English Castles - Dunster Castle Castles of England - Dunster Castle Location near Dunster, Somerset, England Description Set on a wooded hilltop within the Exmoor National Park, Dunster Castle has sweeping views over the Bristol Channel and is situated on the outskirts of the town of Dunster The castle is set in beautiful park and woodland surroundings on the side of a river. The castle�s defensive walls were demolished long ago but visitors can see a medieval gatehouse, a ruined tower, an octagonal summerhouse at the highest point of the site and a Mediterranean garden terrace. The main castellated building has both Jacobean and Victorian facades and is built over four floors of a light and red coloured stone. The interiors feature ornate plasterwork ceilings, fine furniture and paintings. Facilities The park and garden are open to the public every day throughout the year (except Christmas) and the castle everyday except Thursday between mid March and the end of October between 11am and 5pm. The castle offers guided tours of the attic and basement areas which are not normally available for visitors for an extra charge and by reservation only; there is also a National Trust gift shop on site.

Throughout the year on Fridays and Saturdays couples whishing to tie the knot can do so at a Civil ceremony in either the Tenants Hall which is located in the upper storey of the gatehouse or between November and February in the Inner and Outer halls. The Tenants Hall with its Tudor windows is an ideal summer wedding venue seating up to 60 guests with romantic lighting from its impressive chandeliers. The Inner and Outer Halls can seat up to 80 guests with the bride making a grand entrance down the 17th century staircase. History In 1066 William The Conqueror granted the castle; which was already built on the site, to William de Mohun. The family remained at the castle until it was sold to Lady Elizabeth Luttrell in 1376 whose descendents remained there until 1976. The property was in a poor state of repair when it was inherited by Sir George Luttrell in 1571 as the family had not lived there for many years, so in 1617 employed architect William Arnold to build a new house in the lower ward of the castle.

During the civil war the castle was surrendered to the parliamentarian forces who subsequently demolished the defensive walls leaving just parts of two towers and the gatehouse. During the following centuries and in particular between 1862 and 1872 the castle was restored, remodeled and added too with a landscaped park, follies, terraced garden and the addition of a fine oak staircase and plasterwork ceilings. In 1976 Sir Walter Luttrell gave the castle and much of its contents over to the National Trust. Other Castles in the Area Dunster Castle (The Gatehouse Record) Books Goodall, John, 2011, The English Castle 1066-1650 (Yale University Press) p. 473, 484 Purton, P.F., 2009, A History of the Early Medieval Siege c. 450-1220 (Woodbridge: The Boydell Press) p. 269 Prior, Stuart, 2006, A Few Well-Positioned Castles: The Norman Art of War (Tempus) p.

68-109 Emery, Anthony, 2006, Greater Medieval Houses of England and Wales Vol. 3 Southern England (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press) p. 677-9 Salter, Mike, 2002, The Castles of Wessex (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 71-3 Binding, Hilary, and Webber, Barbara, 1996, Dunster Castle: a resource book for teachers (National Trust) Woodger, B.S. 1996, The story of Dunster Castle Pettifer, A., 1995, English Castles, A guide by counties (Woodbridge: Boydell Press) p. 220-1 Dunning, Robert, 1995, Somerset Castles (Somerset Books) p. 37-39 Furtado, Peter et al (eds), 1988, Ordnance Survey guide to castles in Britain (London) p. 83 King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 2 p.

442-3 Fry, P.S., 1980, Castles of the British Isles (David and Charles) p. 226 Renn, D.F., 1973 (2 edn.), Norman Castles of Britain (London: John Baker) p. 178 Delderfield, Eric R., 1968, West Country historic houses and their families Vol. 1 p. 51-5 Pevsner, N., 1958, Buildings of England: South and west Somerset (London, Penguin) p. 156-7 Oman, Charles W.C., 1926, Castles (1978 edn Beetham House: New York) p. 60-4 Maxwell-Lyte, H.C., 1918, A History of Dunster (Somerset Record Society Vol. 33) Armitage, Ella, 1912, The Early Norman Castles of the British Isles (London: John Murray) p.

145-6 online copy Harvey, Alfred, 1911, Castles and Walled Towns of England (London: Methuen and Co) Bothamley, 1911, in Page, Wm (ed), VCH Somerset Vol. 2 p. 513-14 Lyte, H.C.Maxwell, 1909, History of Dunster: and of the families of Mohun & Luttrell (London: St. Catherine) esp p. 349-82 Mackenzie, J.D., 1896, Castles of England; their story and structure (New York: Macmillan) Vol. 2 p. 54-6 online copy Clark, G.T., 1884, Mediaeval Military Architecture in England (Wyman and Sons) Vol. 2 p. 24-32, 146 online copy Maxwell Lyte, 1882, Dunster and its Lords (Exeter) (originally published in The Archaeological Journals Vol. 37 & 38) Timbs, J.

and Gunn, A., 1872, Abbeys, Castles and Ancient Halls of England and Wales Vol. 1 (London) p. 546-7 online copy Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1859, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol. 3 Part 2 p. 339 online copy Buck, Samuel and Nathaniel, 1774, Buck's Antiquities (London) Vol. 2 p. 257 Periodical Articles Burton, Peter, 2010-11, 'Original castle gates and doors  A Survey' Castle Studies Group Journal Vol. 24 p. 246-59 online copy Guy, N. et al. (J C Robins), 2010-11, 'Castle Studies Group Conference 'Castles of West Wessex'' Castle Studies Group Journal Vol. 24 p. 4-146 esp 126-46 Harfield, C.G., 1991, 'A Hand-list of Castles Recorded in the Domesday Book' English Historical Review Vol. 106 p.

