Feudal barony of Dunster Feudal barony of Dunster The feudal barony of Dunster was an English feudal barony with its "caput" at Dunster Castle in Somerset. During the reign of King Henry I (1100–1135) the barony (or "honour") comprised forty knight's fees and was later enlarged. In about 1150 the manors retained in demesne were Dunster, Minehead, Cutcombe, Kilton and Carhampton in Somerset, and Ham in Dorset. The historian the Duchess of Cleveland wrote as follows in her 1889 work "Battle Abbey Roll" concerning the origins of the de Mohun ("alias" Mohon, Moion, etc.) family: The descent of the de Mohun family, feudal barons
Dunster Castle during the early 12th century, probably forming a shell keep around the top of the motte. In the late 1130s England began to descend into a period of civil war known as the Anarchy, during which the supporters of King Stephen fought with those of the Empress Matilda for control of the kingdom. William de Mohun's eldest son, also called William, was a noted supporter of Matilda, and Dunster was considered one of her faction's strongest castles in the south-west. In 1138 forces loyal to Stephen besieged the castle; a siege castle was built nearby, but all trace of it