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HOW IT RATES The county town of Somerset is a hub for cider apple country. In the 13th century its fairs drew traders from across the South West and Taunton was a prosperous wool town. In the Civil War it was besieged three times. The centre is now undergoing a major regeneration plan, known as the Taunton Project, which will create around 7,500 jobs over the next 15 years.
ARCHITECTURAL GEMS The castle dates to the 11th century. Its Great Hall was used in 1685 by Judge Jeffreys to try 500 people accused of taking part in the Monmouth rebellion; it now houses Somerset County Museum. St Mary Magdalene is a medieval church with a tower decorated with Ham Hill stone. St James’s also boasts a fine 120ft tower of red Quantock sandstone.
WHAT’S NEW Quantock Lea in West Bagborough, is a development of three family houses, from £350,000 (Humberts 01823 288 484). The Tonedale woollen mill in Wellington has been developed into 223 apartments and houses, plus artisan workshops. Available from March 13 (Savills 01392 455721). Both developments are near Taunton.
QUALITY OF LIFE Good, this being the West Country. The town has a community feel with a wide choice of shops. The nearby Quantock Hillls are ideal for walks, and surrounding farms offer a steady supply of fresh produce.
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POPULATION The 102,299 residents in Taunton Deane, the local district, can be divided roughly into three groups; old-established families, hippy thirtysomethings with astrological interests, and well-bred types who fancy a country life but need to be near shops.
TRAVEL Lying just off the M5, the town is a gateway to the West Country. Trains to London Paddington leave every hour and take about two hours.
SMARTEST STREETS Within walking distance of the centre, The Avenue and Elm Grove lie on either side of a traditional green and are lined with three-storey Victorian townhouses. Houses on Mount Street are next to Vivary Park. Trull Road and the roads around Sherford suburb have large houses that cost up to £850,000.
BEST RESTAURANTS The Castle Hotel, which began as a Norman fortress, offers excellent British cooking and has a welcoming bar. The Willow Tree serves elegant meals in a 17th-century townhouse.
NIGHTLIFE Clubs are not the town’s forte. The Hankridge Arms is a 16th-century farmhouse that is now a friendly pub, while the Racehorse serves a good Guinness. The Brewhouse and the Tacci-Morris Arts Centre both offer theatre, comedy and music.
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EDUCATION Richard Huish Sixth Form College was ranked as outstanding by Ofsted in 2007. King’s College is a co-ed boarding and day school with a good reputation, academically and in sports. The Taunton School is similar but is marginally bigger, with 500 pupils.
WORKING LIFE Wholesale, retail and repair employ 18.1 per cent of the workforce; 11.4per cent are in manufacturing; and 10.3 per cent work in health and social care. The Charity Commission for England & Wales, Western Provident Association and Taunton and Somerset NHS Trust are large employers in the town.
UPSIDE The County Cricket Ground on match days. The annual Taunton Flower Show is held in Vivary Park. Bath Place is a picturesque shopping area with arts and antiques shops - great for browsing.
DOWNSIDE Government inspectors say 18,000 houses should be built in Taunton, plus 3,800 in its district, by 2026. Regeneration is a good thing, but building this many homes in a short period could threaten Taunton’s character.