371-392 view online copy (subscription required) Haslam, R., 1987 July 16 and 23, 'Dunster Castle' Country Life p. 1247, 102-6 Thompson, M.W., 1986, 'Associated monasteries and castles in the Middle Ages: a tentative list' The Archaeological Journal Vol. 143 p. 308 Gibb, J.H.P., 1981, 'The medieval castle at Dunster' Somerset Archaeology and Natural History Vol. 125 p. 1-15 King, D.J.Cathcart, 1972, 'The Field Archaeology of mottes; Eine kurze übersicht' Château Gaillard Vol. 5 p. 101-112 Brown, R. Allen, 1959, 'A List of Castles, 11541216' English Historical Review Vol. 74 p. 249-280 (Reprinted in Brown, R.

Allen, 1989, Castles, conquest and charters: collected papers (Woodbridge: Boydell Press) p. 90-121) view online copy (subscription required) Brown, R. Allen, 1955, 'Royal Castle-building in England 1154-1216' English Historical Review Vol. 70 (Reprinted in Brown, R. Allen, 1989, Castles, conquest and charters: collected papers (Woodbridge: Boydell Press)) p. 19-64 Whinney, M., 1950, The Archaeological Journal Vol. 107 p. 123 online copy Armitage, E., 1904 April, 'The Early Norman Castles of England' English Historical Review Vol. 19 p. 209-245, 417-455 esp. 229-30 online copy 1903, Country Life Vol. 14 Clark, G.T., 1889, 'Contribution towards a complete list of moated mounds or burhs' The Archaeological Journal Vol. 46 p.

197-217 esp. 211 online copy Lyte, H.C.Maxwell, 1881, 'Dunster and its lords' The Archaeological Journal Vol. 38 p. 62-79, 207-28 (reprinted as Dunster and its Lords) online copy Lyte, H.C.Maxwell, 1880, 'Dunster and its lords' The Archaeological Journal Vol. 37 p. 57-93, 155-79, 271-93, 386-404 online copy Green, E., 1880, 'The siege and surrender of Dunster Castle' The Archaeological Journal Vol. 37 p. 386-94 (history only) online copy Clark, G.T., 1879, 'Dunster Castle' The Archaeological Journal Vol. 36 p. 309-20, 400-1 (reprinted in MMA) (plan) online copy Guidebooks {Oliver Garnett}, 2003.

Dunster Castle, Somerset (London: National Trust) Binding, Hilary, 1990, Discovering Dunster: a history and guide (Exmoor Press) Dodd, Dudley, 1978, Dunster Castle (National Trust) Fedden, Robin and Joekes, Rosemary, 1977, Dunster Castle Guide Book (National Trust) Musgrave, EI. and Luttrell, W., n.d. (c. 1950), Dunster Castle (English Life Publications: Derby) Bryant, 1946, (Dunster) Primary (Medieval documents or transcriptions of such documents - This section is far from complete and the secondary sources should be consulted for full references.) 1086, Domesday Book online copy Arnold, Thomas (ed), 1879, Henrici Archidiaconi Huntendunensis Historia Anglorum (London: Rolls series 74) p. 261 online copy Sewell, R.C. (ed), 1846, Gesta Stephani, Regis Anglorum et Ducis Normannorum p.

54 online copy (The newer edition and translation by Potter, K.R. (ed), 1976 (2edn), Gesta Stephani (Oxford University Press) should be consulted for serious study. See also Speight, S., 2000, 'Castle Warfare in the Gesta Stephani' , Château Gaillard Vol. 19 see online transcription ) Stubbs, W. (ed), 1880, The Minor Works comprising the Gesta regum with its continuation, the Actus pontificum, and the Mappa mundi, by Gervase, the Monk of Canterbury (London: Longman Rolls series 73) Vol. 2 p. 424 (in Devon) online copy Rickard, John, 2002, The Castle Community. The Personnel of English and Welsh Castles, 1272-1422 (Boydell Press) (lists sources for 1272-1422) p. 427-8 Antiquarian (Histories and accounts from late medieval and early modern writers) Camden, Wm, 1607, Britannia hypertext critical edition by Dana F.

