TAUNTON CASTLE. 21 



first greatly tended to the consolidation of the West 

 Saxon Kingdom, whlle to the latter the Cathedral of 

 Wells, and the English College, founded by him at 

 Rome, bear ample testimony. But this Castle, in spite 

 of its advantageous Situation both for security and 

 political purposes, was not destined to be of long dura- 

 tion, for having been occupled by Ealdbert, a rebel 

 noble, it was besieged and taken by Queen Ethelburga, 

 and its destruction is thus brlefly recorded in the Saxon 

 Chronicle, under date, A.D., 722. ''This year, Queen 

 Ethelburga destroyed Taunton, which Ina had formerly 

 built. Ealdbert wandered a Awetched exile, in Surrey and 

 Sussex, and Ina fought against South Saxons." 



But though the Castle was thus destroyed, it is probable 

 that the town continued to flourish, for in the next reign 

 we find that the devout Queen Frethogitha prevailed upon 

 Ethelard to bestow the town of Taunton, then a royal 

 residence, on the Church of Winchester ; nor must it be 

 supposed that its fortifications were altogether destroyed, 

 for In those days no place of importance could be totally 

 destitute of fortifications wifchout being exposed to the 

 constant danger of being plundered either by outlaws or 

 more legitlmate assailants. Savage, indeed, says that a 

 new Castle was built about the time of the Norman con- 

 quest, by one of the Bishops of Winchester ; and it is 

 certalnly not improbable that Walkelyn, to whom and St. 

 Peter, the Conqueror made a particular graut of lands in 

 the neighbourhood, might have fortified the manorial resi- 

 dence, a precaution which the enmity of the conquered 

 Saxons would luidoubtedly reader advisable to an usurping 

 Norman prelate. But, however this may have been, I can 

 find no positive mention of any Castle at Taunton, from 

 the year 722, when, as above stated, that built by Ina was 



