Merryfield, Ilton

It bears no relation to the present large 19th-century grade II listed[2] mansion known as Merryfield House, formerly the vicarage, immediately south of St Peter's Church, Ilton.

About 1 mile west-north-west of St Peter's Church, Ilton, the parish church of Ilton,[3] situated on agricultural land south of RAF Merryfield aerodrome and between the disused railway line and the disused Chard Canal, is a moated site which is all that remains of the medieval fortified manor house of Merryfield (or Muryfield),[4] which was the seat of the ancient Wadham family.

The rectangular moat remains and an area which may have been an associated fishpond[7][8] for the supply of food to the household, particularly according to religious usage during Lent and on Fridays.

The manor of Braydon, near Merryfield, went to his daughter Elizabeth Popham the wife of Sir John III Wadham.

[17] It is believed by Rogers (1888) that the small but finely sculpted surviving alabaster effigy of a lady in Ilton Church represents Elizabeth Popham, heiress of Merryfield.

The deed of conveyance and the rules for the management of The Almshouses are interesting, and the building is still standing and serves its original purpose.”[24]

View from causeway into south side of rectangular site of demolished Merryfield House, Ilton, with moat to left and right
Site of Merryfield House, now a rectangular site surrounded by trees (centre), viewed from south. The width of the site on the south (entrance) side, as determined by the length of the moat, is about 50 metres
15th century alabaster effigy thought to represent Elizabeth Popham, heiress of Merryfield, Ilton Church. [ 13 ] She was the wife of Sir John III Wadham and the collar of roses worn around her neck is said to represent the crest of Wadham, [ 14 ] a rose argent between a pair of antlers (as visible on the monument to Nicholas II Wadham (died 1609) in Ilminster Church [ 15 ] )
Monumental brasses to Nicholas Wadham (1508–1508) infant son of Sir Nicholas I Wadham (d. 1542) of Merryfield, by his 2nd wife Margaret Seymour, aunt (not as often stated "sister") [ 20 ] of Queen Jane Seymour . The lowest inscription is in memory of his fourth wife Jane Lyte. Ilton Church
Almshouses on Merryfield Lane, Ilton, built by Sir John Wyndham (1558–1645), believed to have been made from materials from the demolished Merryfield House. [ 22 ]