as has been amply demonstrated.
3. Limitations
On the other hand, parts of Taunton town centre lie not only on dry ground, but in areas repeatedly terraced, and it
has been shown that archaeological deposits are extremely close to the modern ground surface in places. This means
that where cellaring has taken place (not assessed for this report), damage is substantial.
Moreover, the impact of modern development has already been substantial, not only in the core of Taunton but in
the immediately adjacent areas, including important riverside areas such as Bathpool and Obridge, and historic
settlement centres, such as Galmington and Holway.
72
4. Extent of current protection
(The constraints in the central area are shown on Map I)
There are well over four hundred Listed Buildings in the area covered by this report, many of which are in the central
area. There are only four Scheduled Monuments, however: SM 24022 (Norton Fitzwarren hillfort); SM Som 430
(Poundisford Park Pale); SM 22851 (Taunton Castle) and SM Som 33703 (the Borough Bank).
An AHAP has been defined for Taunton town centre, though not for the surrounding settlements. But Bishops Hull
and Cheddon Fitzpaine have Conservation Areas, in addition to the nine Conservation Areas in Taunton itself
(centred on: the Castle; Bath Place; the Crescent; Mount Street and Vivary Park; South Road; Haines Hill; Park
Street; Middle Street and Hammet Street; and Staplegrove Road). Two registered Parks and Gardens -
Hestercombe (PRN 43395) and Poundisford (PRN 43503) impinge on the study area, but are not shown on the map.
5. Management Proposals
See the Archaeological Guidance Document.
VI. SOURCES
1. General documentary (Somerset/ Wessex)
Aston, M (ed), 1988 Aspects of the Medieval Landscape of Somerset
Aston, M (ed), 1976 Somerset Archaeology 1974-75, PSANHS vol 120, 72-76
Aston, M, 1977a Deserted settlements, PSANHS vol 121, 41-53
Aston, M (ed), 1977b Somerset Archaeology 1976, PSANHS vol 121, 107-128
Aston, M, 1983 Deserted farmsteads on Exmoor and the lay subsidy of 1327, PSANHS vol 127,
90-93
Aston, M, 1986 Post-Roman central places in Somerset, in Grant (ed)
Aston, M, 1994 Medieval settlement studies in Somerset in: Aston, M & C Lewis (eds)
Aston, M & Burrow, I, 1982 The Archaeology of Somerset
Aston, M & Leech, R, 1977 Historic Towns in Somerset (CRAAGS)
Aston, M & C Lewis (eds), 1994 The Medieval Landscape of Wessex
Aston, M & Murless, B, 1978 Somerset Archaeology 1978, PSANHS vol 122, 124-134
Bentley, J B & Murless, B J, 1985 & 1987
Somerset Roads - The Legacy of the Turnpikes Parts 1 and 2
Bettey, J H, 1986 Wessex from AD 1000
Bradbury, J & Croft, R A (eds), 1990
Somerset Archaeology 1989, PSANHS vol 133, 154-185
Braggs, 1840 Directory of Somerset
Burrow, I, Minnitt, S & Murless, B (eds), 1981a
Somerset Archaeology, 1979, PSANHS vol 124, 111-140
Burrow, I, Minnitt, S & Murless, B (eds), 1981b
Burrow, I, Minnitt, S & Murless, B (eds), 1983
Coleman-Smith, R & Pearson, T, 1988
Excavations in the Donyatt potteries
Collinson, J, 1791 The History and Antiquities of the County of Somerset
Coulthard, A J & Watts, M, 1978
Windmills of Somerset
Costen, M, 1992 The origins of Somerset
Dennison, E (ed), 1987a Somerset Archaeology 1985, PSANHS vol 129, 1-35
Dennison, E (ed), 1987b Somerset Archaeology 1986, PSANHS vol 130, 141-161
Dennison, E (ed), 1988 Somerset Archaeology 1987, PSANHS vol 131, 215-228
73
Dennison, E (ed), 1989 Somerset Archaeology 1988, PSANHS vol 132, 209-243
Dunning, R W (ed), 1974 Victoria History of the County of Somerset vol 3
Dunning, R W, 1975 Christianity in Somerset
Dunning, R W, 1985 Victoria History of the County of Somerset vol 5
Dunning, R W, 1987 A history of Somerset
Dunning, R W, 1991 Some Somerset country houses
Dunning, R W, 1995 Somerset Castles
Ellison, A, 1983 Medieval villages in south-east Somerset
English Heritage, 1994 County list of scheduled monuments: Somerset
Fowler, P J, 1971 "M5 and archaeology", Arch Rev 6, p10
Grinsell, L V, 1970 The Archaeology of Exmoor
Grundy, G B, 1935 The Saxon charters of Somerset
Haskell, T, 1994 By Waterway to Taunton
Hulbert, N F, 1936 A Survey of the Somerset Fairs, PSANHS vol 82, p83
Kelly, 1861 Directory of Somerset
Kelly, 1866 Directory of Somerset
Lawrence, B, 1952 Quantock Country
Leech, R, 1981 "The Somerset Levels in the Romano-British period" in The Evolution of
Marshland Landscapes
Leech, R & Leach, P, 1982 "Roman town and countryside" in Aston & Burrow, 1982, 63-81
Minnitt, S & Murless, B J (eds), 1980
Morris, 1872 Directory of Somerset and Bristol
Page, W, 1911 Victoria County History, vol 2
Pearce, S M, 1978 The Kingdom of Dumnonia
Pevsner, N, 1958 South and West Somerset (the Buildings of England)
Pigot & Co Pigot & Co's Directory, 1830
Pigot & Co Pigot & Co's Directory, 1842
Robinson, W J, 1914 West Country Churches
