Pre-History
183 millions years ago the land that is now Ilminster was under the sea. The waters were shallow and home to small fish, dragonflies and many other insects. Many of these creatures can now be found fossilised all over Ilminster.
First Millennium
~500AD – The Romans left Britain and Saxon invaders settled in the Ile Valley.
693AD or 725AD (disputed) – It is believed the settlement of Ilminster was originally granted to the Benedictine of Muchelney Abbey.
995AD – The first certain reference of Ilminster in King Etherlred’s Confirmation which returned the estates to the Benedictine of Muchelney Abbey after a time of disturbance. It was granted a Town Charter with a right to hold a weekly market.
1086 – Ilminster is mentioned in the Doomsday Book as a possession of Muchelney Abbey with a population of about 50 working families on 20 hides (~240 acres).
1280 – The Abbot took advantage of his right to hold a market on Saturdays and an annual fair.
~1450 – St. Mary’s Church and tower were built on the site of an older Saxon structure.
1491 – A large fire devastated much of the town, most of the buildings were destroyed as they were made from wood and thatch.
1528 – What is now The Dolphin pub was built to house the Masons repairing and extending the Minster church, it later became a post house.
1538 – The title of The Lordship of the Manor of Ilminster was granted to Edward Seymour, the Earl of Hertfordshire.
1539 – Dissolution of Muchelney Abbey. The population of Ilminster hits 1000.
1549 – Ilminster Grammar School was founded by Humpry Waldron and Henry Greenfield.
~1611 – The Minster Church (St. Mary’s) is completed and its oldest bell is dated 1611. Two other bells are cast by the Bilbie family, one by Thomas in 1732 and another by William in 1790.
1661 – A second great fire breaks out in the town, it was believed to be started by accident in a blacksmiths shop. The fire was so devastating “poor notices” were read out in churches up and down the country asking for donations.
1685 – James Scott, The 1st Duke of Monmouth camped in Ilminster before the battle of Sedgemoor.
1688 – The start of prosperous times for Ilminster. With a boom in the cloth industry and the development of other industries in the town.
1689 – Dissenters start meetings for nonconformist worship, taking advantage if the Toleration Act.
1753 – Anne Speke inherits Dillington estate and three years later marries Lord North, who becomes Prime Minister in 1770.
1768 – Turnpike trust roads with toll gates linked Ilminster with Taunton, Chard, Crewkerne, Yeovil and Langport.
1771 – Summerlands House in Brewery Lane is purchased as a workhouse for the town.
1809 – Due to the opening of the new London to Exeter road, Ilminster becomes an important coaching town.
1827 – John Hanning Speke is born, in 1862 he discovered the source of the River Nile in Africa.
1839 – New road is opened at the Beacon replacing “Old Road” to Langport joining the original road to Ashwell.
1840 – Samuel Paull purchases Ilminster workhouse on Brewery Lane and opens Paull’s Brewery.
1842 – Ilminster Canal is opened linking Bridgwater Canal to Chard Canal.
1853 – National School for Infants and Girls erected on North Street, funded by voluntary contribution.
1866 – Ilminster Canal is closed and replaced by the Taunton to Chard railway which called at Ilminster Station on Station Road.
1867 – Ilminster Girls Grammar School is opened in the old Boys Grammar School behind the church and the Boys Grammar School is moved to a new premises on Silver Street which later became Greenfylde School.
1899 – Ilminster Urban District Council is formed due to local government reform.
1941 – Summervale Estate (now Summerlands) was built for workers in the newly built Standard Telephone factory in Dowlish Ford which was relocated from London as part of the war effort.
1962 – Ilminster Station closed due to the reduction or routes and restructuring of the railways.
1971 – The Boys and Girls Grammar Schools close due to the restructuring of the education system.
1974 – A merger of local councils saw Ilminster Urban District Council become South Somerset District Council.
1988 – The A303 Ilminster bypass opens due to the increase in road traffic, moving large volumes of traffic away from the town.