• DeanandLindasTravelsOur European Adventure 2018Traveler
    The new front, on the West side
    The back garden, overlooking the former road to the house, now a sheep pastureThis used to be a sunken garden, with a hill where the fountain is now.Wibbly-Wobbly Hedge--a heavy winter bent over the branches and they stayed that way.Weddings are held often at these mansions

    Montacute House

    July 21, 2018 in England ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F

    Sir Edward Phelips, a member of Parliament and then Speaker of the Houses of Commons, had this house built in 1601 as a statement of his power and wealth. This is one of the best examples of Elizabethan Renaissance architecture in England,

    The original front of the house was on the East side. In 1787, a later Edward Phelips took an ornamental facade from another local 16th century house, and added it to the West side. This made a new front with a corridor inside, so rooms could have their own doors. Before this family and visitors would have to go through each other’s rooms to get from one side of the house to the other.    Read more