Sutton (2004) Chandler, John, 1993, John Leland's Itinerary: travels in Tudor England (Sutton Publishing) p. 425 Toulmin-Smith, Lucy (ed), 1907, The itinerary of John Leland in or about the years 1535-1543 (London: Bell and Sons) Vol. 1 p. 166 online copy Other sources: Theses; 'grey' literature; in-house reports; unpublished works; etc. Prior, Stuart, 2004, "Winning Strategies" An Archaeological Study of Norman Castles in the Landscapes of Somerset, Monmouthshire and County Meath, 1066-1186 (PhD thesis; University of Bristol) Vol. 2 p. 131 Download via EThOS Gathercole, C., 2002, An Archaeological Assessment of Dunster (English Heritage Extensive Urban Survey) online copy Most of the sites or buildings recorded in this web site are NOT open to the public and permission to visit a site must always be sought from the landowner or tenant.

It is an offence to disturb a Scheduled Monument without consent. It is a destruction of everyone's heritage to remove archaeological evidence from ANY site without proper recording and reporting. Don't use metal detectors on historic sites without authorisation. The information on this web page may be derived from information compiled by and/or copyright of Historic England , County Historic Environment Records and other individuals and organisations. It may also contain information licensed under the Open Government Licence . All the sources given should be consulted to identify the original copyright holder and permission obtained from them before use of the information on this site for commercial purposes. The author and compiler of Gatehouse does not receive any income from the site and funds it himself. The information within this site is provided freely for educational purposes only. The bibliography owes much to various bibliographies produced by John Kenyon for the Council for British Archaeology , the Castle Studies Group and others. Suggestions for finding online and/or hard copies of bibliographical sources can be seen at this link . Minor archaeological investigations, such as watching brief reports, and some other 'grey' literature is most likely to be held by H.E.R.s but is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded here, or elsewhere, but some suggestions can be found here .

The possible site or monument is represented on maps as a point location. This is a guide only. It should be noted that OS grid references defines an area, not a point location. In practice this means the actual center of the site or monument may often, but not always, be to the North East of the point shown. Locations derived from OS grid references and from latitude longitiude may differ by a small distance. Further information on mapping and location can be seen at this link . Please help to make this as useful a resource as possible by contacting Gatehouse if you see errors, can add information or have suggestions for improvements in functality and design. The County of Somerset, England Discover Britain - Provincial Life The County of Somerset The County of Somerset - land of the summer people - is located in the south-west of England, and is, perhaps, the most quintessentially English of English counties. It is a rural area extending from the hills of Exmoor in the west to Bruton Forest in the east, from the Mendip hills in the north to the Blackdown Hills in the south. It is bordered by the counties of Devon, Dorset, and Wiltshire, and a long coastline looking out into the Bristol Channel and across to South Wales.

It is a land of history, myth and legend. Although it is a sparcely populated region and has only one city of more than 100,000 people: Bath , it has several small, but flourishing towns: Taunton, Weston-super-mare, Yeovil, Minehead and Glastonbury. The economy is centered on agriculture and food production, with service industries such as insurance and retailing. It is a county famous for producing Cider (an alcoholic drink made from apples) and Cheddar Cheese (named after a small town in the Mendip hills). A recipe from the county can be found on our 'Discover Britain' food and drink page. The photographs below, from left to right, top to bottom feature the following: A typical thatched cottage. This one is located in the village of Kingsbury Episcopi, Somerset. A quiet corner of Dunster in west Somerset on the edge of the Exmoor national park. The village of Porlock in north-west Somerset Dunster castle is one of England's finest castles. Minehead station, terminus of the preserved West Somerset Railway. Tarr steps, near Simonsbath.

Legend tells us that this bridge was built by the Devil for his own personal use. He returns to tear apart people crossing without his permission now and again! A summer's day in the one of the parks of the town of Minehead. Part of the tiny harbour in Porlock Weir, Somerset. A country cottage in the village of Kingston St. Mary, near Taunton. The coastal region of Exmoor national park. The romantic novel 'Lorna Donne' by R.D. Blackmore is set in these hills. Porlock Weir. Location of one of the steepest roads in England. The centre of the village of Dunster in west Somerset. In the foreground is the old 'yarn' market, and in the background the Norman castle. Glastonbury Abbey. reputed burial site of King Arthur and Guinnevere. The Somerset levels, close to Athelney. King Alfred is supposed to have hidden close to this spot from the invading Danes. Willow trees are to be seen all over Somerset. The cathedral complex at Wells. Wells is the smallest city in England. The town of Crewkerne in South Somerset. Cottages in a picturesque village, near Ilminster, Somerset.

House and garden at Hestercombe, near Taunton, Somerset. A thatched cottage in the village of Mulcheney, Somerset. Cattle resting in the field of a smallholding in Drayton, near Langport, Somerset 'Jack the Treacle Eater' Folly, Barwick Park, Yeovil. Legend tells that someone called Jack moved here in the nineteenth century after a quarrel with his wife. He spent the rest of his life here eating nothing but Treacle, brought by his ever dutiful wife! Traditional 'morris' dancers at the annual midsummer festival in the town of South Petherton, Somerset The Stanton Drew stone circle in north Somerset. The stones of this prehistoric stone circle are said to be wedding guests turned to stone for dancing on a Sunday! The Municipal Hall in Taunton, Somerset Looking across the fields towards the small town of Wiveliscombe. The centre of the county town of Taunton, Somerset.

