Dunster Castle in Somerset captured from the main A39 road on a cold March day.
The castle was built on the side of a 200 ft steep hill called the Tor overlooking Dunster village. The original castle was a timber motte and bailey building built after the Battle of Hastings in 1066 by William de Mohun.
At the time the base of the Tor would have been surrounded by sea, offering a natural defence.
In the 13th Century the castle was partially rebuilt in stone and in 1330 the castle passed into the hands of John de Mohun who was soon severely in debt, leaving his wife Joan to take over the running of the estate. She agreed upon John's death to sell the castle to Elizabeth Lutterell when she herself died However Joan outlived Elizabeth and Sir Hugh Lutterell took over the castle in 1404.
The castle was extended and renovated over the years and the family lived in the property until the late 20th Century. In 1976 Colonel Walter Lutterell gave the castle and much of its contents to the National Trust.
Dunster Castle is a Grade 1 listed building
Here is a song by Don McLean 'Castles in the Air'
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TI9NjQK_xm8
Details from wikipedia.
Please view large for the detail
82 comments
photosofghosts said:
Warm greetings
Fabio
Ecobird replied to photosofghosts:
Best wishes Carol
Roger (Grisly) said:
I note the differing window styles from additions over the centuries, I guess.
HWW!
p.s.great on large.
Roger (Grisly) replied to Roger (Grisly):
www.ipernity.com/group/west.of.england
Ecobird replied to Roger (Grisly):
HWW
LotharW said:
Ecobird said:
The Lutterells did actually lose it for a while. Crippling death duties meant it was sold but they continued to live there as tenants. They eventually bought it back before giving it to the National Trust.
Best wishes Carol
Peter_Private_Box said:
I like this picture very much!
It is a very different and exciting composition. As Roger says you can see the evolution of the castle by different stonework and windows...
Fantastic colours too
Best Wishes, HWW,, and stay safe!!
Peter
Ecobird replied to Peter_Private_Box:
I guess the same can probably be said for a lot of castles of similar age, but it is nice that the additions and renovations here still seem to blend well despite the differences
Best wishes Carol
Armando Taborda said:
Malik Raoulda said:
Bonne et heureuse fin de soirée paisible et reposante.
Don Sutherland said:
Misou 49 said:
Joe, Son of the Rock said:
Annemarie said:
a beautiful image