Mells Manor at Mells,

Somerset Somerset ( , ), Archaism, archaically Somersetshire ( , , ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by the Bristol Channel, Gloucestershire, and Bristol to the north, Wiltshire to the east ...

, England, was built in the 16th century for Edward Horner, altered in the 17th century, partially demolished around 1780, and restored by Sir

Edwin Lutyens Sir Edwin Landseer Lutyens ( ; 29 March 1869 – 1 January 1944) was an English architect known for imaginatively adapting traditional architectural styles to the requirements of his era. He designed many English country houses, war memorials ...

in the 20th century. The house, along with the garden walls, has been designated as a Grade I

listed building In the United Kingdom, a listed building is a structure of particular architectural or historic interest deserving of special protection. Such buildings are placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Hi ...

, and is closely associated with the adjacent

Church of St Andrew St. Andrew's Church, Church of St Andrew, or variants thereof, may refer to: Albania * St. Andrew's Church, Himarë Australia Australian Capital Territory * St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Canberra, founded by John Walker (Presbyterian minis ...

. The gardens are listed, Grade I, on the

Register of Historic Parks and Gardens of special historic interest in England #REDIRECT Register of Historic Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England {{R from move ...

History

The building was originally much more extensive than its current appearance, including a north wing, with two thirds of the building being demolished around 1780. It was then used as a farmhouse and subsequently as a school for boys undertaking holy orders. Mells Manor was purportedly procured by Thomas Horner, who had been entrusted by Richard Whiting, the last

Abbot of Glastonbury __NOTOC__ The Abbot of Glastonbury was the head (or abbot) of the Anglo-Saxon and eventually Benedictine house of Glastonbury Abbey at Glastonbury in Somerset, England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of t ...

, who had concealed several deeds as a gift to King Henry VIII to curry his favour against nationalising the Church of England and seizing church lands. Prior to this, Horner found the deed for Mells Manor, which he kept for himself. This act is referenced in the popular nursery rhyme ''

Little Jack Horner "Little Jack Horner" is a popular English nursery rhyme with the Roud Folk Song Index number 13027. First mentioned in the 18th century, it was early associated with acts of opportunism, particularly in politics. Moralism, Moralists also rewro ...

''. An alternative and more likely explanation from Horner's descendants is that the manor was bought from the King's Commissioners in 1543. The house was visited by

Charles I Charles I may refer to: Kings and emperors * Charlemagne (742–814), numbered Charles I in the lists of Holy Roman Emperors and French kings * Charles I of Anjou (1226–1285), also king of Albania, Jerusalem, Naples and Sicily * Charles I of ...

and his troops in 1644. In 1724, Thomas Strangways Horner moved out of the manor house in the village and commissioned Nathaniel Ireson to build Park House within Mells Park. The park is bordered by the Mells River. Many sites on the river and its tributaries, owned by the Horners were leased to James Fussell and his family to establish water-powered mills for the production of iron tools. The house is a residence of the Earl of Oxford and Asquith.

References

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External links

Mells Manor House, Frome, England
at ''Parks & Gardens UK'' Houses completed in the 16th century Grade I listed buildings in Mendip District Grade I listed houses in Somerset Country houses in Somerset Works of Edwin Lutyens in England Grade I listed parks and gardens in Somerset Gardens in Somerset Mells, Somerset Manor houses in England

History

See also

References

External links