D U N S T E R C A S T L E Impregnable Hilltop Fortress In the long western projection of Somerset, which runs along the Bristol Channel and slopes up into Exmoor, there has always been one predominant family - the Mohuns, from the Conquest down to 1376, and the Luttrells, their successors, from 1376 down to this day. It is an almost unparalleled thing (though compare Berkeley) to find a castle, like Dunster, which has only changed hands once, otherwise than by inheritance, since its first erection. We may add that it would be equally hard to find another castle fitting in so well with a scene of sylvan beauty as this. Others, like Harlech or Caer Cynan, may stand on sites higher, more precipitous and more majestic, but Dunster, rising from its curtain of woods above its little river presents a silhouette of towers and gables against the northern sky which cannot be excelled for grace. And it is equally effective when seen, not from the river and meadow below, but from the high street of the quaint little town which struggles up the slope towards its lowest entry.

It makes a perfect foreground, from which stand out the wooded ascent to its gatehouse and the cluster of towers far above the tree tops. William the Conqueror gave to William de Moion, a baron from the Cotentin, a great cluster of manors in West Somerset, as well as many others in Devon and Dorset. But his chief seat was on the Tor where Dunster Castle stands: "William of Mohun holds Torre and there is his castle," says Domesday Book. The Tor was the isolated circular final spur of a ridge (Grabbist Hill), which runs west towards Exmoor. Its slope drops suddenly towards the town below and the end of the shore-plain of Somerset. It is cut off by a broad depression from the main length of the ridge to which it belongs, so as to form, by its natural situation, a most eligible site for a Norman castle of the early type. The point of the Tor made a perfect motte, without any need for artificial piling of earth. It is a small flat area, 35 feet by 70, round whose edge a palisade of timber from the woods below could easily be drawn.

The outer bailey was formed on a broad ledge half-way down the slope of the Tor, about 125 yards long by 33 broad. Below this ledge, the hillside gets very steep again, so that there is a sharp fall towards the town at its foot. All that was needed to make the Tor-fortress practically impregnable was to scarp the already precipitous slopes of its summit on all sides. Leaving space for a descent to the lower ward by means of a path, or perhaps steps, on the only section which was not cut into sheer impracticability. The same could be done, with almost equal ease, for the lower ward, both of whose flanks were very steep, the only comparatively easy section of the slope being blocked by a palisade with the entrance gate in its centre. This was somewhere above the spot where the present gate-house stands. Nothing could be more formidable but, of course, the later Mohuns, like all their contemporaries, replaced palisading with stone, which was easily procurable on all sides. The ring on top of the tor became a shell-keep.

The ledge on which the lower ward stood was walled, or rather its edge was cut into a low cliff, with retaining walls and a parapet above, from which (no doubt later) projecting towers to give flanking fire were thrown out. It seems likely that all the residential chambers and offices of the castle were in the lower ward - chapel, hall, kitchen, etc., as there is absolutely no trace of inner buildings within the shell-keep on top of the Tor. The most prominent man in the annals of this family, whose castle dominated all Western Somerset and whose lands were scattered so broadly over it, was the third William de Mohun, a contemporary of Kings Henry I and Stephen. He was a furious supporter of the Empress Matilda in the Civil Wars and made himself odious by his reckless plundering and burning, so that he was known as the " Scourge of the West." His mistress would appear to have conferred on him the title of Earl of Somerset, in 1141, and he employed it in a Charter which he issued to the priory of Bruton.

It was never recognised by Stephen or Henry II, however, as were some other of Matilda's creations, and the later Mohuns did not employ it. Some would attribute to this William, the building in stone of the shell-keep of Dunster and the earliest stone walls of the lower ward, but their date, since they have almost entirely disappeared, is very problematical. It is safe, however, to place the credit of the projecting towers in the curtain of the lower ward to a much later generation, the Mohuns of the time of Henry III. Their house died out in direct male line, in 1376, and the widow and daughters of the last Baron sold Dunster to Lady Elizabeth Luttrell, widow of Sit Andrew Luttrell of Chilton, and daughter of the Earl of Devon. From her, descend the second dynasty of owners of the castle, who have now held it for five centuries and a half continuously. It was an early Luttrell, probably just before or soon after 1400, who built the imposing gate-house, which stands well outside the lower ward, as an additional defence to it, joined up to it by walls.

