Name: Meare Fish House
Rating: 5.0

Meare Fish House

St Mary's Rd, Meare, Glastonbury, Somerset BA6 9SP, UK

1-99 Years

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Description

Meare Fish House the only surviving monastic fishery building in England, Meare Fish House was the residence of Glastonbury Abbey's official in charge of the nearby lake and its fishery, and it provided facilities for fish-salting and drying.

Standing in a beautiful position by the site of a long-drained lake (the ‘mere’) on the Somerset Levels, the Fish House was built for Glastonbury Abbey in the 1330s. The building’s design shows that it was not meant for processing or storing fish, but as a house. As such it is of interest for its excellent preservation, its quality despite its small size, and its peculiar and precocious internal planning. Its name derives from its use as an occasional residence for the abbey’s official in charge of the lake and its fishery. After the Suppression of the abbey in 1539 it was largely put to agricultural use until it was gutted by fire in the 1880s.

Free Entry. If you are looking for Best place for day out with kids and families then this is the perfect destination offering fun, adventure, and unforgettable memories for everyone.

Features

Free
Host birthday parties: No

Features

History of Meare Fish House: Standing in a beautiful position by the site of a long-drained lake (the ‘mere’) on the Somerset Levels, the Fish House was built for Glastonbury Abbey in the 1330s. The building’s design shows that it was not meant for processing or storing fish, but as a house. As such it is of interest for its excellent preservation, its quality despite its small size, and its peculiar and precocious internal planning. Its name derives from its use as an occasional residence for the abbey’s official in charge of the lake and its fishery. After the Suppression of the abbey in 1539 it was largely put to agricultural use until it was gutted by fire in the 1880s.
Meare and Glastonbury: Glastonbury Abbey owned property at Meare, 3½ miles north-west, from at least 680 and retained it, except for a brief period in the 13th century, until 1539.[1] As with most monastic landed property, it provided income for the community. Meare’s greatest asset, however, was not farming but the natural freshwater lake or mere which covered more than a square mile to the north of the village until it was drained, bit by bit, between the later 16th century and 1718.
Origin of the Fish House: As its name suggests,[3] the Fish House owed its origin to the exploitation of the mere. Religious communities, officially forbidden to eat meat unless ill, consumed large quantities of fish, but mostly from the sea, usually salted and often transported over long distances.
Freshwater fish, almost always eaten fresh, was much more expensive and prestigious, hence the economic and social value of the Meare fishery to the abbey.[5] The fishery was highly productive, being admired in 1540 for its ‘great abundance of pykes, tenches, roches, jeles and divers other kinds fysshes’.
After the Suppression: The end of Glastonbury Abbey came in September 1539 with its seizure by the king’s officials and the arrest of the abbot, Richard Whiting, who was subsequently executed on trumped-up charges.[11] In 1547 Meare was granted to Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset and Lord Protector, and it was held by his descendants until the 18th century.

Facilities

Parking: There is limited off street parking around the village close to Manor Farm House for the collection of the keys.
Food & Drinks: Nearby Glastonbury has shops and places to eat.
Toilets: Nearby Glastonbury has public toilets.
Dogs: Livestock may be grazing in the field, so no dogs are permitted.

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Price

Price: Free

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: No

Open any reasonable time during daylight hours. Key available from Manor House Farm.

Address: St Mary's Rd, Meare, Glastonbury, Somerset BA6 9SP, UK

Post Code: BA6 9SP

Council: Somerset

County: Somerset

Road Access: In Meare village, on B3151.
Bus Access: Bakers-Dolphin service 668 Cheddar – Street.
Bicycle Access: Find this site on The National Cycle Network.
Parking: There is limited off street parking around the village close to Manor Farm House for the collection of the keys.