Thurloxton, probably taking its name from Reyner Thurlac, the 12th century lord, lies on the south-eastern slopes of the Quantocks, 6.5 km north east of Taunton. It is a small, compact parish 2.5 km from east to west at its widest point and 1.5 km from north to south. The parish occupies a shallow combe formed by a stream flowing east and south-east from Clavelshay in North Petherton. The village of Thurloxton lies in the centre and spreads south towards Adsborough in Creech St Michael. Parts of the boundary with Creech on the south and with North Petherton on the east and north follow streams.
Until the mid 19th century Thurloxton village lay scattered, principally along the road running south from the church to Adsborough; the northern part of the road was called Mill Lane and the southern part of the road once formed part of the Bridgwater-Taunton turnpike route. Several east-west lanes cross the parish. From Howell's Lane in the north, linking Clavelshay with Shearston in North Petherton, another lane runs south-east by the church to the turnpike road, forming from the mId 19th century a second line of settlement, including the Rectory at its western end, Manor House (which is not known to have been a manor house), and the school. The eastern part of the lane was known as Knotcroft Lane,. Further south, Boez Lane or Bowes Lane runs west from Mill Lane up the combe towards the Quantock ridge. The Bridgwater-Taunton road was turnpiked in two stages , the part as far as the Green Dragon inn at the junction with Mill Lane by the Bridgwater trust in 1730, and the remainder by the Taunton trust in 1751-2. A tollgate was built between 1838 and 1851 but both trusts ceased in the 1870s. Improvements to the line of the road appear to havE been suggested in 1822 but it was not until 1924-28 that, to provide relief work for the unemployed , a shorter route was made cutting across the angle on which the former Green Dragon stands.
An extract from: A History of the County of Somerset: Volume 6, Andersfield, Cannington, and North Petherton Hundreds (Bridgwater and Neighbouring Parishes). Originally published by Victoria County History, London, 1992.