Visit to Mells, Mells Manor and Mells Park Houses
***SAVE THE DATE***
Friday 29 May 2026, 11.00 am to 17.30 pm
Mells, Somerset
Mells Manor House, Gatepiers (Image © David Lewis)
The Trust joins with the Worshipful Company of Gardeners, courtesy of the owners of Mells Manor and Mells Park, for an informative and enjoyable day in the beautiful Somerset village which these magnificent properties elegantly help define. Here too we will see Lutyens’s work at the church and his public shelter and war memorial which further distinguish the hamlet. The late spring weather should ensure we see all in the best light.
Memorial to Edward Horner, St Andrew’s Church, Mells (Image © R Lilley)
We will meet at gates to south of Mells Manor (gatepiers by Lutyens), where provided with notes for a self-guided walk of Mells village including Mells Public Shelter, Wood End (Lutyens) and Mells War Memorial (Lutyens), before gathering at St Andrews Church.
The churchyard here boasts Lutyens’s Mechanical gate, Headstones to Sir John and Lady Horner and the Memorial tomb of Reginald McKenna, while the medieval Church hosts the Memorial to Edward Horner (Lutyens/ Munning), the Memorial to Raymond Asquith (Lutyens/ Gill) and the Memorial to Mark Horner (Lutyens/ Gill).
Before lunch we will progress to Mells Manor House to view Lutyens’s plans for restoration and alterations for the Horners of this largely Elizabethan manor, before joining the WCG on the terrace for drinks. After lunch, we’ll enjoy a brief introduction and viewing of the Manor House, notably Lutyens’ restoration and alterations and his Morning Garden Rooms and Garden Shelter.
Mells Park House (Image © R Breese)Around 15.00 pm we will move on to Mells Park and House. Here, Lutyens rebuilt the earlier house around 1922-25 after a fire for the McKennas. We may too be able to see inside the house, where the interior decoration was by Herbert Jekyll. We will be exploring the gardens designed by Lutyens and Gertrude Jekyll and debating whether the stables were by Soane or John Wood the Younger.
The day is not yet open for bookings but we will circulate members to secure a place as soon as possible.
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