Nunney Castle dates from the 1370s and was built by Sir John de la Mare, a local knight gaining royal favour. Distinctive for its symmetric, French-influenced design, the rectangular castle features four circular corner towers encircled by a fortified grassy bank and a ten-foot-deep water-filled moat, designed primarily for residential splendour rather than defence. Located 3 miles southwest of Frome in Somerset, it suffered significant damage during the 1645 Parliamentarian siege in the English Civil War, with three walls remaining complete while the fourth is largely missing. Architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner described it as 'aesthetically the most impressive castle in Somerset'. English Heritage now maintains the site, offering free entry open all day to visitors.
