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Visiting Clun Castle
Can You visit Clun Castle?
Clun Castle is a ruinous, medieval castle that can still be visited today. It sits atop a hilly landscape in the sprawling countryside between England and Wales; and though not much of its infrastructure remains, the castle has a rich history that is worth exploring.
Parking
Free car park with limited space is adjacent to castle but it is not suitable for coaches
Nearby pay and display facilities are available
Price
Free Entry
Opening
Open daily year-round, at any reasonable time during daylight hours
Location & Access
Craven Arms, Clun, Shropshire, SY7 8JT
Signage is limited, but the village is easily found
Know Before You Go
- Castle grounds have uneven ground and steep slopes; sturdy footwear is advised
- A footbridge with steps leads to the castle from the car park
- Toilets are available in the car park
- Shops, food, and pubs are available in the village (only a short walking distance away)
- English Heritage does not permit drone flying on any of its properties
- Green Man Festival and Clun Carnival and Show are scheduled to return in 2021
History of Clun Castle (Time Line)
The dates listed here are approximate, as the recorded history of Clun castle is patchy, at best. Much of what is seen is heavily tied to the Say family, whose genealogy is notoriously difficult to trace accurately, creating confusion about what happened to the castle and when.
Additionally, the borderland upon which the castle was built experienced extensive turmoil and devastation from the Anglo-Welsh battles over the centuries. Now in ruins, the castle virtually disappeared from history books.
-1090s
Scholars believe it was probably Robert ‘Picot’ de Say who built Clun Castle. The original motte and bailey timber castle was built at the junction of the Rivers Unk and Clun. William the Conqueror granted Picot de Say the land previously owned by Edric Silvaticus in return for his loyalty. It became the center of his vast lordship, the barony of Clun.
Picot de Say became a powerful Marcher lord, helping sustain rule over the troublesome borderland. The castle, positioned high on a natural spur, guarded the Clun Valley and allowed movement along the trading route, Clun-Clee Ridgeway.
The Domesday Book is the last time history mentions Picot de Say.
-c.1109
In the early 10th century, King Cadwgan ap Bleddyn of Powys married Picot de Say’s daughter (whose name has since been lost), and was later disgraced and exiled from Wales. He was sent to the same border village that his father-in-law had owned and, quite possibly, ended up living at Clun Castle.
-1155
William Fitz Alan of Oswestry received the castle when he married Isabella de Say. Some records suggest this did not occur until 1199, though it would appear that Isabella died that same year, leaving the castle behind to an heir. The powerful Fitz Alan family then went on to own the castle for the following four centuries, exercising unlimited authority and administering a mix of English and Welsh law over the barony.
-1199
After William’s death, the castle was then passed down to his son, who later passed it down again to his son, also by the name of William Fitz Alan. The family began remodeling the castle similarly to that of Château Gaillard, before third generation William’s untimely death in 1210.
As a border outpost, it inevitably suffered several attacks as Welsh fortune ebbed and flowed.
Special Note: Some sources cite that Lord Rhys, the Welsh Prince, stormed the castle and set it on fire in 1196, but this is still debated. As castle scholar Paul Martin Remfry points out, an inadequate translation over a century ago of Welsh texts mistook Colwyn for Clun, and the misinformation has been passed on ever since.
-1214
Under Llywelyn the Great, the Welsh returned to capture and burn the castle. This was likely the act that led to Clun Castle being rebuilt in stone with curtain walls and a four-story keep. Later, John Fitz Alan, the brother of recently-deceased William Fitz Alan, rebelled against King John, who sent retaliation to attack the castle, and seized custody.
-1216
King John besieges the castle during the baron's revolt against him.
-1233
Household troops of King Henry III garrisoned the castle since John Fitz Alan's loyalty was now "suspect." Late in the year, Llywelyn returns to attack the castle once again. The royal garrison withstood the onslaught, protecting the castle, yet Llywelyn successfully attacked and burned the town.
-1234 - 1241
John Fitz Alan had the castle returned to him in 1234. When he died in 1241, he passed it to his son, also named John Fitz Alan.
-1272
John Fitz Alan dies, and the query into his estates describes the castle as small but well built.
-1277
King Edward I's conquest over Llywelyn reduces the need for Clun Castle as a stronghold on the border. Over the following decades, building priorities change to accommodate comfort over defense.
-1292
Richard Fitz Alan becomes the Earl of Arundel and inherits the castle. It has been suggested that he built the Great Tower, a 24-meter (80-foot) stone keep, to reflect his powerful position and provide luxury accommodations.
-1300s
The Fitz Alan family moved out of the castle by the mid-14th century and focused their attention and wealth on a more impressive residence, Arundel Castle. Clun Castle became their country retreat, used mainly as a hunting lodge. It was eventually abandoned and gradually fell into disrepair.
-1400s
The 15th century began with Owain Glyn Dwr leading the Welsh revolt. An aging, weakened Clun castle is hastily re-fortified, but to no avail, and easily falls prey to the rampaging army. The rebellion devastated both the castle and the town, bringing an end to its prosperity. Clun Castle was not repaired and quickly fell into ruins.
-1500s
A writer by the name of Leland describes Clun Castle as ruinous in 1539. Records indicate the Fitz Alans sold the devastated castle to Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk, and the Howard family later sold it to the Earl of Northumberland.
-1646
Since it was in ruins and most of the stone removed, the castle was not defended during the Civil War, and it was slighted on the orders of Parliament in 1646.
-1894
As a reminder of the family's historical past, the Duke of Norfolk, a descendant of the Fitz Alan family, purchases the castle. Henceforth, Clun Castle vanishes from historical records.
Clun Castle Occupants
The castle served as a residence for the Fitz Alan family for most of its existence.
Images of Clun Castle
Images Supplied and licensed from Shutterstock Standard Licence Package
Clun Castle Q&A
What Type of Castle Was Clun Castle?
Clun Castle was built as a Norman timber motte and bailey castle. It stood on a natural, rocky mound overlooking the River Clun. In the 12th century, a stone wall and gateway were constructed on the motte, and The Great Tower - still standing, though in ruins - was added in the late 13th century.
What Was the Main Use of Clun Castle?
Constructed shortly after the Norman Conquest, Clun Castle was meant to demonstrate the English monarchy's authority over this portion of the border region. Even The Great Tower was erected for show, as evident by some of the fake, unusable arrow loops.
The castle prospered along with the nearby settlement in the hands of the Fitz Alan family. Still, its proximity to the border placed it in the thick of Welsh and Norman hostilities, and it suffered several attacks in the 13th century. However, it was also positioned to control movement along the Clun-Clee Ridgeway, the historic trading route to and from Wales.
During the 14th century, the castle served mainly as a hunting lodge and country retreat home for the Fitz Alans, who had since moved to a more prestigious castle.
How Big Was Clun Castle?
An inquiry in the 13th century described the castle as small but competently built. It was believed to be four stories high.
When Was Clun Castle First Built?
Clun Castle was first built between 1090 and 1110. It was a traditional motte and bailey design, originally starting as an earthwork and wooded castle with two baileys.
Does Any of Clun Castle Still Exist?
Clun Castle was declared ruinous by the 16th century, but sections of it still exist. The remains of a rectangular, four-story keep stand on the north side of the motte, and to the east, two baileys can be seen. Part of one wall and possibly belonging to a small square kept atop the motte can also be seen. The western front contains remains of two turrets, foundations of a great tower are visible to the south-west, and the site of the gatehouse is to the south.
Location of Clun Castle
Clun Castle is situated in the village of Clun in Shropshire. The Duke of Norfolk owns it and English Heritage continues to manage and maintain the property.