Rogers, 1976 Wiltshire and Somerset Woollen Mills
Rutter, J, 1829 Delineations of north-west Somerset
Savage, W, 1954 Somerset Towns, PSANHS vol 99, 49-74
Warren, D (ed), 1996 Somersets industrial heritage
Webster, C J & Croft, R A (eds), 1991
Williams, M, 1970 The draining of the Somerset Levels
York, B, 1995 Wessex in the Early Middle Ages
2. Taunton
Adkins, L & R, 1989 Taunton, Gyffarde Street, PSANHS vol 133, p181
Adkins, L & R, 1992 Taunton, St Mary Magdalene Church, PSANHS vol 136, p180
Anon Notes on Tauntons history (anonymous typescript in SMR)
Anon Taunton Castle (anonymous typescript in SMR)
74
AC Archaeology, 1992a Taunton Castle proposed lift shaft - archaeological evaluation (in SMR files)
AC Archaeology, 1992b The excavation of Neolithic and Iron Age features at Nerrols Farm ... interim report
Alford, D P, 1908 St James Church, Taunton, PSANHS vol 54, no 1, p33
Askwith, W H (ed), 1908
The Church of St Mary Magdalene, Taunton, 1508-1908
Aston, M, n.d. Taunton - the towns medieval defences (in SMR files)
Aston, M, n.d. Creechbarrow Hill (in SMR files)
Aston, M, 1975 A stone axe from Taunton, PSANHS vol 119, p70
Aston, M (ed), 1976 Somerset Archaeology 1974-75, PSANHS vol 120, p69
Bellamy, P, 1996 Jellalabad Barracks ... Archaeological Observations (in SMR files)
Bennett, J, 1974 Excavations in Taunton 1974: interim report (CRAAGS) (in SMR files)
Bolton, R, 1972a Alvins Orchard, Bathpool, Motorway Memo No 3
Bolton, R, 1972b Creech Barrow excavations, Motorway Memo No 4
Bond, C J, c1990 Taunton (Unpublished report for MPP)
Bond, C J & T Longman, 1991
Taunton, Almshouses from St Jamess Street, PSANHS vol 135, p158
Borthwick, A, 1995 Taunton Town Centre Enhancement Scheme: archaeological considerations and
recommendations
Burrow, I, 1979 Excavations at 5-8 Fore Street, Taunton, 1979, PSANHS vol 132, p95
Burrow, I, 1980 Excavations in Mill Lane, Taunton, 1980 (in SMR files)
Burrow, I, 1982 Excavations at the South-East Corner of High Street, Taunton, January-February 1982
(in SMR files)
Burrow, I, 1984 Excavations & recording in Silver Street, Taunton, 1983-4 (in SMR files)
Burrow, I, forthc in 1984 Excavations in Fore Street/ Pig Market Taunton 1979
Burrow, I & E Dennison, 1988
Excavations and recording in Taunton and Wellington, 1982-5, PSANHS vol 132, p165
Bush, R, 1975 The Tudor Tavern, Fore Street, PSANHS vol 119, p15
Bush, R, 1977 The book of Taunton
Bush, R, 1983 Jeboults Taunton
Bush, R, 1985 The story of Fullands
Bush, R, 1988 Taunton Castle: a pictorial history
Bush, R, 1988 A Taunton diary: 1787 - 1987
Cheddon Field Group, 1992
Priorswood Field Survey 1990-92
Chipchase, N, 1989 Taunton in old photographs
Clark, G T, 1872 Taunton Castle, PSANHS vol 18, no 2, p60
Clements, C F, 1973 Castle Green Car Park, Taunton: a rescue excavation in January 1973 (In SMR
backlog file)
Clements, C F, 1982 Taunton Vivarium (in SMR files)
Clements, C F, 1991 Cheddon Fitzpaine, Nerrols Farm, PSANHS vol 135, p145
Clements, C F, 1992 Taunton, Priors Wood, PSANHS vol 136, p175
Collard, M, 1987a Taunton, Tancred Street: Archaeological Evaluation 1987 (OAU rpt) (in SMR files)
Collard, M, 1987b Taunton, Tancred Street, PSANHS vol 131, p221
Collard, M, G A Wait & R A Croft, 1988
Tancred Street, Taunton (OAU rpt) (in SMR files)
Croft, R A, 1987a Taunton, Middle Street, PSANHS vol 131, p221
Croft, R A, 1987b Bishops Hull, the Rectory, PSANHS vol 131, p224
Croft, R A, 1988a Winchester Street - report of site evaluation (in SMR files)
Croft, R A, 1988b Taunton, Winchester Street, PSANHS vol 132, p232
Croft, R A, 1988c Taunton Castle, western round tower: archaeological watching brief (in SCC files)
Croft, R A, 1989 Taunton, St Pauls House, PSANHS vol 133, p178
Dickinson, F H, 1883 West Monkton Charter, PSANHS vol 28, p89
Dunning, R & T Pearson, 1975
Taunton: History, Archaeology and Development
Ellis, P, 1986 Henge monument, PSANHS vol 130, p165
75
Ellis, P, 1989 Norton Fitzwarren hillfort: a report on the excavations by Nancy and Philip Langmaid
between 1968 and 1971, PSANHS vol 132, p1
Ellis, P & B Levitan Bishops Hull, SS Peter and Paul Church, PSANHS vol 124, p132
Ellison, G, n.d. The Sieges of Taunton in 1644-5
Exeter Archaeology, 1997
Taunton Town Centre Enhancement Scheme - Archaeological Watching Brief and
Excavations
Ferris, I M, 1990 Cheddon Fitzpaine, Maidenbrook Farm, PSANHS vol 134, p218
Ferris, I M & L Bevan, 1993
Excavations at Maidenbrook Farm, Cheddon Fitzpaine, 1990, PSANHS vol 137, p1
Fowler, P J & J Bennett, 1972
M5 and archaeology, Arch Rev 7
Gerrard, C M, 1984 Taunton Fair in the seventeenth century, PSANHS vol 128, p65
Goldsworthy, E F, 1883 Recollections of Taunton, by an Old Tauntonian
Graham, A, 1995 Archaeological observations ... Jellalabad Barracks, the Mount, Taunton (in SMR files)
Gray, H St G, 1908 Excavations at Norton Camp, near Taunton, 1908, PSANHS vol 54, p131
Gray, H St G, 1939 Early medieval bowl from Taunton Priory, PSANHS vol 84, p100
Gray, H St G, 1944 Creechbarrow Hill, PSANHS vol 90, no 2, p59
Green, C W, 1993 Trull and Staplehay: with an eye on the past
Green, E, 1880 The Siege and Defence of Taunton, 1644-5, PSANHS vol 35, p33
Green, E, 1905 The Siege and Defence of Taunton
Greenfield, D J, 1981 Silk Mills Canal Bridge, SIASJ no 3, p20
Hadfield, C, 1967 The Canals of South-West England p95
Hallam, A D, 1965 Further excavations at Taunton Castle, 1964, PSANHS vol 109, p98
Hallam, O, 1953 The story of Trull
Harris, H, 1973 The Grand Western Canal
Haskell, T, 1994 By waterway to Taunton
Hawkes, J, 1992 Taunton, Nerrols Farm, PSANHS vol 136, p166
Hawkes, J, C & N Hollinrake, & P Dadson, 1992
Taunton, Taunton Castle, PSANHS vol 136, p175
Hollinrake, C & N, 1992a
St Mary Magdalene, Taunton, February ... 1992 (in SMR files)
Hollinrake, C & N, 1992b
The Courtyard, inner ward, Taunton Castle (in SMR files)
Hollinrake, C & N, 1994 An archaeological watching brief at 5/6 East Street, Taunton (in SMR files)
Hollinrake, C & N, 1993 An archaeological evaluation at Corfield Hall and Co-op Garage, Taunton
Hollinrake, C & N, 1994a
Taunton, Canon Street, PSANHS vol 138, p181 (and original report in SMR files)
Hollinrake, C & N, 1994b
Taunton, Priory Barn - an archaeological evaluation (in SMR files)
Hollinrake, C & N, 1995 An archaeological watching brief around the Priory Barn, Taunton - Somerset County
Cricket Club, 1994-1995 (in SMR files)
Hollinrake, C & N, 1997 An archaeological watching brief at 1 & 1a East Street, Taunton (in SMR files)
Holmes, T S, 1911 Religious houses, VCH vol 2, p141, 152, 158
Hugo, T, 1860 Taunton Priory, PSANHS vol 9, no 2, p1 (and vol 9, no 1, p49)
Hugo, T, 1874 The Hospital of St Margaret, Taunton, PSANHS vol 18, no2, p100
Hunt, T J, 1958a The ordination of the Vicarage of St Mary Magdalene, Taunton
Hunt, T J, 1958b Some notes on the cloth trade in Taunton in the 13th century, PSANHS vol 101-2, p89
Hunt, T J, 1961 Three medieval documents from Glastonbury relating to the Hospital of St Margaret,
near Taunton, PSANHS vol 105, p52
Hunt, T J, 1964 A brief history of Taunton Castle
Hunt, T J, 1971 Some 13th century building accounts of Taunton Castle, PSANHS vol 115, p39
Hunt, T J & T Pearson, 1973
76
Corporation Street excavation, 1973 - interim report
Hutcheson, A & P Andrews, 1996
Excavations at the County Hotel, Taunton, 1995-6 (Wessex Archaeology Rpt 39685c)
Jones, J, 1993 Environmental assessment of medieval ditch deposits at Corfield Hall and Co-op
Garage, Taunton
Kite, G H & H P Palmer, 1926
Taunton: its history and Market Trust
Langmaid, N, 1968 Norton Camp Excavations 1968, PSANHS vol 112, p107
Langmaid, N, 1971a Norton Fitzwarren, Current Archaeologyno 28, p116
Langmaid, N, 1971b Excavations at Norton Fitzwarren, PSANHS vol 115, p55
Langmaid, P A, 1968 Excavations at Taunton Town Mills site, 1967, PSANHS vol 112, p106
Langmaid, P A, 1970 Excavations at Norton Fitzwarren, 1970, PSANHS vol 114, p105
Leach, P, 1984 The archaeology of Taunton: Excavations and Fieldwork to 1980
Luckett, J, 1993 Cheddon Fitzpaine, Nerrols Farm, PSANHS vol 137, p138
M5 Committee, forthcoming
M5 sites in Somerset, PSANHS
Markuson, K, 1980 Fore Street excavations, Taunton, Somerset, 1979, PSANHS vol 124, p130
McCrone, P, 1990a An archaeological evaluation of a site at Mountfield Farm, Taunton ... 1990 (in SMR
files)
McCrone, P, 1990b Taunton, 2-5 Mill Lane, PSANHS vol 134, p228
McCrone, P, 1991a Norton Fitzwarren Hillfort, PSANHS vol 135, p144
McCrone, P, 1991b Taunton, Castle, PSANHS vol 135, p162
McCrone, P, 1993a Bishops Hull, Church of St Peter and St Paul, PSANHS vol 137, p143
McCrone, P, 1993b Taunton, Canon Street, PSANHS vol 137, p153
McCrone, P, 1994 Norton Fitzwarren Hillfort, PSANHS vol 138, p173
McDermott, M B, 1994 Early bench ends in All Saints Church, Trull, PSANHS vol 138, p117
McDonnell, R R J, 1989 Blackbrook Business Park, Taunton: report on the initial archaeological evaluation
McDonnell, R R J, 1990 Report on the archaeological evaluation at Maidenbrook Farm, Cheddon Fitzpaine (in
SMR files)
McDonnell, R R J, 1991a Nerrols Farm, Cheddon Fitzpaine, Taunton: a preliminary archaeological evaluation
(in SMR files)
McDonnell, R R J, 1991b Nerrols Farm, Cheddon Fitzpaine, Taunton: geophysical survey
McDowall, R W & I I Jeffries, 1962
The old almshouses, St Jamess Street, Taunton, PSANHS vol 106, p81
Minnitt, S, 1981 Coxs of Taunton and their penny token, SIASJ no 3, p18
Murless, B J, 1973 Taunton - a study in urban archaeology
Murless, B J, 1977 Trial excavation at South Road brickyard, Taunton (in SMR files)
Murless, B J, 1981 Taunton Brickyards, SIAS vol 3, p28
Murless, B J, 1985 Taunton, Tancred Street, PSANHS vol 129, p29
