Williton

Williton is a large village and civil parish in Somerset, England, at the junction of the A39, A358 and B3191 roads, on the coast 2 miles (3.2 km) south of Watchet between Minehead, Bridgwater and Taunton in the now-defunct Somerset West and Taunton district.

[2] Until 1902 Williton was part of the ancient parish of Saint Decuman,[3] which included also the town of Watchet.

In the time of Edward the Elder the manor at Wiilitun was a royal hunting estate; its only pre-Conquest mention is in Edward's charter to the priory at Taunton, in which the prior and monks are enjoined to provide board and lodging for a single night, when the king was progressing, with dogs and falcons and their keepers, "ad Curig vel Willittun", "to Curry or else Williton".

Agriculture has been the prime activity in the parish while Williton village became a local government and communal centre.

Unmanned target aircraft were towed by planes from RAF Weston Zoyland and later were fired from catapults over the sea.

The parish council's role also includes initiating projects for the maintenance and repair of parish facilities, as well as consulting with the district council on the maintenance, repair, and improvement of highways, drainage, footpaths, public transport, and street cleaning.

Conservation matters (including trees and listed buildings) and environmental issues are also the responsibility of the council.

All other services and administrative functions are the responsibility of Somerset Council, a unitary authority established in April 2023.

The village previously fell within the non-metropolitan district of Somerset West and Taunton, which was established on 1 April 2019.

[14] It is also part of the Tiverton and Minehead county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

Williton Hospital, off North Street, is a part of the Somerset Coast Primary Care Trust but does not have a casualty department.

St Peters Church of England First School was opened on its present site in Doniford Road in 1996.

The date of the origin of St Peter's Church in Bridge Street is uncertain but it is believed that God has been worshiped on the site for more than 1000 years.

The status of the Church changed dramatically in 1170 when The Lord of the manor, Sir Reginald Fitzurse, became one of the murderers of St Thomas a Becket.

The Liber Albus manuscripts in Wells Cathedral library show Robert gave to the Church of St Decuman, Watchet some important property and certain rights in the chapel.

The church fell into a state if disrepair and in 1856 suffered a rather over enthusiastic restoration under the architect Charles Edmund Giles.

[17] The Priest responsible for the big restoration of 1856/59, Samuel Heathcote (at the Church 1854 to 1906), was appointed Perpetual Curate but was signing the registers as Vicar from 21 November 1889 showing that Williton had become a parish separate from Watchet.

A new community hall (Williton Pavilion) has now been built after many years of fund raising and a National Lottery grant.

There is also a riding school located on Roughmore industrial estate open to anyone who wants to learn the equestrian arts.

The Bowmen of Danesfied[21] a local West Somerset Archery club shoot at Danesfield School.

West Somerset Council offices in the village
The Bakelite Museum
Williton fire station
St Peter's Church
Williton Station