Yeovil's History

Yeovil rose to prominence in the 1800s as a major centre of glove-making. By the early twentieth century it was dominated by the defence industry, making it a target for German bombers during the Second World War. Between 1940 and 1942 over 100 high-explosive bombs fell on the town, damaging thousands of buildings.

Architectural Heritage

Despite the town's troubled past, it has managed to keep a wealth of architectural treasures from every era for us to enjoy. Yeovil in 50 Buildings is a celebration of some of these and the stories attached to them.

Highlights of the Book

From the grand Aldon House to the art deco-inspired Odeon Cinema, we will follow Yeovil's storied timeline through its bricks and mortar as local writer and historian Bob Osborn takes the reader on a tour of the town's architectural heritage.