Murless, B J, 1986 Taunton, Firepool Pumping Station, PSANHS vol 130, p161
Newson, M, 1978 Trull, in Somerset Archaeology 1977, PSANHS vol 122, p131
Norman, C, 1975 Four Mesolithic assemblages from West Somerset, PSANHS vol 119, p26
Palmer, M, 1989 Two aspects of Wilton Gaol, SIASB no 51, p4
Pearson, T, 1974 Excavations at Kennedys Old Yard
Pearson, T & T J Hunt, 1974
Excavations at Corporation Street, 1973
Perkin, J, 1990 Taunton tramways 1901-1921, SIASB no 54, p2
Piggott, D, 1995 Taunton - Phase 2: an evaluation (County Hotel site) (in SMR files)
Pring, D J, 1908 St Marys Church, Taunton, PSANHS vol 54, no 1, p26
Pring, J H, 1879 On the name of Silver Street, with a notice of some traces of the Romans in and about
Taunton, PSANHS vol 24, p89
Pring, J H, 1880 Briton and Roman on the site of Taunton
Pring, J H, 1882 Roman coins lately found at Taunton, PSANHS vol 27(ii), p51
77
Raban, R C W, & F B Bond, 1913
Bishops Hull Church, PSANHS vol 58(i), p71
Radford, C A R & A D Hallam, 1955
The history of Taunton Castle in the light of recent excavations, PSANHS vol 98, p55
Rodwell, W, 1978 A survey of the Keep of Taunton Castle, Somerset (in SMR files)
Russell, R, 1982 Lost Canals and Waterways of Britain p71 (SMR 44126 etc)
Savage, J, 1822 Toulmins History of Taunton with additions
SCC, Planning Dept, 1970
Taunton: a study of the central area
Seaby, W A, 1951 A chert working floor at Chideoak Park, Taunton, and other Mesolithic sites in Somerset,
Arch Newsletter No 3 p125
Shorrocks, D, 1992 The Church of St John the Evangelist, Staplegrove
SIAS, 1986 Firepool & Somersets Industrial Heritage (in SMR files)
Spencer, J H, 1911a Taunton Castle: Structural Notes, PSANHS vol 56, p38
Spencer, J H, 1911b Tangier and Gibraltar, PSANHS vol 57, p98
Spencer, J H, 1912 Bishops Hull Manor House, PSANHS vol 58, p76
Taylor, R F, 1966 16 Fore Street, PSANHS vol 110, p108
Taylor, R F, 1974 Town Houses in Taunton, 1500-1700, Post-Med Arch vol 8, p63
Taylor, R F, 1975 Castle House, Taunton Castle, PSANHS vol 118, p25
Toulmin, J, 1791 History of Taunton
Trotman, E E Notes on the manor and parish of West Monkton, PSANHS vol 90, no 2, p39
Vivian-Neal, A W, 1943 Note on Taunton Priory, PSANHS vol 88, p118
Vivian-Neal, A W & H St G Gray, 1941
Materials for the History of Taunton Castle, PSANHS vol 86, p45
Vivian-Neal, A W, T J Hunt & C A R Radford, 1954
Notes on the History of Taunton Castle
Warre, F, 1851 Ancient earthwork at Norton, PSANHS vol 1, no2, p38
Warre, F, 1853 Taunton Castle, PSANHS vol 4(ii), p18
Warren, D, 1996 Somersets Industrial Heritage
Webb, G, 1874 History of Taunton
Wessex Archaeology, 1992
Hankridge Farm, Taunton ... Archaeological Evaluation (in SMR)
Wessex Archaeology, 1993
Hankridge Farm, Taunton ... Archaeological Watching Brief (in SMR 44648)
Wessex Archaeology, 1995a
Hankridge Farmhouse, Taunton ... Archaeological Watching Brief (Rpt 38244) (in SMR
44607)
Wessex Archaeology, 1995b
The County Hotel, Taunton, Somerset (Rpt 39685) (in SMR files)
Williams, E H D & M W Stokes, 1987
Norton Fitzwarren, Heathfield Manor, PSANHS vol 131, p250
Williams, E H D, 1988 Cheddon Fitzpaine, Maidenbrook Farm, PSANHS vol 132, p273
Williams, E H D, 1992 Cheddon Fitzpaine, Nerrols Farm, PSANHS vol 136, p189
3. Maps
1718 Map of Roughmoor Farm, Bishops Hull: SRO DD/CH C/1941
c1775 Map of several estates in West Monkton: SRO DD/GC
1783 Map of Mr Warres land in Cheddon Fitzpaine: SRO D/P/che.f. 3/1/1
c1790 Map of Frethey and Barr, Bishops Hull: SRO DD/AY 66
1791 Map of Taunton area: SRO DD/SAS C/212
1791 Enlargement of Taunton centre: SRO DD/SAS C/2631/1
1802 OS surveyors drawings at 3": fiche in SSL
1802 Map of Bradford parish: SRO DD/DP
1805 Map of Trull parish: SRO D/P/tru 26/1 or DD/CT 22
78
1809 OS 1"
1810 Map of Pitminster parish: SRO DD/DP
1821 Sketch of the town of Taunton: SRO A/AQD 1
1821 Map of Wilton parish: SRO D/P/wilt. 13/1/48 C/2560
1825 Canal proposals map, Taunton St James: SRO Q/RUp 82
1826 Map of West Monkton parish: SRO DD/SAS C/212
1827 Map of Taunton St Mary parish: SRO DD/SP 313
1837 Cheddon Fitzpaine Tithe Map: fiche in SSL
1837 Staplegrove Tithe Map: fiche in SSL
1838 Kingston St Mary Tithe Map: fiche in SSL
1839 Norton Fitzwarren Tithe Map: fiche in SSL
1839 Pitminster Tithe Map: fiche in SSL
1839 West Monkton Tithe Map: fiche in SSL
1840 Taunton, St James Tithe Map: fiche in SSL
1840 Taunton, St Mary Tithe Map: fiche in SSL
1840 Wilton Tithe Map: fiche in SSL
1840 Woods Map of Taunton
1842 Bradford Tithe Map: fiche in SSL
1842 Ruishton Tithe Map: fiche in SSL
1842 Trull Tithe Map: fiche in SSL
1843 Bishops Hull Tithe Map: fiche in SSL
1849 Ham & Leversedges Map of Taunton
1888-9 OS 1:2500 1st ed: fiche in SSL
1901-4 OS 1:10560
VII. EXCAVATIONS IN AND AROUND TAUNTON to 1997
Please note that this list is not guaranteed complete.
