National Trust - Dunster Castle, Somerset (24)
National Trust Properties
Dunster Castle, Dunster, Somerset
Dunster Castle is a country house in the village of Dunster, Somerset. Formally a medieval motte and bailey castle perched on a hill called the ‘Tor’. After the Battle of Hastings, William de Mohun was granted title to many properties in West Country and it was he who constructed the first castle. Made from timber, the stone keep was added to in the 12th century. The Mohun occupied the property until it was sold to the Luttrell family at the end of the 14th century.
Between 1419-1426, work was completed on the Great Gatehouse and barbican. The castle was reroofed. The castle changed hands when after the 2nd battle of St Albans (1461), it was given to the Herbert family by Edward IV. In 1485 it was given back to the family by Henry VII when he acceded to the Throne.
In 1617 the architect William Arnold was employed by George Luttrell to create a brand new house in the Lower Ward. What he created was a Jacobean mansion but costing three times the initial budget.
During the English Civil War, Dunster firstly supported the Parliament, then changed to Royalist and finally back to Parliament after siege. It was at this time that Parliament decreed that some of the Castle must be destroyed. The defensive walls were demolished, only the Great Gatehouse and bases to the two towers remained.
It has undergone many changes since. It was used during WWII for convalescing US service personnel. It was given to the National Trust (National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty) in 1976 with the majority of its contents.
National Trust - Dunster Castle, Somerset (24)
National Trust Properties
Dunster Castle, Dunster, Somerset
Dunster Castle is a country house in the village of Dunster, Somerset. Formally a medieval motte and bailey castle perched on a hill called the ‘Tor’. After the Battle of Hastings, William de Mohun was granted title to many properties in West Country and it was he who constructed the first castle. Made from timber, the stone keep was added to in the 12th century. The Mohun occupied the property until it was sold to the Luttrell family at the end of the 14th century.
Between 1419-1426, work was completed on the Great Gatehouse and barbican. The castle was reroofed. The castle changed hands when after the 2nd battle of St Albans (1461), it was given to the Herbert family by Edward IV. In 1485 it was given back to the family by Henry VII when he acceded to the Throne.
In 1617 the architect William Arnold was employed by George Luttrell to create a brand new house in the Lower Ward. What he created was a Jacobean mansion but costing three times the initial budget.
During the English Civil War, Dunster firstly supported the Parliament, then changed to Royalist and finally back to Parliament after siege. It was at this time that Parliament decreed that some of the Castle must be destroyed. The defensive walls were demolished, only the Great Gatehouse and bases to the two towers remained.
It has undergone many changes since. It was used during WWII for convalescing US service personnel. It was given to the National Trust (National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty) in 1976 with the majority of its contents.