Taunton Castle

Taunton Castle stands in the centre of Taunton, Somerset, on ground once used by Anglo-Saxons and later by bishops and soldiers. Its oldest parts date from the early 8th century when King Ine of Wessex built a fortification for defence. The Normans replaced it with a stone castle owned by the Bishops of Winchester. Today the inner ward contains the Museum of Somerset and the Somerset Military Museum, while the outer ward holds two hotels built to match the castle’s style. The castle witnessed key moments in English history. In 1216 Bishop Peter des Roches defended it during a barons’ revolt against King John. During the Civil War Colonel Robert Blake withstood a year-long siege by Royalist forces. In 1685 Judge Jeffreys held the Bloody Assizes in the Great Hall after the Monmouth Rebellion, sentencing 144 rebels to death. These events give the site its lasting importance. Visitors walk through the inner ward to reach the Great Hall, a 120-foot-long chamber with Norman walls altered by later centuries. The Adam Library, created in 1908–9, holds the society’s book collection. Outside, Castle Green marks the site of the outer bailey, while two crenellated hotels frame the entrance. The castle’s thick walls and restored gatehouse show how its purpose has changed from defence to public display.