Nineteenth-century church architecture and traces of an abandoned medieval village give Hornblotton a distinctive cultural and historical character. St Peter and Hornblotton House represent different building periods; earthworks and a public footpath draw attention to the area of the former settlement. In this way, the history of the buildings is linked with an archaeological interpretation of the old village.
St Peter: church architecture and furnishings
St Peter was built between 1872 and 1874 by Sir T G Jackson for Rector Geoffrey Thring, replacing an earlier church on the same site. The church remains almost unchanged and is considered a rare example of Jackson’s church designs. The tiled reredos above the altar is by William de Morgan; the stained glass is by James Powell and Sons. These details add specific attributions for individual design features to the building’s history.
Sgraffito covers all the interior surfaces of the church. The designs include floral and botanical motifs as well as scenes from the Bible. Its use on such an ambitious scale is considered the earliest example of its kind. St Peter thus brings together features at different scales: Jackson’s church design, the reredos and stained glass as individual furnishings, and the all-over decoration. Those interested in architecture can look not only at the period in which it was built but also at the distinctive treatment of its interior surfaces.
Hornblotton House and its architectural history
A second architectural highlight is Hornblotton House, which is listed as a Grade II building. It was built in 1848 as a rectory with outbuildings on church land for the Revd John Gale Dalton Thring; the design was by Francis Cranmer Penrose. Its purpose, patron, year of construction and architect offer a specific insight into the original property. In 1881, the house was repaired and altered by T G Jackson. It is considered a notable English country rectory dating from before 1850, with a high-quality alteration in the late 19th century. In comparison, St Peter, built in the 1870s, stands alongside an older rectory whose later building phase is also associated with Jackson.
Earthworks and paths
Earthworks immediately south and south-east of the present church probably indicate the site of the abandoned medieval village of Hornblotton. A public footpath runs alongside a private green lane, follows the route of an early path towards the church and crosses the area of the former settlement. Check local information on public rights of way before setting out. The identification of the village site remains a probability; at the same time, the path crosses the area associated with the former settlement.
The Monarch’s Way is a bridleway that runs from the north-west corner of the Hornblotton House estate. The two path descriptions offer different points of reference: for the public footpath, the route towards the church and the crossing of the former settlement area are significant; for the Monarch’s Way, its classification as a bridleway and its connection with the estate. Depending on your interests, you can focus on Hornblotton’s architectural history, settlement traces or different paths.
Discover more destinations: Bagborough, West Coker, Catcott, Wellington, Wells, Langport, Lydford, Axbridge.
For the wider travel overview: Somerset.
