Grade II* listed · Somerset

Monastery of St Gregory the Great, with west, south and east cloister ranges, Downside Abbey

Monastery of St Gregory the Great, with west, south and east cloister ranges, Downside Abbey is a Grade II* listed building in Somerset, first listed on 25 June 1986. It is one of 789 Grade II* entries among 11,742 listed buildings in Somerset; 75% of Somerset’s current entries were listed before it.

List entry
FieldValue
NameMonastery of St Gregory the Great, with west, south and east cloister ranges, Downside Abbey
GradeGrade II* — particularly important, more than special interest
List entry number1295178
Date first listed25 June 1986
Local planning authoritySomerset
Location51.25532, -2.49584 (map)
Official recordHistoric England list entry 1295178

Planning works on this listed building?

Planium checks which consents Somerset will require for your works on Monastery of St Gregory the Great, with west, south and east cloister ranges, Downside Abbey, lists what the heritage statement must cover and drafts the application text.

Ask Planium what consent you need

What the grade means for works

Grade II* buildings are particularly important buildings of more than special interest — about 5.8% of listed buildings. Applications for listed building consent are notified to Historic England.

The protection covers the whole building, inside and out, plus fixtures and attached structures. Typical works that need consent: replacing windows or doors, removing walls or historic fabric, changing roof coverings, installing solar panels or external insulation, and adding extensions.

Listed buildings near Monastery of St Gregory the Great, with west, south and east cloister ranges, Downside Abbey

NameGradeDistance
Abbey Church and Minor Basilica of St Gregory the Great and the north cloister, Downside AbbeyI42 m
Downside Abbey LibraryII64 m
The Ball Place at Downside SchoolII75 m
Downside SchoolII*103 m
Downside School War MemorialII256 m
Grecian Lodge and gatepiers, Downside AbbeyII261 m
The King'S ArmsII280 m
War Memorial on RoadsideII288 m
Roman Catholic Church of St Benedict, attached school room, boundary walls and lychgate, Downside AbbeyII299 m
The Manor House, Forecourt Wall, Gatepiers and GateII400 m

Frequently asked questions

Is Monastery of St Gregory the Great, with west, south and east cloister ranges, Downside Abbey listed?
Yes. Monastery of St Gregory the Great, with west, south and east cloister ranges, Downside Abbey is on the National Heritage List for England as a Grade II* listed building, list entry number 1295178, first listed on 25 June 1986. The full list entry with its description and map is on Historic England’s website.
Do I need consent for works to Monastery of St Gregory the Great, with west, south and east cloister ranges, Downside Abbey?
Works that affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest — inside or out — need listed building consent from Somerset, in addition to any planning permission or building regulations approval. Like-for-like repairs often do not, but confirm with the council’s conservation officer before you start.
Source: National Heritage List for England, © Historic England 2026, via planning.data.gov.uk. Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right. Licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Retrieved 12 October 2026. Local authority assigned from the list entry point. This page is a summary — the legal record is the official list entry.