THE CASTLE AREA
1838 Castle Green, observation (Clements in Leach 1984 p30) Burials
1867-8 Castle Green, observations (Clements in Leach 1984 p30-31) Burials + stone coffin
1882 Castle Green, observation (Clements in Leach 1984 p30) Burials
1893 Castle Green, observation (Clements in Leach 1984 p30) Burials + bullet
c1900 Castle Green, observation (Clements in Leach 1984 p30) Burials
1904 Corporation Street, Library, observations (Vivian-Neal & Gray, 1941) Moat fills
1907 Corporation Street, School of Art, observations (Vivian-Neal & Gray, 1941) Moat fills
1916 Castle Keep by St George Gray (not properly recorded)
1924-9 Castle Keep by St George Gray (not properly recorded) (Vivian-Neal & Gray, 1941; see also Dunning &
Pearson, 1975; Rodwell, 1978; T Pearson in Leach, 1984, p17; AC Archaeology, 1992a)
1930 Castle Green, observation (Clements in Leach 1984 p30) Burials, with weapon cuts
1932 Corporation Street (near cinema), observation (Clements in Leach 1984 p26, 31) Burials
1933 Odeon construction, observations (Vivian-Neal & Gray, 1941; cf Dunning & Pearson, 1975) Moat, wooden
barbican and bridge
1937 Castle Bow, excavation (Vivian-Neal & Gray, 1941) Moat
1940 Castle, Great Hall test pits (Vivian-Neal & Gray, 1941)
1952 Castle, Great Hall, floor works (Radford & Hallam, 1955) Undercroft and the Pre-Conquest bank
1958 Castle garden nr Wyndham Hall, observation (Clements in Leach 1984 p30) Burials
1964 Castle, Bishops Camera, excavation (Clements in Leach 1984 p26, 31) Burials, early bank
1972 LHL floor replacement (Clements in Leach 1984 p26, 30) Saxon burials
1972 Castle entrance, west side, observation (Clements in Leach 1984 p26, 30) Burials
1972 Castle entrance, east side, observation (Clements in Leach 1984 p26, 31) Burials
1972 Huishs Grammar School, excavation (SMR 44465) (Clements in Leach 1984 p63) Med town defences;
earlier material (dispersed)
79
1973 Castle Green landscaping, excavation and observations (Clements, 1973; and in Leach 1984 p35f) Med
structures in outer bailey; burials in adj areas
1976 Castle, Jubilee Gardens work, observations (ment in SomArch 1976 p121) P-Med backfill
1977 Resurvey of Castle remains (Rodwell, 1978; Rodwell in Leach 1984 p20) Med Castle ruins
1978 Castle inner ward, excavation (Clements in Leach 1984 p26, 31, 32) Castle features & the early bank with
associated burial
1979 Castle Green, observation (Clements in Leach 1984 p34) possible early bank
1982 Castle Green, watching brief (Clements in Leach 1984 p30) Burials
1985 Corporation Street, watching brief (SMR 44601) (Burrow & Dennison, 1988) Castle bank
1985 Castle Bow, watching brief (SMR 44602) (Burrow & Dennison, 1988) Burial (Saxon?)
1985 Castle Green, watching brief (SMR 44603) negative
1988 Castle, western round tower, watching brief (Croft, 1988c) Med foundations
1989-90 Castle moat watching brief (McCrone, 1990b)
1991 Castle, small excavation (statue base) by P McCrone (McCrone, 1991b) Undated courtyard deposits
(archive in SMR backlog files, no PRN)
1992 Castle, evaluations and watching briefs (AC Archaeology, 1992a; Hollinrake, C & N, 1992b; Hawkes,
Hollinrakes & Dadson, 1992) Med walls, surfaces; bank (no dating)
THE REST OF THE TOWN CENTRE
1849 Gas works, Tangier, observation (SMR 44414) Pleistocene material
1856 Wilton Gaol, observation (SMR 44412) Pleistocene material
c1861 Fore Street sewer works, observations (Pring, 1879) Roman pottery (supposedly)
1868 Gas works, Tangier, observation (SMR 44493) Burials
1926 North Street, observations (Vivian-Neal & Gray, 1941) Moat fills
1961-2 Melville Hotel, excavation (SMR 44471) (F Hawtin in Leach 1984 p73) Med defences
1966 Liptons Supermarket, excavation (SMR 44468) Med defences
1967 Town Mills (P Langmaid, 1968)
1970 St Pauls, observation (SMR 44473) (Clements in Leach 1984 p26, 31) Saxon burials
1972 Paul Street, watching brief (SMR 44447) (Clements in Leach 1984 p79) Med occ
1972 St Margaretss leper hospital, watching brief (Clements in Leach 1984 p124) Med? boundary wall
1972-3 Coal orchard, watching brief (marked on old SMR map for 44440) Wells
1972-3 18-23 High Street, watching brief (marked on old SMR map in file under 44440: no further information)
1973-4 Benhams Garage, Corporation Street, trial excavation (SMR 44466) (Pearson, 1974; Leach & Pearson in
Leach 1984 p37) Ancient stream; Saxon artefacts; Med roads etc
1973 Paul St West, watching brief, C14 & earlier
1973 James Street/ North Street, watching brief (SMR 90003) negative
1974 Kennedys Yard, East Street, and Billet Street, excavations ( SMR 44441) (Bennett, 1974; and Bennett
& Pearson in Leach 1984 p82, 90) Med & Post-Med backs
1974 No. 1 High Street, excavation (SMR 44442) (Bennett, 1974; and Bennett in Leach 1984 p91) Iron Age occ;
Med & Post-Med central occ
1974 18 St James Street, excavation (SMR 44443) (Bennett, 1974; and Bennett in Leach 1984 p98) Med &
Post-Med occ
1974 Trenching across Bridge Street (SMR 44490) (Dunning & Pearson, 1975)
c1975 Marks & Spencer site C11/12 pottery (Dunning & Pearson, 1975)
1975 Tancred Street, preliminary evaluation (ment. in Aston, 1976, p79)
1977 High Street (Boots), watching brief (SMR 44448)
1977 Hawkes Yard (SMR 44464) (Leach in Leach, 1984 p65) Saxon occ/ Med defences
1977 Canon Street, excavation (Hinchcliffe in Leach 1984 p106) Priory lay cemetery
1977 South Road brickyard, trial excavation and watching brief (SMR 44475) (Murless, 1977, 1981) C19
brickyard
1977-8 Priory Barn, excavations (Leach in Leach 1984 p111) Med & Pmed watercourses and structures
1978 Benhams Garage, excavation (SMR 44466) (Leach & Pearson in Leach 1984 p37) Stream valley, Roman
ditches, C12 buildings, C13 west road and later C13/C14 drains), C14 flood deposits, Pmed drainage
80
features & well
1978 Gyffarde Street, observations (PSANHS v123 p93) Med burials (lay cemetery)
1979 5-8 Fore Street, excavations (SMR 44450) (Burrow, 1979; Markuson, 1980) Iron Age or Roman occ/ Med
& Pmed pits (V productive)
1979 Sewer trenches, Holway Avenue, observation (Murless, 1981) negative
1980 Mill Lane, excavation (SMR 44446) (Burrow, 1980; and Burrow in Leach 1984 p53) Med Castle moat
1980 East Street, observation (SMR 44477) Civil War coin hoard
