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| Name: | The Arches, Conygar Wood |
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| ENPHER Monument Number: | MSO9477 |
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| Type of Record: | Building |
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| Grid Reference: | SS 9891 4422 |
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| Parish: | DUNSTER, WEST SOMERSET, SOMERSET |
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Summary
A folly in the form of a ruined gatehouse on Conygar Hill, part of the 18th Century landscaping around Dunster Castle. It comprises a length of curtain wall, pierced by two openings, and two unroofed towers.
Associated Images
The smaller arch in Conygar Wood, Dunster
© Check with HER for copyright
General view of the arches in Conygar Wood, Dunster
© Check with HER for copyright
Larger arch in Conygar Wood, Dunster
© Check with HER for copyrightMonument Type(s):
- FOLLY (AD 18th Century to Modern - 1700 AD? to 2050 AD)
Description
A ruined gatehouse lies on the northwestern edge of Conygar Hill, north of Dunster, at SS 9891 4423. It comprises a length of curtain wall, angled to cross two tracks. The wall is pierced by two openings, with two towers, one at the angle and the other at the western end of the wall. It is constructed of mortared local stone with ashlar blocks used for buttresses. The two circular towers are incomplete. They measure 2.9m in diameter and have walls 0.8m thick, with loophole openings. The towers were not roofed. The western opening is a round-headed arch, buttressed on each side with a ruined top. It is 3m wide at its base and some 4m high. The northern opening is smaller and Gothic in style. It is 2.5m wide at its base and some 3m high.
The gatehouse was constructed as a ruin, and was the approach to Conygar Tower, on the southeast end of the hill. Both of these structures were part of the 18th century enhancement of the landscape carried out by Richard Phelps for H F Luttrell, the owner of Dunster Castle. [1,2]
The site was photographed in 1999. [3]
The site was visited in March 2013 and was noted to be in poor condition. [4]
This record was enhanced as part of the National Record of the Historic Environment to Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Record data transfer project. [5]
<1> Riley, H., Field Investigators Comments, RCHME Field Investigation, 1998 (Unpublished document). SMO7322.
<2> 1/6/1998, SS94SE Site visit, 101 (Map). SSO653.
<3> Hesketh-Roberts, M., 1999, Job: Ruined Gatehouse (Photograph). SEM341186.
<4> Various, 1993-, Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Team staff comments, N Pratt, March 2013 (see associated files) (Verbal communication). SEM8630.
<5> Historic England, Various, National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE) entry, 1145456, Extant 19 May 2022 (Digital archive). SEM7987.
Sources and Further Reading
| [1] | SMO7322 - Unpublished document: Riley, H.. Field Investigators Comments. RCHME Field Investigation, 1998. |
| [2] | SSO653 - Map: 1/6/1998. SS94SE Site visit. 101. |
| [3] | SEM341186 - Photograph: Hesketh-Roberts, M.. 1999. Job: Ruined Gatehouse. Colour. Negative. |
| [4] | SEM8630 - Verbal communication: Various. 1993-. Exmoor National Park Historic Environment Team staff comments. N Pratt, March 2013 (see associated files). |
| [5] | SEM7987 - Digital archive: Historic England. Various. National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE) entry. 1145456, Extant 19 May 2022. |
Related records
| MSO9412 | Part of: Dunster Castle (Building) |
| MSO9432 | Related to: Conygar Tower, Dunster (Building) |
Other References
- Exmoor National Park HER Number (now deleted): MSO10027
- Local List Status (Proposed)
- National Monuments Record reference: SS 94 SE101
- NBR Index Number: 99/01184
- NRHE HOB UID (Pastscape): 1145456
- SHINE Candidate (Yes)
- Somerset SMR PRN: 13464
| Date Last Edited: | May 19 2022 2:39PM |
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