ILMINSTER NEWS: History information board is unveiled

PEOPLE of all ages looked on as a new information board with historical facts about 1,000 years of life in Ilminster was officially unveiled.

The board has been installed on the wall of the Old Bank Building next to the Co-op in the Market Square and children from Greenfylde First School and Swanmead School were among those at the unveiling ceremony last Tuesday (November 15, 2016).

The information board has been an Ilminster Rotary Club project and funded by a legacy left by former Rotarian John Storey.

Rotarian Tony Walker, himself the Deputy Mayor of Ilminster, was delighted to see the long-awaited project come to fruition.

“It is great to see children here from Greenfylde and Swanmead as they will continue to pass down the history of Ilminster to the next generation,” he said.

Pupils from Greenfylde said that Ilminster was a “special town” and that they wanted to “shape and share” its future.

Mr Walker thanked everyone who had been involved in the project including Ilminster Town Council who will maintain the information board and those giving permission for it to be hung on the wall of the Old Bank Building for all to enjoy.

Also present at the unveiling was the Mayor of Ilminster, Cllr Val Keitch, and Ilminster Rotary Club president Harley Pope who both congratulated Mr Walker on a “job well done.”

PHOTO - RIGHT: Harley Pope, president of Ilminster Rotary Club, along with fellow Rotarian Tony Walker.

Peter Speke also gave a brief resume of the Battle of Sedgemoor of 1685 which was fought at Westonzoyland on the outskirts of Bridgwater between the forces of James Scott, the 1st Duke of Monmouth, and troops loyal to James II.

It was the final battle of the ill-fated Monmouth Rebellion and followed a series of skirmishes around South-West England.

PHOTO - RIGHT: Children from Greenfylde First School.

The Duke of Monmouth, who is understood to have attended church services at the Minster, recruited troops from the Ilminster area.

One of Mr Speke’s ancestors, Charles Speke, was hanged from a large tree in the Market Square of Ilminster as a result of Judge Jeffreys’ Bloody Assizes which were held in the aftermath of the Battle of Sedgemoor which saw hundreds of rebels executed for supporting the Duke of Monmouth.

Mr Speke said: “I’m very proud of Ilminster – this wonderful market town – and it’s extraordinary history.”

PHOTO - ABOVE: Peter Speke and Tony Walker.

PHOTO - ABOVE: Children from Greenfylde First School.

PHOTO - ABOVE: The unveiling of the history information board.

PHOTO - ABOVE: Pictured (from left) are Peter Speke, Ilminster Rotary Club president Harley Pope, Ilminster Mayor Cllr Val Keitch; and Ilminster Rotarian Tony Walker, who is also Deputy Mayor of Ilminster.

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