Abbeys & priories · South West England
Muchelney Abbey
In or near Kingsbury Episcopi.
Muchelney Abbey is an English Heritage property in the village of Muchelney in the Somerset Levels, England. The site consists of ruined walls showing the layout of the abbey buildings constructed fro
Bill Harrison — CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 45 min–1.5 h
- Family-friendly
- Limited wheelchair access
Getting there & planning your visit
Muchelney Abbey is located in Somerset, with the postcode TA10 0DQ. Accessibility is limited for wheelchair users.
About
Muchelney Abbey is an English Heritage property in the village of Muchelney in the Somerset Levels, England. The site consists of ruined walls showing the layout of the abbey buildings constructed from the 7th to 16th centuries, and the remaining intact Abbot's House. It is next to the parish church in which some of the fabric of the abbey has been reused. It comprises the remains and foundations of a medieval Benedictine abbey, the site of an earlier Anglo-Saxon abbey, and an early Tudor house dating from the 16th century, formerly the lodgings of the resident Abbot, which is now a Grade I listed building. The ruins of the abbey have been designated as a scheduled monument. The abbey was founded in the 7th or 8th century, damaged by Viking raids and rebuilt and refounded in the 10th century. It owned and managed local land. The buildings were expanded from the 12th to 16th centuries until its dissolution in 1538. Most of the buildings were demolished and the stone used in local buildings, although the Abbot's House and reredorter survive. Some of the tiles and other decorative features from the monastic church were reused in the adjacent parish Church of St Peter and St Paul. Since 1927 the ruins have been in public ownership.
Photo gallery
Protected designations
- National Nature Reserve: SOMERSET WETLANDS
Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.
From the Wikipedia article
Muchelney Abbey is an English Heritage property in the village of Muchelney in the Somerset Levels, England. The site consists of ruined walls showing the layout of the abbey buildings constructed from the 7th to 16th centuries, and the remaining intact Abbot's House. It is next to the parish church in which some of the fabric of the abbey has been reused. It comprises the remains and foundations of a medieval Benedictine abbey, the site of an earlier Anglo-Saxon abbey, and an early Tudor house dating from the 16th century, formerly the lodgings of the resident Abbot, which is now a Grade I listed building. The ruins of the abbey have been designated as a scheduled monument. The abbey was founded in the 7th or 8th century, damaged by Viking raids and rebuilt and refounded in the 10th century. It owned and managed local land. The buildings were expanded from the 12th to 16th centuries until its dissolution in 1538. Most of the buildings were demolished and the stone used in local buildings, although the Abbot's House and reredorter survive. Some of the tiles and other decorative features from the monastic church were reused in the adjacent parish Church of St Peter and St Paul. Since 1927 the ruins have been in public ownership.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
The site of the Abbey was effectively an island in the marshy and frequently flooded Somerset Levels. There is believed to have been a religious building erected on the site as early as 693, with a charter being granted by Cynewulf in 762, although the Benedictine monks were not established there until the 10th century. Viking raids in the area damaged some of the fabric of the abbey and necessitated rebuilding. The refounders of the Abbey are not completely clear; however in a document of 1535 (drawn up following the Valor Ecclesiasticus), Centwine, Ine, Æthelstan and Æthelred are claimed as founders. Tradition suggests that Æthelstan's contribution was penance for the murder of Atheling…
Architecture
The Abbey is the second largest in Somerset after Glastonbury. The church is 192 ft long and 52 ft wide. The only intact structure is the Abbot's House with well-preserved architectural features including external stonework and inside a great chamber with ornate fireplace, carved settle and stained glass, and timber roof. Some of the wall paintings within the abbot’s house are in need of restoration. An unusual attraction is the nearby thatched two-storey monks' reredorter or lavatory, which is considered unique in Britain. A barn west of the abbey is a scheduled monument.
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 51.0203, -2.8158
- District
- Somerset
- Parish
- Muchelney
- Postcode
- TA10 0DQ
- Parliamentary constituency
- Glastonbury and Somerton
- Official site
- www.english-heritage.org.uk
Sources
- wikipedia: Muchelney Abbey (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Other places nearby
Muchelney Abbey
Archaeological sites · 0.0 km
Medieval Monument 1 Metre East Of Chancel, Church Of Saint Peter And Saint Paul
Memorials & monuments · 0.1 km
Taylor Monument In Churchyard, 7 Metres East Of Chancel, Church Of Saint Peter And Saint Paul
Memorials & monuments · 0.1 km
Taylor Monument In Churchyard, 7 Metres East Of Chancel, Church Of Saint Peter And Saint Paul
Memorials & monuments · 0.1 km
Taylor Monument In Churchyard, 7 Metres East North East Of Chancel, Church Of Saint Peter And Saint Paul
Memorials & monuments · 0.1 km
Stuckey Monument In Churchyard 16 Metres East North East Of Chancel, Church Of Saint Peter And Saint Paul
Memorials & monuments · 0.1 km
Stuckey Monument In Churchyard, 6 Metres North North West Of Porch, Church Of Saint Peter And Saint Paul
Memorials & monuments · 0.1 km
Church of St Peter and St Paul, Muchelney
Historic churches · 0.1 km
Muchelney
Museums · 0.1 km
Barn west of Muchelney Abbey
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The Priest's House, Muchelney
Museums · 0.1 km
River Yeo (South Somerset)
Museums · 1.3 km
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Muchelney Abbey
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Medieval Monument 1 Metre East Of Chancel, Church Of Saint Peter And Saint Paul
Medieval Monument 1 Metre East Of Chancel, Church Of Saint Peter And Saint Paul — Grade II listed building-listed memorial in england-south-west, United Kingdom.
📷 3Memorials & monuments · South West England
Taylor Monument In Churchyard, 7 Metres East Of Chancel, Church Of Saint Peter And Saint Paul
Taylor Monument In Churchyard, 7 Metres East Of Chancel, Church Of Saint Peter And Saint Paul — a memorial in england-south-west, United Kingdom.
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Taylor Monument In Churchyard, 7 Metres East Of Chancel, Church Of Saint Peter And Saint Paul
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Taylor Monument In Churchyard, 7 Metres East North East Of Chancel, Church Of Saint Peter And Saint Paul
Taylor Monument In Churchyard, 7 Metres East North East Of Chancel, Church Of Saint Peter And Saint Paul — Grade II listed building-listed memorial in england-south-west, United Kingdom.
📷 3Memorials & monuments · South West England
Stuckey Monument In Churchyard 16 Metres East North East Of Chancel, Church Of Saint Peter And Saint Paul
Stuckey Monument In Churchyard 16 Metres East North East Of Chancel, Church Of Saint Peter And Saint Paul — Grade II listed building-listed memorial in england-south-west, United Kingdom.
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Muchelney Abbey?
- Muchelney Abbey is in South-West England, United Kingdom (postcode TA10 0DQ), in the parish of Muchelney.
- What is Muchelney Abbey?
- Muchelney Abbey is an English Heritage property in the village of Muchelney in the Somerset Levels, England. The site consists of ruined walls showing the layout of the abbey buildings constructed fro
- How do I get to Muchelney Abbey?
- Drivers can use postcode TA10 0DQ.
- Is Muchelney Abbey a protected site?
- Yes — Muchelney Abbey is part of the SOMERSET WETLANDS National Nature Reserve.
- How do I get to Muchelney Abbey?
- Drivers can navigate to postcode TA10 0DQ. It sits within the Glastonbury and Somerton parliamentary constituency.