Mells Manor
Encyclopedia
Mells Manor at Mells
, Somerset
, 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
in the 20th century. The house, along with the garden walls, has been designated as a Grade I listed building, and is closely associated with the adjacent Church of St Andrew.
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 Jack Horner upon discovering the deed
in a pie given to him to carry to London
by Richard Whiting, the last Abbot of Glastonbury. This act is supposedly referenced in the popular nursery rhyme Little Jack Horner
. An alternative explanation is that Mells Park was bought in 1543.
The house was visited by Charles II
and his troops in 1644.
In 1724, Thomas Strangeways Horner moved out of the manor house in the village and commissioned Nathaniel Ireson
to build Park House within the 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
.
Mells, Somerset
Mells is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, near the town of Frome.The parish includes the village of Vobster which had a coal mine of the same name on the Somerset coalfield and quarry, both of which are now disused. The old quarry is now used as a diving centre...
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, 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
Edwin Lutyens
Sir Edwin Landseer Lutyens, OM, KCIE, PRA, FRIBA was a British architect who is known for imaginatively adapting traditional architectural styles to the requirements of his era...
in the 20th century. The house, along with the garden walls, has been designated as a Grade I listed building, and is closely associated with the adjacent Church of St Andrew.
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 Jack Horner upon discovering the deed
Deed
A deed is any legal instrument in writing which passes, or affirms or confirms something which passes, an interest, right, or property and that is signed, attested, delivered, and in some jurisdictions sealed...
in a pie given to him to carry to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
by Richard Whiting, the last Abbot of Glastonbury. This act is supposedly referenced in the popular nursery rhyme Little Jack Horner
Little Jack Horner
"Little Jack Horner" is a popular English language nursery rhyme. It has the Roud Folk Song Index number of 13027.-Lyrics:The most common modern lyrics are:Little Jack HornerSat in the corner,Eating a Christmas pie;He put in his thumb,...
. An alternative explanation is that Mells Park was bought in 1543.
The house was visited by Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
and his troops in 1644.
In 1724, Thomas Strangeways Horner moved out of the manor house in the village and commissioned Nathaniel Ireson
Nathaniel Ireson
Nathaniel Ireson was a potter, architect and mason from Wincanton working in Somerset, England.He rebuilt much of the centre of Wincanton following a fire in 1707....
to build Park House within the park.
The park is bordered by the Mells River
Mells River
The Mells River flows through the eastern Mendip Hills in Somerset, England. It rises at Gurney Slade and flows east joining the River Frome at Frome.The river forms one of the boundaries of Mells Manor a country house estate in Mells....
. Many sites on the river and its tributaries, owned by the Horners were leased to James Fussell
James Fussell
James Fussell was the name of several men from the same family who established a business grinding edge tools and forging iron plates at several sites on the Mells River and its tributaries around Mells, Somerset, England...
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
Earl of Oxford and Asquith
Earl of Oxford and Asquith is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1925 for the Liberal politician H. H. Asquith. He was Home Secretary from 1892 to 1895, Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1905 to 1908, Leader of the Liberal Party from 1908 to 1926 and Prime Minister of...
.
External links
- Mells Park, Frome, England at Parks & Gardens UK