Taunton Castle
| Taunton Castle is a Grade 1-Listed Scheduled Ancient Monument standing at the heart of Somerset’s county town. It is Taunton’s most important secular historic monument.
Dating from the 12th century, Taunton Castle was for centuries the administrative centre of the great manor of Taunton Deane, owned by the Bishops of Winchester from AD 904 to1822. It achieved notoriety in 1685 as the setting for Judge Jeffreys’ Bloody Assizes following the Monmouth Rebellion.
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The Castle was purchased in 1874 by the Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society as a location for its new museum. The Society leased the Castle and its museum collections to Somerset County Council in 1958, an arrangement which continues to this day.
Taunton Castle is now the home of the Somerset County Museum. The Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society also retains its headquarters in the Castle.
Somerset County Council has recently been awarded a £4.8 million grant to restore Taunton Castle. Find out more.
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