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 |
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The Battle of Sedgemoor Visitors' Centre |
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| The Battle of Sedgemoor memorial at Westonzoyland. |
The Battle of Sedgemoor Visitors' Centre was opened on 4th April 2012
Occurring on 6th July 1685, the Battle of Sedgemoor lasted barely 5 hours yet it had far-reaching consequences. Why did it occur, who was involved, what happened afterwards? The answers to these and other questions are provided through a series of displays and an interactive kiosk that shows a short film of a Battle re-enactment performed by the Sealed Knot. The Visitors’ Centre is located in St Mary’s Church Westonzoyland, where prisoners were held after the battle.
The Visitors’ Centre is the starting place for The
Family Activity Trail, which leads to the Battlefield Memorial, a
walk of about 1 hour.
A copy of the Visitors' Centre leaflet can be found here:
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 are to be found at the Battle of Sedgemoor Visitors' Centre within the Church and display boards around the around the village.
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 working to raise finances to meet our charitable needs and are in the process of further developing the dedicated Battle of Sedgemoor Visitors' Centre within the Church to display the story of the battle.
Donations of any amount would be gratefully received by using the secure Donate button on the left.
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? Have a look at the lists in the Gallery section of this site.
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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:
