Taunton, city, England. The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Columbia Encyclopedia World Factbook American Heritage Coll. Its industries include the manufacture of textiles, shirts, gloves, and precision instruments. Taunton is also a market and railroad junction.
Tourism is economically important.
In 1685, after Monmouth's Rebellion, Baron Jeffreys of Wem held the Bloody Assizes in Taunton. The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition.