Wellington,

Wellington, a market-town of Somerset, 7 miles SW. of Taunton, near the Tone and the foot of the Black Downs (900 feet), which were crowned in 1817 by a Wellington obelisk. The 'Great Duke' took for some unknown motive his titles from this place; and its manor (held formerly by King Alfred, Asser, Aldhelm, the Protector Somerset, the Pophams, &c.) was purchased for him in 1813. The large Perpendicular church has a Jacobean monument to Chief-justice Popham; and T. S. Baynes was a native. Serges and other woollen goods are manufactured. Pop. (1851) 4601; (1891) 6808. See A. L. Humphrey's History of Wellington (1890).