Old Soar Manor, Medieval manor house in Plaxtol, England.
Old Soar Manor is a medieval house near Plaxtol with a substantial two-story stone block that retains original defensive features such as a barrel-vaulted undercroft and loopholes for arrows. The structure still contains the original private quarters and a chapel, though the former great hall was later replaced by a farmhouse.
The manor was built in 1290 for the Culpepper family and is among the best-preserved medieval residential structures of its kind in England. After several centuries, the former great hall was replaced by a farmhouse in 1780, reflecting how the property changed hands and purposes.
The manor displays typical features of its era through thick stone walls, narrow windows, and a wooden spiral staircase connecting the living spaces. These details give a direct sense of how people lived and moved through their home during that time.
The site is open year-round and managed by the National Trust, making it accessible on most days. Visitors should be prepared for narrow staircases and low doorways, as the building is an authentic medieval structure without modern alterations.
The building preserves one of England's best-preserved medieval toilets, conveniently located at the corners of the first-floor living quarters. This unusual feature reveals how residents managed their everyday needs in medieval times.
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