Enmore Castle
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| Enmore Castle | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | Enmore, Somerset, England |
| Coordinates | 51°06′42″N 3°05′22″W / 51.11167°N 3.08944°W |
| Built | 1751-1755 |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
| Designated | 9 January 1987[1] |
| Reference no. | 1307522 |
  Location of Enmore Castle in Somerset | |
Enmore Castle is a historic building in the village of Enmore, Somerset, England. It is a Grade II listed building.[1]
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Enmore was the seat of the family of William Malet who built a great house, although the original date of construction is uncertain.[2] The house passed to Elizabeth Malet who married John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester.[3] In 1664 it included a hall, chapel and 20 hearths. The building was still standing in 1727.[4]
It was bought at some time before 1751 by John Perceval, 2nd Earl of Egmont who over the next five years erected the first version of the present castle. The building consisted of a square surround an inner court which was 86 feet (26 m) by 78 feet (24 m). The surrounding walls had square towers at the corners and semicircular turrets on each of the sides including around the doors, all were topped with battlements. Much of the building, including the offices and stables, was underground and accessed via the dry 40 feet (12 m) wide moat which was entered by a tunnel from the park. There is some evidence of a drawbridge over the moat and Stew ponds.[5] It included an armoury, music and picture galleries, a library, and a state dining room. The rooms were hung with tapestries which, after their sale were hung at Combe Sydenham and subsequently in the Bridgwater council chamber.[2] The house received 'the dismissive mockery of Horace Walpole'.[6]
