If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 631

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dunster, High Street and Yarn Market, Somerset, England

 

This unused black & white photo postcard features High Street and the Yarn Market in Dunster, Somerset, England.  On 31 August 2023 the Thursday postcard #622 featured some old cottages that I think are at the end of the road in this picture.  The Yarn Market is the octagonal building at the right center on this card.  The card is a F. Frith & Co. publication with the number 88719 at the lower left corn of the photo.  This card was among several others in an old shoebox in a local antique pavilion. 

 

Dunster had become a center for woollen and clothing production as early as 1222.  At the time the Yarn Market was built trade, particularly in wool and cloth, was the major economy for the community.  The building has an overhanging tiled roof that provides shelter from the rain.  The Yarn Market was built probably around 1609 by the Luttrell family, local lords of the manor, and was designated a scheduled monument in 1925, then also listed as a Grade 1 building in 1969. 

During the first English Civil War, 1642-1646, the building was damaged by cannon fire that can still be seen to this day.  

 

Dunster Castle, home of the Luttrells, can be seen atop the hillside at the center of the card.  Originally there was a timber castle on this site built by William Mohun just after the Norman conquest in the 11^th century.  The stone motte was built in the 12^th century.  In the 14^th century the de Mohuns sold the castle to the Luttrell family. 

 

For additional information, see:

 

https://bewareoftherug.blogspot.com/search?q=Dunster

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yarn_Market_Dunster

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunster_Castle