church.  It was the gift of a Swede (Sir J. Bancks), who married in 1696 the well-portioned widow of one of the Luttrells.  In the main street, opposite the Assembly Rooms, is a venerable building, once a court-house.  A lane leading off by the new Market Hall gives entry to a quaint row of alms-houses, built by R. Quirck in 1630.  The court contains the stump of an old cross.  Minehead abounds in pleasant walks.  The North Hill in particular furnishes many a pleasing ramble:  its summit may be gained by taking a scrambling path at the E. end of the old church.  The whole range of the hill can be traversed as far as Selworthy Beacon, and a descent may be made either to Wood Combe or Greenaleigh farm.

Misterton, a village 1/2 m.  S.E. of Crewkerne.  Its church is of no antiquarian interest, though it possesses an ancient font.

Monksilver, a parish 3 m.  S. of Williton, rather less from Stogumber Station.  The last half of the name is probably the Latin silva.  The little church does not retain many features of interest, but note (1) the screen and pulpit; (2) a panelled altar-tomb, without inscription, N. of the chancel; (3) the piscina; (4) a bracket for a figure at the E. of the S. aisle; (5) the curious devices on some of the seat-ends; (6) the grotesque gargoyles (one seems to represent the extraction of a tooth); (7) some ancient glass (with symbols of the Evangelists) in a window of the S. aisle.

Monkton Combe is a village 1 m.  W. of Limpley Stoke Station, with a church that has been entirely rebuilt.

Monkton, West, a parish 4 m.  N.E. of Taunton, which gets its name from the fact that the monks of Glastonbury owned property in it.  Its church, mainly Perp., but containing in the chancel arch work of earlier date (perhaps 13th cent.), is noteworthy for its lofty tower.  The nave has a clerestory, and a good oak cornice.  Note (1) stoup in S. porch; (2) piscinas; (3) mural tablet in chancel to the memory of William Kinglake, a physician (d. 1660), with its curious inscription.  In the churchyard are the parish stocks.  The old leper hospital in Taunton (q.v.) really belongs to this parish.

Montacute, 4 m.  W. of Yeovil, is an attractive village (with station) which derives its name from two neighbouring pyramidal eminences, one of which, crowned by St Michael’s Tower, is the site of a former castle.  There are several places of interest in or near it.  Its church preserves work of various periods, Norm. (chancel arch and moulding on N. wall of nave), E.E. and Dec. (windows in chancel and transepts), and Perp. (tower and nave).  The tower is good, with its stages divided by rows of quatrefoils.  Note (1) groining of N. porch (the ribs are inaccurately centred), (2) brackets beneath organ (the eastern alone is ancient), (3) elaborate niches in chancel arch, (4) squint and piscina, (5) texts round reredos, dated 1543, (6) effigies of the