This is a very large quadrangular structure, 63 feet broad by 23 deep, in three storeys. Over its front arch is an interesting carved panel with nine heraldic shields, showing the arms of Luttrell impaled with those of Courtenay and other famous baronial houses. It contains two storeys of rather handsome rooms, instead of the usual portcullis chamber, for it does not seem to have possessed that usual fitting of castle gates. The inner gateway of the ward, a smaller but more elaborately ornamental structure, is a square between four turrets of polygonal shape, much pierced with arrow-slits and much crenellated. It is quite a century older than the outer and larger gate-house below, and may go back to the time of Edward I. The main front of the residential buildings, in the lower ward, is largely Elizabethan, built by George Luttrell in 1589 - his shield is above the central door.

He must have pulled down much medieval work when erecting his own: for, while scraps of inner and outer walls belonging to older buildings are incorporated in his masonry, there are traces of foundations of vanished blocks outside the circuit of the existing residence. By this time, the upper ward, or shell-keep, on the top of the Tor must have been completely deserted. For already half a century earlier, Leland (a great admirer of Dunster) had remarked that the donjon above "hath been full of goodly buildings, but now there is only a chapel in good case, which of late days Sir Hugh Luttrell [temp. Henry VII] did repair." There is now, not a trace of this chapel or of any other old building, or indeed of the ring-wall, on top of the Tor, which is levelled into a grass plot, with a summer house or gazebo of small dimensions on one edge of it. The clearing away of such medieval stones as may have survived is attributed to an eighteenth century Luttrell, who disliked scraps of ruins, and wanted a bowling green and a fine view over hill and dale.

Dunster, like most other West Country and Welsh castles, had its times of trouble in the great Civil War, but came through them more easily than most of its equals. The Luttrells of the day were not Royalists, but their castle was seized and held by a Royalist garrison throughout the War, down to the great collapse in 1646, after Hopton's defeat at Torrington. It was then besieged by Blake, who lay before it for some time, battering it with guns placed in the town below. The attack against such a precipitous place was not easy or effective, but the Governor, Colonel Wyndham, surrendered in April, when all the neighbouring Royalist strongholds were also hauling down their flags in despair at the general collapse of their party. For the western field-army had laid down its arms in March. Though Dunster did not belong to a "Malignant," it was put into the general list of fortresses to be "slighted" but the order was carried out without little zeal. No doubt in consideration for the owner.

Probably, some holes were blown in the curtain wall of the lower ward - conceivably the decayed walls on the Tor may have been cast down, but neither the inner nor the outer gate-houses, the real strength of the castle, appear to have suffered much. The later Luttrells, as was natural, devoted themselves to making their castle more comely and comfortable, rather than to restoring its military strength. They made a circular carriage drive, by which the front door of the main building could be reached without passing under the great gate-house, which no coach could have got through. They levelled a broad stretch of ground in front of the house, where their carriage drive ended, burying under the new gravel many traces of medieval foundations. They also levelled the top of the Tor and they cut many windows on ill-lighted parts of the older buildings. The last changes were made in Victorian days by the architect Salvin, who added to the Eliza-bethan buildings, built a new tower and reconstructed the exterior of much of the east front in the Gothic revival style. On the whole, the eighteenth and nineteenth century alterations have not destroyed the general effect of the mass of buildings and they have certainly rendered them more habitable.

The castle remains the greatest baronial survival of the West Country and the most romantic and picturesque of all the old strongholds of Wessex. Edited from Charles Oman's "Castles" (1926). Britannia.com (T) 302.234.8904 (F) 302.234.9154 Copyright ©2000 Britannia.com, LLC Visitor Accounts Carole H Stevenson, 64, from Alaska, wrote: I have a book passed down to my family titled “Somerset” published in 1934 by Great Western Railway Co, Paddington Station, London, W.2, AUTHOR: Maxwell Fraser, F.R.G.S. Regarding Dunster Castle. My grandmother was Harriett Luttrell, her father was Isiac Luttrell, ancestors came from England and went to Ontario, Canada. They were related to the original Luttrell family. Amy Luttrell, l8, from Kentucky wrote your web page who is tracing the Luttrell's and Dunster Castle. Please forward my e-mail on to her.

Thanks, Carole Gillian Eveleigh, 54, from Alberta, Canada, wrote: As I sit here writing this letter ,I have a picture of Dunster Castle on my wall ,Keeping the wonderful memory in my mind . I used to live near by ,and how I miss that magnificent sight . We visit it every time we are “home” . It is even more special now as my Cousin runs the Castle .Cant wait until I am there again. Amy Luttrell, 18, from Kentucky USA, wrote: I have not been to Dunster Castle as of yet, however I do wish to attend a trip to see it. Researching my family history, my family and I have found that we are ancestors to the Luttrell's who owned Dunster Castle. I think it would be truly magnificent if me and my family were able to take a trip to England and see what life our ancestors held at the castle. I truly envy all the people who are able to see the lovely and breath-taking castle known as “ Dunster .” Jennifer Venville Nicol, from Canada, wrote: My first visit to Dunster Castle was in 1961.

