Pictures of Nunney Castle

a Castle in the town of Nunney, in the county of Somerset

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About Nunney Castle

A tradition exists that Nunney Castle's sole pig was subject to daily torture when the castle came under siege in 1645 during the English Civil War. This was supposedly to make the attackers think there was plenty of livestock within. The poor animal suffered needlessly, the siege was short lived, with the officer, eight men and a few refugees, surrendering after only two days.

It is as a romantic ruin that the castle is best known today. The castle originated as a royal property, it was built in 1373 when Sir John de la Mere became tenant-in-chief and obtained a licence to crennelate from Edward III.

A church already stood in the most prominent position, so in contrast Sir John chose a low-lying site in which to construct his castle. The fact that he had served in the French wars, is perhaps the reason why the castle was built in the style of a French chateaux. The site was very small, the castle was not large in the usual way of English castles from the period, it had towers that almost touched and walls so thin they were unable to withstand cannon fire. What it did have was an unusually deep moat, said to be the deepest in the country.

In 1910 the fragile walls collapsed into the moat. Later it was cleared and today it is fed by a small stream. Visitors to the castle should cross the footbridge over the moat and then another over the stream, this brings you to the church. It is an historic place with fine features from many centuries, especially the stone effigy of Sir John de la Mare.

The ruins are quite splendid and well worth seeing. The village of Nunney is pleasant with cottages of grey Mendip stone and a meandering stream running right through it.
Please see below for other recommended attractions and towns to visit near Nunney Castle.

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Distances and directions shown below are approximate. For true driving distances please visit the AA Route Planner

Recommended attractions near Nunney Castle

Longleat House & Safari Park	(4.7 miles, 7.6 km, direction SE)	Pictures
Cley Hill	(6.3 miles, 10.2 km, direction E)	Pictures
Brokerswood Country Park	(7.6 miles, 12.3 km, direction NE)	Pictures
Stourhead	(7.7 miles, 12.3 km, direction S)	Pictures
Farleigh Hungerford Castle	(8.7 miles, 14.0 km, direction NE)	Pictures
Westwood Manor	(9.4 miles, 15.1 km, direction NE)	Pictures
Barton Farm Country Park	(10.5 miles, 16.9 km, direction NE)	Pictures
Prior Park	(10.6 miles, 17.1 km, direction N)	Pictures
Bratton Camp & White Horse	(10.8 miles, 17.4 km, direction E)	Pictures
Bishop's Palace, Wells	(11.4 miles, 18.3 km, direction W)	Pictures

All attractions in Somerset
Complete A to Z of attractions in England

Recommended towns near Nunney Castle

Stourton, in the county of Wiltshire (7.9 miles, 12.8 km, direction S)
Stourton is noted for the church dedicated to St. Peter where you can see many memorials to the famous Hoare banking family and for the house which was the families ancestral home.
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Warminster, in the county of Wiltshire (8.7 miles, 14.0 km, direction E)
This is a former wool and corn town with a fascinating history stretching back to Saxon times. It sits comfortably beneath the chalk downland of the Salisbury Plain at the head of the beautiful Wyle Valley.
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Trowbridge, a Historic Market Town in the county of Wiltshire (10.5 miles, 16.9 km, direction NE)
Trowbridge is a historic town crammed with attractive stone buildings. It originated as a settlement along the Biss and flourished from the wool and weaving trades and from these periods there remain many magnificent merchant houses.
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Bradford-on-Avon, in the county of Wiltshire (10.7 miles, 17.2 km, direction NE)
Beautiful old town with a rich mixture of mellow Bath stone properties to be seen along ancient winding streets.
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Bath, a Historic City in the county of Somerset (11.3 miles, 18.2 km, direction N)
Bath is an elegant city famous for its fascinating history, its beautiful Georgian architecture and its Roman remains.
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Wells, in the county of Somerset (11.4 miles, 18.4 km, direction W)
Wells, situated at the foot of the picturesque mendip hills, is most certainly one of England's most delightful cathedral cities.
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Gillingham, a Historic Market Town in the county of Dorset (13.0 miles, 20.9 km, direction S)
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East Knoyle, in the county of Wiltshire (13.3 miles, 21.4 km, direction SE)
East Knoyle is situated where the Wiltshire countryside blends into Dorset. The landscape is quite stunning, it has a dramatically changing face of sweeping pastures and hillsides.
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Wookey, in the county of Somerset (13.3 miles, 21.5 km, direction W)
It is a pleasant resort village made famous by the glittering limestone cavern known as "Wookey Hole" which comprises of several dramatic chambers.
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Glastonbury, a Historic Market Town in the county of Somerset (15.3 miles, 24.7 km, direction W)
This little town now enjoys world renown for its annual music festival which attracts thousands of visitors from all over the...
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All towns in Somerset
Complete A to Z of towns in England

Nearby travel help

Frome Station	(3.2 miles, 5.1 km, direction E)
Bruton Station	(7.5 miles, 12.1 km, direction S)
Bristol International Airport	(18.7 miles, 30.1 km, direction NW)
M32 Junction 3	(19.3 miles, 31.1 km, direction NW)
M32 Junction 2	(19.8 miles, 31.9 km, direction NW)
Bournemouth Airport	(38.3 miles, 61.6 km, direction SE)
Nunney Castle to London	(99.7 miles, 160.4 km, direction E)

Accommodation & Hotels near Nunney Castle

Hotel Name
Mendip House Hotel	(3.7 miles, 5.9 km, direction NE)
The Woolpack Inn	(5.5 miles, 8.8 km, direction NE)
Centurion Hotel	(5.9 miles, 9.6 km, direction NW)
Thatched Cottage	(6.7 miles, 10.8 km, direction W)
The Bath Arms	(6.7 miles, 10.8 km, direction E)
The Full Moon	(6.9 miles, 11.0 km, direction NE)
The Highwayman Inn	(7.2 miles, 11.6 km, direction W)
The Old Malt House Hotel	(8.3 miles, 13.3 km, direction NW)
Limpley Stoke Hotel	(9.7 miles, 15.6 km, direction N)
Cameley Lodge	(10.1 miles, 16.2 km, direction NW)
All of our hotels are available to book online & with special discounts