decayed borough and market-town of England, county of Somerset, on the Bristol Channel, 22 miles W. by N. from Taunton. Minehead was formerly a place of some trade, and returned two members to Parliament till disfranchised by the Reform Act; but it is now chiefly known as a watering-place. A small trade is still carried on with Bristol and Wales; and the herring fishery is prosecuted to some extent. Pop. of parish (1851), 1542.