MARTOCK, a parish (formerly a market-town) in the hundred of MARTOCK, county of SOMERSET, 4 miles (S.W. by W.) from Ilchester, and 130 (W.) from London, containing 2560 inhabitants. The name of this place is said to be derived from mart and oak, from the fact of the market having been formerly held under an oak-tree in the centre of the town, the site of which is now occupied by an elegant fluted column, in imitation of the pillar of Trajan, at Rome. The town consists principally of one street, about a mile and a half in length; the river Parret passes through it. The manufacture of fine gloves is carried on to a limited extent, but was formerly of greater note. There is a fair on the 21st of August. A court leet is held in October, by the lord of the manor. The living is a discharged vicarage, with the perpetual curacy of Load, in the archdeaconry of Wells, and diocese ,of Bath and Wells, rated in the king's books at £15. 10., endowed with £230 private benefaction, and £200 royal bounty, and in the patronage of the Treasurer in the Cathedral Church of Wells. The church, which is dedicated -to All Saints, is an elegant structure, in the ancient style 01 English architecture, with a fine embattled tower at the west end: in the interior is a superb altar-piece in stucco. There is a place of worship for Independents. A free grammar school was founded, in 1661, by William Strode, who endowed it with a rent-charge of £ 12, & the endowment being insufficient to support a cleric- master, it has been discontinued; a few poor chudre are, however, taught to read by the clerk of the parisn, who resides in the school-house. The old Roman Fosseway skirts the south-east boundary of the parish.