The Abbot'S Fish House

MEARE CP PORTERS HATCH (North side) ST44SE

3/59 The Abbot's Fish House

22.11.66

• I

House of the chief fisherman of the Abbot of Glastonbury; also used for salting and preparing fish. C14 (temp. Edward III); roof renewed C20. Much weathered coursed and squared rubble, stone-tiled roof, restored eaves cornice, coped verges with finials, freestone dressings. Rectangular on plan, 4 rooms to ground floor, 2 rooms to first floor, though floor now removed; irregular fenestration; East end with a traceried 2-light pointed-arch window; 2-light chamfered stone-mullioned windows; single-light openings in chamfered surrounds; all openings with later iron grilles. Two-centred arch doorway in a chamfered stone surround to South; similar opening on first floor, formerly reached by a flight of stone steps, now missing; 2 further narrow door openings to West, one on each floor; again iron grilles. Interior with fireplace on each floor; 4 door opening in dressed stone surrounds. The building stood on the South-West bank of Meare Pool, which had a circumference of 5 miles; it was drained in the late C18. It is postulated that the fish house was erected in the time of Abbot Adam of Sodbury (1322-1335), who was also responsible for nearby Manor Farmhouse (q.v). Scheduled Ancient Monument (Somerset County No 3). (Pevsner N, Buildings of England, South and West Somerset, 1958; VAG Report, unpublished SRO, 9 September, l174).

Listing NGR: ST4580441729