VISITORS with a little bit of time to spare should try to see as much of Ilminster as possible, this is easily done on foot and the first port of call should be the Tourist Information Centre located at the Meeting House Arts Centre in East Street.
St Mary's Church / The Minster
St Mary's Church or The Minster as it is also known, is one of the finest parish churches in the country. It has some intriguing features, from its beautiful new engraved glass doors to the slugs and snails on the reredos!
For information about services please visit www.it-anglican.org.
Court Barton
Behind St Mary's Church lies Court Barton. This area is pure tranquility with the Old Grammar School buildings, Crosse House with its Georgian windows and Tuscan porch and the Chantry with its 15th century doorway. Although there is little to show that here was the court where the Abbots of Muchelney held sway for some five centuries, the atmosphere lingers.
The Market House
The Market House in the middle of town provides shelter from the West Country rain, and is surrounded by a wonderful collection of Georgian and Victorian buildings and some more recent ones.
Meeting House Arts Centre
The Meeting House Arts Centre (originally The Unitarian Church) contains an art gallery with works by local and, sometimes, national artists. The exhibitions change monthly and can range from the traditional to the bizarre - they seldom fail to evoke comment.
There is a lunch time café and for the musically minded a regular programme of concerts, jamming sessions and the occasional dance.
The Meeting House is also home to the Ilminster Tourist Information Centre.
Visit the Event Directory for further details about what's going on at the Meeting House Arts Centre.
The West End
Ilminster's West End is home to the Warehouse Theatre. Established a few years ago by a dedicated band of thespians, it puts on an amazingly high standard of production; sometimes it is difficult to remember they are in fact amateurs. There are professional performances too and Ilminster's cinema club shows its films there.
Visit the Club & Association Directory for further details about clubs and associations in Ilminster.
Shops
Ilminster still boasts a range of traditional shops including a real hardware shop, an exceptional garden shop, a proper butchers and a wonderful delicatessen.
For pure Edwardian perfection you have to visit Dyers, the haberdashers opposite the Minster. It has an unchanged interior and if you want anything in the clothing line you will almost certainly find it there.
Visit the Business Directory for a full list of shops in Ilminster.
Herne Hill
Herne Hill is situated to the South West of Ilminster. It is owned by the Town Council and is about 25 acres in size. It contains a two-mile nature trail and over the past two decades has been afforested with a variety of species that give any visitor an insight into Somerset’s flora and fauna.
The hill is a picture in the springtime when its slopes are awash with bluebells. The discerning eye will note the ancient Parish boundary bank to the southern edge and further exploration will reveal banks and ditches of what was for some five hundred years, if not more, the south eastern corner of the ancient Donyatt Deer Park.
Further information about Herne Hill and its nature trail can be found in a leaflet that is available from the Ilminster Tourist Information Centre.
Country Houses
South Somerset boasts a number of fine 16th century country houses. Montacute and Barrington are both major houses owned by the National Trust, there is Dillington House just north of Ilminster and a few miles East and West of the town are Whitelackington Manor and Whitestaunton Manor both in private ownership.
Dillington House is a wonderful Tudor mansion run by Somerset County Council as a residential centre for professional development, adult education and the arts. The main house dates back to the 16th century and is one of the most beautiful houses in Somerset. The parkland setting is superb and the gardens and arboretum delightful.
