The first written mention of Minehead comes in the Domesday Book of 1087.The name 'Minehead' is Celtic, similar in origin to the Welsh mynydd (mountain), reflecting the prominence of North Hill which shelters the settlement at its base, immediately next to the sea.

Previously the area consisted of the three manors - Minehead, Bratton and Mene - with a large Saxon farm-holding nearby called Alcombe.

After the Conquest, these were linked to the estates of the Mohun family and so it remained until 1375 when it was sold to the Luttrell family, remaining part of their estate until quite recent times.

Until the 15th century Minehead's main income came from farming. Then the fishing trade developed and the Bristol Channel became the trading route to Ireland