| Summary : Conygar Tower is a hollow tower built in the late 18th century to enhance the landscape around Dunster Castle. It was designed by Richard Phelps for Henry Fownes Luttrell, the owner of Dunster Castle. The tower is circular, and 7.9m in diameter with walls of mortared local stone some 0.8m thick. It is hollow, ie there are no internal features, floors or roof. The top of the walls are crenallated. The tower has three sets of arched windows, which decrease in size as the tower ascends. This is a Grade II listed monument. Conygar tower is also mentioned in record SS 94 SE 58. |
More information : [SS 9918 4410] Conygar Tower [NAT] (1)
A hollow tower and other artificial ruins were built on Conygar Hill
in about 1775 (2). Conygar Tower is a navigator's aid and prospect
tower of two four-windowed storeys (3). (2)(3)
Conygar Tower, Grade II. Erected in 1775. Folly. (For full
description see list.) (4)
Built c.1760-70 as part of the 18th century improvements of Dunster
Castle (SS 94 SE 6). (5)
Conygar Tower lies on the southwest edge of a small hill immediately to the north of Dunster, at SS 9918 4410. The tower is circular, and 7.9m in diameter with walls of mortared local stone some 0.8m thick. It is hollow, ie there are no internal features, floors or roof. The top of the walls are crenallated. The tower has three sets of arched windows, which decrease in size as the tower ascends. The windows give a panoramic view of the surrounding country and sea. The tower was approached by a ruined gatehoue, some 500m to the northwest (SS 94 SE 101) (6).
Conygar Tower was built around 1775. It was designed by Richard Phelps to enhance the landscape around Dunster Castle, which was then owned by H F Luttrell. It cost #76 11s 1/2d to build, #4 2s 6d in scrumpy for the workmen, and an entertainment when it was complete cost #2 5s. (7)
Conygar tower is also mentioned in SS 94 SE 58, UID 1119484. (8) |