Talk:Dunster Castle/GA1

GA Review

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Reviewer: Malleus Fatuorum (talk · contribs) 16:20, 11 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Lead

"Following the death of Alexander Luttrell in 1944, the family were unable to continue to afford the death duties on his estate." That looks rather odd, as they obviously wouldn't have been paying death duties before his death, so why "continue"? And why is "family" treated as a plural noun here?

Reworded.— Rod ^talk 06:19, 13 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]

"In the 21st century the castle is operated by the trust as a tourist attraction". I think as we're only in 2011 the span of that assertion is too ambitious. What about something less presumptuous, such as "As of 2011 the castle is operated ..."?

Changed.— Rod ^talk 06:19, 13 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]

13th to 17th centuries

"By the end of the 13th century some of the roofs of the castle had been covered in lead". How many roofs does the castle have?

Lots of bits of roof at differing angles but I suppose they could be considered as part of one roof - not sure about this one.— Rod ^talk 06:19, 13 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]

"... she agreed to sell the castle to Lady Elizabeth Luttrell, the leading member of another major Norman family, for 5,000 marks (£3,333)". That conversion is way too (misleadingly) precise given the inherent difficulty of converting value from that time. On what basis is it calculated? Is that £3,333 as of 2008, for instance?

I've worded it poorly; 5,000 marks is £3,333 in currency at the time, not a modern equivalent. I'll reword this.Hchc2009 (talk) 17:03, 12 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]

In that case I don't think the conversion is telling us very much, if anything. Malleus Fatuorum 17:30, 12 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Moved into the footnote, where it can be explained more easily.Hchc2009 (talk) 06:41, 13 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]

English Civil War and the Restoration

"In the 1640s the English Civil War broke out between the supporters of King Charles I and Parliament. Thomas Luttrell supported Parliament and when war broke out in 1642 William Russell, the Duke of Bedford and Parliamentary commander in Devon and Somerset, ordered him to increase the garrison at Dunster to resist a potential Royalist attack." It seems odd to start off being so vague "in the 1640s", and then so specific a sentence later "in 1642".

Reworded.— Rod ^talk 06:19, 13 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]

"The Royalist commander William Seymour, the Duke of Somerset, attacked the castle in 1642 but were driven back by the garrison, led by Thomas' wife, Jane. And why was Jane leading the garrison rather than Thomas?

Changed were to was. I don't have a copy of Garnett, which this is cited to, but it also occurs here (p9) but without explanation of why.— Rod ^talk 06:19, 13 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Agree - I can't find any reference to why Jane was doing this. My suspicion is that Thomas was off looking after the regional resonsibilities (as happened elsewhere); at this point women were usually pretty safe if captured, so it was sometimes OK to leave them to guard the home estates.Hchc2009 (talk) 06:41, 13 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]

"The castle was briefly relieved by reinforcements in February 1646, but the siege was resumed and by April their situation was untenable." Who is "their" referring to here? It looks like it's referring back to the reinforcements, but that doesn't seem right.

Changed to "The Royalists".— Rod ^talk 06:19, 13 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]

18th century

"Alexander inherited the castle in 1704". Who is Alexander? Son of Francis and Mary?

Yep, fixed.Hchc2009 (talk)

"... and the castle was placed into receivership." Is "receivership" the right term here? It's one I associate with companies, not property or individuals.

Agree it's odd - its used by the source, without further explanation. Hchc2009 (talk) 06:38, 13 October 2011 (UTC) NB: I wonder if the estate as a whole was placed into receivership? - but I've no further details. Hchc2009 (talk) 06:46, 13 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]

I've played with the wording - see if it reads better.Hchc2009 (talk) 06:49, 13 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]

"Henry Luttrell, who married Alexander's daughter and took the Luttrell name, returned to Dunster in 1747." So he'd been at Dunster before?

Fixed. Hchc2009 (talk) 06:46, 13 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]

19th and 20th centuries

"During the Second World War the castle was used as a convalescent home for injured naval and American officers between 1943 and 1944." That's a strange conjunction: naval and American?

Agree. The source puts it that way; I'm assuming it means "naval officers" and "American officers" - we could expand perhaps? Hchc2009 (talk) 06:38, 13 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Today

"Amongst the key features of the castle include the original 13th-century gates and several pieces of art".

Reworded.— Rod ^talk 06:19, 13 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]

"This was the first time the National Trust have taken this approach to Grade I listed building". Missing a there?

Done.— Rod ^talk 06:19, 13 October 2011 (UTC)[reply]

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.