Nunney Castle

Nunney Castle stands beside the village of Nunney in Somerset. Built late in the 14th century by Sir John Delamare, it is a moated tower-keep of ashlar stone with four round corner towers and machicolations. The castle’s thick walls and narrow stairs show its military purpose, while its large windows and fireplaces reveal later comforts. A wide, deep moat surrounds the base, crossed by a drawbridge that once led to the modest entrance. Nunney Brook on the east side added a natural defence instead of a bailey wall. Historians once thought the design copied French castles like the Bastille, but recent studies suggest it belongs to a wider English tradition. The castle passed through the Poulet and Paulet families before being sold in the 16th century. The new owners enlarged the windows, added a grand staircase and installed a Catholic altar. During the English Civil War the castle became a Royalist stronghold under Colonel Richard Prater. In 1645 a Parliamentary army under Lord Fairfax and Oliver Cromwell besieged it, breaching the north wall with cannons. After surrender the castle escaped deliberate slighting but fell into disrepair over the following centuries. Today Nunney Castle is managed by English Heritage as a scheduled monument. Visitors see the ruined tower-keep rising above the moat, its corner towers still standing. Ivy once covered the walls until a section collapsed in 1910, prompting restoration work. The site offers a quiet view of the surrounding countryside and a glimpse of medieval life through its surviving stonework. Nikolaus Pevsner called it the most impressive castle in Somerset for its striking design and historical layers.