Shepton Mallet

Shepton Mallet is a small rural town in Somerset, England, situated five miles to the east of Wells and just south of the Mendip hills. The town has a population of 8,440 (2002 estimate). The town contains the administrative headquarters of Mendip District Council.

Rich in history, the market cross in the town centre dates back to the 1500s. It boasts England's oldest prison still in use. National treasures such as the Domesday Book were kept safe here in World War II. Archeologists uncovered a significant amount of Roman artifacts in the early 1990s at a site adjacent to the nearby Fosse Way.

The town's first name derives from the Anglo-Saxon for sheep fold, pointing to the original source of the town's wealth. It was part of lands given to the Malet family by Henry I in 1100, making it one of the first double place names in the country.

Shepton Mallet was a site of one of the original gatherings of the Monmouth Rebellion, after Monmouth rallied troops there in 1685 after landing at Lyme Regis. Many rebels joined the cause, but Monmouth had to return to Shepton after failing to take Bath or Bristol.

The traditional wool and silk industries were joined by brewing in the 19th century. The Anglo-Bavarian Brewery , still a local landmark, was reputedly the first in England to brew lager. The town, home to Babycham, is still an important centre for cider production.

External links

• Shepton Mallet Online