The Castle belonged to the Luttrell family at the time. My family and I were staying at the Luttrell Arms Hotel located right in the village . One day we went to the castle as we had heard that they gave guided tours. Dunster was a much sleepier place in those days, of course, and a small group of us were led around part of the castle. I remember being impressed by the Leather Wall tapestries and the carved staircase. The views from the Castle are panoramas mostly since the countryside is beautiful around that area and the Castle stands on high ground. My youngest brother got lost whilst we were touring the castle and it was some time before we found him in one of the rooms not on the tour!! On the way out we saw Lady Luttrell arriving in her car with a driver. I remember going through the lovely Castle grounds and coming across a pet cemetery containing the graves of pets the Luttrell family had owned over the years, all appropriately marked. I made two subsequent visits to the Castle in later years and enjoyed them a great deal subsequent occasions and will always be very fond of the place. LARRY A.

DUNSTER, 58, from South Carolina wrote: The Dunster Village is a beautiful village situated on Bristol Bay in Somerset, England. My family and I have visited there several times following our first visit in 1972. We will be returning with out children and grandchildren on August 5th before returning from England on the Q E II. We have stayed in or near Dunster village on several occasions and have found the residents and shop keepers to be very friendly. We have never met another person with the surname 'Dunster' living in or near the village but have met a lot of folks with this name near Dover, England. The first President of Harvard University, Henry Dunster, was a clergyman from England. When he expressed support for adult baptisms, as compared to infant baptism, he was asked to leave Harvard and he then returned to England. We have a small booklet with a history of Dunster village and would be pleased to purchase another copy this summer and mail it to you, if you wish. I would request payment which is about $10.00 and this should cover the cost of postage. Let me know by e-mail and I will take care of it on your behalf.

Sincerely, (Rev.) Larry A. Dunster Steve Edge, 49, from England wrote: Dunster Castle is a major attraction in West Somerset. The Luttrell family have been associated with the Castle from the Middle Ages, although it is now in the care of the National Trust. The Castle has had a mostly peaceful existence, except for during the English Civil War, when some damage was sustained. The village of Dunster, overlooked by the Castle, is a “picture postcard” and attracts many many visitors. The nearby Minehead Railway (now the heritage West Somerset Railway running steam trains) and Minehead Harbour gained much through the Luttrells in the 1800s. You could leave a comment if you were logged in. Last modified:: 2015/08/18 13:06 Dunster Castle | National Trust Dunster Castle National Trust Images / Seamus Rogers An ancient castle and comfortable country home with dramatic vistas and subtropical gardens Explore Dunster Castle, a dramatic National Property full of history and intrigue.

From woodland paths to mediterranean planting Explore the Keep garden, halfway through a four year restoration plan before exploring the wooded pathways which lead to the gently flowing river Avill in the River Gardens. Discover a diverse range of wildlife amongst the open parkland and wooded areas and take in views across the Bristol channel. See what events are coming up at Dunster Castle. Upcoming events + 8 other dates 10:00-17:00 Step back in time to meet the inhabitants of Dunster Castle an discover their stories on this family trail. 11:00-16:00 How good are you with bow and arrow? Try your hand at archery on the Green Court. Bring your school group for a fascinating, educational day out at Dunster Castle.

Places nearby Discover Knightshayes, a country estate on a grand, gothic scale Join Shop - local and original gifts Visit Dunster village for more shops and places to eat Parking, 300 yards, £2.50 per day, free for members with car sticker, Tours available - please contact us before you visit Groups welcome - please contact us before you visit Toilet facilities Front-carrying baby slings for loan Family and children's guides Family events and activity days Accessibility Steep slopes and many steps Braille guide Designated mobility parking in main car park Wheelchair-accessible transfer and drop-off point Building - on steep slope. Steps to ground floor. Stairs to other floors. Limited access via mobile stairclimber. Please telephone in advance to check availability and suitability of stairclimber and PMVs Adapted toilets by shop and ticket office. No toilet at castle Grounds - partly accessible, steep slopes. Map of accessible route. Steep paths.

Two single-seater PMVs Access statement, please copy this link into your browser: Dunster Castle Close An ancient castle and comfortable country home with dramatic vistas and subtropical gardens Dramatically sited on a wooded hill, a castle has existed here since at least Norman times, with an impressive medieval gatehouse and ruined tower giving a reminder of its turbulent history. The castle that you see today became a lavish country home during the 19th century for the Luttrell family, who lived here for 600 years. The castle boasts spectacular views toward the Bristol channel, the Quantock hills and up to the moors of Exmoor. Download our Welcome leaflet (pdf) and start exploring the castle and gardens before your visit. Telephone Dunster, near Minehead, Somerset, TA24 6SL By cycle services from Tiverton and Taunton to Minehead; alight Dunster Steep, ½ mile By train Dunster station ( West Somerset Railway ) 1 mile By road 3 miles south-east of Minehead, off A39 Parking: 300 yards, car park (£2.50 per day, free for members with car sticker), shuttle to entrance available.

