One of the most distinctive and sought-after architectural models produced by W.H. Goss is the miniature Abbot’s Kitchen, Glastonbury Abbey, a fine example of crested china that combines local heritage, craftsmanship, and historical reverence. Standing 88mm tall and catalogued as Model No. 420 in Roland Ward’s Price Guide to the Models of W.H. Goss, this piece is a miniature replica of the famous medieval structure located in Glastonbury, Somerset.

The original Abbot’s Kitchen dates back to the 14th century and is one of the best-preserved medieval kitchens in Europe. Part of Glastonbury Abbey, once among the wealthiest and most influential monasteries in England, the kitchen served the abbots who lived in considerable splendour. The building features a distinctive octagonal design with a central chimney and high vaulted ceiling—an architectural rarity. It has survived centuries of upheaval, including the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII, and remains a symbol of monastic self-sufficiency and ingenuity.

The W.H. Goss model captures the kitchen’s unique shape with fine detail. Typically made in unglazed porcelain, it exists in two main varieties: one in pale brown with black-painted doors, and a coloured version featuring red doors and green “mossy” accents to evoke the passage of time. Both versions bear the black-printed Goshawk mark and the inscription: Model of Abbot’s Kitchen Glastonbury Abbey. Copyright.

 

This piece is considered rare among collectors, with few examples appearing at auction. A coloured version sold at Bonhams Honiton in 2004 for £411 (including premium), while Dreweatts sold a brown-doored version in 2002 for £250. An example offered online by Applecross Antiques reached £585, illustrating its desirability. With strong architectural appeal and regional significance, the Goss Abbot’s Kitchen remains a prized addition for collectors of historical and ecclesiastical crested china.

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The W.H. Goss Factory