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THEWYNDHAMGALLERY

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SOMERSETMILITARYMUSEUM

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SOMERSET MILITARY MUSEUMSomerset Military Museum tells the story of the

regiments connected with the county of Somerset. The museum covers the history of The Somerset

Light Infantry as well as the county’s volunteer units and its current regiment, The Rifles.

FOUNDATION STONES

Somerset’s beautiful countryside and magnificent coastline were not always as they are now. This gallery traces the story of Somerset’s geological past from its foundations 400 million years ago.

CLAIMING THE LAND

Six thousand years ago people began to farm the land. For the first time they no longer moved as the seasons changed but settled in one place for a long time. See remarkable objects from Neolithic, Bronze Age, Iron Age and Roman Somerset.

MAKING SOMERSET

In the 1,200 years after AD 500 Somerset became the distinctive place we have inherited. Discover how the influences of the Christian Church, great landlords, warfare and disease combined to make the county we know today.

4 REFLECTING Reflect on what people have said about Somerset and what Somerset

5 DISCOVERING During the 1800s explorers and travellers brought objects from many different countries and cultures to Somerset. At the same time people researched the

6 GATHERING Somerset people have always met to enjoy a drink, to march in parades or to harvest the crops. Objects and archive film celebrate these gatherings.

7 SPEAKING YOUR MIND Somerset today is a diverse and busy place and home to over half a million people. Hear some of their opinions, stories and thoughts about life in the county.

8 GOING PLACES In 1700 Somerset was isolated and difficult to reach. But over the next two centuries new forms of travel and transport changed the county forever.

REBELLIONThe year 1685 is infamous in Somerset history. This gallery tells the story of the Monmouth Rebellion and the terrible ‘Bloody Assizes’ which followed.

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MainEntrance

GROUND FLOOR

THEWYNDHAMGALLERY

Stairs

WelcomeBuilding

Café Toilets

Lift

Lift

Stairs

FIRST FLOOR

SOMERSETMILITARYMUSEUM

Stairs

WheelchairLift

Stairs

Lift

Lift

Stairs

Shop

23

45

6

7

8

9Stairs

Exit only

TAUNTON CASTLE

Taunton Castle is home to the Museum of Somerset. In the Middle Ages the castle was at the heart of a great Somerset estate belonging to the bishops of Winchester. It was bought in 1874 by Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society and was opened as a museum the following year.

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