The town is situated at the foot of the Brendon Hills and acts as a gateway to Exmoor.Today it is a small, rural, working town, not a dormitory for Taunton, like so many of its neighbours. It is a Rural Centre for a much larger area than the town itself. While the population of the town is only about 2,500 persons, its shops and services meet the needs of a much larger population, spread through the western fifth of Taunton Deane, in scattered farms and villages.
A traveller stopping off in the centre of the town gets no idea that this is the hub of a thriving business community. A recent survey revealed that there were at least 300 businesses within a 5 mile radius of the town; 14 of these were trading internationally and a further 20 nationally. It has the HQ of a firm building motorway service stations and factories in the U.K. and Europe, a band saw manufacturer, a manufacturer of kitchens, a pig processing factory, an array of building services, I.T. companies and many other specialist services. Wiveliscombe is also the brewing centre of Somerset with two breweries.
There is a good variety of shops, a post office ,one bank, three estate agents, solicitors, accountants, hairdressers, garages, Inns and restaurants. There is also a doctors' surgery, a dentist and veterinary practice.
The Primary School serves most of the surrounding villages and Kingsmead Community School, for pupils aged 11-16, was rated by the DfEE as one of the top 50 state schools in England in 1998. Kingsmead School houses a Theatre and Sports Hall and a youth club & playgroup complementing the town's Recreation Ground where the Tennis, Rugby, Cricket & Football Clubs have their bases.
Wiveliscombe is an active town, set amidst beautiful countryside with easy access to Exmoor, the Quantocks and the north and south coast resorts. It is a good place to live in and an excellent place to visit in order to explore the West Country.
