bailey castle country house village somerset england castle lies steep hill called fortified late anglo saxon period norman conquest england 11th century constructed timber castle site somerset stone shell built start 12th century castle survived siege early years anarchy end 14th century sold castle family continued occupy property late 20th century castle expanded times family 17th 18th centuries built large manor house castle extensively medieval castle walls destroyed following siege end english civil war parliament ordered defences prevent use 1860s 1870s architect employed castle fit victorian tastes work extensively changed appearance appear gothic picturesque following death family unable afford death duties estate castle surrounding lands sold property firm family continuing live castle tenants bought castle colonel gave contents operates tourist attraction grade listed building scheduled monument history 11th 12th centuries positioned steep foot high hill called overlooking village somerset early medieval period sea reached base hill close mouth offering natural defence making village inland port iron age built close including bat castle black ball camp hill earliest evidence fortification anglo saxon built summit hill possibly intended protect region sea borne raiders century controlled local nobleman called invaded south east england defeating english forces battle hastings aftermath victory william entrusted conquest south west england half brother expecting stiff resistance robert marched west somerset supported forces walter entered north force command landed sea somerset coast william granted region established castle form principal castle new lands help guard coast threat fresh sea borne attack controlling coastal road running somerset gloucestershire castle bailey design built anglo saxon form area shaped form bailey somerset stable aftermath post invasion period unsuccessful rebellion norman rule common period build religious houses accompany major castles accordingly endowed parent abbey bath river important trade region rich fisheries prospered stone fortifications built site early 12th century probably forming shell late england began descend period civil war known anarchy supporters fought control kingdom eldest son called william noted supporter considered faction strongest castles south west forces loyal stephen besieged castle siege castle built nearby trace lost william successfully held castle earl somerset grateful empress subsequently complained way subsequently raided controlled region force war causing destruction aftermath conflict william son william inherited castle short period royal ownership henry_ii william appears insisted tenants agree help repair maintain castle walls feudal service 13th 17th centuries 13th century rebuilt stone paid tenants ongoing duty repair castle walls single financial payment lord partially marriage rich local survey castle described containing hall kitchen chapel knight hall guarded towers included towers gatehouse towers called tower prison castle stables lay outside defences slope end 13th century castle covered lead parts wooden sir inherited castle john notable knight childless fell considerable debt wife joan took running estates john died agreed sell castle leading member major norman family marks castle transfer elizabeth joan death point period additional stone buildings constructed current mansion records suggest ditch moat existed base 14th century joan elizabeth event sir normandy finally took castle joan death castle suffered lack investment final years ownership repaired extended castle cost constructing great gatehouse new entrance lay right angles old storeys high built imported bristol red sandstone contained extensive apartments formed grand ill defended ceremonial route castle castle stone tiles 15th century sea created deer park castle park highly prestigious allowed engage hunting providing castle supply generating income 15th century england divided prolonged period civil war called wars roses supporters sir died following defeat second battle family deprived estates castle given regained accession henry vii restored james son sir hugh repaired castle chapel early 16th century son sir built new wall east castle andrew son sir inherited castle famous soldier diplomat henry_viii serving france scotland conflicts antiquarian reported castle buildings considerable disrepair exception chapel sir john death castle leased years daughter mary brother thomas time inherited castle dilapidated family preferring live house known george employed architect create new house castle arnold important architect south west england managed building nearby redesign expanded existing buildings walls create 16th century mansion symmetrical square towers set older castle walls overlooked building decorated latest styles including ornamental plaster ceilings project ran times budget costing english civil war restoration english civil war broke supporters king charles parliament george eldest son initially supported parliament outbreak war duke parliamentary commander devon somerset ordered increase garrison resist potential royalist attack royalist commander duke somerset attacked castle driven garrison led thomas wife jane war south west turned favour king june mustered forces attack castle time surrendered switching sides support death following february colonel appointed royalist governor castle young later charles_ii stayed castle royalist military cause largely collapsed colonel led parliamentary force october november blake began siege castle setting artillery starting dig tunnels plant mines beneath walls castle briefly relieved reinforcements february siege resumed april situation honourable surrender negotiated parliamentary garrison installed end second english civil war parliament decided deliberately destroy slight defences castles key royalist areas including south west case thomas son able convince authorities destroy medieval defensive walls entire castle leaving damaged recent siege walls demolished days august team parts medieval walls survive great gatehouse bases towers died children passed brother francis survived political turmoil commonwealth years restoration charles_ii power francis heir francis married wealthy worth year prices income set castle particular building grand staircase latest style francis colonel local militia backed attempt william landed devon francis mustered number companies infantry november support formed basis later regiment period castle kept muskets francis died heavily debt widow mary moved contents castle london destroyed fire 18th century start 18th century faced financial challenges francis son alexander inherited castle came age carried large debts alexander died young widow spent years paying debts built new chapel designed sir white portland stone rear mansion cost prices records remain interior probably resembled chapel hall safer grand approach road castle created called new way remains flattened bowling green complete octagonal summer house son took castle ran new debts castle handed control receiver married margaret alexander daughter took moved couple redesigned castle style including extensive use recently invented highly fashionable raised ground height extend new way mansion adding additional ornamental towers inside great gatehouse process constructed architect improve view castle larger park hectares acres built south castle requiring number tenant farmers 19th 20th centuries henry son john inherited castle son called john inherited chose live london instead opening public castle appeared visitors past prime john sisters living horses hunting dogs left castle grounds remaining servants little john brother henry inherited lived london inherited castle began extensive backed considerable income estates period agricultural boom england estates producing revenue year million prices fashionable mid victorian period existing castles produce felt consistent gothic picturesque appearance george keen historian decided follow trend process hoped accommodate larger household facilities required 19th century landowner castle required living servants employed noted architect famous work castle carry work total cost equivalent million work included construction underground reservoir holding imperial gallons gal water provide running water castle village aimed create castle appear grown time appeal victorian aesthetic taste accordingly large square tower built west castle smaller tower east creating additional space making castle deliberately 18th century chapel rear demolished replaced tower alongside modern variety windows styles different historical periods inserted walls modern victorian technology including gas lighting supported gas plant basement central heating new installed castle roof great gatehouse raised create uniform sequence large hall gatherings local farmers installed new wing servants quarters offices sunk hill spread floors leading away main mansion internally knocked existing rooms create outer hall new gallery floor room new library drawing room wooden 17th century hall stripped renovations work appears number rolled wrought iron beams span resulting structural gaps building advanced use technology time house newly bought 16th 17th century artwork brass italian cannons stuffed polar bear inherited chose live instead left son castle rooms contemporary style building polo ground alongside castle castle surrounding countryside time popular fox hunting shooting second world war castle home injured naval american officers alexander died death duties proved sold castle hectares acres lands retaining castle bought estate sold castle son colonel lived away following death mother live property gave castle contents today operated tourist attraction little remains medieval castle remains towers heart modern castle today altered 17th century manor house key features castle include original 13th century gates pieces art including tudor copy famous portrait sir sequence leather showing scenes story castle holds piano belonged composer gardens surrounding castle cover approximately hectares acres include wider totals hectares acres gardens listed grade gardens special historic interest england south castle restored 18th century castle castle received visitors designated english_heritage grade listed building scheduled ancient monument castle required continuing maintenance work particular roof important historical feature efforts gradually castle period style original materials installed solar panels roof provide electricity premises environmentally friendly time taken approach grade listed building expected save carbon year announced plans 19th century reservoir open public
Dunster Castle