CAN you guess where this week’s Mystery Photograph was taken?

Each week, the Journal challenges its readers to test their local knowledge by identifying a historic location from days gone by in the area.

Last week’s picture was taken at Downside Abbey in Stratton-on-the-Fosse.

Last week's photograph was taken at Downside Abbey.
Last week's photograph was taken at Downside Abbey. (Radstock Museum)

Downside Abbey, located in Stratton-on-the-Fosse, Somerset, is a Benedictine monastery and the senior community of the English Benedictine Congregation. Established in 1606, the abbey has a rich history of monastic life and education.

The Abbey Church of St Gregory the Great, begun in 1873 and unfinished, is a Grade I listed building. Sir Nikolaus Pevsner described its Gothic style as "the most splendid demonstration of the renaissance of Roman Catholicism in England".

In 2022, the monastic community relocated to Devon, leaving the abbey buildings in Stratton-on-the-Fosse vacant. The adjacent Downside School, an independent Roman Catholic institution for students aged 11 to 18, continues to operate on the southern part of the site.

The abbey's library, renowned for its extensive collection of rare books and manuscripts, remains a significant resource for scholars and researchers. The church continues to serve as a place of worship and is open to visitors interested in its architectural and historical significance.

Stratton-on-the-Fosse has a long history that dates back to at least the Roman era, as evidenced by the discovery of Roman artefacts and the village’s proximity to significant Roman roads, including the Fosse Way, a major route built by the Romans connecting Exeter to Lincoln.

The village’s name, "Stratton," is derived from the Old English for "street town" or "settlement by the Roman road." The "Fosse" part of the name refers to the nearby Fosse Way, indicating the village's location along this ancient thoroughfare. The Fosse Way was pivotal in the area’s development, both during Roman times and later, as it helped to connect various settlements across the region.

The Journal, in partnership with Radstock Museum, thanks readers for their enthusiasm for the Mystery Photograph feature.