Westonzoyland is a busy thriving community with the tall tower of St Mary's Church standing at its centre, visible for many miles around. Westonzoyland stands on what was once a small island surrounded by peat marsh lying in a basin called the Somerset Levels. Glastonbury Abbey owned this Island by the early 8th century. The date of the first building on the site of St Mary's Church is not known, but there was a chapel in 1268 when the Abbot of Glastonbury agreed to repair and maintain its chancel. More detailed information on the history of the Church can be found in pamphlets available there.
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| St Mary's Church, Westonzoyland, Somerset |
The Zoyland Heritage Fund objectives are:
To advance the education of the public in the Battle of Sedgemoor and related history, including the role of St Mary's Church, Westonzoyland, Somerset.
The preservation of St Mary's Church, Westonzoyland, by the provision of grants to the Church's preservation fund
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| The Battle of Sedgemoor memorial at Westonzoyland. |
Westonzoyland and St Mary's Church have close associations with the Battle of Sedgemoor fought around the village on 6th July 1685. Some 500 prisoners, many wounded, were incarcerated in the Church overnight following the battle. More details and display boards are to be found within the Church and around the village. A browse through the pamphlets and display boards can lead to an enjoyable hour's stroll around the village and battlefield memorial following the Family Activity Trail.
More
details of the battle and the events running up to it and the
gruesome events following it can be found here:
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The first Duke of Monmouth… The title was created in 1663 for James Scott, the illegitimate son of Charles II, King of England, Scots and Ireland. The title was named after the marches town of Monmouth |
The Zoyland Heritage Fund is committed to ensuring the maintenance of the church as an historical building as well as a significant place of worship locally and wishes to further develop historical information about the battle and generally improve the visitor experience. We are looking to raise finances to meet our charitable needs. Current estimates put all costs including significant roof repairs to the church at £650,000. For this we expect to not only make the church watertight but also provide a dedicated visitor centre to display the story of the battle.
More details can be found here in our: Church Building Development Plan.
Perhaps one of your ancestors was one of the 1000 ’rebels’ who were killed, or one of the 320 who were executed or one of the 800 transported as bonded slaves?
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After his defeat at the Battle of Sedgemoor Monmouth flees but is captured and gruesomely beheaded in London. His followers suffer the “Bloody Assizes” under one of James II’s most notorious servants, Judge Jefferies |
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More pictures and documents can be found in the:
