Ilchester, originally a Roman town named Lendinis, was the site of a fort and town on the Fosse Way, serving as one of two regional capitals for the Durotriges tribe. Throughout its extensive history, it has housed a Friary, a Nunnery, and a mint, and served as a base for Henry III of England.
By the 12th century, it had evolved into Somerset’s county town and during the civil war, it was the backdrop for several minor battles between Royalist and Parliamentary forces vying for control of bridges over the River Parrett and River Yeo.
The town also hosted the county gaol, which relocated three times during its 700-year existence - initially on the west side of what is now the High Street, then to the west side of Ilchester Bridge between 1322 and 1429.
READ MORE: Motorists Face Convictions in Somerset Courts
READ MORE: Fatal Crash In Somerset: VW Polo Driver Killed in Collision with Mini
By 1614, it had moved to a new building at Northover, on the north bank of the River Ivel, just downstream from the bridge. Today, only small remnants of the institution remain, but in its prime, up to 270 inmates - men, women and children - were incarcerated behind its walls until its closure in March 1943.
All that remains of the once infamous county gaol is the former bakehouse and washhouse converted into dwellings, still known as ‘the gaol cottages’. The town was also the designated location for executions - these traditionally occurred on common ground known as Gallows Field or Gallows Five Acres, up until 1811.
This field - where the A37 now crosses the brook - was the place where criminals from across Somerset were brought to meet their end. Between 1735 and 1799, a staggering 675 death sentences were issued, resulting in nearly 200 executions across Somerset. These are the ones confirmed to have occurred at Gallows Field in Ilchester. In its last 11 years of operation, the fields also witnessed the demise of the following individuals:.
The executions were rowdy events - locals even dubbed them ‘hang-fairs’ and used them as an excuse to indulge in alcohol and merriment. The scenes of drunken chaos became so severe that authorities ordered the gallows to be relocated to the gaol, positioned atop the entrance block.
A decent view could still be obtained from the wharves across the river or from the bridge, which was teeming with spectators on execution days.
The first man to meet his end there was Joseph Bagg in 1813 for the crime of arson. He was succeeded by Samuel Evans (rape) and Thomas Chilcott (sheep theft) in September of that year.
In 1814, Sarah Owens and George Long were hanged there for housebreaking, followed by James Pearce for the murder of James Hellard. Two years later, James Marsh was executed for the murder of Robert Parsons, followed shortly after by Thomas Webb for Burglary.
In September 1816, James Gardner was hanged for the rape of a seven year old girl and in April 1817 John Bodmin (attempted murder), Joseph Turner (house breaking), Abraham Slade and Thomas Langdon (burglary) and John Pitts (sheep theft) made their final journey to the noose.
In 1818, Mark Sheppard was executed for murder, followed by William Pitcher for theft and Edward Blandy for highway robbery. Later that year, Robert Fry was also executed for forgery, alongside George Nuttycombe, who was convicted of uttering.
The following year, in 1819, William Sage and John Walkins were both put to death for sheep theft, with Charles Hibbert meeting the same fate for forgery.
In 1821, Duke Flower was hanged at the gaol for burglary, along with John Kew for highway robbery. The subsequent year, 1822, saw a spike in executions, with Benjamin Day (burglary), William Darch (arson), Benjamin Glover and George Puddy all being hanged for theft from a dwelling.
Later that year, Robert Chilcott was executed for bestiality, followed by George Steelman in 1823 for highway robbery and John Taylor for burglary.
In 1824, John Beard and Joseph Moon were both hanged at the gaol for highway robbery, followed by James Reynolds who was executed for the murder of Jacob Wilkins. The following year, 1825, witnessed the hangings of Phineas Radford for sheep theft, John Gill and John Willmot for horse theft, and Samuel Blanning and Henry York for highway robbery.
The next round of hangings took place in 1827 when James Clace and William Hewlett were executed for horse theft and sheep theft respectively. Thomas Wiltshire, William Kerslake and William Latchem were also hanged for burglary, as well as John Burton for robbery.
In 1828, Richard Gillam was executed for the murder of Mary Brignall and in 1829, John Bailey met his end for uttering, followed by Abraham Reed for murdering his wife. In 1831, Richard Hewlett was put to death for shooting at another individual, succeeded by Benjamin Barlett and David Gulleyford in 1832 for robbery and Nathaniel Watts for shooting at another.
George Hand was hanged for Arson in 1834, followed by William Howe and John Hoare in 1835 for the murder of John Harvey, and John Plumley for the killing of James Durnford.
Sophia Edney was executed in 1836 for the murder of her husband, while the dubious distinction of being the last man to be executed in Ilchester fell to Daniel Case on August 31, 1836, for arson.