Ilchester

Ilchester
Street scene showing a pub the Ilchester Arms on the left with several other buildings leading to a church tower.
Ilchester is located in Somerset
Ilchester
Ilchester
Location within Somerset
Population2,153 (2011)[1]
OS grid referenceST522226
• London124 mi (200 km) ENE
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townYEOVIL
Postcode districtBA22
Dialling code01935
PoliceAvon and Somerset
FireDevon and Somerset
AmbulanceSouth Western
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Somerset
51°00′04″N 2°40′57″W / 51.0011°N 2.6825°W / 51.0011; -2.6825

Ilchester is a village and civil parish, situated on the River Yeo or Ivel, five miles north of Yeovil, in the English county of Somerset. Originally a Roman town, and later a market town, Ilchester has a rich medieval history and was a notable settlement in the county; around the 12th and 13th centuries it was effectively the county town. It had, however, declined in size and importance by the beginning of the 18th century,[2] and the last markets were held in 1833.[3] In 1889 the historic corporation that had governed the town (the Bailiff and Burgesses) was dissolved.[4]

Ilchester is alternatively called Ivelchester (after the River Ivel) and the electoral ward of South Somerset District Council is named Ivelchester.[5]

  1. ^ "Statistics for Wards, LSOAs and Parishes — SUMMARY Profiles" (Excel). Somerset Intelligence. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
  2. ^ Ilchester Parish Council Archived 22 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine A Brief History
  3. ^ Local Histories Ilchester
  4. ^ Ilchester Parish Council Archived 22 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine - Ilchester Town Trust
  5. ^ South Somerset District Council Archived 28 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine Ivelchester ward profile (2011 census)