In 1868, George Fownes Luttrell commissioned Anthony Salvin to rebuild Dunster Castle.
Anthony Salvin (1799-1881) was educated at Durham School and destined for the army but surprised his family by announcing his ambition to be an architect.
In 1817, the 18-year-old Salvin was permitted to become the pupil of John Paterson, an architect who had met the family whilst working at Brancepeth Castle. It was at Brancepeth that Salvin acquired the interest in medieval architecture that was to determine his career.
In 1826, Salvin received his first important commission: the rebuilding of Mamhead, Sir Robert Newman’s house in Devon. Establishing his reputation for restoring ancient castles, Salvin received many more commissions over the next four decades, including Rockingham Castle (c1856-78), the Tower of London (1853-76), Warwick Castle (c1856-78) and Windsor Castle (1857-66). Salvin’s largest project was the remodelling of Alnwick Castle (1854-65) for the Duke of Northumberland.
In 1868, the year work began at Dunster Castle, Salvin was engaged upon ten other projects, including Thoresby Hall (1864-75) and Nottinghamshire, a massive Jacobethan mansion.
By 1868, Dunster Castle was badly in need of an overhaul, little work having been done to it for the last 100 years. George Fownes Luttrell was anxious to respect Dunster’s medieval origins and Jacobean remodelling. But he also required larger reception rooms for entertaining, more bedrooms for the family and visitors, and up-to-date servant’s quarters.
Salvin achieved his remit by grafting two new towers to the castle. This not only broke up its old symmetrical exterior and made it more picturesque and irregular, but it provided the extra accommodation required for the family and their servants. Salvin also introduced the latest domestic technology – gas lighting, central heating, running hot water and kitchen equipment by Stuart & Smith of Sheffield.
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