The Conygar Tower, is a folly built as a
landmark for shipping in 1776. In the 16th century the sea came up to
Conygar hill, near Dunster which had a harbour, and Minehead bay was
a forest.
Taken from the south with Conygar Tower in the background
Conygar tower is one of two 18 century follies (the other is now the remains of a castellated wall) that were built by the Luttrell family to improve the view from their home at Dunster Castle.
The tower was built as a decorative feature by Henry
Fownes Luttrell in 1775 to enhance the view from his home, Dunster Castle.
Conygar Tower- Richard Phelps was a gifted Architect as well as a painter and his designs for arches, follies, waterfalls and bridges are well known in the West Country. Conygar Tower overlooks the sea and Dunster Castle. Work to Richard Phelps design began in May 1775. It was restored in 2000 and opened to the public.
Despite its impressive size and prominent position, Conygar Tower has no strategic or military significance. It was built, complete with it's mock ruins, on the instruction of Henry Fownes Luttrell in 1775 as a decorative landscape feature, or folly.
It fjqmed part of a landscaping scheme, which included the creation
Dunster Deer Park and the construction of the bridges, arches and waterfalls near Dunster Mill. As well as enhancing views from the Luttre's family home at Dunster Castle, Conygar Hill was a popular leisure area where people could stroll and admire the views.
The name Conygar comes from two medieval words, coney (rabbit) and garth (garden), reflecting the fact that the area was once a warren where rabbits were bred for food.
In 1997, the Crown Estate undertook a detailed assessment of the tower's condition which revealed that, over the course of many years, exposure to the elements and the damaging effects of plant roots had dislodged masonry and caused cracks to appear in its walls.
Advice and guidance was sought from architects, structural engineers and conservationists and in consultation with Exmoor National Park Authority a plan of works was drawn up. During the summer of 2000, restoration work was carried out using traditional lime mortar to secure and repair the loose stonework both internally and externally.
The restoration was funded by the Crown Estate to ensure the safe and continued enjoyment of this historic local landmark for future generations.
A number of paths have been cleared and improved to enhance public access and make it easier for visitors to enjoy the woods and views from the top of Conygar Hill.
Conygar Tower belongs to the Crown Estate and is managed as part of the Dunster Estate that also includes diverse areas of farmland, moorland and woodland and extends to more than 4,000 hectares (9,900 acres), mainly around Dunster, Blue Anchor and Carhampton.
For about 600 years most of the estate, including Dunster Castle, belonged to the Luttrell family and was eventually sold in 1949 to pay death duties. The Crown Estate purchased the land during the 1950s and the castle and grounds were gifted to the National Trust in 1976.
The Crown Estate has produced a guide to the estate which is available free of charge from Dunster Visitor Centre.
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