DUNSTER PHOTOS|
PHOTOS BY LIZ JONES - ENGLAND The beautiful Photos of Dunster, Somerset, England were provided by; Liz Jones of England. We hope you enjoy Liz's wonderful photo tour. The Slocombe Family of the 1300s lived in the shadow of Dunster Castle in Somerset. The "Atlas of British History", written by; Martin Gilbert, 1968, Merton College, Oxford, gives us a good history of the area of Dunster and Exmoor. In the 1300s and even into the 1400s Dunster and Exmoor were sparsely populated land areas. During this time period the use of surnames were uncommon. People were known by their first name and their trade or area in which they lived, worked or farmed. It has been suggested that their name started out as Combe, such as; John of the Combe, and then we find in 1308 the name of John de Slocombe. The de Mohun Family was in control of Dunster Castle at this time. Located in Exmoor National Park is an area known as Slo Combe. This area was used for the raising of food products, which sustained life, it was also used to raise sheep and a remnant of a vineyard can still be seen. Slo are wild plum trees, which gives it its name from the luxuriant growth of Slo on the Combe. The area of Slo Combe even today contains no sign that anyone ever lived on that piece of land. No trace of any kind of structure can be found. The family lived in close proximity to that area and may have used it as farm or grazing land. At least one member of the Somerset Slocombe's received the title of Slocombe as a surname. After the first appearance of this surname the family is recorded as holding land in the same area of Dunster Castle. From there they moved across Somerset to many different areas. I have found many land lease records for different members of the family. Dunster Castle overlooks the small village of Dunster on the edge of Exmoor in southwest England. It is unusual in that it has only changed hands twice since the Norman conquest of 1066" the Mohan's until 1376 and the Luttrells from then until 1976 when it was taken over by the National Trust and opened to the public. |
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Dunster Castle - Somerset, England Two families held the Castle. The Mohan's until 1376 and the Luttrells from then until 1976 |
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| A Part of Dunster Castle |
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Gate House This land was walked and lived on by the Slocombe Family of the 1300's and later. |
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The Land around Dunster Castle The Slocombe's of the 1300's lived in the area of Dunster Castle. |
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The Cottages of Dunster Castle |
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