ILCHESTER

town (parish), South Somerset district, administrative and historic county of Somerset, England. It lies along the River Yeo. Ilchester was known as Lindinis under Roman rule and was the northern tribal capital of the Durotriges, an early British people. A royal mint was established there in the 10th century and remained in operation until Henry II's reign (115489). The town's royal charter dates from the 12th century. From the 14th to the 19th century, Ilchester was the county town (seat) of Somerset. Of the medieval town's seven parish churches, only St. Mary Major remains. Pop. (1991) 1,733.