1982 Vicarage grounds, excavation (SMR 44435) (PSANHS v127, p24) Priory building, conduit
1982 High Street/ Mary Street, excavations (SMR 44449) (Burrow, 1982; Burrow & Dennison, 1988) Med pits,
Pmed industry
1982 Vivarium, sewer trench observations (SMR 44388) (Clements, 1982) Med fishponds
1983 18 Fore Street, building recording and excavation (SMR 44474)
1983-4 Silver Street, excavations (SMR 44465) (Burrow, 1984; Burrow & Dennison, 1988) Med town defences
1985 Tancred Street, photographic survey (Murless, 1985) C19 tannery
1985 Tower Street, watching brief (SMR 90004) Stream valley
1985 Tower Street (County Gazette Offices), watching brief (SMR 44469) (Burrow & Dennison, 1988) Med
water deposits
1986 Firepool pumping station, building survey (SMR 44376) (Murless, 1986) C19 limekilns etc
1987 Octagon Chapel, Middle Street, watching brief (SMR 44444) (Croft, 1987a)
1987 Tancred Street, evaluation (SMR 44445) (Collard, 1987a,b) Med town defences and suburb to east
1987-8 Tancred Street, further evaluation and watching briefs (SMR 44445) (Wait, 1988)
1988 Winchester Street, evaluation (SMR 44452) (Croft, 1988a,b) Near Priory - negative; C19 rubbish
1988 Priory Barn restoration & archaeological investigations
1989 St Pauls House, observation (SMR 44473) (Croft, 1989) Saxon? burials
1989 Gyffarde Street, evaluation (SMR 44457) (Adkins, 1989) C19
1990 Mill Lane, watching brief (McCrone, 1990b) P-Med revetments, moat fills
1991 St James Almshouses, building recording (Bond & Longman, 1991) Med almshouses
1992 North Town, evaluation (SMR 44453) (Woods, 1992) Negative
1992 St Mary Magdalene, excavation and watching briefs (SMR 44456) (Adkins, 1992; Hollinrakes, 1992a) P-
Med? vaults
1993 Canon Street, watching brief (SMR 44563) (McCrone, 1993b) Post-Med stream culvert
1993 Corefield Hall and Co-op Garage, evaluation (SMR 44463) (Hollinrakes, 1993; Jones, 1993) Med town
ditch
1994 Canon Street, evaluation (Hollinrakes, 1994a) Civil War defences
1994 Jellalabad Barracks, evaluation (SMR 44455) (Wessex Archaeology, 1994/38257)
1994 5-6 East Street, watching brief (SMR 44454) (Hollinrakes, 1994) Med truncated by P-Med cellars
1994-5 Cricket Ground, evaluation and watching brief (Hollinrake, C & N, 1994b, 1995) Waterlogged Med
features - preserved
1994-6 Jellalabad Barracks, watching briefs (SMR 44455) (Graham, 1995; Bellamy, 1996) Med defences/ C19
terracing
1995 County Hotel, evaluation (Hutcheson & Andrews, 1996; Piggott, 1995; Wessex Archaeology 1995/39685)
1996 Town Centre Enhancement, excavations and watching briefs (Borthwick, 1995; Exeter Archaeology, 1997)
1997 South Street, observation (SMR 44599) C19 cistern
1997 1 - 1a East Street (Hollinrakes, 1997)
THE OUTLYING AREA
1908 Norton Fitzwarren hillfort, excavation (no separate PRN) (Gray, 1908) Prehist hillfort (SMR 43399)
1940-1 Creechbarrow Hill, observations by Gray (Aston, note in SMR files) negative
1950 Fideoak Park, Bishops Hull, observations (SMR 43362) (Norman, 1975) Mesolithic tool industry
1968-71 Norton Fitzwarren hillfort, excavations (no sep PRN) (Langmaid, 1968, 1970, 1971a,b; Ellis, 1989) Prehist
hillfort (SMR 43399)
1971-2 M5 excavations and watching briefs, as below (M5 Committee, forthcoming; CBA Arch Rev 1972, no 7,
p6)
81
*Bathpool, excavations (SMR 43079) (Bolton, 1972a,b) Iron Age and Med occ, and later stuff
*New Barn Farm, watching brief (SMR 44495) Undated bank
*Broughton Brook, watching brief (SMR 43675) C18/19 bridge
*Holway, excavations (SMR 43671) Roman settlement
*Dowslands Farm, watching brief (SMR 43676) Flint scatter
*The Gore, watching brief (SMR 43674) P-Med barton
*Haygrass, watching brief (SMR 43677) C18/19 cottages
*Amberd Lane, watching brief (SMR 43521) C19 cottage
*Kibbear Farm, watching brief (SMR 43508) Hand axe find
*Stone House, survey (SMR 43702) Undated enclosure
*Poundisford Park Pale, watching brief (SMR 43502) Med park pale
*Poundisford Park, watching brief (SMR 43491, 43493) Med to mod pot
*Poundisford Park, watching brief (SMR 43492) C19 bldgs and other remains
*Poundisford Park, watching brief (SMR 43493) Med settlement
*Poundisford Park, excavations (SMR 43494) Prehist settlement, RB ditch
*Poundisford Park, watching brief (SMR 43495) RB and Med ditches
*Fulwood, watching brief (SMR 43499) Early Med to modern pot
*Fulwood, watching brief (SMR 43500) Flints
1975 Trull, building survey by Jean Storey (ment in SomArch 1974-75 p79)
1979 Bishops Hull church, watching brief (Ellis & Levitan, 1980)
1987 Bishops Hull, Rectory observations (Croft, 1987b) C19
1988 Maidenbrook Farm, Cheddon Fitzpaine, building survey (Williams, 1988)
1989 Blackbrook Park, evaluation (McDonnell, 1989)
1990 Maidenbrook Farm, Cheddon Fitzpaine, evaluation and excavation (SMR 43152) (McDonnell, 1990;
Ferris, 1990; Ferris & Bevan, 1993) Mesolithic scatter; RB farmstead; Saxon/ Med field bdys
1990 Mountfield Farm, evaluation (McCrone, 1990a) negative
1990-92 Priors Wood, field survey (Clements, 1992; Cheddon Field Group, 1992) Boundaries of wood
1991 Norton Fitzwarren hillfort, fieldwalking (McCrone, 1991a) P-Med, Roman, Palaeo
1990-3 Cheddon Fitzpaine, Nerrols Farm, fieldwalking, evaluation, geophysical (Clements, 1991; Hawkes, 1992;
Luckett, 1993 - PSANHS notes; McDonnell, 1991a,b; AC Archaeology 1992b; Cheddon Field Group,
1992) Roman
1991-2 Hankridge Farm, evaluation (Wessex Archaeology 1992) Iron Age/ Roman?, C12 farm site
1993 Bishops Hull Church, observations (McCrone, 1993a) C19 Floor/vaults
1993 Hankridge Farm, watching brief (Wessex Archaeology 1993)
1994 Norton Fitzwarren Hillfort, watching brief (McCrone, 1994) C19 rubbish
1995 Hankridge Farmhouse, watching brief (Wessex Archaeology 1995/38244)
1997 Maidenbrook Farm, evaluation by BUFAU, ongoing, appears negative, 2 ditches SW of farm
82
VIII. COMPONENT INDEXES
1. Component to map
Component Map Component Map
TAU/101 A TAU/420 D,E9
TAU/102 A TAU/421 C
TAU/103 A TAU/422 D
TAU/104 A TAU/423 C,D
TAU/106 A TAU/425 C
TAU/107 A TAU/426 C
TAU/109 A TAU/428 D
TAU/110 A TAU/429 E5
TAU/111 A TAU/430 D
TAU/112 A TAU/431 C
TAU/113 A TAU/432 C
TAU/201 A TAU/433 C
TAU/202 A TAU/434 D
TAU/301 B TAU/440 E8
TAU/305 D TAU/444 A,E2
TAU/306 B TAU/445 D
TAU/307 E2 TAU/447 C
