castle medieval castle english county somerset built late 14th century sir profits involvement years war castle architectural style possibly influenced design french castles provoked considerable academic debate late 16th century castle damaged english civil war ruined english_heritage maintain site tourist attraction architectural historian described aesthetically impressive castle somerset history 14th century castle built near village somerset sir soldier years war france fortune obtained licence build castle site existing manor house set developing new substantial fortification resulting castle centred stone tower measuring feet feet internally feet tall round corner towers tower foot thick walls stone designed floors corner towers conical roofs prominent ground floor tower house included kitchen service areas functions second floors uncertain theory floor service area hall second floor approach argues floor formed hall second floor living accommodation minority view proposes floor floor living accommodation owning family original design number windows upper floors hall relatively dark stairs narrow tower modest entrance reached draw bridge lay surrounding moat initially reached right base castle simple foot high bailey wall minimal defensive value surrounded moat contrast wide foot deep difficult attacker drain east castle line defence bailey wall historians previously believed design heavily influenced french castle designs seen military campaigns closely resembles paris example typical found french castles considered conservative slightly backward design probably built protect french invasion historians certain regarded bold striking design similar ways whilst resemble french castles direct evidence built imitation designs english castles similar structure better understood instead characteristic wider range tower keeps built england period designed puts allow rich men live luxury 15th 16th centuries castle inherited john son grandson passing marriage family following probable death campaigns france sir son john grandson called john held castle 15th century primary residence basing castle hampshire winchester final member family castle death passed rapidly owners sold kept year selling cost castle redeveloped second half 16th century probably windows enlarged let light grand staircase built towers catholic altar installed terrace built inside moat leaving feet wide 17th 19th centuries castle continued owned family 17th century english civil war broke rival factions parliament king like catholics colonel supported war progressed royalist situation deteriorated south west remaining royalist strongholds castle garrisoned anticipation parliamentary attack took number refugees including catholics september parliamentary army command lord advanced somerset taking turning regiments soldiers cannons surrounded castle september refused surrender cannons opened fire north castle castle wall richard continued resist flag catholic castle days later garrison surrendered damage caused cannon castle escaped deliberate damaging occurred castles end civil war nonetheless forbidden return castle despite promises support parliament son recovered interim owners charles_ii restored throne castle declined sold 18th century building reasonable condition order received ready receive french prisoners unlikely arrived 20th 21st centuries 20th century castle increasingly ruined covered thick ivy result december portion damaged north wall entirely collapsed fallen stone stolen local people fabric castle threat owner transferred property commissioner works began programme restoration work castle run english_heritage tourist attraction scheduled monument architectural historian described castle aesthetically impressive castle somerset
Nunney Castle