History
"The settlement on the River Isle" was one of the possessions of Athelney Abbey until the dissolution of the monasteries.
The current hamstone Ilford Bridge probably dates from the early 18th century when it was on the Curry Rivel to Chard turnpike road. The current A303 is just south of the village.
East of the village is a moated site which is all that remains of Merryfield (or Muryfield), which was the seat of the Wadham family. In the 17th century it was home to Nicholas and Dorothy Wadham, benefactors of Wadham College, Oxford.
In the 18th century the Chard Canal was built close to the village. This had been intended as a part of a ship canal, passable by vessels of up to 200 tons, between the Bristol Channel and the English Channel, but was never completed.
North of the village is the Merryfield aerodrome, which served as a bomber base in World War II, reopened as HMS Heron II, RNAS Merryfield and was then used for helicopter training.
Ilton Halt was a small station on the Chard Branch Line which closed in 1962. It included a platform of concrete construction.
Read more about this topic: Ilton
Famous quotes containing the word history:
“All things are moral. That soul, which within us is a sentiment, outside of us is a law. We feel its inspiration; out there in history we can see its fatal strength.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
““And now this is the way in which the history of your former life has reached my ears!” As he said this he held out in his hand the fatal letter.”
—Anthony Trollope (1815–1882)
“Every literary critic believes he will outwit history and have the last word.”
—Mason Cooley (b. 1927)