Taunton Walk: Town Centre【4K】

Located in the southwestern county of Somerset is the town of Taunton.

The name Taunton literally means "Tone Town", or "town on the River Tone" in reference to the river which flows through it. In the 9th century Taunton became one of a network of fortified settlements under Alfred the Great. It had accrued a population of around 1,500 by the time the Normans invaded in 1066.

Taunton was an industrial town as early as the 13th century, when it became a producer of wool, with the aid of fulling mills. These were a system of wooden hammers which pounded the wool in water to clean and thicken it after it was woven, powered by watermills. The wool was being exported to France by the 15th century, and to Africa by the 16th century.

A fine example of genuine Tudor architecture can be seen on Fore Street. The Tudor Tavern, seen just after the 3-minute mark, was completed in 1578, and is Grade I Listed.

During the Civil War in the 17th century Taunton was initially garrisoned by Parliamentary forces. A Royalist army took the town and held it for a year before it was recaptured by the Parliamentarians. Further attempts were made by the Royalists to reclaim it, but Taunton Castle withstood their advances. Following the 1660 Restoration of the Monarchy, Charles II ordered the part-destruction of Taunton Castle and revoked the town's charter in retaliation for its Parliamentary loyalties. The charter was, however, restored in 1677.

In 1685 a rebellion against King James II, successor to Charles II, took place in South West England. James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth claimed to be the rightful heir to the throne as the eldest son of Charles II. However, as he was an illegitimate son this was alleged to be an act of treason. Nevertheless, he garnered support across the South West, starting in Lyme Regis in Dorset, and culminating right here in Taunton where he was proclaimed King at the Market Cross (seen at the 4-minute mark). However, he was later captured by those loyal to James II, and was taken to the Tower of London. You can perhaps guess the rest.

Taunton expanded rapidly in the following centuries, becoming the county town of Somerset in 1935. It is home to Somerset County Cricket Club, who play at the County Ground on the south bank of the River Tone. The town is also famed for its cider production. In 1805 a small business formed, making cider in the nearby village of Norton Fitzwarren. This would go on to become the Taunton Cider Company in 1912.

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Filmed: 26th April 2021

Link to the walk on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/pM91rjEdVLV3BSFq7

Filmed on a Sony FDR-AX700 with a Zhiyun Crane 2 and a Sony ECM-XYST1M Stereo Microphone.

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 High Street
3:03 Fore Street
4:33 Hammet Street & St Mary Magdalene Church
5:46 Church Square
6:11 Magdalene Street
7:09 East Street
7:40 Fore Street
9:05 North Street
11:57 The Bridge & River Tone
12:20 The Bridge
13:03 Bridge Street
14:36 Station Road