TAU/308 E3 TAU/448 E8
TAU/309 E9 TAU/449 E5
TAU/310 B TAU/501 C
TAU/311 B TAU/502 C
TAU/312 B TAU/503 D
TAU/401 C TAU/504 C,D,E8
TAU/402 C TAU/505 C,D
TAU/403 C TAU/506 E1
TAU/405 D TAU/508 E6
TAU/407 C TAU/510 C,D,E
TAU/408 C,D TAU/511 E7
TAU/409 C,D TAU/512 E7
TAU/416 E5 TAU/519 E9
83
TAU/523 E3 TAU/611 F
TAU/524 E4 TAU/612 F,G
TAU/525 E8 TAU/613 G
TAU/526 E3 TAU/61 F
TAU/527 C,D,E TAU/615 F,G
TAU/529 E8 TAU/617 F
TAU/532 D TAU/620 F,G
TAU/533 C,D TAU/621 G
TAU/538 E3 TAU/701 H
TAU/601 F,G TAU/704 H
TAU/604 F TAU/707 H
TAU/605 F TAU/708 H
TAU/607 F TAU/710 H
TAU/608 F
TAU/609 F
TAU/610 F,G
2. Component to page
TAU/101 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8, 59, 82
TAU/102 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8, 11, 82
TAU/103 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7, 82
TAU/104 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9, 82
TAU/105 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9, 82
TAU/106 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8, 9, 82
TAU/107 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6, 48, 82
TAU/108 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10, 82
TAU/109 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6, 7, 82
TAU/110 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9, 82
TAU/111 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8, 12, 55, 82
TAU/112 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8, 9, 82
TAU/113 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9, 82
TAU/201 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13, 82
TAU/202 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10, 12, 82
TAU/203 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11, 82
TAU/204 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12, 82
TAU/205 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9, 11, 12, 82
TAU/206 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13, 82
TAU/207 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11, 82
TAU/301 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14, 82
TAU/302 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17, 82
TAU/303 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13, 15, 29, 82
TAU/304 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14, 82
84
TAU/305 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32, 60, 82
TAU/306 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18, 82
TAU/307 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47, 82
TAU/308 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48, 82
TAU/309 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56, 82
TAU/310 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16, 28, 82
TAU/311 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17, 82
TAU/312 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39, 60, 82
TAU/401 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23, 82
TAU/402 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29, 82
TAU/403 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35, 82
TAU/404 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26, 28, 82
TAU/405 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31, 82
TAU/406 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41, 82
TAU/407 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22, 82
TAU/408 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22, 60, 82
TAU/409 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40, 82
TAU/410 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41, 82
TAU/411 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34, 82
TAU/412 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31, 82
TAU/413 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33, 82
TAU/414 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32, 82
TAU/415 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37, 82
TAU/416 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46, 52, 82
TAU/417 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14, 20, 82
TAU/418 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32, 82
TAU/419 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36, 82
TAU/420 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39, 60, 82
TAU/421 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41, 82
TAU/422 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39, 82
TAU/423 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38, 82
TAU/424 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37, 82
TAU/425 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27, 82
TAU/426 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35, 82
TAU/427 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19, 82
TAU/428 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38, 82
TAU/429 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53, 82
TAU/430 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21, 82
TAU/431 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22, 82
TAU/432 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20, 82
TAU/433 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22, 82
TAU/434 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21, 82
TAU/435 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51, 82
TAU/436 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49, 82
TAU/437 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43, 82
TAU/438 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43, 82
TAU/439 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55, 82
TAU/440 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58, 82
TAU/441 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54, 82
TAU/442 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60, 82
TAU/443 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46, 82
TAU/444 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47, 82
TAU/445 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22, 82
TAU/446 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
TAU/447 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38, 82
85
TAU/448 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58, 82
TAU/449 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52, 82