Enter from A39 Dunster Castle £9.20 What is Gift Aid? Most of our places run the Gift Aid on Entry scheme at their admission points. Under this scheme, if you're not a member you have the choice of two entry tickets: Gift Aid Admission or Standard admission If the place runs Gift Aid on Entry, we'll offer you the Gift Aid Admission prices. But it's entirely up to you which ticket you choose. If you want the Standard Admission instead, just let us know when you come to pay. Gift Aid Admission includes a 10 per cent or more voluntary donation. Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid* — an extra 25 per cent — potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds. An extra £1 paid under the scheme can be worth over £3 to the National Trust as shown below: Payment of the additional percentage donation is entirely voluntary, so if you prefer to pay the standard admission please advise our reception staff at the till point.

Dunster Castle Hotel (Somerset) - UPDATED 2017 Reviews - TripAdvisor Dunster Castle Hotel 5 High Street, Dunster, Exmoor National Park TA24 6SF, England Hotel amenities Trusted partner. We work with to make your booking as easy as possible. Secure payments. We use industry-leading practices to keep your information secure. Book on Enter dates for best prices powered by Ages of Children: change Please provide ages Child 1 Age or compare prices from up to 200 sites including: TripAdvisor members only. Login for exclusive access to hotel deals up to 40% off Login to get best prices 70 more photos Star rating provided by Expedia. Free Parking Mid-range Breakfast included Pets Allowed Save Ages of Children: change Please provide ages Child 1 Age Rooms & rates for Dunster Castle Hotel We're finding you the best rooms at the lowest prices from our partner. Book on Getting you more information on this room See More Select Show available rooms for Dunster Castle Hotel We’re sorry, there are no available rooms for this property on TripAdvisor. Please change dates or see offers from our partners. We’re sorry, there are no available rooms for this property on TripAdvisor.

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Start your review of Dunster Castle Hotel Click to rate “Highlight of our trip. Highly Recommend.” Reviewed 2 days ago NEW Everything about our stay was exceptional. The owners provided incredible service and were kind, conversational people. Breakfast was the most delicious meal I've ever had at a hotel and it was included in our booking. Along with beverages, choice of fruit, cereal, and fresh croissants, we had a choice of breakfast entrees that were indescribably tasty. The locals love this... More Reviewed 1 week ago via mobile There are lots of wonderful things about this hotel. The staff, the ambience and situated in the heart of one of the most picturesque and historical towns in Somerest.We holiday in this part of the country every August, however in a campervan and not in an hotel. We have visited the Dunster Castle Hotel for a drink on 1 occassion... More 1Thank Yvette M JohnBridgend, Owner at Dunster Castle Hotel, responded to this review Lisa and I were filling up reading this! Thank you so much, both. It was a pleasure to host you, and a big responsibility to help guests enjoy this most special time of the year.

We're starting to fine-tune things here, with regard to renovations, and can imagine that will be a work in progress forever. We're so fortunate to... More “new years eve celebration” Reviewed 1 week ago It was my first new years eve away from London and the busy crowds and also the owners first new years hosting and it was a fun and enjoyable night, with very professional and welcoming staff. I would highly recommend this Hotel if anyone is looking to staying in the Minehead and surrounding area and also a nice place to... More Thank Jamie R JohnBridgend, Owner at Dunster Castle Hotel, responded to this review Thank you Jamie R, We're glad you came to Dunster from the big smoke, and particularly that you chose Dunster Castle Hotel for your New Years Celebration. It was fun for us as well and was a fitting finale for our seasonal celebrations. Thanks for the recommendation, and maybe see you again one day. All the best. John & Lisa More “Great welcome for my US guests” Reviewed 2 weeks ago We turned up on Christmas eve without booking, it was 2pm with a large party of 11 and the staff were very welcoming, moving tables to accommodate us.

Gave my brother and his family, over from the U.S.A, a taste of Somerset. Dunster is such a pretty village, they loved it. Food and mulled cider was great. Thanks for an... More “Gem of Hotel in the heart of Dunster” Reviewed 3 weeks ago Just return from a lovely weekend away . This Hotel is a gem , lovely central position for to visit all the attractions in dunster i.e castle , yarn market etc. Our room was lovely and well designed . We had the best sleep on this lovely king size bed . We also eat at the hotel for dinner and... More Thank iandebdavies JohnBridgend, Owner at Dunster Castle Hotel, responded to this review Wow! Praise indeed. Things are really coming together now at Dunster Castle Hotel and we all feel very proud of the progress we have made. It's great you appreciate all of the effort at the restaurant and hotel, but we can't take credit for our great location. What a beautiful place for us to wake up to every morning. John... More “Excellent Meal” Reviewed 4 weeks ago We went here for our work Christmas meal. Having previously been let down by another venue.

