Quantock Education

Cothelstone

The tiny village of Cothelstone lies at the foot of Cothelstone Hill, only a mile from its big neighbour, Bishops Lydeard. Visiting Cothelstone is like stepping back in time: it is a very special place. The church, houses and farm buildings all cluster round a beautiful old Elizabethan Manor house

The ancient ‘holy well’ at Cothelstone

For centuries, Cothelstone Manor and the surrounding deerpark belonged to the Stawell family. Some of the Stawells are buried in the church. This is Sir Matthew Stawell who died in 1379.

These are the oldest buildings at Cothelstone.

Sir John Stawell and his wife, who owned Cathelstone in the 16^th century

Sir John completely rebuilt Cothelstone, apart from the church and the old hall. He built a new house, the gatehouse, the gateway, a banqueting Hall and a summer house, with courtyards and gardens as well as orchards, farm buildings, a mill, dovecote and fishponds.

The Gatehouse to Cothelstone Manor

Sir John built his gateway to arch over the road. ,Later they moved it to one side. Can you see the stone lions?

The family could sit or eat outside in their summerhouse.

But, Sir John never enjoyed his beautiful new manor. During the Civil War he was a Royalist, supporting the King. The victorious Parliamentarians punished him by putting him in prison. Then they knocked down most of his house and destroyed his orchards.

There is a story that, years later, stone from the ruins was used to build a new road.

Terhill Park

Thomas Slocombe owned some land above Cothelstone. He had grand plans for his estate and he built Terhill House in 1778. Then he turned his fields into a small landscape park, with canals, carriage drives, garden buildings, a grotto and ten large statues of Roman gods and goddesses! Very fashionable!