Conygar Tower

Conygar Tower
Conygar Tower, Dunster
Location:	Dunster, Somerset, England
Coordinates:	51°11′14″N 3°26′38″W / 51.18722°N 3.44389°W / 51.18722; -3.44389Coordinates: 51°11′14″N 3°26′38″W / 51.18722°N 3.44389°W / 51.18722; -3.44389
Built:	1775
Listed Building – Grade II
Official name: Conygar Tower
Designated:	May 22, 1969[1]
Reference #:	264747
Location of Conygar Tower in Somerset

The Conygar Tower in Dunster, Somerset, England was built in 1775 and has been designated as a Grade II listed building.^[1]

It is a circular, 3 storey folly tower built of red sandstone, situated on a hill overlooking the village. It was commissioned by Henry Luttrell and designed by Richard Phelps and stands about 18 metres (59 ft) high so that it can be seen from Dunster Castle on the opposite hillside. There is no evidence that it ever had floors or a roof.^[2]

The name Conygar comes from two medieval words Coney meaning rabbit and Garth meaning garden, indicating that it was once a warren where rabbits were bred for food.

In 1997 a survey carried out by The Crown Estate identified cracks in the walls which were repaired in 2000.^[3]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Conygar Tower". Images of England. English Heritage. http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=264747. Retrieved 2009-05-27. 
2. ^ Holt, Jonathan (2007). Somerset Follies. Bath: Akeman Press. pp. 78–79. ISBN 9780954613877. 
3. ^ "Conygar Tower - Dunster". Everything Exmoor. http://www.everythingexmoor.org.uk/exmoor-encyclopedia/contents-list/35-c/275-conygar-tower-dunster.html. Retrieved 6 April 2011.