The New Murrey and Blue blog

Once again a medieval abbey property that has been turned into a beautiful residence is on the market, this time for a mere £2.95 million. (At least it was when I found the link and decideed to write about it.) When I see the ridiculous sums needed to acquire modest, rather indifferent properties in London, Ivythorn Manor seems very reasonably priced indeed! Who could possibly prefer to be crammed into London when they could be out in the beautiful countryside of Somerset, surrounded by history?

Mind you, that said, if you go to https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/151129835#/media?id=media5&channel=RES_BUY, which contains a lot of photographs, you will see that the interior is, well, by fashionable standards, in need of attention. A little like my home, to be honest. Anyway, a Ivythorn Manor m.o.n.e.y. is needed if you like to be ahead of the Joneses.

Examining this site (A medieval monastery that became a handsome family home is up for sale just up the road from Glastonbury – Country Life) will find the former abbey house described as “….set in just under 16 acres of gardens, grounds, parkland and woodland, 1½ miles south of Street, probably best known as the home of Millfield School, and 3½ miles south of Glastonbury….” Well, my grandchildren’s school/university days are over now, but I suppose the proximity to Millfield is a definite selling point for some.

The house isn’t the original monastic property, but was rebuilt in 1488 by John Selwood, Abbot of Glastonbury Abbey between 1456-1493. He was abbot for a long time, during which he is also known to have rebuilt the façade of the King William Inn in the centre of Glastonbury.

Today the inn is known locally as the Billy. Which King William is it named for? I don’t know, but I suppose it has to be I or II. Unless it was renamed in later centuries when we’d had III and IV.

According to this link https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/som/vol9/pp165-198, the Ivythorn Manor house “….appears to have been rebuilt [again!] by the Marshall family in the later 15th and early 16th centuries….and….it was occupied by its owners the Marshalls and the Whittingtons until the later 17th century….” But I think a lot  of Abbot Selwood’s house remains.

Among many details of interest there is an “…inner door in a moulded surround with a 4-centred arch head, ribbed and studded plank door with iron strap hinges; above a freestone tablet with the arms of Abbot Selwood….”

There is information about the abbot here http://catholicsaints.mobi/ebooks/glastonbury/chapter02.htm  “….John Selwood, the abbot, had held the office [Abbot of Glastonbury] since 1457, and under his rule, owing, probably in some measure at least, to the demoralising influence of the constant civil commotions, discipline grew slack and the good name of the abbey had suffered. But it would seem that, as is so often the case, rumour with its many tongues had exaggerated the disorders, since after a careful examination carried out under Bishop Stillington’s orders by four ecclesiastics unconnected with the diocese, no stringent injunctions were apparently imposed, and Abbot Selwood continued to rule the house for another twenty years….” I hope that in this time he was able to enjoy some peace and quiet at Ivythorn Manor.