Muchelney Abbey, Medieval monastery ruins in Muchelney, England.
Muchelney Abbey comprises the surviving remains of a Benedictine monastery with intact stone walls, a decorated cloister walk, and a fully preserved abbot's house from the 16th century. The residence displays period rooms that show how inhabitants lived during medieval and early modern times.
The monastery was established around 901 and maintained religious importance across the region for centuries. Its end came in 1538 when King Henry VIII. ordered the dissolution of all monasteries throughout England.
The monastery functioned as a center of learning where monks engaged in study and preserved knowledge throughout the Middle Ages. Visitors can still see the spaces that reflect this scholarly purpose.
The site is easily navigable and allows visitors to explore both the abbey ruins and the intact residence in one visit. Plan enough time to see both areas thoroughly and take in the surroundings.
The site preserves the only remaining medieval thatched monks' lavatory in Britain, featuring an advanced drainage system for its era. This structure demonstrates the practical engineering skills that residents possessed.
Location: Muchelney
Inception: 10 century
Website: https://english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/muchelney-abbey
GPS coordinates: 51.01670,-2.82028
Latest update: December 6, 2025 17:42
Somerset preserves a broad range of historical sites away from the main visitor routes. The region shows medieval abbeys such as Muchelney and Cleeve, Norman castles like Stogursey and Nunney, Elizabethan manor houses including Cothay Manor and Lytes Cary, and prehistoric stone bridges such as Tarr Steps. The landscape ranges from limestone gorges like Ebbor Gorge to ancient oak woodlands and coastal sections with geological formations at Kilve Beach. The villages contain market halls, dovecotes and small churches that reflect centuries of local use.
The Hanging Chapel
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The Priest's House, Muchelney
606 m
Wet Moor
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Church of All Saints, Langport
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Midelney Manor
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Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Huish Episcopi
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Church of St Peter and St Paul, Muchelney
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Church of St Catherine, Drayton
2.1 km
The Crown Inn
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The Rose And Crown Inn
2.2 km
Tudor Cottage
377 m
Windmill Cottage
628 m
Almonry Cottage
613 m
Thorney Cottage
928 m
The Old School House
342 m
Tudor St Anthony
377 m
The White House
679 m
The Abbot's House, Muchelney Abbey
475 m
The Hanging Chapel and a medieval gateway at The Hill
2.3 km
Court House
254 m
Chase Water
399 m
Thorney West Farmhouse
1 km
Thorney House
1.7 km
The Old Toll House
635 m
Thornette
904 m
The Village Cross, 35 Metres North Of Church Of Saint Peter And Saint Paul
592 m
Muchelney Pottery
1.1 km
Milestone, Thorney village, nr Thorney Bridge
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