Taunton Castle

The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you. To find out more about web accessibility, and the accessibility features of this site, please visit our web accessibility page . South West Heritage Trust was founded in 2014 as an independent charity for Somerset, Devon and the South West. We want to celebrate and protect our rich heritage, helping everyone to enjoy it now and in the future. We bring together services previously provided by Somerset Council and Devon County Council, who remain our main funders. Operating across six main sites, we deliver a wide range of heritage experiences for people of all ages. We work with many local and strategic partners, including Arts Council England and the Heritage Lottery Fund. Our published Strategic Documents can tell you more about our work and ambitions. We run the widely-praised Museum of Somerset in Taunton, Somerset Rural Life Museum in Glastonbury, Avalon Archaeology in Shapwick, and the Brick and Tile Museum in Bridgwater. Together they tell the remarkable story of Somerset and the South West. We care for over 3 million museum objects ranging from outstanding geology and archaeology to textiles and fine art. We hold the major written evidence for the history of Somerset and Devon. Our Archive and Local Studies Services have centres in Taunton, Exeter and Barnstaple where we care for 10 million archives dating from the 8th century to the present day. More than 350,000 printed reference works about Somerset and Devon are also held in the Local Studies collections. Together they are essential resources for anyone wanting to begin a journey through the history of the South West. Our Historic Environment and Estates Service supports local authorities, partners and the public by offering planning-related advice and information on Somerset’s archaeology and built heritage. The service is also responsible for over 400 acres of historic landscapes including Cothelstone Hill in the Quantock Hills and Deer Leap and Blackmoor Reserve in the Mendip Hills. We provide learning opportunities for people of all ages, as well as formal workshops for Key Stages 1 and 2. A Loans for Learning Service makes authentic heritage objects available for use in the classroom. We also work in partnership with secondary schools and further and higher education institutions. As a registered charity, we publish annual accounts which are available on the Charity Commission website. Our Board of Trustees meets quarterly to provide strategic leadership to the organisation. The Board is supported by three committees: Click here for information about our Board of Trustees and Senior Management Team. We are committed to providing the best possible services. We take complaints very seriously and try to resolve them as quickly as possible. A two-stage complaints procedure is in place which you can read about here.