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Watchful Eyes in the Historic Architecture at Athelhampton

Updated: Apr 16

When you stand outside Athelhampton House, it often feels as though there are many pairs of eyes watching your every move.


A view looking up towards the top of the oriel window at Athelhampton. The porch is on the right hand side of the photo, with stone mullion windows, a crowned ape sat above the front door, and another grotesque looking down from the top of the porch. Other heads sit below the crenelations on the oriel window.

The house is adorned with many figures, faces and animals all carved from local Portesham stone. The monstrous faces of the gargoyles and grotesques were thought to keep evil spirits and demons away, and many of the animals are the heraldic symbols of the families who lived here in Tudor times.


A close up of a grotesque on the top of the oriel window, turning to look towards the camera

Next time you visit, take a moment to admire the detail in the historic architecture at Athelhampton before you explore the 20+ rooms inside the house.


A close up of the crowned, chained ape on the top of the entrance to Athelhampton. It has outsized eyes, and an open mouth, and a chain collar around its neck

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