TAU/501 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28, 82
TAU/502 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29, 82
TAU/503 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41, 82
TAU/504 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33, 58, 82
TAU/505 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40, 82
TAU/506 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43, 82
TAU/507 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51, 82
TAU/508 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54, 82
TAU/509 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44, 82
TAU/510 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20, 43, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 58, 60, 82
TAU/511 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56, 82
TAU/512 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56, 82
TAU/513 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55, 82
TAU/514 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57, 82
TAU/515 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53, 82
TAU/516 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44, 82
TAU/517 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45, 82
TAU/518 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44, 82
TAU/519 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60, 82
TAU/520 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46, 82
TAU/521 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47, 82
TAU/522 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49, 82
TAU/523 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49, 83
TAU/524 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51, 83
TAU/525 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59, 83
TAU/526 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50, 83
TAU/527 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21, 52, 58, 83
TAU/528 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53, 83
TAU/529 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8, 59, 83
TAU/530 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59, 83
TAU/531 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45, 83
TAU/532 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28, 43, 83
TAU/533 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22, 83
TAU/534 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45, 83
TAU/535 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46, 83
TAU/536 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48, 83
TAU/537 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48, 83
TAU/538 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50, 83
TAU/539 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57, 83
TAU/540 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60, 83
TAU/601 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62, 63, 67, 83
TAU/602 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65, 68, 83
TAU/603 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62, 63, 67, 83
TAU/604 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65, 83
TAU/605 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62, 63, 83
TAU/606 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61, 67, 83
TAU/607 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65, 83
TAU/608 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66, 83
TAU/609 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63, 83
TAU/610 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65, 69, 83
TAU/611 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64, 83
TAU/612 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64, 68, 83
TAU/613 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68, 83
86
TAU/614 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
TAU/615 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62, 67, 83
TAU/616 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68, 83
TAU/617 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64, 83
TAU/618 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66, 69, 83
TAU/619 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64, 68, 83
TAU/620 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66, 69, 83
TAU/621 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69, 83
TAU/622 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67, 83
TAU/623 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65, 68, 83
TAU/624 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67, 83
TAU/625 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67, 83
TAU/701 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70, 83
TAU/702 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70, 83
TAU/703 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70, 83
TAU/704 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70, 83
TAU/705 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70, 83
TAU/706 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71, 83
TAU/707 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70, 83
TAU/708 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71, 83
TAU/709 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71, 83
TAU/710 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71, 83
Ma A - PrchIstnrIc and Rnman

Ma B - 5axnn tnwn

Ma C - McdIcva! cnrc

Ma D - rc-1800 tnwn ccntrc
Key: Components shown on earlier maps are shown in yellow.

Ma E - rc-1800 sctt!cmcnt (kcv ma)
E1 Bishops Hull
E2 Cheddon Fitzpaine
E3 Norton Fitzwarren
E4 Staplegrove
E5 Taunton St James
E6 Taunton St Mary
E7 Trull
E8 West Monkton
E9 Wilton

Ma F - 19
th
ccnturv tnwn ccntrc

Ma G - 19
th
ccnturv nutcr arcas

Ma H - 20
th
ccnturv

Ma I - ExIstIng cnnstraInts (ccntra! arca)
Key: Scheduled Monuments (dark blue),
Listed Buildings Grade I (light blue)
Grade II* (light green)
Grade II (dark green)
Conservation Area (light green)
Area of High Archaeological Potential (pink)

Archeology Taunton

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Archeology Taunton

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English Heritage Extensive Urban Survey

Ma A - PrchIstnrIc and Rnman

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