The history of Dunster dates back at least as far as Saxon times. It's believed to have been settled around 700AD, although prehistoric earthworks around the uplands suggest still earlier activity at the site. The real growth of Dunster began after the Norman invasion, when William de Mohun built the original medieval castle.

Around 1097AD William founded the church, gifting it along with its land and tithes to the Abbey of St. Peter at Bath. Subsequently, the abbot appointed a prior to Dunster, and Dunster was governed as a cell of Bath Abbey.

Unusually, the church was used for worship by both the monks and by the parishioners of Dunster. The surviving rood screen illustrates how the church was divided between the west chancel for use by the parishioners, and the remainder of the church to the east of the rood screen for the use of the monks.

In 1332AD Dunster Priory was separated from Bath Abbey and became a priory in its own right. In 1539AD the priory was dissolved, but the church survived - most likely due to its use by parishioners.

Today, Dunster Priory is known as the Priory Church of St George. Although 12th and 13th Century elements survive, most of the current building dates from the 15th Century. Further restoration work was carried out between 1875–1877AD.

Another notable building is The Old Priory. This house backs onto the churchyard and still adjoins the church at one corner. The building is medieval in origin, incorporating the remains of priory lodgings. Much of the surviving structure dates from the16th Century, with remodelling work carried out during the 19th Century when the house was divided into cottages.

The priory cloister is thought to have stood to the east of The Old Priory and to the north of the church. Part of its footprint is now occupied by a community memorial garden which is open to the public. The priory's tithe barn has also been repurposed as a community resource. The priory dovecote also survives.

Dunster is a fascinating village to visit and absolutely crammed with history. In medieval times, it was also an important shipping destination, with goods being brought into the harbour of Dunster Haven. The remains of this survive as Dunster Hawn - a landlocked lake adjacent to the sea, fed by the River Avill. It is likely that during the medieval period ships would have been able to navigate to a jetty further up the river, depositing their cargoes closer to the castle. Anchor chains were found buried during work on the A39.

Nothing survives in the village to show that it was once so closely dependent upon the sea, but the wealth and importance of the village are amply demonstrated by the surviving historic buildings, including the grand Victorian mansion that occupies the site where the castle once stood.