National Trust - Montacute House, South Somerset (36)
National Trust Properties
Montacute House, Montacute, Somerset
Montacute House was built circa 1598 by Sir Edward Pheilips on land purchased from the Cluniac Montacute Priory some years before.
The architect is unknown but thought possible that it was William Arnold, a mason who had worked on Dunster Castle not that far away. There is a date engraved over a doorcase of 1601 and this is thought to be the date of completion.
Built in the ‘English Renaissance’ style, the East Front is decorated with stone monkeys and other animals. The windows of the Long Gallery are separated by niches which contain the ’Nine Worthies’ dressed as Roman Soldiers. It is very pleasing to the eye.
The house has many high moments and dramatic falls. For example, Sir Edward Pheilips was knighted in 1603, appointed Master of the Rolls by King James I and was opening prosecutor in the ‘Gunpowder Plot’ trial. But family fortunes do not always stay. William Pheilips, who inherited Montacute in the 19th century, was an addicted gambler who gambled away not only the family fortune but also large areas of the Land. He was committed to an asylum but the damage was done and the fortune never recovered. The last inheritor William let the house in 1911. The house had a few more owners until 1928 when it lay dormant for over two years then in 1931 it was sold to Ernest Cook, a philanthropist who in turn passed it over to ‘The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings’ who in turn passed it to the National Trust. This was one of the Trust’s first properties.
In the garden the sunken parterre with Jacobean-style fountain was designed by Robert Shekelton Balfour whilst in the East court the mixed borders were replanted by Phyllis Reiss. There are about 10 acres of other formal gardens to visit. An excellent experience to be enjoyed.
National Trust - Montacute House, South Somerset (36)
National Trust Properties
Montacute House, Montacute, Somerset
Montacute House was built circa 1598 by Sir Edward Pheilips on land purchased from the Cluniac Montacute Priory some years before.
The architect is unknown but thought possible that it was William Arnold, a mason who had worked on Dunster Castle not that far away. There is a date engraved over a doorcase of 1601 and this is thought to be the date of completion.
Built in the ‘English Renaissance’ style, the East Front is decorated with stone monkeys and other animals. The windows of the Long Gallery are separated by niches which contain the ’Nine Worthies’ dressed as Roman Soldiers. It is very pleasing to the eye.
The house has many high moments and dramatic falls. For example, Sir Edward Pheilips was knighted in 1603, appointed Master of the Rolls by King James I and was opening prosecutor in the ‘Gunpowder Plot’ trial. But family fortunes do not always stay. William Pheilips, who inherited Montacute in the 19th century, was an addicted gambler who gambled away not only the family fortune but also large areas of the Land. He was committed to an asylum but the damage was done and the fortune never recovered. The last inheritor William let the house in 1911. The house had a few more owners until 1928 when it lay dormant for over two years then in 1931 it was sold to Ernest Cook, a philanthropist who in turn passed it over to ‘The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings’ who in turn passed it to the National Trust. This was one of the Trust’s first properties.
In the garden the sunken parterre with Jacobean-style fountain was designed by Robert Shekelton Balfour whilst in the East court the mixed borders were replanted by Phyllis Reiss. There are about 10 acres of other formal gardens to visit. An excellent experience to be enjoyed.