Bed and Breakfast, near Wellington

Bed and Breakfast

Wellington
 in Somerset

Brambles Bed and Breakfast Tiverton
Whitnage, near Sampford Peverell, Tiverton, Devon
E-mail: info@bramblesbedandbreakfast.co.uk - Telephone: 01884 829211

Towns and Villages Index

Wellington is a small country town standing between the River Tone and the beautiful Blackdown Hills. It has a large number of speciality shops from which you can buy goods ranging from locally produced cheeses to New Age crystals. There are also several pubs and cafés and, as it is so close to Junction 26 of the M5, it is an ideal place to break a long journey. 

The earliest reference to the town is to be found in a grant made between 899 and 909 where it was called "Weolingtun". The town was also mentioned in the Domesday Book, which recorded that land at "Walintone" and West Buckland was being worked by 61 farmers, 65 smallholders and 32 serfs. Wellington Monument, built in honour of the Duke of Wellington, is a major landmark in the area and visible from many parts of the town. Although Arthur Wellesley took his title of "Viscount Wellington of Wellington and Talavera" from Wellington in Somerset in 1809, and later became Duke of Wellington, he is reputed to have visited the town only once (in 1819), even though he had an estate in the area. The monument, which is 175 ft. high, is on the highest point of the Blackdown Hills in what was the Duke's own land. The first stone was laid in 1817 and it was finally completed in 1892. The views from the Monument across the Vale of Taunton to the Bristol Channel and Exmoor are well worth seeing. 

Apart from the connection with the Duke of Wellington (the reason he chose Wellington for his title is unknown) the town of Wellington was also involved in the Monmouth Rebellion. The secret of the Duke of Monmouth's advance was discovered at the Half Moon Inn in North Street (now a small garden area) and this began a chain of events which led to Monmouth's eventual defeat at Sedgemoor. Sir John Popham (1533-1607) was a Lord Chief Justice of England who took part in the trials of Guy Fawkes, Mary Queen of Scots and Sir Walter Raleigh. The mansion he built in Wellington was destroyed during the Civil War and stood where there are now playing fields, south-east of The Court. His monument stands in Wellington Parish Church. Wellington Park, which was given to Wellington town by the Fox family in 1903, has recently been restored thanks to a Heritage Lottery grant. The park was designed by F W Meyer of Exeter firm Veitch and Sons and is an important example of late Victorian design. 

Wellington is a keen contender in the Britain in Bloom competition and last year again won the the Portman Cup for best medium-sized town in the South West. Wellington in Bloom are celebrating their 21st Birthday this year. Wellington is twinned with Immenstadt, Lillebonne and Torres Vedras.