Castle Cary | |
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In the foreground, the motte and bailey of the old castle. Behind is Castle Cary church. |
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Castle Cary shown within Somerset | |
Population | 2,276 (2011) |
OS grid reference | ST641322 |
District | |
Shire county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | CASTLE CARY |
Postcode district | BA7 |
Dialling code | 01963 |
Police | Avon and Somerset |
Fire | Devon and Somerset |
Ambulance | South Western |
EU Parliament | South West England |
UK Parliament | |
Castle Cary (/ˌkɑːsəl ˈkɛəri/) is a small market town and civil parish in south Somerset, England, 5 miles (8 km) north west of Wincanton and 8 miles (12.9 km) south of Shepton Mallet. The parish includes the hamlet of Dimmer.
The town is situated on the River Cary, a tributary of the Parrett.
The site of Cary Castle is above the town. It was built either by Walter of Douai or by the following owners, the Perceval family, after the Norman conquest. It was besieged by King Stephen in 1138, and again in 1153. By 1468 the castle had been abandoned in favour of a manor house which was built beside it. The site was excavated in 1890 and demonstrated the foundations of a 24 square metres (258 sq ft) square tower, although only the earthworks are visible today.
The parish was part of the hundred of Catsash.
The manor was held by the Lovels and descended by marriage in 1351 to the St Maur (Seymour) family and in 1409 to the Baron Zouche. The manor was bought in the 1780s by the Hoares of Stourhead in Wiltshire.