The hotel is tastefully decorated and very comfortable. We had a delicious three course Christmas dinner which was beautifully cooked and presented. There were plenty of vegetables and the chocolate orange mousse was to die for, served with the best piece of shortbread I... More Thank Chrissy045 JohnBridgend, Owner at Dunster Castle Hotel, responded to this review Thank you very much for your kind words Chrissy. We're really trying hard to ensure that all of our Christmas parties are fun & festive. The post meal disco seems to be going down well with all! We hope to see you all again and have a very merry Xmas and a happy new year. John and Lisa More “Unexpectedly good lunch” Reviewed November 16, 2016 We were taken to Dunster on a mystery trip, so had no chance to check out where would be good to eat. A local shp assistant said the people in the Castle Hotel were new but had a good reputation, so we tried it. The place was welcoming, with a good feel as we walked in. The menu was varied...

More Thank lesley w JohnBridgend, Owner at Dunster Castle Hotel, responded to this review Thank you very much Lesley for your kind words. It's nice to hear that locals are recommending us. We're very close to finishing our refurbishments so good to hear the place has a nice feel. Maybe see you again one day. More “3 day stay to explore the area” Reviewed November 15, 2016 Friendly and hospitable hotel, room smart and comfortable, has car park, and both breakfast and dinner good. Great center for exploring Exmoor, and a very interesting village as well. Little lanes and alleys and scenic walks, as well as interesting local shops and the NT castle. Report 1Thank Mike D JohnBridgend, Owner at Dunster Castle Hotel, responded to this review Thank you very much, Mike. Comfort & convenience is the main thing that many of our guests seek from they're Exmoor break. Paul B “Comfortable two night stay” Reviewed November 1, 2016 Just back from a 2 night stay at The Dunster Castle Hotel and it was a great stay.

Lisa and John are really trying to get this hotel to a very good standard and from what we have seen, they are going in the right direction. It was nice to see that all the staff seemed to be working to... More 4Thank Paul B Paval-Jay, Owner at Dunster Castle Hotel, responded to this review Hi Paul. Thank you so much for taking some time out to post your fantastic review. It's great to hear that you had a good time! We do hear a lot of good things about our beds, so they must be very comfortable! We're happy to read that our hard work hasn't gone unnoticed. It's been a busy few months... More “10 out of 10 - Fantastic value” Reviewed November 1, 2016 Where do I start? The staff at this fabulous hotel were so friendly and attentive, nothing was too much trouble. The room was again, perfect! and as for the food, well you really can't do any better, from breakfast to dinner the food was delicious; seriously it was so lovely we wish we had booked for longer. If you are...

More 2Thank Rob E Paval-Jay, Owner at Dunster Castle Hotel, responded to this review Hello Rob. What a fantastic review. We're very happy to hear that you enjoyed your stay at our Hotel, and loved the food at our restaurant. Our staff will be delighted to hear your kind comments. We also love the hidden garden behind our garden walls, and also being so close to the Castle is fantastic. We look forward to... More Questions? Get answers from hotel staff and past guests. Ask a question Explore similar hotels Map updates are paused. Zoom in to see updated info. Reset zoom There are no pins in your viewport. Try moving the map or changing your filters. Only show hotels with confirmed availability {providername} {price} We can't find prices for this accommodation From {rate_price} {rate_periodicity} 70 photos of this hotel Traveler photos: See what travelers like you saw Viewed Management photos: Courtesy of the property manager Viewed Hotels you might also like... Also consider these accommodations in or near Dunster 0.1 mi away Questions? Get answers from hotel staff and past guests.

Ask a question Amenities Free High Speed Internet ( WiFi ) Restaurant Pets Allowed ( Dog / Pet Friendly ) Things to do Free High Speed Internet ( WiFi ) Public Wifi Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly) Room Service Business Center with Internet Access Banquet Room Breakfast Available Official Description (provided by the hotel) Dunster Castle Hotel is situated at the base of Dunster Castle itself and faces on to the cobbled medieval High Street. The recently refurbished hotel is under new ownership since June 2016 and has quickly established itself as a luxury boutique hotel and restaurant. All rooms are en-suite and vary from compact budget through to luxurious super-kingsize, and feature SMART TV's, free super-fast broadband, USB charging points, tea/coffee facilities with homemade biscuits, quality amenities, and complemented by stylish designer fabrics. Most, overlook the cobbled high street. The restaurant has the fastest growing reputation in the area for delivering exceptional food sourced from local ingredients complimented by exceptional service in exquisite surroundings. The hotel has the only private car park in Dunster and is free to guests. ...

more less Additional Information about Dunster Castle Hotel Address: 5 High Street, Dunster, Exmoor National Park TA24 6SF, England Location: United Kingdom > England > Exmoor National Park > Dunster Price Range: $81 - $117 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room) Hotel Class:4 star — Dunster Castle Hotel 4* Number of rooms: 8 Reservation Options: TripAdvisor is proud to partner with Expedia, Hotels.com and Travelocity so you can book your Dunster Castle Hotel reservations with confidence. We help millions of travelers each month to find the perfect hotel for both vacation and business trips, always with the best discounts and special offers. Also Known As:

Question: In which English county is Dunster Castle?
Answer: Somerset