CASTLE-CARY, a market-town and parish in the
hundred of CATSASH, county of SOMERSET, 11 miles
(E.N. E.) from Somerton, and 113 (W. S. W.) from London,
containing 1627 inhabitants. This place probably
derived its name from an ancient castle originally belonging
to a lord of the name of Carey, which, was defended
against King Stephen by its owner, Lord Lovell,
one of whose descendants having embraced the cause
of the deposed monarch, Richard II., was dispossessed
of it by Henry VII.: the site is still called the Camp,
and weapons of iron have been found in it occasionally;
the only remains are some slight traces of the intrenchments,
Charles II., after the battle of Worcester,
took refuge in the manor-house. The town is pleasantly
situated, and consists of two parts, extending together
nearly a mile, partially paved, but not lighted:
the houses are neatly built and amply supplied with
water: the air is salubrious, the environs abound with
pleasing scenery, and in> many other respects this place
affords an agreeable and retired residence. The market
is on Tuesday, but it is very small; a great cattle market
is held on each Tuesday in the seven weeks preceding
Christmas: the fairs are on the Tuesday before
Palm-Sunday, May 1st, and Whit-Tuesday, for cattle,
broad cloth, and other merchandise. Courts leet and
baron for the manor are held annually. The living is a
discharged vicarage, in the archdeaconry of Wells, and
diocese of Bath and Wells, rated in the king's books
at £11. 16. 3., and in the patronage of the Bishop of
Bath and Wells. The church, dedicated to All Saints,
is a handsome structure, occupying an elevated situation;
the archdeacon holds his visitations in it. There
are places of worship for Independents and Wesleyan
Methodists. In 1779, two sums of £10 each, given respectively
by John Francis and David Llewellin to the
poor, were applied to the erection of a place of confinement
for malefactors, previously to their, committal to
the county gaol; these sums, -on the recommendation
of the commissioners for inquiring concerning charities,
are to.be refunded from the parish rates, and made
available to the benefit of the poor.