A compact French-style tower ringed by a moat in the middle of a Somerset village, wrecked in the Civil War and never repaired
Open to visitorsan English Heritage site — check opening times and admission before you go
Substantial ruinsruined, but plenty survives above ground
Tucked among the houses of Nunney, this small castle is really one tall tower with a round turret at each corner, still surrounded by its water-filled moat. Sir John de la Mare built it in the 1370s after service in the French wars, and its close-set towers and steep proportions clearly copy the fashions he had seen in France. In the Civil War a Royalist garrison held out here until Parliament’s guns forced a surrender in 1645, and the castle was slighted afterwards — deliberately damaged so it could not be used again. One weakened wall finally collapsed into the moat early in the 20th century, which is why the tower now stands open on one side. English Heritage looks after the ruin, free to visit in the heart of the village. Nunney itself has a good pub and church, and Frome and pretty Mells are both close by.
More at the National Heritage List entry
