Montacute House

Montacute House is a late Elizabethan mansion in the village of Montacute, Somerset, in south-west England. Surrounded by historic gardens and run by the National Trust, it is one of the best-preserved houses from the turn of the 17th century.

Who built Montacute House, and when?

Work began around 1598 for Sir Edward Phelips, a lawyer and politician. He went on to serve as Speaker of the House of Commons (1604 to 1611) and then as Master of the Rolls, a senior judicial post. He also led the prosecution of the Gunpowder Plot conspirators. The house was finished about 1601. The mason William Arnold is credited with the build, and John Thorpe may have drawn the plans.

Montacute counts as a "prodigy house", one of the showpiece homes that courtiers and officials raised to display their standing. It has survived almost unaltered since Elizabethan times and sits at the point where late Gothic gave way to a Renaissance style drawing on classical ideas.

What will you see?

The building follows an H-shaped plan, with three storeys, an attic and a basement. It is made of local Ham Hill stone, which gives the walls a warm golden tone. The house and the pavilions flanking the east forecourt are listed Grade I, and the gardens sit on the national register of historic parks and gardens at the top grade.

The highlight indoors is the Long Gallery on the upper floor. At more than 52 metres, it is described as the longest of its kind in England. It displays dozens of Tudor and Elizabethan portraits on loan from London's National Portrait Gallery, among them Henry VIII, Catherine Parr and Elizabeth I.

What happened after the Phelips era?

Phelips's descendants lived here into the early 20th century. The family then ran into financial trouble, the house fell into neglect and its contents were sold off. According to the heritage listing, the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings bought the property in 1931 and handed it to the National Trust, which still looks after it.

How do you plan a visit?

Montacute lies in the south of Somerset, in the village that shares its name. Combine the house with a walk through the gardens and the village, which is built from the same stone. Opening hours and ticket prices change by season, so check the National Trust website before you travel. National Trust members enter with their membership card.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Montacute House? In the village of Montacute in South Somerset, England, at roughly 50.95° N, 2.71° W.

What period is the house from? The end of the Elizabethan era. Construction ran from about 1598 to 1601.

What is special about the Long Gallery? Its length of over 52 metres, and its collection of Tudor and Elizabethan portraits on loan from the National Portrait Gallery.

Who looks after the property? The National Trust. The house is a Grade I listed building, and the gardens are registered at the highest grade.