I've lived in Somerset for just over 3 years now, well, when I'm not off exploring various parts of the world and I've never got round to visiting the medieval castle and village of Dunster. It was such a pleasure to spend a peaceful afternoon walking and strolling around the beautiful grounds and gardens amongst spring flowers and trees in full bloom covering over 15 acres of land. It's funny because the first thing I noticed when returning to England last week from France was the smell of the countryside and the luscious greenery that somerset is blessed with, it was muchly missed whilst away.
Visiting the castle was like stepping back in time and the oldest surviving part of the castle is the Reynold de Mohun ll early 13th-century gateway, which was the entrance to the lower ward, pictured below.
A sample of the castles interior...
The site has been occupied for over a 1,000 years and the first written source note a hill fort owned by Saxon Thegn Aelfric who fought and lost his life, alongside King Harold at the battle of Hastings (1066). Later, William de Mohun was granted the lands at Dunster for his service to William the Conqueror around the 12th century and a timber castle was constructed on the site as part of the pacification of Somerset. By the start of the 12th century a stone shell keep was built on the motte and the castle survived a siege during the early years of the Anarchy.
At the end of the 14th century the de Mohuns sold the castle to the Luttrell family, who continued to occupy the property until the late 20th century and the castle was expanded several times during the 17th and 18th centuries. The medieval castle walls were mostly destroyed following the siege of Dunster Castle at the end of the English Civil War, when Parliament ordered the defences to be slighted to prevent their further use. In the 1860s and 1870s, the architect Anthony Salvin was employed to remodel the castle to fit Victorian tastes; this work extensively changed the appearance of Dunster to make it appear more Gothic and Picturesque.
The castle and surrounding grounds were sold off to a property firm following the death of Alexander Luttrell in 1994 due to the family not being able to afford the death duties on his estate but they remained in the castle as tenants and later bought back the castle in 1954. Colonel Walter Luttrell gave Dunster Castle and most of its contents to the National Trust in 1976 and the estate is now operated as a tourist attraction.
Opportunity to be a part of the castle??!! You can play pool in the games room, hold the rifles, use the binoculars which enables you to look out towards the Bristol Channel, fold the napkins (the proper way), sit on the original sofas or play a puzzle. Well worth a visit.
You can buy a selection of annual, life or gift memberships with the National Trust which entitles you to free entry and parking at over 300 historic houses, gardens, countryside and coastline spaces across England.
