Gazetteer of
British Place Names

Wiveliscombe is a historic market town located on the edge of the Vale of Taunton Deane in western Somerset. The town has Saxon origins. By the 13th century, it had become a significant administrative and religious centre, serving as a summer residence for the Bishops of Bath and Wells, who built a palace here. The town grew into a prosperous hub for the wool and cloth trade, particularly famous for producing 'Wiveliscombe Whites'. In the 18th and 19th centuries, it transitioned into a major centre for brewing, notably as the home of Hancock’s Brewery, an industry which continues. The Church of St Andrew (C of E), rebuilt in 1829 in the Gothic Revival style by Richard Carver, stands on the site of a mediæval church. Wiveliscombe Town Hall was also built, in 1840, by Richard Carver for Lord Ashburton. The town is within the council area of Somerset.

Place Type: Town
Historic County: Somerset
Lat, Long: 51.042371,-3.3127102
Grid Reference: ST 0806 2782
Civil Parish: Wiveliscombe CP
Council Area: Somerset CA
Police Area: Avon and Somerset PA

GBPN ID: 50353
Entry Type: Main listing (P)
URL: https://gazetteer.org.uk/place/Wiveliscombe,_Somerset_50353

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