Monkton Farleigh Manor

Monkton Farleigh Manor is a manor house in southwestern England built on a rise overlooking its surroundings and featuring stone walls with mullioned windows. The building displays architectural elements added across multiple periods, while its basement contains spaces that date back to earlier religious structures.

The manor was built in the 16th century using stone salvaged from a dissolved Cluniac priory and received additions and changes during the 17th and 18th centuries. This transformation from a religious house to a private residence reflects the broader shifts in ownership and land use after the English Reformation.

The manor retains visible traces of its past as a religious community, with stone carvings and basement spaces that tell this story within its private rooms. These remnants blend the secular life of a manor house with memories of the spiritual order that once occupied the site.

The manor sits in a rural village setting and requires a short journey from the nearest larger town, making a car practically necessary for visiting. The building is a private residence without regular public opening hours, so it is important to arrange access in advance before planning a visit.

A room in the west wing commemorates Bishop John Jewel, an influential religious scholar of the Reformation era who died at the house in 1571. His connection to the manor preserves the memory of an important historical figure within these walls.