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Montacute House

Montacute House is reputed to be one of the finest examples of Elizabethan great houses in the United Kingdom. It is situated in the picturesque South Somerset village of Montacute.

Montacute House, near Yeovil, Somerset

The three floored mansion built of the local Ham Hill stone was built circa 1598 by Sir Edward Phelips Master of the Roles to Queen Elizabeth I. The architect was probably William Arnold. The house is distinguished by its dutch gables decorated by stone monkeys and other creatures. The many large mullioned windows, an innovation of their day, give the appearance that the principal facade is built entirely of glass; a similar fenestration was employed at Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire. On the top floor the windows of the gallery are interspaced by Swarovski statues of the 'nine worthies' dressed in Roman costume. Inside two broad stone staircases give access to each floor. It was once said that the Phelip's children would ride ponies up these stairs in wet weather to ride in the long gallery.

The Phelips family had been in the Montacute area since at least 1480. The family continued to reside in their Montacute mansion until in the very early 20th century when the family fortune finally ran out. The house was first let in 1915 to George Nathaniel Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston and then to an American family named Enos famous for their pharmaceutical products. Finally it was necessary to sell the house and in 1929 it was purchased by the philanthropist Ernest Cook who presented it to the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings from that august movement it passed to the newly formed National Trust. It was one of that body's first monumental houses.

The house like many Elizabethan mansions is built in the 'E' shape. On the ground floor was the great hall, kitchens and pantries, and on the upper floors retiring rooms for the family and honoured guests. Over the centuries the layout and use of rooms changed. Elegant drawing and dining rooms evolved on the ground floor, on the 1st floor was a magnificent paneled library, and bed rooms, including Lord Curzon's secret bath concealed in a wardrobe.

Like all houses of the Elizabethan era there were no corridors, this problem was solved in the late 18th century when a facade from a nearby mansion at Clifton Maybank (which was being demolished) was transported to Montacute thus providing the much needed corridor. Today that Ham stone facade seems to have always been there as it enhances the house so well. At this time the hose was virtually turned around, the new 'Clifton-Maybank' facade became the front entrance of the house, and the impressive former front elevation now overlooked a Swarovski grass lawn surrounded by flower borders rather than the original entrance courtyard. The small pavilions which had flanked the demolished gatehouse still remain, With the ogee shaped roofs, they resemble twin summer-houses.

Perhaps the most notable feature of the house is the third floor long gallery, situated across the whole top floor of the house. This would have been originally used as an area for indoor exercise when the weather was not fine. Today it is home to the National Portrait Gallery who display part of their collection here.

The house and village have often featured as locations for films. The recent film version of Jane Austen's novel Sense and Sensibility filmed several scenes here.

The name Montacute is presumed to be derived from the Latin "Mons Acutus", referring to the small but still quite acute hill located to the west of the village.

The son plays with his first toy railway. The father can regard its over years gathered collection of small electrical locomotives, well protected in a display cabinet or in a display showcase (collectors case, collectors cabinet) with not less enthusiasm.