Meare Fish House

Meare Fish House was built for Glastonbury Abbey in the 1330s beside a freshwater lake that has since been drained. It housed the official responsible for the abbey's fishery, and its careful domestic planning shows that this was a residence rather than simply a store for fish. The small stone building is the only surviving monastic fishery building in England, preserving a link with the food supplies and estate management behind a great medieval monastery. Later agricultural use and a fire altered its fortunes without erasing its distinctive form. Visitors find the history interesting but frequently arrive without realising that the interior key must be collected elsewhere. Pick it up from Manor House Farm at the opposite end of the field before walking to the house. Parking in the village is limited, and dogs are prohibited because livestock may be grazing.