Abbeys & priories · South West England
Stoke sub Hamdon Priory
In or near Ash.
Stoke sub Hamdon Priory is a complex of buildings and ruins which initially formed a 14th-century college for the chantry chapel of St Nicholas, and later was the site of a farm in Stoke-sub-Hamdon, S

Roger Cornfoot — CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 45 min–1.5 h
- Nearest railway station
- Crewkerne · 9.2 km
- Family-friendly
- Limited wheelchair access
Getting there & planning your visit
To visit Stoke sub Hamdon Priory, the nearest railway station is Crewkerne, located 9.2 km away. The postcode for sat-nav is TA14 6RE. Please note that wheelchair accessibility is limited.
About
Stoke sub Hamdon Priory is a complex of buildings and ruins which initially formed a 14th-century college for the chantry chapel of St Nicholas, and later was the site of a farm in Stoke-sub-Hamdon, Somerset, England. The only building remaining from the college is a great hall and attached dwelling, dating from the late 15th century. The hall is designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building, while the outbuildings and gateway are Grade II listed. The whole site has been scheduled as an ancient monument. A number of the farm buildings are in poor condition, and have been added to the Heritage at Risk Register. The college was formed in 1304 as a chantry college, funded by John de Beauchamp, 1st Baron Beauchamp to serve the free chapel in his nearby manor house. Over the following 150 years, the college fell into disrepair and was rebuilt around 1460. During the dissolution, the land passed into the laity, and was a tenanted farm until the middle of the 20th century. The National Trust bought the property in 1946, and with the exception of the part of the house which is inhabited, the site is now open to the public. Despite being known as "The Priory", or "Stoke sub Hamdon Priory", the building has never been used as a priory, and there is no record of a monastic house in Stoke sub Hamdon.
Photo gallery
See it from the streetimagery from 2018
Imagery © Mapillary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0
From the Wikipedia article
Stoke sub Hamdon Priory is a complex of buildings and ruins which initially formed a 14th-century college for the chantry chapel of St Nicholas, and later was the site of a farm in Stoke-sub-Hamdon, Somerset, England. The only building remaining from the college is a great hall and attached dwelling, dating from the late 15th century. The hall is designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building, while the outbuildings and gateway are Grade II listed. The whole site has been scheduled as an ancient monument. A number of the farm buildings are in poor condition, and have been added to the Heritage at Risk Register. The college was formed in 1304 as a chantry college, funded by John de Beauchamp, 1st Baron Beauchamp to serve the free chapel in his nearby manor house. Over the following 150 years, the college fell into disrepair and was rebuilt around 1460. During the dissolution, the land passed into the laity, and was a tenanted farm until the middle of the 20th century. The National Trust bought the property in 1946, and with the exception of the part of the house which is inhabited, the site is now open to the public. Despite being known as "The Priory", or "Stoke sub Hamdon Priory", the building has never been used as a priory, and there is no record of a monastic house in Stoke sub Hamdon.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
Originally, a rectory was located on the site, which provided a home for the rector who officiated in the private chapel of St. Nicholas in the Beauchamp manor house nearby. When the rector, Henry de Wyk, resigned in 1304, the lord of the manor, John de Beauchamp, 1st Baron Beauchamp, established a chantry and founded a college for five chaplains.{{efn|"College" in this sense refers to a complex in which secular clergy lived, but without the strict confines of a monastic order. It is suggested in the English Heritage listing that the rectory was probably already owned by the Beauchamps, but if not they purchased it upon de Wyk's departure. The college was composed of four priests governed…
Architecture
The buildings are constructed from Hamstone, a Jurassic limestone quarried on the local Ham Hill. The priory itself is linked to a barn by a wall. It includes a gateway which provides access from North Street. The 5 m high wall dates from the 15th century and includes an arched gateway which has a buttress on its western side. The barn is largely from the 18th century; however it incorporates material from the former building. The southern end is supported by two buttresses and the north side includes a door on the first floor. The other barn which is about 25 m north west of The Priory was built in the 15th century. It has partially thatched roof, and served as a tithe barn. A further 15th…
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 50.9545, -2.7488
- District
- Somerset
- Parish
- Stoke sub Hamdon
- Postcode
- TA14 6RE
- Parliamentary constituency
- Glastonbury and Somerton
- Established
- 1304
- Nearest railway station
- Crewkerne — 9.2 km
- Official site
- www.stokesubhamdoncouncil.com
Sources
- wikipedia: Stoke sub Hamdon Priory (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Other places nearby

Stanchester Academy
Natural landmarks · 0.0 km

Fleur De Lis Hotel
Historic pubs · 0.2 km

Hamdon Hill War Memorial
Memorials & monuments · 0.3 km

Ham Hill
Viewpoints · 0.3 km

Ham Hill
Mountains & hills · 0.4 km

Ham Hill
Vineyards · 0.4 km

Ham Hill Hillfort
Hill forts · 0.4 km

Ham Hill Country Park
Country parks · 0.8 km

Ham Hill
Viewpoints · 0.8 km

Hamdon Hill
Mountains & hills · 0.9 km

Church of St Mary the Virgin, East Stoke
Historic churches · 1.0 km

Hedgecock Hill
Mountains & hills · 1.5 km
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Stoke sub Hamdon Priory?
- Stoke sub Hamdon Priory is in South-West England, United Kingdom (postcode TA14 6RE), in the parish of Stoke sub Hamdon.
- What is Stoke sub Hamdon Priory?
- Stoke sub Hamdon Priory is a complex of buildings and ruins which initially formed a 14th-century college for the chantry chapel of St Nicholas, and later was the site of a farm in Stoke-sub-Hamdon, S
- How do I get to Stoke sub Hamdon Priory?
- The nearest railway station is Crewkerne, about 9.2 km away. Drivers can use postcode TA14 6RE.
- When was Stoke sub Hamdon Priory built?
- Built or established in 1304.
- Who owns Stoke sub Hamdon Priory?
- Stoke sub Hamdon Priory is owned by National Trust.
- How do I get to Stoke sub Hamdon Priory?
- Drivers can navigate to postcode TA14 6RE. It sits within the Glastonbury and Somerton parliamentary constituency.