Montacute House

Montacute House is a Grade I listed historic building in Somerset, cared for by the National Trust. Read about its history and architecture, plus how to visit and what's nearby.

About Montacute House

Montacute House was built around 1598 for Sir Edward Phelips, a lawyer who became Speaker of the House of Commons and later Master of the Rolls.

The mansion stands in Montacute, Somerset, built from local Ham Hill stone that gives it a distinctive golden colour.

It is one of the few great Elizabethan prodigy houses to survive largely unchanged, and both the house and its gardens carry the highest heritage listing grade in England.

The National Trust acquired the property in 1927.

History of Montacute House

Sir Edward Phelips, who became Speaker of the House of Commons and later Master of the Rolls, commissioned the house around 1598. He went on to prosecute the Gunpowder Plotters. His descendants occupied the property until the early twentieth century. The National Trust acquired Montacute House in 1927.

Architecture of Montacute House

The three-storey mansion is thought to have been designed by mason William Arnold, marking the transition from Gothic to Renaissance-influenced English building design.

Facilities

Parking Café Toilets Shop Cycle parking Baby changing

Plan your visit to Montacute House

Prices Opening times Official site Google Maps Waze

Nearest station: Yeovil Pen Mill Rail Station (4.4 miles)

Places to visit near Montacute House

Stoke sub Hamdon Priory

historic building 1.6 miles

View Stoke sub Hamdon Priory on heritage map

Tintinhull House

historic building 1.6 miles

View Tintinhull House on heritage map

Treasurer's House

historic building 2.8 miles

View Treasurer's House on heritage map

Lytes Cary

manor house 6.2 miles

View Lytes Cary on heritage map

Muchelney Abbey

historic building 6.5 miles

Visit Muchelney Abbey View Muchelney Abbey on heritage map

Historic places nearby

Within 5 miles of Montacute House (TA15) there are 3 historic properties, including 3 historic buildings.

3 National Trust

3 Historic building

See these 3 sites on the heritage map

Within 10 miles of Montacute House (TA15) there are 9 historic properties, including 7 historic buildings, across National Trust and English Heritage sites.

6 National Trust

3 English Heritage

7 Historic building

1 Castle

1 Manor house

See these 9 sites on the heritage map

Within 20 miles of Montacute House (TA15) there are 32 historic properties, including 17 historic buildings, 6 historic houses and 3 archaeological sites, across National Trust, English Heritage and Historic Houses sites.

14 National Trust

9 English Heritage

8 Historic Houses

17 Historic building

6 Historic house

3 Archaeological site

2 Garden

2 Manor house

1 Palace