Masbury, a station on S. & D. line from Bath to Templecombe.  Here the railway, after an arduous ascent, at length reaches the summit of the Mendips.  To the E. of the station is Masbury Ring, a large circular encampment.  It is probably of British origin, but was, no doubt, also occupied by the Romans, as it lies on the line of the old Roman road from Uphill to Old Sarum.  The fosse is now partly filled with trees.  The ring may be regarded as the summit of the E. Mendip range, which here reaches 958 ft.  About a mile to the E. is a thicker clump of fir trees crowning Beacon Hill, another high spot.  The view from Masbury is most extensive.  Below are the towers of Wells and Glastonbury Tor.  On the W. horizon are the Blackdowns and Quantocks; and on clear days Dunkery and Exmoor are visible.  To the E. are the Wiltshire Downs and Alfred’s Tower, whilst right in front, to the N., is Dundry Hill.

Meare, a village 3-1/2 m.  N.W. from Glastonbury (nearest stat.  Ashcott, 1-1/4 m.).  It betrays by its name the former condition of the country round it, it having been an isle (like Athelney and Muchelney) only approachable (it is said), even as late as 1808, by a bridle-path.  It belonged to the abbots of Glastonbury, who frequented it for fishing; and of their connection with the place there are surviving memorials in a Manor House (where they stayed) and a Fisher’s House.  The first (E. of the church) contains on the first floor a fine dining-hall with large hooded fireplace and Dec. windows; the building at right angles to it is said to have been the chapel.  The second, where the abbey fisherman lived, is in a field adjoining the Manor House; it is roofless (the consequence of a fire), but the walk are intact, and the building is a good example of a mediaeval dwelling-house (erected 1335).  The parish church has a 14th-cent. chancel with a Dec.  E. window; the nave (Perp.) dates from the 15th cent., and has on the parapet of the S. aisle the monogram of Abbot Selwood, the penultimate Abbot of Glastonbury.  There is a 15th-cent. stone pulpit.

Mells, a large village 3 m.  W.N.W. from Frome (nearest stat.  Mells Road).  Mells possesses a fine church, several old houses, and a well-merited reputation for picturesqueness.  The church is a rich example of 15th-cent.  Somerset Perp., with the usual low chancel and an elaborately panelled and pinnacled W. tower (cp.  Leigh).  Note (1) fine groined porch (cp.  Doulting); (2) octagonal vestry on S. with chamber above; (3) mural tablet with emblem of peacock, on N. wall of tower, designed by Burne-Jones; (4) Norm. font.  There are some modern brasses to former incumbents, and in N. chapel a tablet to Sir J. Homer (1659).  Immediately adjoining the church on W. is a fine gabled Elizabethan manor house. Mells Park (J.F.  Horner) is a plain freestone mansion, standing in some well-timbered grounds at the farther end of the village.  The founder of the family is popularly reputed to be the “little Jack Horner” of nursery fame.  In the neighbourhood of Mells are three camps, Newbury and Wadbury, on the road to Elm, and Tedbury, on the way to Frome.  The last mentioned is triangular, occupying a point of land between two ravines (cp.  Ruborough).