Luttrell Heraldic Panel Circa1500 Gatehouse DunsterCastle Somerset

Sculpted stone heraldic shields on western arch of the Gatehouse to Dunster Castle in Somerset, erected by Sir Hugh Luttrell (d.1521) (Source: Maxwell Lyte, Sir Henry, A History of Dunster and of the Families of Mohun and Luttrell, 2 Parts, London, 1909, Part 2, Appendix E, p.547[1]) showing on six shields (a further two blank) the arms of Luttrell alone and Luttrell impaling: (from top row left to right): Courtenay of Tiverton, Beaumont (of Shirwell, Devon), Audley, Courtenay of Powderham (the label of three points differenced by three plates on each label) and Hill (his own wife), all wives of Luttrells.
The heraldic achievement on top shows the Luttrell arms in a shield supported from underneath by two Bohun Swans (an emblem inherited from the Courtenays) chained and collared with a coronet, with the Luttrell canting crest of a loutre (otter) above. The 6th shield was intended to be completed by the sculpting of the arms of his son's wife, which was never effected. Similarly the two completely blank shields intended for use by his grandson and great-grandson were never used.