In 1617, George Luttrell employed William Arnold to build a new Jacobean H–plan mansion in the Lower Ward of Dunster Castle.
Arnold was a leading master-mason active in the West Country in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He was probably the architect of Montacute House, near Yeovil in Somerset. Arnold was also experienced in remodelling old buildings such as Cranborne House in Dorset.
Arnold transformed Dunster Castle from a medieval fortress into a Jacobean country house, but managed to incorporate much of the old fabric. The north entrance front was made symmetrical, with a central entrance porch-tower, flanked by towers in the angles of the corner wings.
There was very little external decoration apart from the purely ornamental battlements, which alluded to Dunster’s castle history. Colour provided the main animation, the red sandstone walls contrasting with the creamy-coloured door and window surrounds.
As all too often happens, architect and client fell out. Luttrell refused to pay Arnold’s £40 bill, and Arnold sued for his money. Luttrell counter-claimed that the design had been changed without his agreement, that the work was poor, and that the cost had risen from the original estimate of £462 to over £1,200.
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