Gaulden Manor
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Gaulden Manor (also Gavelden or Gaveldene) is a Grade II*
listed Listed may refer to: * Listed, Bornholm, a fishing village on the Danish island of Bornholm * Listed (MMM program), a television show on MuchMoreMusic * Endangered species in biology * Listed building, in architecture, designation of a historicall ...
country house to the southeast of
Tolland, Somerset Tolland is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated north west of Taunton, between the Brendon Hills and Quantock Hills, in the Somerset West and Taunton district. The parish has a population of 81. History The parish of Tollan ...
, England. It is a double storied building with interior plasterwork, as well as a garden consisting of herbs, old roses and a pond. A room referred to as a chapel has a c.1640 ceiling featuring an angel with trumpet on
Judgment Day The Last Judgment, Final Judgment, Day of Reckoning, Day of Judgment, Judgment Day, Doomsday, Day of Resurrection or The Day of the Lord (; ar, یوم القيامة, translit=Yawm al-Qiyāmah or ar, یوم الدین, translit=Yawm ad-Dīn, ...
.


History

In 1199, Andrew De Bovedon gave Gaulden to
Taunton Priory Taunton Priory, or the Priory of St Peter and St Paul, was an Augustinian house of canons founded c. 1115 by William Gyffarde (also called William Giffard), Bishop of Winchester and Chancellor of England near Taunton, Somerset, England. History ...
. It was a settlement in the mid-thirteenth century. During the
Valor Ecclesiasticus The ''Valor Ecclesiasticus'' (Latin: "church valuation") was a survey of the finances of the church in England, Wales and English controlled parts of Ireland made in 1535 on the orders of Henry VIII. It was colloquially called the Kings books, a s ...
(1535), Gaulden was listed as belonging to the priory. The priory's possessions were surrendered to King Henry VIII in 1539, and that the manor was granted to William Standysh in 1544. On his death in 1553, the manor passed to Francis Southwell and Alice, his wife. As they left no heirs, it became the possession of John Mynne, and then George Mynne and Elizabeth, his wife. In 1565, James Turberville, the former
Bishop of Exeter The Bishop of Exeter is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Exeter in the Province of Canterbury. Since 30 April 2014 the ordinary has been Robert Atwell.
, lived at the manor. Either Turberville or his great-nephew, John Turberville, added the plasterwork. Built from
limestone Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...
with rough stone walls, the house is dated to the 16th century but underwent alterations in the 17th century; much of the plasterwork is dated to 1640–1660.


Architecture and fittings

Built of red sandstone and masonry, it is a double storied building. The roof is partly of slate and partly of brick. There is a gabled porch. The front entrance is on the west side. The porch contains a lintel and there is a storey over it. It opens into a passage. A hall and a service wing are at a lower level. The hall is situated on the right a features a ceiling of panelled plaster. There is a notable pendant with eight ornamental flutings, more than . A
cornice In architecture, a cornice (from the Italian ''cornice'' meaning "ledge") is generally any horizontal decorative moulding that crowns a building or furniture element—for example, the cornice over a door or window, around the top edge of a ...
surrounds the room, except in the area of the fireplace and the carved partition. The partition's cornice, made of plaster, is ornamented with figures and mottoes. On the north wall are two figures—a man apparently giving a cloak to a poor man or monk. Further on, a representation of
Herodias Herodias ( el, Ἡρῳδιάς, ''Hērǭdiás''; ''c.'' 15 BC – after AD 39) was a princess of the Herodian dynasty of Judaea during the time of the Roman Empire. Christian writings connect her with John the Baptist's execution. Family relat ...
' daughter bringing
John the Baptist John the Baptist or , , or , ;Wetterau, Bruce. ''World history''. New York: Henry Holt and Company. 1994. syc, ܝܘܿܚܲܢܵܢ ܡܲܥܡܕ݂ܵܢܵܐ, Yoḥanān Maʿmḏānā; he, יוחנן המטביל, Yohanān HaMatbil; la, Ioannes Bapti ...
's head to Herod, with the decapitated body in the background. To the left of the fireplace, between it and the square-headed and stone-mullioned window, is an oak partition, panelled and carved, surmounted by a plaster partition between it and the ceiling, and over the door are the initials "I. T." Inside the partition is a room referred to as a chapel, though it has the appearance of an ordinary parlour or drawing room, with nothing ecclesiastic in its features. The c. 1640 ceiling features an angel with trumpet on
Judgement Day The Last Judgment, Final Judgment, Day of Reckoning, Day of Judgment, Judgment Day, Doomsday, Day of Resurrection or The Day of the Lord (; ar, یوم القيامة, translit=Yawm al-Qiyāmah or ar, یوم الدین, translit=Yawm ad-Dīn, ...
.


Grounds

The grounds contain a bog,
herb garden The traditional kitchen garden, vegetable garden, also known as a potager (from the French ) or in Scotland a kailyaird, is a space separate from the rest of the residential garden – the ornamental plants and lawn areas. It is used for grow ...
,
fish pond A fish pond or fishpond is a controlled pond, small artificial lake or retention basin that is stocked with fish and is used in aquaculture for fish farming, for recreational fishing, or for ornamental purposes. Fish ponds are a classical g ...
, and a collection of old roses. The herb garden is laid out in the shape of a cross. From 1967, Mr and Mrs James le Gendre Starkie laid out of wasteland in a similar manner to that which have been in place at the time of the Tudor house. The property and grounds are now owned and maintained by Mark Homewood.
Primula ''Primula'' () is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants in the family Primulaceae. They include the primrose ('' P. vulgaris''), a familiar wildflower of banks and verges. Other common species are '' P. auricula'' (auricula), '' P. veris'' (cow ...
s are a special feature of the planting.


References

''This article incorporates public domain text from Somersetshire Archaeological and Natural History Society's "Proceedings" (1878).'' {{reflist Country houses in Somerset Manor houses in England Grade II* listed buildings in Taunton Deane Grade II* listed houses in Somerset