The legend is that Richard Whiting - the last Abbot of Glastonbury, at the time of the dissolution - hoping to appease Henry VIII sent his steward Jack Horner to London with a Christmas gift.

This was a pie, in which was hidden the deeds of twelve manors.

On the journey, Jack opened the pie and removed the deeds of Mells Manor, in the village of Mells.

True or not, Thomas Horner took up residence at the manor shortly after the dissolution and one of his descendants was still living there in 1975.

The story that deeds were hidden under a pie crust is not as unlikely as it may first seem, as Highwaymen were common and travellers would hide their gold, jewels and other valuables.
Although Horner’s name was Thomas, he could have been known as Jack if he was a ‘bit of a lad’.

The church has examples of Arts and Crafts stained glass, and the village boasts items built by Lutyens, numerous thatched cottages and the Talbot Inn.

Remains of the Fussell’s Ironworks can be found between Mells and Great Elm.