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Taunton (Town in Somersetshire England)

a town in Somersetshire, England; in the valley of the Tone; 45 miles S. W. of Bristol. Here about 710, Ina, the West Saxon king, built a fortress, which, passing with the manor to the bishops of Winchester, was rebuilt by Bishop William in the first quarter of the 12th century. Added to in the 13th and 15th centuries, this castle received Perkin Warbeck (1497), and was held by Blake during his famous defense of the town (1644-1645). In its great hall, fitted up now as a museum, Judge Jeffreys opened the "Bloody Assize" hanging 134 and transporting 400 of the inhabitants of Taunton and the neighborhood who had accorded Monmouth an enthusiastic welcome (1685); and here too Sydney Smith made his "Mrs. Partington" speech (1831). The church of St. Mary Magdalene has a noble perpendicular tower 153 feet high (about 1500; rebuilt 1858-1862); and other buildings are the Elizabethan shire hall (1858), the municipal buildings (formerly the grammar school founded by Bishop Fox in 1522), King's College school (1880), Independent college (1847-1870), Wesleyan Institution (1843), Huish schools (1874), Bishop Fox's girls' school, hospital (1809-1873), barracks, etc. Formerly one of the great "clothier towns" of Somerset, Taunton now has shirt, collar, glove, and silk manufactures, with a large agricultural trade. Pop. about 22,500.