ILCHESTER, or IVELCI1ESTER, the Ischalis of Ptole my, is a borough and market town of England, in Somer. setshire. It is situated on the river Yeo, over which there is a stone bridge of two large arches, and consists of four streets, which are but indifferently built. The only re maining church out of six is dedicated to St. Mary, and has an octagonal tower 50 feet high, constructed of Ro man stone. There are also places of worship for the dis senters, The assizes were formerly held here under a pa tent granted by Edward III. but they are now only held here in rotation with Wells, Taunton, and Bridgewater. The county court•house is a good building, and so is the new county gaol, which is built on Mr. Howard's plan. Oppo site to it, on the other side of the river, stand the remains of the ancient hospital of White-hall, founded about 1226, by William Dennis or Dacus, for the entertainment of pil grims or poor travellers. There is also to be seen here
the remains of a house of Black Friars, svht. h had a sub terraneous passage leading to the White-hall nunnery.
When this part of the country was in the possession of the Romans, Ilchester was one of their principal stations, and was fortified with a strong wall and deep ditch, which they filled with water from the lye]. Vestiges of these an cient works are still visible. There are held at Ilchester three fairs annually. The manufacture of thread lace, which was once considerable, has now declined ; but it has been succeeded by a small silk manufactory. This town is famous as being the birth-place of the celebrated Roger Bacon. The following is the population of the burgh and parish for 181 1.
See Collinson's History of Somersetshire ; and the Beau ties of England and Wales.