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Wellington (St. John the Baptist)

WELLINGTON (St. John the Baptist), a market-town and parish, and the head of a union, forming, with the parish of West Buckland, one of the two unconnected portions which comprise the W. division of the hundred of Kingsbury, in the W. division of Somerset, 149 miles (W. S. W.) from London; containing 5595 inhabitants. The town is situated on the main road from Bath to Exeter, and of late years has been much improved, many of the streets having been paved, and a few of the old houses removed. The manufacture of druggets and serges was formerly carried on to a considerable degree, and still prevails, though on a limited scale. The Grand Western canal, from Bridgwater to Tiverton, passes near the place, and affords much facility for the increase of its trade; the Bristol and Exeter railway, also, runs through the parish. During the possession of the manor by the bishops of Wells, a charter was obtained for a market and two fairs; the former is held on Thursday, principally for corn, and the latter on the Thursdays before Easter and Whitsuntide. The market-house being in a very dilapidated condition, and not affording suitable accommodation, his Grace the Duke of Wellington, lord of the manor, granted a lease for 99 years, and the inhabitants erected a new edifice, by subscription on shares. The government of the town is in a bailiff and subordinate officers, chosen at the annual court leet held for the manor. The powers of the county debt-court of Wellington, established in 1847, extend over the registration-district of Wellington. The parish comprises 4710 acres, of which 42 are common or waste land.

The living is a vicarage, with the living of West Buckland annexed, valued in the king's books at £15. 10. 2½.; net income, £894; patron, the Rev. W. P. Thomas. The church is a handsome edifice, with an embattled tower crowned by pinnacles; and has two sepulchral chapels, in one of which is a splendid monument to the memory of Sir John Popham, Knt., lord chief justice of England in the reigns of Elizabeth and James I., ornamented with a profusion of effigies and carved work. The Rev. Mr. Thomas has erected an elegant chapel, at his own expense, near the west end of the town; it is dedicated to the Holy Trinity. There are places of worship for Baptists, the Society of Friends, Independents, and Wesleyans; also almshouses, for six men and six women, founded in 1604, and endowed with land by Sir John Popham; the master and matron being directed to instruct children. The poor-law union comprises 24 parishes or places, 19 of which are in Somerset, and 5 in Devon; and contains a population of 21,777. Wellington confers the titles of Viscount, Earl, Marquess, and Duke, on that distinguished military commander, Arthur Wellesley, Prince of Waterloo; the first title created Sept. 4th, 1809; the second, Feb. 28th, 1812; the third, August 18th, of the same year; and the fourth, May 3rd, 1814. At a short distance from the town is a magnificent pillar, erected by public subscription, in commemoration of the signal victory obtained by his Grace on the plain of Waterloo, in 1815.


Transcribed from A Topographical Dictionary of England, by Samuel Lewis, seventh edition, published 1858.

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