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DUNSTER CASTLE

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Castle of 11th century origins, rebuilt in the mid 13th century and 1420. The house was built circa 1617 and altered in 1867. By 1086 a castle, probably of the motte and bailey type, was established here by the Mohun family using the strong natural defences of the hill. A stone-built castle was in existence by 1138 but no masonry from this seems to survive. At about that time the castle was held by William de Mohun against Henry de Tracy and although seigeworks were erected, no structures remain. In the Civil War it was held against the Royalists, but was taken by them in 1642. Later in 1645-6, after a six month seige, it was retaken by the Parliamentarians. In 1649 it was ordered to be dismantled, although little demolition was carried out. A view of the castle in 1733 shows the motte used as a gazebo and pleasure garden, but with much of the rest of the castle retaining medieval features. The scheduling relates to the natural features and associated below ground remains which together formed the medieval motte and bailey of Dunster Castle.

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[Centred SS 99114344] Dunster Castle [NR] Site of Keep [NR] (1)

Dunster Castle. Nothing now remains of the Norman castle or of the later medieval buildings. The old gateway to the Lower Ward with the towers flanking it, and some sections of wall are probably mid 13th century. In 1420 Sir Hugh Luttrell built a new gatehouse spanning the approach from the town; this still stands, but two towers were added on its inner side in the 18th century. The existing house dates in the main from c.1571 but since then, substantial alterations have taken place culminating in those of 1867 (2).

Description and plan - see Illustration Card . (2-3)

The castle is sited on a steep sided hill. The Norman motte seems to have been formed by scarping the hill top, and it is difficult to differentiate between natural and artificial slopes. This difficulty has been further increased by later terracing of the hill, for a carriage drive and landscape gardening. Earthworks surveyed at 1:2500. (4)

Dunster Castle and gatehouse, Grade I, Castle Hill. Built originally by William de Mohun in the 11th century. Of the Norman castle no trace remains, the oldest surviving feature is the 13th century gateway. The gatehouse was erected in 1420. (For full description see list.) (5)

The place name Dunster indicates that in the Saxon period the torre, presumably Castle Hill, belonged to a man called Dun and it is possible that the hill may have been fortified in pre-Conquest times. By 1086 a castle, probably of the motte and bailey type, was established here by the Mohun family using the strong natural defences of the hill. A stone built castle was in existence by 1138 but no masonry from this seems to survive. At about that time the castle was held by William de Mohun against Henry de Tracy and although seigeworks were erected, no structures remain. There are many medieval references to buildings and structures in both an upper and lower ward of the castle. In the Civil War it was held against the Royalists, but was taken by them in 1642. Later in 1645-6, after a six month seige, it was retaken by the Parliamentarians. In 1649 it was ordered to be dismantled, although little demolition was carried out. A view of the castle in 1733 shows the motte used as a gazebo and pleasure garden, but with much of the rest of the castle retaining medieval features. (6-8)

Additional bibliography. (9-21)

As reported by authy 4, the site of the original Norman motte and bailey is difficult to discern due to three factors: the extreme topography of the hill on which the castle is sited; later landscaping and dense garden planting; later building and re-building work. The current 1:2500 depiction records the motte as an earthwork centred at SS 9910 4345, with a very level top, the result of early 18th century landscaping. The bailey was in the level area to the northeast, now occupied by the Castle. Part of a curtain wall and tower from the 13th century survive at SS 9914 4354. (22).

The history of the Castle has been researched in considerable dtail by Gibb, who records the site from earliest times onwards (23).

Listed by Cathcart King. (24)

Additional reference. (25)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 6" 1928-38

( 2) Royal Archaeological Institute The Archaeological Journal

(M Whinney) 107, 1950 Page(s)123

( 3) Royal Archaeological Institute The Archaeological Journal

(G T Clark) 36, 1879 Page(s)309-20, 400-01

( 4) Field Investigators Comments

F1 GHP 27-MAY-65

( 5) List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest

District of West Somerset, August 1983 Page(s)8

( 6) by Michael Aston and Roger Leech 1977 Historic towns in Somerset

Committee for Rescue Archaeology in Avon, Gloucestershire and Somerset surveysNo 1 (1975) - no 6 (1983) no.2 Page(s)46

( 7) compiled and edited by Robin Fedden and Rosemary Joekes 1977 The National Trust guide

Page(s)100-2

( 8) Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society, Bath

125, 1981 Page(s)1-14

( 9) Royal Archaeological Institute The Archaeological Journal

37, 1880 Page(s)386-404,

(10) by Eric R Delderfield 1968 West Country historic houses and their families. Volume 1 : Cornwall, Devon and West Somerset

Page(s)51-5

(11) General reference

Armitage E S. 1912. Early Norman Castles Page(s)145-6, 398

(12) by Geo T Clark 1884 Medieval military architecture in England. Volume 1

1 Page(s)24-32, 146

(13) Country Life

14 Page(s)689-694

(14) General reference

Mackenzie J. 1887. Castles of England 2, 54

(15) Devonshire Association reports and transactions

60, 1928 Page(s)34-40

(16) General reference

Armitage E S. 1904. English Historic Review 19, 229-30

(17) Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society, Bath

52, 1906 Page(s)56-63

(18) Proceedings of the Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society, Bath

(A W Vivian-Neal) 104, 1960 Page(s)63

(19) by Charles Oman 1926 Castles

Page(s)60

(20) General reference

Turner T H. Domestic Architecture of England 3 Pt 2, 339

(21) by Nikolaus Pevsner 1958 South and west Somerset

The Buildings of England Page(s)156-57

(22) English Heritage Register of parks and gardens of special historic interest in England

Somerset Part 37

(22) Field Investigators Comments

Riley H 1998 RCHME Field Investigation

(23) David J Cathcart King 1983 Castellarium anglicanum : an index and bibliography of the castles in England, Wales and the Islands. Volume II : Norfolk-Yorkshire and the islands

2 Page(s)442

(24) edited by Peter Furtado et al 1988 Ordnance Survey guide to castles in Britain

Page(s)83

(25) Scheduled Monument Notification

Scheduling revision 24-Apr-2002

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