Ilminster is a small but thriving Somerset town with a rich history. Nestled in the rolling South Somerset countryside, just off the A303 between Yeovil and Taunton, it's well worth a visit.
The historic town was once one of the biggest and most important settlements in the area, but now it has population of less than 6,000. Despite its small size, it boasts a vibrant and bustling town centre with many fantastic independent shops.
Historic buildings, steep hills and narrow streets characterize Ilminster as a one-of-a-kind Somerset destination. It's been a jewel in Somerset's crown for at least 1,300 years.
READ MORE: Posh Somerset gastropub begins ambitious expansion
Ilminster is named in documents dating from 725AD, and it was mentioned in the Domesday Book written in 1086AD as Ileminstre meaning "The church on the River Isle". Around this time Ilminster was a flourishing community and was granted the right to hold a weekly market, which it still does today.
Ilminster was extremely prosperous by the later medieval period, largely because of its textile industry, and the town grew around its magnificent Minster church, which dates from 1450 and still stands today. Some of its oldest buildings are still close to the churchyard, including the old grammar school.
However, in 1491, Ilminster suffered a major fire and "was never fully rebuilt after the catastrophe", according to John Collinson in his 1791 book, The History and Antiquities of the County of Somerset . Then in 1661, there was another major fire in the town, this one being followed by appeals read up and down the country.
Despite all this, Ilminster was still the fourth largest town in Somerset in 1670. It was a regional centre for the cloth, ropemaking and gloving industries, and was also surrounded by orchards.
In Victorian times the bustling town was an important staging post for travellers with key east-west and north-south routes converging there. But in 1988 Ilminster was bypassed, with the A303 directing traffic around the town, and since then it has become a much more quiet and peaceful location.
READ MORE: Busy Co-op store in trendy Somerset village put up for sale
Today, Ilminster is a great destination for a day trip, with the town centre featuring a traditional market square and narrow streets crammed with mellow hamstone architecture. It's well-known for its large variety of independent shops.
Andrassy Living is a curated home and design store that recently opened at 28 East Street and is the perfect place to buy items that are handpicked for their "genuine uniqueness", according to owner Sophie Martin. She wants her customers to find something special, whether it is for themselves or a loved one, with the store featuring a wide range of individual pieces.
Ilminster is also home to a new store for Temperley London, Alice Temperley's eponymous fashion label, at Phoenix Studios. The trendy 22,000 square foot Victorian building is a multi-purpose headquarters housing the brand’s design atelier and a training workshop; a store offering both current collections and archive pieces, and a bar - The Somerset - which serves cocktails and cider from her parents' orchards at Burrow Hill.
Elsewhere across the town centre, independent coffee shops meet stylish bars and well-regarded restaurants, offering relaxed fine dining or home cooked food options, with a choice of classic British or international dishes. The town also boasts a butchers, hardware shop, gift shop, pharmacy and high street favourites such as Co-op and Tesco.
Ilminster's 18th century Meeting House is a thriving arts centre with gallery, local information centre and café and the quaint Warehouse Theatre in Brewery Lane stages many different events, shows and cinema screenings. The town is also surrounded by a number of beautiful stately homes, including National Trust's Barrington Court and Dillington House.
