KILMINGTON, a parish in, and forming a detached
portion of, the hundred of NORTON-FERRIS, county
of SOMERSET, 65 miles (E. by N.) from Bruton, containing
556 inhabitants. The living is a rectory, in
the archdeaconry of Wells, and diocese of Bath and
Wells, rated in the king's books at £21. 9. 4. The
Earl of Ilchester was patron in 1811. The church is
dedicated to St. Mary: in it lie the remains of Mr.
Hartgill and his son, both murdered, in the reign of
Queen Mary, by Lord Stourton and four others, who
were convicted and executed; his lordship at Salisbury,
in a silken halter, and his accomplices near the spot
where the foul deed was perpetrated. About two miles
south-west from the church is a small oval intrenchment,
called Jack's Castle, supposed to have been the
site of a Danish camp or fortress; and at the southwestern
extremity of the parish, near Stourhead, is a
triangular brick tower, one hundred and fifty-five feet
high, erected, in 1772, by Henry Hoare, Esq., with an
inscription commemorative of Alfred the Great and his
victories over the Danes.