Dunster Village is unique with it's wonderful, wide, High Street overlooked by the Medieval Castle. The village hasn't changed over the centuries except for the horse and cart and having lost 'The Shambles' which was a group of small houses called 'sheds' down the centre of the Street. They came down in the early 19th Century leaving a lovely wide street.
There was always a thriving busy market with people wandering around selling their wares. In particular, the wool which was sold in the Medieval Yarn Market. The Yarn Market is at the top of the High Street and at Candlelight there is a Brass Band or two playing during the evening. The Street is full of interesting cottages and houses. They weren't all built at the same time some are much older than others but there are no modern buildings here.
At the bottom of the High Street the hill continues up to the Castle. A fantastic wooden gate remains against the wall but it is rarely closed these days. Round to the right the village continues into Church Street. There is a high wall on the left opposite the Old Nunnery. Old buildings line this street too with the Nunnery where the Monks used to stay overnight from Cleeve Abbey and Dollons House (Humming Bird) where Marmalade was once made for the Houses of Parliament. Another kink in the road and you will be walking against the wall of the village gardens. There is an iron gate and that will take you through the gardens to the Tithe Barn.
If you continue through Church Street you come to the the Priory Church of St George. Round the corner is West Street where there is another entrance up to the Castle (not as steep). West Street has an old Chapel, a couple of pubs and lots of small cottages nestling into the Castle hillside. Halfway down West Street you can turn into Mill Lane with the leat (stream) running down the left and at the bottom is the Water Mill. The Mill is still working today and at Candlelight they light the Mill by Candlelight.
Please Remember there is no Cash Point in dunster Village.
There was always a thriving busy market with people wandering around selling their wares. In particular, the wool which was sold in the Medieval Yarn Market. The Yarn Market is at the top of the High Street and at Candlelight there is a Brass Band or two playing during the evening. The Street is full of interesting cottages and houses. They weren't all built at the same time some are much older than others but there are no modern buildings here.
At the bottom of the High Street the hill continues up to the Castle. A fantastic wooden gate remains against the wall but it is rarely closed these days. Round to the right the village continues into Church Street. There is a high wall on the left opposite the Old Nunnery. Old buildings line this street too with the Nunnery where the Monks used to stay overnight from Cleeve Abbey and Dollons House (Humming Bird) where Marmalade was once made for the Houses of Parliament. Another kink in the road and you will be walking against the wall of the village gardens. There is an iron gate and that will take you through the gardens to the Tithe Barn.
If you continue through Church Street you come to the the Priory Church of St George. Round the corner is West Street where there is another entrance up to the Castle (not as steep). West Street has an old Chapel, a couple of pubs and lots of small cottages nestling into the Castle hillside. Halfway down West Street you can turn into Mill Lane with the leat (stream) running down the left and at the bottom is the Water Mill. The Mill is still working today and at Candlelight they light the Mill by Candlelight.
Please Remember there is no Cash Point in dunster Village.
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The History of Candlelight
Dunster by Candlelight was founded in 1986 by Hannah Bradshaw and the Dunster Traders Association that was also re-instated that year. The Traders Association was disbanded several years later and a Candlelight Committee was formed. This Committee now runs Candlelight on behalf of the Dunster businesses.
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The Event was started mainly because trade virtually stopped in the area when Dunster castle closed at the end of October. The traders needed something to keep the village alive during the winter months.
The Dunster traders' association was reformed and Hannah Bradshaw took on the mammoth task of starting Dunster by Candlelight with a very small committee but great help from most of the traders and villagers. Some good principles were adopted in those early days
As Candlelight got bigger, the main High Street and Church Street had to be closed to traffic during the evenings. It was originally thought too difficult to close West Street but now West Street is also closed making it much safer and fascinating with the old cottages and various activities located there.
After many disastrous attempts at providing parking for candlelight visitors in the 90's it was decided to do a type of park and ride from Minehead. It proved very successful and buses now also run from Watchet, Williton and Wheddon Cross. Information about the buses can be found here. Remember there is no cash point in Dunster Village
The Dunster traders' association was reformed and Hannah Bradshaw took on the mammoth task of starting Dunster by Candlelight with a very small committee but great help from most of the traders and villagers. Some good principles were adopted in those early days
- it would be on the first Friday and Saturday in December, and
- that a charity would be included and that would be St. Margaret's Somerset Hospice which had only just opened.
As Candlelight got bigger, the main High Street and Church Street had to be closed to traffic during the evenings. It was originally thought too difficult to close West Street but now West Street is also closed making it much safer and fascinating with the old cottages and various activities located there.
After many disastrous attempts at providing parking for candlelight visitors in the 90's it was decided to do a type of park and ride from Minehead. It proved very successful and buses now also run from Watchet, Williton and Wheddon Cross. Information about the buses can be found here. Remember there is no cash point in Dunster Village
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