Enmore Castle
Encyclopedia
Enmore Castle is a historic building in the village of Enmore
, Somerset
, England. It is a Grade II listed building.
who built a great house, although the original date of construction is uncertain. The house passed to Elizabeth Malet
who married John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester
. In 1664 it included a hall, chapel and 20 hearths. The building was still standing in 1727.
It was bought at some time before 1751 by John Perceval, 2nd Earl of Egmont
who over the next five years erected the first version of the present castle. The building consisted of a square surround a inner court which was 86 feet (26.2 m) by 78 feet (23.8 m). The surrounding walls had square towers at the corners and semicircular turrets on each of the sides including around the doors, all were topped with battlement
s. Much of the building, including the offices and stables, were underground and accessed via the dry 40 feet (12.2 m) wide moat which was entered by a tunnel from the park. There is some evidence of a drawbridge
over the moat and Stew pond
s. It included an armoury, music and picture galleries, a library, and a state dining room. The rooms were hung with tapestries which, after their sale were hung at Combe Sydenham
and subsequently in the Bridgwater
council chamber. The house received 'the dismissive mockery of Horace Walpole'.
and the Ivelchester and Langport Navigation
, who subsequently demolished a large proportion of the building the following year converting the remaining parts of the building into a three-storeyed house.
The remaining portion is now divided into two dwellings, however the undercroft survives.
It is close to the Church of St Michael which has 13th-century origins but the present building is largely from the 15th century, and Enmore Park Golf Club
which was built on some of the parkland which was attached to the estate.
Enmore, Somerset
Enmore is a village and civil parish west of Bridgwater on the Quantock Hills in the Sedgemoor district of Somerset, England. The parish includes the hamlet of Bare Ash.-History:The parish name means Duck marsh....
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, England. It is a Grade II listed building.
Construction
Enmore was the seat of the family of William MaletWilliam Malet (Magna Carta)
William Malet was one of the guarantors of Magna Carta. Also known as William II Malet. He was lord of Curry Mallet and Shepton Mallet in Somerset, and served as High Sheriff of Somerset and Dorset for 1209. The precise nature of his relationship to the earlier Malets is disputed. His first wife...
who built a great house, although the original date of construction is uncertain. The house passed to Elizabeth Malet
Elizabeth Wilmot, Countess of Rochester
Elizabeth Wilmot, Countess of Rochester was an English heiress and the wife of John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester, the "libertine." She was born Elizabeth Malet, the daughter of John Malet of Enmore Castle and Unton Hawley....
who married John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester
John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester
John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester , styled Viscount Wilmot between 1652 and 1658, was an English Libertine poet, a friend of King Charles II, and the writer of much satirical and bawdy poetry. He was the toast of the Restoration court and a patron of the arts...
. In 1664 it included a hall, chapel and 20 hearths. The building was still standing in 1727.
It was bought at some time before 1751 by John Perceval, 2nd Earl of Egmont
John Perceval, 2nd Earl of Egmont
John Perceval, 2nd Earl of Egmont PC, FRS was a British politician, political pamphleteer, and genealogist...
who over the next five years erected the first version of the present castle. The building consisted of a square surround a inner court which was 86 feet (26.2 m) by 78 feet (23.8 m). The surrounding walls had square towers at the corners and semicircular turrets on each of the sides including around the doors, all were topped with battlement
Battlement
A battlement in defensive architecture, such as that of city walls or castles, comprises a parapet , in which portions have been cut out at intervals to allow the discharge of arrows or other missiles. These cut-out portions form crenels...
s. Much of the building, including the offices and stables, were underground and accessed via the dry 40 feet (12.2 m) wide moat which was entered by a tunnel from the park. There is some evidence of a drawbridge
Drawbridge
A drawbridge is a type of movable bridge typically associated with the entrance of a castle surrounded by a moat. The term is often used to describe all different types of movable bridges, like bascule bridges and lift bridges.-Castle drawbridges:...
over the moat and Stew pond
Stew pond
A stew pond was the name given to fish ponds during the Middle Ages in England, attached, for example, to monasteries, which were used to store live fish for the table over the winter.-References:...
s. It included an armoury, music and picture galleries, a library, and a state dining room. The rooms were hung with tapestries which, after their sale were hung at Combe Sydenham
Combe Sydenham
Combe Sydenham is a 15th century manor house south of Monksilver in the parish of Stogumber, Somerset, England. It has been designated as a Grade I listed building....
and subsequently in the Bridgwater
Bridgwater
Bridgwater is a market town and civil parish in Somerset, England. It is the administrative centre of the Sedgemoor district, and a major industrial centre. Bridgwater is located on the major communication routes through South West England...
council chamber. The house received 'the dismissive mockery of Horace Walpole'.
19th century
The Percevals were forced to sell the castle in 1833 to pay off debts. It was bought by Nicholas Broadmead, a solicitor with shares in the Parrett Navigation CompanyParrett Navigation Company
The Parrett Navigation Company was formed to improve river navigation on the River Parrett, Ivelchester and Langport Navigation and linked waterways. Tolls were introduced to pay for the improvements...
and the Ivelchester and Langport Navigation
Ivelchester and Langport Navigation
The Ivelchester and Langport Navigation was a scheme to make the River Ivel navigable from Langport to Ilchester, in Somerset, England...
, who subsequently demolished a large proportion of the building the following year converting the remaining parts of the building into a three-storeyed house.
20th century
The castle once again underwent major change in 1930 when H. H. Broadmead demolished even more of the old building.The remaining portion is now divided into two dwellings, however the undercroft survives.
It is close to the Church of St Michael which has 13th-century origins but the present building is largely from the 15th century, and Enmore Park Golf Club
Enmore Park Golf Club
Enmore Park Golf Club is a golf club set within the Quantock hills, an area of outstanding natural beauty, and in the village of Enmore within the county of Somerset in England...
which was built on some of the parkland which was attached to the estate.