The Abbot's Fish House, Meare
51°10′18″N 2°46′34″W / 51.1718°N 2.776°W
| The Abbot's Fish House | |
|---|---|
Location within Somerset | |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Gothic |
| Location | Meare, Somerset, England |
| Coordinates | 51°10′18″N 2°46′34″W / 51.1718°N 2.7760°W |
| Completed | 14th century |
| Official name | The Abbot's Fish House and Fishponds |
| Designated | 7 August 1916 |
| Reference no. | 1008018 |
Listed Building – Grade I | |
| Official name | The Abbot's Fish House |
| Designated | 22 November 1966 |
| Reference no. | 1345067 |
The Abbot's Fish House in Meare, Somerset, England, was built in the 14th century and has been designated as a Grade I listed building and scheduled monument. It is the only surviving monastic fishery building in England.
Fishing was an important source of food for the monks of Glastonbury Abbey. Fishing was carried out in artificial ponds, which were mentioned at Meare in the Domesday Book and from the River Brue and Meare Pool. The present rectangular stone building was constructed by the abbot between 1322 and 1335 for the storage and processing of the fish and as a residence for the chief fisherman. After the Dissolution of the Monasteries the building fell into disrepair and it was seriously damaged by fire in the 1880s. Some restoration has been undertaken during the 20th century, including the replacement of the roof in the 1920s.