⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mere, Wiltshire

Sprout and Flower, Salisbury Street, Mere, Wiltshire. Possibly the most attractively dressed shop in Wiltshire?

Mere is an attractive small town in SW Wiltshire, close to the borders with Somerset and Dorset, and just 3 miles from glorious Stourhead. The town is still undergoing something of a transformation partly as a result of the large Grade II* Ship Inn, now called Heritage Mews, having recently been smartly turned back to its 1711 residential use, after several years of standing empty and disheveled, and The Butt of Sherry closing and its future uncertain. However The George Inn in Mere stands strong in the centre and dates back to 1580, it enjoys noble history as after his defeat at Worcester, the final battle of the English Civil War, King Charles II dined there on 06 October 1651 as he fled the Roundheads to Heale House, and then on to France. So at the time of writing (February 2021) there is just one other pub trading, that being The Walnut Tree, however there is also a tea rooms, Angel Corner and a Co-op. Another good place to eat is at the excellent, but pricey, Hillbrush brush factory (sounds odd I know) on the road out towards Stourhead.

Also of particular historical architectural interest are the Church of St Michael the Archangel, in Church Street, which is Grade I Listed, with remnants dating back to circa 1190, and directly behind it The Chantry, the former home for priests, which is Grade II* Listed and dates back to the 15th century, this is best seen from the graveyard, though the stables can be seen from the road. After the Dissolution of the Monasteries The Chantry was another property acquired by Sir John Thynne of Longleat. It's also worth going down narrow Salisbury Street to admire Dewes House, mid 17th century, Grade II*, it's the slightly 'L' shaped one nearly opposite the Kia garage.

Mere, Wiltshire

Walton House Antiques, Salisbury Street, Mere, Wiltshire, Grade II Listed, late 19th century.

Church Street, Mere.

The Malt House, Castle Street, Mere. Former home of, Wolfe Frank, the chief interpreter at the Nuremberg War Trials, interpreting the judgements he was known as 'The Voice of Doom'. He later covertly went into East Germany and discovered a wanted SS General.

Library and Museum, Church Street, Mere, Wiltshire. Grade II Listed, 1839, former National School.

Church of St Michael the Archangel, Church Street, Mere. Grade I Listed, 12th century remnants.

Glebe House, Church Street, Mere. Grade II Listed, 18th century.

St Ann's, Church Lane, Mere. Grade II Listed, 18th century.

United Reformed Church, Boar Street, Mere, Wiltshire.

The Boardroom House, Salisbury Street, Mere, Wiltshire, Grade II Listed, 18th century, shop, then offices, now residential.

The George Inn, Salisbury Street, Mere, Wiltshire, Grade II Listed, circa 1580.

The Old Ship Hotel, Castle Street, Mere, Wiltshire. Grade II* built in 1711 as a home, it became an inn, and is now apartments.

Angel Corner Tea Rooms, Church Street, Mere, Wiltshire

The Little House and Glebe Cottage, Church Street, Mere, Wiltshire. Grade II Listed, 18th century. Archway Cottage is to the right.

The Grove Building, Church Street, Mere, Wiltshire. Grade II, built in 1891 as an annexe to the adjacent National School, now used for community purposes it was used as a hospital during World War I, treating in excess of 1,000 frontline casualties.

The Chantry, Church Lane, Mere, Wiltshire, Grade II*, mid 15th century. During 20th century repairs the unexplained ancient bones of a man, woman, and dog, were found under a floor.

Chantry Cottage, Church Lane, Mere. Grade II, 16th century, formerly service buildings for the Chantry.

Dewes House, Salisbury Street, Mere, Wiltshire. Grade II* Listed, mid to late 17th century.