history

The present site dates back to the 11th Century when the Cluniac Monks founded a priory in Monkton Farleigh in 1125. In 1276 the Abbot of Cluny's constable visited Farleigh who found that the monks lived according to the rule, and gave instructions on minor matters of discipline. There were 18 monks and 2 lay brothers, but their report on the prior was rather different. He was both disobedient and immoral. The last prior to be in charge ended his reign in 1536 and after the Dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII the estate passed to Edward Seymour created Earl of Hertford after Henry VIII's marriage to his sister Jane.

He built himself and his family a manor house on the site and all that is believed to remain is remnants of the priory church wall, however the spring that supplied the monastery with water still exists today.

When Henry VIII died in 1547 his son, Edward VI, was still too young to ascend the throne. Edward Seymour, the boy's ambitious and successful uncle, seized this opportunity and had himself created Lord Protector and 1st Duke of Somerset. The new Duke and Protector, "desirous of possessing a residence suitable to his high rank", was determined to build himself a palace. The Duke already owned land on a prime site between the Thames and the Strand; an important thoroughfare linking the Tower of London to the east and the Palace of Whitehall and Westminster to the west. It was here that he began building his great mansion, Somerset House, in 1547. However his attempt to check enclosure (the transfer of land from common to private ownership) offended landowners and his moderation in religion upset Protestants, he was eventually beheaded in The Tower of London on a treason charge in 1552.

For many years the estate then passed between the Church and the Crown with many different dignified tenants. Some additions were made to the building in the 17th century and again in the 18th century.

In 1881 the hills on the North Western side of Monkton Farleigh village were quarried for Bath Stone. It is believed that it is during this time that the building was first used as a public house serving ale. By the time the quarries closed in 1930 the whole of the hill was riddled with roughly 300 acres of tunnels .During the build up to WW2 the War Department decided that there was a need for a large underground ammunitions store. Starting in 1937 taking 6 years and 7,000 manpower the mines were completed with acres of corridor storage space with electricity provided by a large underground generator.

With such industry occurring in the surrounding area the building soon evolved into The Kings Arms Tavern and its rich history continues today. Widely regarded as one of the most haunted pubs in the county there are many stories of haunting surrounding the pub including a monk who enjoys the odd practical joke with visitors and staff. Another is a woman who can be heard wailing pitifully on the anniversary of her death - caused by her runaway coach crashing into the wall of the pub. A famous event in the history of the Kings Arms is the Miners Inquiry which was held at the at the pub. Certain facts were withheld by some of the miners, one of whom now haunts the road between the pub and the mine, tormented by his need for justice. During more recent renovations, which exposed the largest inglenook fireplace in the county adding further to the character and mystique of the pub, an internal wall was knocked down and a key unearthed. It had obviously been buried in the wall though why and for what lock is still unknown, the key now hangs behind the bar.

Some new stories too can be heard from the present staff and proprietors who now welcome you to The Kings Arms, Monkton Farleigh.