Maurice Fells visits Dunster, a village steeped in the past, but looking to the future by placing solar panels on its most historic building. Pictures: Steve Roberts

THE medieval builders of Dunster Castle could hardly have dreamt that seven centuries later their stronghold would help to lead the way in energy conservation.

A major environmental scheme which was completed at the historic castle earlier this year is expected to be continued nationwide.

Specialist contractors installed 24 of the latest design solar panels on the roof. They are expected to supply the castle with the equivalent of the energy consumed by two ordinary family homes each year.

This is the first time the National Trust, which was given the castle in 1976 by the Luttrell family who had lived there for 600 years, has tried this approach to renewable energy with a Grade-I listed building.

It's part of a much wider environmental project likely to have an impact on the conservation and management of historic buildings across the UK.

The panels, which cannot be seen from the ground or surrounding hills, are part of a project to turn Dunster into the greenest castle in Britain. This involves reducing water use, increasing recycling and promoting green transport.

Stephen Hayes, property administrator at the castle and the leader of the planning work for the project, is delighted with the success of the solar panels.

"During the sunny weather in May we were generating 80 per cent of our daytime electricity use from the panels. We are looking forward to taking the project on to the next stage. Against a background of increasing concern about sources of traditional energy, and the predicted rise in carbon- dioxide emissions, we believe this project is of real importance.

"We hope to set an example for many other managers of historic properties, and show that energy conservation technology is not just for modern buildings."

Majestic Dunster Castle, sitting on the top of a wooded hill some 1,100 feet above sea level and looking down on the High Street, is of course, the gem in this village which is focused on tourism, keeping it as prosperous as ever.

Even a blustery, wet late-August morning doesn't deter a large party of Americans from climbing the hill to the castle.

They were following in the footsteps of nearly 105,000 people who passed through its oak doors last year.

Down on High Street it's business as normal despite the bad weather.

There doesn't seem to be any shortage of customers for the many restaurants, hotels, tea- rooms and pubs, which rub shoulders with boutiques and arts and crafts shops.

Dunster is full of surprises with its quaint old streets and cottages, its 400-year old octagonal Yarn Market, a dovecote probably dating from the 12th century, water mill, and the ancient parish church of St George.

Visitors find its social calendar no less interesting with the Dunster Show, held on the Castle Lawns each August, and showcasing all things rural from archery demonstrations to livestock shows. The country fair, village festival, annual flower show at St George's, and the Christmas-by- candlelight shopping nights have all become popular diary dates with outsiders.

Despite the seemingly ceaseless trail of holiday coaches, Dunster has managed to retain much of its beauty and charm. It boasts 200 properties listed as being of architectural or historical interest, from the Luttrell Arms, an imposing medieval building at the top end of High Street, to the stone cottages almost hidden away in side streets.

Some of the properties are either holiday or second homes.

Most employment in the area is provided by the tourist industry, including horse-riding centres, agriculture, forestry, while the service industries cater for modern-day needs.

A focal centre for village life is the Memorial Hall in High Street which was bequeathed to the village by the Luttrell family. It's not only the venue for parish council meetings, but also for social, educational and cultural activities.

But this small West Somerset village – more than half of it lies within the Exmoor National Park – is not just a travellers' attraction. It is also home to about 900 people.

Many of the residents have settled here in retirement. Typical is Christine Dore whose furniture van trundled along the A39 into Dunster 22 years ago.

"My husband had taken early retirement and we left Watford to come here because it's such a delightful place," she said.

Mrs Dore is now honorary curator to one of Dunster's more unusual attractions – its dolls museum.

"We have 900 dolls on display, although we've actually got 1,400 of them. There isn't room though to put them all on show at the same time, and so some of them are tucked away in cupboards. We swap them around from time to time so there's always something new for people to see.

"Some of the dolls are in period or national costume, some date from the early 19th century and there's the Henry VIII family of dolls all dressed in exact detail," she said.

Last year, 16,000 visitors climbed the narrow staircase to the first floor of the Memorial Hall where the dolls are on permanent show in the free museum.

The collection was started by Mollie Hardwick who lived in High Street. Some 40 years ago she wrote that she started collecting dolls in a small way in 1957 to "meet the need for a new interest".

She went on: "People soon became interested; not only friends and relatives and people in Dunster, but outsiders as well. Dolls, old and new, began to arrive in a steady stream, often most unexpectedly.

"Most of the old dolls came in a broken and dirty condition, often so dilapidated as to appear beyond repair.

"All need very careful restoration and this, apart from displaying the dolls, has now become the main task".

After Mollie Hardwick's death, her collection was given to the village by her two sisters who didn't want to see it split up.

They wanted the dolls to stay in Dunster where they've been intriguing visitors since 1971.