Statue of Queen Anne
The Statue of Queen Anne in Dunster, Somerset, is a striking and historically resonant monument located in the heart of this remarkably well-preserved medieval market town. Standing in the Yarn Market area of the High Street, the statue commemorates Queen Anne, who reigned from 1702 to 1714, and serves as both a civic landmark and a reminder of the town's prosperity during the late Stuart period. Dunster itself is one of the finest examples of a medieval English settlement still largely intact, and the statue adds a regal note to a streetscape already filled with centuries of layered history. For visitors exploring the Somerset coast and Exmoor, Dunster's High Street and this statue in particular offer a genuinely evocative encounter with the past.
Queen Anne's statue was erected to mark the town's loyalty to the Crown and to reflect the civic pride of a community that had grown wealthy through the wool and cloth trades. The late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries were a period of considerable commercial activity in Dunster, with its famous octagonal Yarn Market — one of the best-preserved market structures of its kind in England, dating from around 1609 — serving as the hub of the local economy. The statue, positioned in proximity to this market, reinforces the sense of Dunster as a town that valued its royal connections and its status as a trading centre of some local importance. Queen Anne's reign, coinciding with the Act of Union between England and Scotland and significant military victories under the Duke of Marlborough, was a momentous time in British history, and towns across England found ways to mark that era in stone and sculpture.
Physically, the statue presents Queen Anne in period-appropriate regal attire, conveying the formal, composed dignity typical of early eighteenth-century royal portraiture translated into three dimensions. The stonework carries the gentle patina of age that Somerset's damp Atlantic climate inevitably imparts to outdoor sculpture, giving it an organic quality that suits the ancient surroundings perfectly. Standing on the High Street with the Yarn Market nearby and the great tower of St George's Church visible above the rooftops, the statue occupies a setting that feels almost theatrical in its concentration of historical architecture. The sounds of the street — the murmur of visitors, birdsong, and the occasional passing vehicle — do little to diminish the sense that time moves differently in Dunster.
The surrounding area is extraordinarily rich for a small village. Dunster Castle, a National Trust property dominating the hill above the town, is among the most dramatic and complete castle complexes in the West Country, with origins dating to the Norman period and interiors reflecting centuries of occupation by the Luttrell family. The Exmoor National Park forms the immediate hinterland, offering sweeping moorland, ancient oak woodlands, and a rugged coastline at nearby Minehead and Blue Anchor. The area is also close to Dunster Beach and the Bristol Channel, making it a destination that combines inland heritage tourism with coastal scenery. The town itself contains a working watermill, the priory church of St George, a medieval dovecote, and a number of historic pubs and tea rooms that cater well to visitors.
For practical purposes, Dunster is best reached by car, with parking available near the High Street and additional facilities at the castle. The West Somerset Railway, a heritage steam line operating between Minehead and Bishops Lydeard, stops at Dunster station, offering a particularly atmospheric approach to the village. The journey from Taunton by road takes approximately thirty minutes. The statue and the surrounding High Street are freely accessible at all times, making it a pleasant stop regardless of season, though summer and early autumn bring the most comfortable conditions for exploring on foot. Dunster is also popular during its annual Dunster by Candlelight event, held in December, when the village is lit by hundreds of candles and the historic streetscape takes on a particularly magical quality. The proximity of the statue to the Yarn Market and the castle makes it easy to take in the principal attractions of the town in a single visit of a few hours.