History

This is one of the largest villages in Somerset and it is well worth exploring for its many fine Georgian buildings. It retains its medieval street pattern around the church which is on a central prominence. Its name was perhaps taken from the old Town Mill to the north of the village. Although the present building dates from the 18th century (and was still used for grinding corn well into the 20th century), there has been a mill on the site since Saxon times. The Domesday survey of 1086 shows that Milverton was then a substantial place with one of only seven recorded markets in the whole of Somerset. The village seems to have gone into some decline after this period. The woollen industry became, for centuries, the mainstay of the population. It was a cottage industry, with many spinning wheels and looms being worked throughout the village. The weavers of Milverton came to be renowned for their serges, druggets and baizes. As there were no textile mills in Milverton the products of the cottagers were sent to the mills of the Were (later Fox) family at Wellington for finishing and distribution.These were prosperous times again, and the resulting houses now grace the streets of the village, the best of which is North Street.

For access to the transcripts of Milverton parish registers (banns, baptisms, burials and marriages) from 14th century to the start of the 20th century, click here.