The Hanging Tree: Ilminster’s Forgotten History

Most of us know Ilminster for its beautiful Minster Church, friendly high street, and the rolling green hills that surround our town. But hidden in the folds of local memory is a darker, older story — one that not many talk about these days. If you’ve ever heard whispers about the Hanging Tree, you’re not alone.

A Tree with a Dark Reputation

Ask around, especially among some of the older Ilminster families, and you might hear mention of a tree that once stood on the edge of town — a place tied to justice, punishment, and folklore. It’s said that centuries ago, this tree was used to hang criminals. Whether fact, legend, or a bit of both, it forms part of our town’s lesser-known past.

The tree’s exact location has been lost to time. Some say it stood near Herne Hill. Others claim it was along the old route west of town, possibly by an old crossroads. What’s clear is that for a time, this tree was feared — a stark symbol of what could happen when you crossed the law in 17th or 18th century Somerset.

The Bloody Assizes and Echoes of the Monmouth Rebellion

Following the failed Monmouth Rebellion in 1685, the West Country was swept up in the brutal aftermath known as the Bloody Assizes. Judge Jeffreys, remembered grimly as the "Hanging Judge," sentenced hundreds of rebels to death in towns across Somerset. While there’s no confirmed record of an execution right here in Ilminster, we know nearby towns like Taunton and Chard certainly saw hangings — and our local folklore places the gallows close to home.

Some say Ilminster’s Hanging Tree was used during this time, or perhaps later for highwaymen and thieves. Either way, it’s clear that justice in those days was more about making an example than rehabilitation. And nothing made an example like a body swinging from a branch where everyone could see it.

Ghost Stories and Local Lore

Of course, no story like this would be complete without a few ghost tales. Some locals still remember being told not to walk past the old tree at dusk. One tale speaks of a young man wrongfully accused and hanged, who now wanders the area asking for his name to be cleared. Another involves a woman believed to be a witch, whose spirit is said to cry out when the wind blows just right through the trees.

Whether you believe in ghosts or not, these stories are part of our community’s memory — passed down like family recipes, shaped over time, but rooted in something real.

A Piece of Our Shared History

Today, there’s no sign of the Hanging Tree. It may have been chopped down, died naturally, or simply faded into the landscape. But it’s worth remembering that even our peaceful town has its shadows. They don’t define Ilminster, but they remind us of how far we’ve come — from public executions to public parks, from fear to freedom.

Next time you’re walking along the quieter paths around town, take a look at the trees. One of them might just be standing where that grim old oak once did. And whether it’s truth, myth, or a mix of both, the story of the Hanging Tree is still ours — part of Ilminster’s living, breathing history.