 Unfortunately,
the priory failed to maintain itself financially and, in 1530,
it was taken over by the Carthusian monks of Hinton Charterhouse.
The priory was put up for sale during the Dissolution of
the Monasteries in 1536-39 and it was bought by John Thynne
in 1541 for a total sum of £53! He was only 25 years old.
John Thynne, builder of Longleat House, had worked as a clerk
of the kitchens to Henry VIII and later rose to wealth and power
in the service of Protector Somerset. He was knighted after the
battle of Pinkie in 1547 when fighting the Scots – hence
the knot in the tail of the Scottish lion which is featured in
the family coat of arms.
Sir John died in 1580 with Longleat still unfinished though building
operations had not deterred Queen Elizabeth I from visiting in
1574 – the first in a long line of royal guests. |
Accessible
to an independent wheelchair user
Accessible
to pushchairs 
Average Duration of Visit
Open Dates for 2009: