AttractionEnglish Heritage

Meare Fish House

Glastonbury, Somerset

The only surviving monastic fishery building in England, free, with the key from a nearby farm and Somerset Levels walking for your dog.

There is precisely one building like this left in the country. Meare Fish House was the residence of the official who ran Glastonbury Abbey's fishery on the nearby lake, and it provided facilities for salting and drying the catch. Monastic communities ate a great deal of fish and managing a lake was serious business, but this is the only purpose built fishery building to survive anywhere in England. It is a plain, solid, two storey stone house of the early 14th century, standing alone in a field.

While you collect the key from Manor House Farm, which is a properly old fashioned way to visit a monument, your dog gets Somerset Levels walking: flat, wet, open country with rhynes, willows and enormous skies. The Avalon Marshes and Shapwick Heath are a short distance away and hold huge winter bird numbers, including the starling murmurations.

Free, open any reasonable time during daylight hours. No dog rules are published for the site. Surrounding land is grazed and cut for hay, so keep your dog on a lead and close gates. No facilities.

At a Glance

Site Type: Medieval & Tudor
Entry: Free
Members: Free for English Heritage members

English Heritage Membership

Planning Your Visit

Opening times and prices were checked on 26 August 2026 and are subject to change, and some sites close for events or over winter. Confirm on the English Heritage site page before you travel.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Meare Fish House dog friendly?
No specific dog rules are published for Meare Fish House, so there's nothing to suggest dogs aren't welcome. The surrounding land is used for grazing and hay, so you'll need to keep your dog on a lead and make sure you close any gates as you go.
Are dogs allowed at Meare Fish House year round?
The site is free to visit and open at any reasonable time during daylight hours, with no indication of seasonal restrictions. If you're visiting in winter, the nearby Avalon Marshes and Shapwick Heath are worth knowing about — they host impressive starling murmurations and large numbers of wintering birds just a short distance away.
What should I know before visiting Meare Fish House with my dog?
Before you head to the building itself, you'll need to collect the key from Manor House Farm — an old-fashioned touch that's part of the charm. There are no facilities on site, and as the surrounding land is grazed and cut for hay, keeping your dog on a lead and closing gates behind you is essential. The flat, open Somerset Levels countryside makes for a lovely walk while you're there.