Past and present

Wellington's History

Wellington is an historic town dating back more that eleven hundred years. The earliest reference to the town is found in a grant, made between 899 and 909, in which the King of Saxon England, Edward the Elder, gave the land of 'Weolingtun' and West Buckland, together with Bishops Lydeard to Bishop Asser, in exchange for the monastry of Plympton in Devon.

The Doomesday Book of 1086, records the land a 'Walintone' and West Buckland as being worked by 62 farmers, 65 smallholders and 32 serfs (or slaves).

St. Johns Church, which was originally dedicated to St. Mary the Virgin, is first mentioned in 1178. 

Wellington Today

Today, Wellington and Rockwell Green have a population approaching 14,000 and we are growing each year. With further housing developments already planned, we are likely to exceed 15,000 in the near future.

We have an active community with many groups working to maintain and improve the quality of life within the town. We rely heavily on the people who run and give up their time to support these organisations and we are always looking for new faces. In a recent survey of the town the one thing that was commented on was the friendly atmosphere.

Business in Wellington

Our business community is well represented by the Chamber of Trade and Commerce who work closely with the local authorities to promote the economic development of Wellington. We are proud of the variety and number of independent retail outlets in our town. Wellington is developing as a Food Town as our agricultural surroundings help to link producers with local retailers and customers.

Wellington in bloom

During the summer our town, many gardens and prize-winning park are ablaze with colour. 

The town regularly wins prizes in the regional Britain in Bloom competition.

 Arts and Leisure

Wellington has a great reputation for the arts. Our arts association provides a wide variety of events such as pantomimes, operatic shows, plays and musical events. We are proud of our local cinema which we believe provides an experience unrivalled in the area.

Wellington has a strong sports community providing a wide variety of sporting activites for the young, and not-so-young, within the town.

Religion

There is also a vibrant Christian community in Wellington which co-operates in a number of events in the area.

We are proud of our town but we recognise we must not rest on our laurels. We are at present working on developing a vision for Wellington for the next twenty years.

Wellington Monument

The town’s most famous landmark, Wellington Monument, stands on the Blackdown Hills to the south of Wellington. The 175ft high obelisk was erected to celebrate the Duke of Wellington’s victory over Napoleon in the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 and can be climbed by an internal staircase of 235 steps to a small viewing chamber that provides panoramic views.

The Iron Duke, Sir Arthur Wellesley, took his title from Wellington. There are now more than 30 towns with the name of Wellington all over the world.

Wellington's industry

Wellington has a proud industrial heritage stretching back hundreds of years and today produces top quality beds, furniture, cloth and aerosols .  

Our churches

Wellington has some fine churches.  The oldest is St John’s Parish Church in High Street which is first mentioned in a charter dated 1178 and is believed to occupy a Saxon site.

The present church is 14th century. The delightful tower of Ham stone has a stair turret unusually placed on its south side and has a peal of eight bells, the oldest being dated 1609.

In the church stands a fine memorial to one of the town’s most notable residents, Sir John Popham (1533-1607), the Lord Chief Justice of England, who was the prosecutor in the trials of Mary Queen of Scots, Sir Walter Raleigh and Guy Fawkes.