West Somerset Scheduled monuments in Somerset

tarr stepsa clapper bridge across river barle in exmoor national park.

the west somerset local government district covers largely rural area, including parts of exmoor, population, according 2001 census, of 35,712 in area of 740 square kilometres (290 sq mi). largest centres of population coastal towns of minehead , watchet. council s administrative headquarters in village of williton.

there 202 scheduled monuments in west somerset. of oldest, particularly on exmoor , quantock hills neolithic, bronze age or iron age including hill forts, cairns, bowl barrows , other tumuli. more recent sites include several motte-and-bailey castles. dunster castle has been fortified since late anglo-saxon period. after norman conquest of england in 11th century, william de mohun constructed timber castle on site part of pacification of somerset. stone shell keep built on motte start of 12th century, , castle survived siege during years of anarchy. @ end of 14th century de mohuns sold castle luttrell family, expanded several times during 17th , 18th centuries. medieval castle walls destroyed following siege of dunster castle @ end of english civil war. in 1860s , 1870s, architect anthony salvin employed remodel castle fit victorian tastes; work extensively changed appearance of dunster make appear more gothic , picturesque. in 1976 colonel walter luttrell gave dunster castle , of contents national trust, operates tourist attraction.

there several church or village crosses date middle ages. other sites of religious significance include cleeve abbey founded william de roumare, earl of lincoln in grant of 1191, on land had been given king Æthelred unready. geography large numbers of streams reflected number of packhorse, such gallox bridge , robber s bridge, included in list. mining history of area represented several sections of west somerset mineral railway , associated ruins of mine buildings scheduled. recent monuments world war ii pillboxes. village of dunster provides highest concentration of monuments ranging iron age forts castle , yarn market built around 1600.