Nunney Castle is a late 14th century stone four storey rectangular tower house, founded by Sir John de la Mare. The fortress was built in a single-phase, after King Edward III granted him a licence to fortify and crenellate his manse in 1373. Standing on the west bank of the Nunney Brook, the castle is of a highly distinctive design, consisting of a high main block of principal rooms such as the great hall, flanked by large circular angle towers, that provided private chambers. Modernised in the late 16th century, the towers still rise to their full height and are crowned by a parapet surmounted by a drum turret. Originally approached from the north-west, into an outer court, the house was defended by a three sided 12 feet high wall, the brook and the wide deep moat. The castle was held for King Charles I during the Civil War but in 1645 the garrison surrendered when it proved to be of little opposition to besieging Parliamentarian cannon fire. Slighted in 1654, the gun-damaged north wall of the main block finally collapsed on Christmas Day 1910. 10 miles north-east is Farleigh Hungerford Castle and 21 miles south-east is Old Wardour Castle.