Luttrell family of Dunster

Geoffrey Luttrell of Gamston (Nottinghamshire) married c1200 a daughter of William Paynell of Irnham (Lincolnshire) and East Quantoxhead (Somerset). Gamston and Irnham descended in the senior line of the Luttrell family, which became extinct in the 15th century, but East Quantoxhead passed to a junior branch, whose Somerset holdings were later augmented by inheritance and purchase. Andrew Luttrell married in 1359 Lady Elizabeth Courtenay, who brought lands in Somerset, including Dunster Castle, purchased from the Mohun family, and in Norfolk and Suffolk (later sold). Dunster Priory lands were acquired at the Dissolution. Thomas Luttrell (d. 1571) married Margaret Hadley, heiress of Withycombe, near Dunster. Francis Luttrell (1659-90) married Mary Tregonwell, but her property in Dorset (Milton Abbas) and Somerset did not descend to the Luttrells.

On the death of Alexander Luttrell in 1737 his estates passed to his daughter, who in 1747 married Henry Fownes, later Fownes Luttrell, of Nethway House, Kingswear (Devon). Their son John Fownes Luttrell married Mary Drewe of Grange (Broadhembury, Devon) in 1782. In 1824 their third son married his cousin Emma Louise Drewe, through whom the Wootton Fitzpaine (Dorset) estate was inherited. In 1867 their son George succeeded his uncle in the Dunster Castle, East Quantoxhead and Kingswear estates.

The Devon and Dorset estates were largely sold by the end of the 19th century. More recently Dunster Castle passed to the National Trust, and East Quantoxhead again became the family seat.

Estates in 1883: Somerset 15,374 acres, Devon 154 acres, total 15,528 acres worth £22,000 a year. The 1875 Return of Owners of Land gives GF Luttrell 12,732 acres in Somerset, HF Luttrell (decd) 1,852 acres in Devon and (Mrs) EL Luttrell 1,571 acres in Dorset.