Feudal barony of Dunster National Trust and contributes his personal knowledge in helping to record the modern history of the Castle. 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
Dunster Avill, offering a natural defence and making the village an inland port. Nearby is the Dunster Park and Heathlands Site of Special Scientific Interest noted for nationally important lowland dry heath, dry lowland acid grassland, wood-pasture with veteran trees and ancient semi-natural oak woodland habitats. The fauna of the lowland heath includes the heath fritillary ("Mellicta athalia"), a nationally rare butterfly. The assemblage of beetles associated with the veteran trees is of national significance because of the variety and abundance of species. Along with the rest of South West England, Dunster has a temperate climate which is generally wetter and