Individual Details

Military

When the Civil War broke out (1640/1645), Colonel Richard Prater, son of George Prater, Esq. and grandson of Richard Prater, Esq. (died 1580) was in occupation of Nunney Castle, and was naturally royalist in sympathy. (GBP -- This is the Civil War of which Parliament, headed by Oliver Cromwell (a Puritan) over threw King Charles, beheading him after a 5 year Civil War. Those who fought for King Charles were commonly called "Royalist" while those Parliamentry followers were commonly called "Roundheads". Roundheads were called this due to their short hair cuts. ost commoners kept their hair short to help prevent decease and insect infestation. The bulk of the Parliamentry army were made up of commoners and serfs, led by members of the Noblity who took up the Puritan cause.) At first the Kings cause generally prevailed in the West Country, but in 1645, Parliament planned an all-out assault and Nunney has garrisoned to withstand it. After the success of their cause at Sherborne in Sept. 1645, Fairfax and Cromwell marched on Castle Cary and Shepton Mallet. On 18 Sept. two regiments with two cannon were detailed to reduce Nunney. (GBP. The parliamentary army had completely bypassed Nunney..not thinking it was of any importance, but a member of the Mawdley family went to Fairfax and told him that the Praters were storing arms at Nunney in preparation of a resurgence in that part of the country by the Royalist. Of couse this was not true. The Mawdley family had found a way to rid themselves of the Praters! But the problem: Most of the Mawdley family in Nunney were also Royalist, thus the member of the Mawdley family that caused the parliamentary army to come and sieze upon the Praters did not realize that they would also sieze upon the Mawdleys, which they did. In time the Mawdleys lost more than the Praters! It was this same Mawdley that pointed out to Fairfax where to place their cannon fire, on that part of the wall of the castle where the stairway led through the wall to the upper vestibule. At this point the 4 foot thick wall was not solid... having a stairway running through it.) (GBP..... I have a copy of a painting that was done in 1822 which shows the hole that was blasted in the north wall of Nunney by Fairfaxe's Cannon. It caused a hole about 15 to 20 feet high and about 10 to 15 feet wide above the 1st. floor to the right of the front door -- perfectly were the stairway was located. Records state that Fairfax came with two regiments and with Cannon "of the new model" This meant that the cannon was longer barreled and more accurate than earlier models). The cannon were placed on the rising ground to the north and trained on the north facade of the castle. Then the customary summons to surrender was sent. When it was refused the guns were brought into action and the wall soon breached above the entrance. On the 20th, Colonel Richard Prater, Esq. recognizeding that resistance was useless, surrendered. The garrison comprised eight Irishmen, under Captain Turberville and a "good store of Papist. The Irishmen were made prisoners and the Papist were "plundered" and released. Praters conduct compares badly with the magnificent resistance put up by the Paulets at Basing. (GBP -- The Irish were thought of as mercenaries. It was a common practice for the Roundheads to take all mercenaries to the ocean and make them swim back to Ireland meaning that they caused them to drown by not letting them come back to shore. We do not know if this was the case with the Irishmen of Nunney, but probably so!) -- Gary Prather

Soon after the fall of the castle, Parliament voted that all strongholds which had resisted them should be 'slighted', (i.e. paartially destroyed and rendered useless). Evidently the hole made by the guns was considered sufficient slighting, for the walls were left standing and other-wise complete. It is probable that the floors and partitions were removed at this time. Colonel Richard Prater, on his surrender, even offered to "hold" the castle for the Parliament. The offer was, of course, not taken seriously, and the castle was confiscated. -- Gary Prather

Death

After the castle fell to the forces of Fairfax, Capt. Richard Prater, Esq. offered to take up the cause of Parliament if they spared his castle and holdings, but Capt. Richard Prater, Esq. had flown the Catholic flag above the tower of his castle which was greater proof that he was a true "Royalist". He was executed and the 17 Irish Dragoons that where stationed at the castle was taken to the ocean and made to "swim back to Ireland" -- Gary Prather, Prather-L, 12 Sep 2009