KINGSTON, a parish in the hundred of TAUNTON-and-TAUNTON-DEAN,
county of SOMERSET, comprising
the tythings of the Eastern division and the Western
division, and the hamlet of Hestercombe, 3 miles (N.)
from Taunton, and containing 954 inhabitants. The
living is a vicarage, with the curacy of Cothelston annexed,
in the archdeaconry of Taunton, and diocese of
Bath and Wells, rated in the king's books at £18. 17.11.,
endowed with £400 private benefaction, £600 royal
bounty, and £700 parliamentary grant, and in the patronage
of the Dean and Chapter of Bristol. The church,
dedicated to St. Mary, is a fine structure in the later
English style, with a western tower ornamented with
sculpture, and crowned with pinnacles. There is a place
of worship for Independents. Copper mines were formerly
worked in the parish, but they have been discontinued.
There are sundry bequests for the instruction
of the poor, amounting to £16 per annum, which, with
voluntary contributions, is applied in supporting a Sunday
school.