DUNSTER17
there, though the historian quaintly adds that the plague was at the same time “ hot round Dunster.” Behind what is still called the Prince’s bedchamber is a secret chamber or hiding-place of small dimensions. Later, the Castle was besieged by Colonel Blake, the Parliamentarian Governor of Taunton, who, after a close siege of 160 days, forced Colonel Francis Wyndham to surrender, but with the honours of war. In 1648 the Castle was the prison of William Prynne, who had been sent there by Oliver Cromwell. During his imprisonment he employed his time in examining and scheduling the many documents connected with the history of the Castle. Perhaps the most interesting of these is a small slip of parchment bearing the original receipt of the Lady Joan de Mohun to the Lady Elizabeth Luttrell for 500 marks, the purchase money paid by the latter lady in 1376 for the right of succession to the Great Barony of Dunster.The Tor on which the Castle stands was the site of the Norman Keep, but all traces have disappeared, the Keep having been destroyed, by order of Parliament, in 1650. The Tor is covered with fine trees and every variety of flowering shrub, among which, growing in the open air on a wall in front of the Castle, is a lemon tree of remarkable luxuriance and beauty, bearing fine fruit. On it may be noticed the unusual sight of bud, blossom and fruit at the same time.
The view from the neighbourhood of the Castle is varied and imposing, including the extensive Deer Park, several miles in circumference, and, nearer, the verdant lawns, 300 acres in extent.On the heights of the Deer Park, on Gallox Hill, are two ancient camps. The prominences silhouetted against the sky mark the site of a roughly rectangular earthwork, known as Bat’s Castle, and often called the “ Roman camp.” It is enclosed by a double vallum of stones and a fosse, except on the southern side, where the steep declivity renders such protection unnecessary. Not far away, to the north-west, on the same hill, is a well-marked circular camp.The High Street.Dunster High Street, once called “ Chepyng-strete, ” is a broad and dignified thoroughfare, flanked by many charming Tudor houses with carved oak doorways and heavy window-frames, and quaint little old-fashioned shops. High above the Castle mounts guard over the lower end, and at the otherMinehead (c)
U.S. wartime billets mystery solved
Nissen huts on Hockey Lane Estate were the home for military personnel
working at various local aircraft establishments. NMLHS archive
A family from Welwyn Garden City has found the site of wartime billets in
Brookmans Park occupied by American forces thanks to the North Mymms Local
History Society.
Family members had made several trips to the area to try to find the location
of the second world war accommodation without success. The father in the family
remembered meeting his brother, who was an American serviceman, at the site
during the war.
He remembered that there was a large building at the end of a long driveway.
But despite lengthy searches he was unable to jog his memory. In the end his
daughter e-mailed this site asking for help.
Now the local history society's secretary and archivist, Marian Benton, has
dug into the archives and found details of a number of locations used by
Americans.
The Nissen huts on Hockey Lane Estate were later used as temporary homes for
families on the waiting list for houses in the new Hatfield Town. NMLHS archive
According to John Harris, the society’s membership secretary, North Mymms
House and Hatfield House were both used as allied military hospitals during WW2.
Approximately 50 Nissen huts were built in the grounds of North Mymms House
which were used for kitting out ATS personnel before they were drafted to the
Middle East and also as local accommodation for military personnel working at
local aircraft establishments.
After the war, what was known as the Hockey Lane Estate was taken over by the
council as temporary accommodation in order that local people could be put on
the permanent housing waiting lists for the new Hatfield Town. The site was sold
off in the late 50’s.
To find the site of the old Hockey Lane Estate head for St Mary's Church,
drive over the bridge but continue straight on when the road turns to the right
and the foundations of the Hockey Lane Estate can be seen in the fields to the
left of that road.
January 8, 2001
Related Item
Mystery of U.S
wartime billets - January 5, 2001
On the Home
Front - Chapter Seven - The North Mymms Auxiliary Hospital
Augustine - 1st Archbishop of Canterbury
"Your words are fair, but of doubtful meaning; I cannot
forsake what I have so long believed. But as you have come from far we will not
molest you; you may preach, and gain as many as you can to your religion"
Greeting of King Ethelbert, Isle of Thanet, to Augustine in the Summer of 597
Details of Augustine's life are scarce. Believed to have been a pupil of
Felix, bishop of Messana, he became a monk and later Prior of St Andrew's in
Rome. He was sent by Pope Gregory to lead a party of around 30 monks to bring
England (such as it was) under the influence of the Roman world. The journey was
halted at one point, the monks losing their nerve and returning to Rome, before
successfully landing at Ebbsfleet in 597. Received cautiously by the King of
Kent, Ethelbert, Augustine managed to estbalish a community of monks based first
at St Martin's church, later transferring to the site of the present Cathedral.
Augustine struggled to establish his authority within the British Isles and
did not bring to completion Gregory's plan to form an English church based on
two provinces and twelve bishops.
He died on May 26th, now remembered as his feast day, but the year of his
death is uncertain, between 604 and 609. He was buried at what is now called St
Augustine's Abbey.
Research by Jenny Childs and Steve Empson
Detailed biography:
Augustine (? - c604)
St Augustine or Austin, of
Canterbury (Evangelizer of England - as distinct from Roman Britain; feast
day 26 May in England, 27 May in the RC Church since 1969 & outside England
now). 'Bishop [or Archbishop] of the English' (as
consecrated); 'Apostle of the English' (originally a description of
Pope Gregory).
Italian by birth.
d. May c604; some reports put it as late as 609. Buried at the Monastery of
St Peter and St Paul (afterwards known as St Augustine's) Canterbury.
Ministry
Prior St Andrew's Monastery Rome ? - ?; Leader 1st Mission to England
596-597; chosen by Pope Gregory I to lead between thirty and forty monks to Kent
596, departed 596, landed Summer 597 at Ebbsfleet and received in Thanet by
Kentish K Ethelbert.
Archbishop of Canterbury 597- c604; Consecrated before his 1st arrival in
England, possibly with the title 'Bishop of the English', possibly at Arles,
but also possibly after becoming established in England. The pallium - the
symbol of office - was sent from Rome by Pope Gregory I in 601.
His time as Archbishop coincided with with » Kings and Queens: Kent
» Ethelbert 560? -616 » East Saxons » Sabert ? -616 » West Saxons » (Ceolric
592-97) » Ceolwulf 597-611 » South Saxons » ? » Mercia » Crida or Creoda or
Cearl 593-626 » Northumbria » Ethelfrid 593-617 » East Angles » ? (Redwald ?
-627) » Popes » Gregory I 590-604 » (Sabinianus 604-06) »
Known writings:
helped Ethelbert to draft the earliest Anglo-Saxon written laws to survive.
Firsts:
1st Abp of Canterbury.
Augustine
- 1st Archbishop of Canterbury
