15 June 2013 - It is many years since I first visited Muchelney Abbey. Muchelney Abbey is a property in the care of English Heritage. The site of the Abbey was effectively an island in the marshy and frequently flooded Somerset Levels. It is believed that the first religious building was erected on the site in the 7th century. The Benedictine monks were not established here until the 10th century. Much of the building was carried out in the 12th century. By the 16th century the Abbey included an Abbey church, a farm barton, an almonry and the parish church of St Peter and St Paul. In 1538 the Abbey was surrendered by the monks to Henry VIII in the course of the dissolution of the monasteries.

The Abbots house.

The foundation walls of the abbey. In the background is the parish church of St Peter and St Paul.

The back of the Abbots house showing the old cloister arches which have been filled in.

The eastern end of the abbey foundations.

September 2017

Our first visit to the Priests House.

Priest's House, Muchelney. This medieval hall-house was built in 1308 for the parish priest of the church opposite, and has been little altered since the early 17th century. Interesting features include the Gothic doorway, magnificent double-height tracery windows and a massive 15th-century stone fireplace.

In this view you can see the double height tracery windows.

The church of St Peter and St Paul. The present church dates mainly from the 15th century but has Saxon origins.

The remains of Muchelney Abbey.

The font and western end of the church.

A closer look at the font which dated from the 15th century.

The nave and altar.

The 17th century painted ceiling with angels and cherubs and a central sun.