Wincanton

The town of Wincanton in Somerset lies at the edge of Blackmore Vale, part of the Stour valley and close to the borders of Dorset and Wiltshire. Before the Norman Conquest, the Britons, Danes and Saxons would battle here and during the reign of Edmund Ironside in the early 11^th century, the English defeated the Danes and forced them to leave England. Wincanton is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 and although the town is thought to have had a market in the medieval era, Wincanton was granted its official market charter in 1556. Battles continued here through the ages and it is in Wincanton in 1688 that William of Orange gained his first advantage over King James II. Sadly much of the history was destroyed in the fires of 1707 and 1747.

Wincanton offers ample amenities, shops, eateries and even a well known race track, providing 17 fixtures during the season and a venue for various other events. The best place in town to discover the history of the town and its people is at the Wincanton Museum, housed in a late 18^th century cottage, which is a Grade II listed building. The museum exhibits a fascinating collection of artefacts and documents and has a replica of a Victorian kitchen as well as a separate room devoted to World War I and World War II when American soldiers were stationed in the town prior to the D Day landings.

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