Clun Castle

The site

Clun castle started its life as a typical Norman motte and bailey castle. It was built by the Norman lord Robert de Say (also known as Picot de Say)
in around 1140-50 as part of the Marcher Lordship known as the Honour of Clun.

It overlooks the River Clun and is close to the confluence of the Clun and the Usk, which would have provided defence for the castle. Another
defensive advantage the castle has is that it is situated on a natural rocky mound, which would have created a stable motte. The castle is fronted
by ditches and two heavily defended baileys

The Building

The keep stands at a massive 80ft high and there is a typical rectangular stone tower on top. The unusual feature of this tower is that it has been
built into the side of the motte, one wall sits in the ditch and the opposite wall sits on top of the mound, whilst the other two sides climb the slope. It was probably built this way for better stability. The resulting tower is of four stories, with two floors below the top of the motte.

The castle was originally built in timber defences but within twenty years had probably been rebuilt in stone. The only masonry remains are the
remnants of the curtain wall, which was constructed in the 12th/13th centuries and would have replaced the timber palisade wall. Two round towers have survived from this wall and these would have probably formed a gateway.

The castle motte has two ditches to the front and also has two heavily defended bailey areas attached.

Burned by the Welsh

In 1196 Clun Castle was besieged and burnt by the Welsh, who were led by Lord Rhys. It is said that he set fire to the castle almost making it totally ruinous.

Clun Castle also saw action during the revolt of the Baron’s against King John in the 1220’s, fortunately the castle was not damaged too badly at this time.

In the 12th century there was a reorganisation of properties that lay within the Welsh Marches and the area around Clun became known as the
Honour of Clun. The Honour of Clun was unusual in that it was neither totally Welsh or English, as it took its laws from both countries. In 1204 a charter was granted for a day fair to be held at Clun and in 1277 a murage grant was obtained which allowed the town to enclose itself with a defensive wall.

The area between the castle and the parish church had been set out in burgage plots, and by the 13th century there were 183 in total. In 1302 only 65 of these burgages were occupied and only 85% of these paid rent. By 1605, 100 of the plots had tenants and by 1835 this had fallen further to 25.

The FitzAlans

The castle later became the property of the powerful Fitzalan family who modified the structure into its present form and are responsible for the
establishment of the associated village.

The Fitzalans who were lords of Clun and Oswestry were better known as the Earls of Arundel in Southern England. They were also responsible for
building the impressive Arundel Castle.

By the 1270’s the Fitzalan family had abandoned Clun Castle to concentrate on the larger and more important Arundel Castle. Without the care,
maintenance and finance Clun Castle fell into disrepair.

Owain Glyn Dwr

In the early 1400’s the Welsh Prince Owain Glyn Dwr attacked the castle during his assaults against the English and after this time very little is heard of about the castle.

In the 1540’s the King’s antiquary John Leland described the castle as being ‘somewhat ruinous’ and when the English Civil War broke out a century
later neither the Royalists or Parliamentarians deemed Clun Castle worthy of reinforcement or the placing of a garrison there.