Our first visit to the family castle, Nunney, was in 1989, with our daughters Rebecca and Rachel. I wasn't blogging then, so, unfortunately, there are no web-references. Actually, no one was blogging much then. More recent visits that Google can find are here (2013) and here (2021). Long story short is that the castle, supposedly modeled after the Bastille, which founder John de la Mare might have seen while plundering in France with Henry V, came to the Prather family, distantly related to Vicki, in the 1500s. The castle was "slighted" by the Parliamentarians in the Civil War and has been uninhabitable since then. You used to be able to cross the moat and wander through the ruins, but the bridge has become unusable and has been closed. In any case, Nunney Castle seems to be a tourist destination of some note, and there are always other people around. The area, in Somerset, is gorgeous.
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| 1989 |
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| 2013 |
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| Countryside approaching Nunney, Somerset |
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| The Castle |
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Interior, bombarded and burned by the Parliamentarians; and you
thought they merely advised on meeting rules and procedures... |
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| 2026 |
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| Someone's pretty side yard |
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| Fast ducks have moved to the city |
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| Now inside the parish church in Nunney |
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| Nevermind the organist behind the curtain |
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Sic transit, Gloria...God only knows who's buried beneath
the chairs |
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| The Praters, lord and lady, are those nearest |
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| Drone/postcard view |
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| Remains of probably 14th century painting |
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Christian education, indoctrination some would say,
in the 21st century |
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Another very early painting, recently revealed during
renovations, possibly of a SS George/Michael skewering
a lizard/dragon |
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| Few windows |
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| Font and hood |
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Everything you might want to know about the church
at Nunney |
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| Spare part, possibly from Roman era |
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Nunney's other institution is The George...we theorize the George is
part of a restaurant/inn chain...since every little town seems to have
one...we had lunch at the Nunney Cafe, a more approachable place,
especially for Americans, who have little affection for Georges... |
