CLUN CASTLE

Shropshire

Clun Castle is a bit of an oddity.  It began life as a perfectly normal motte and bailey Castle, probably founded by Robert de Say soon after the Conquest.  The Castle was the centre of one of the most infamous of the Welsh Marches, the Honour of Clun, a wild place where the Marcher Lords had far more power than any distant King.

The Welsh sacked the Castle in 1195, by which time it may have already been built in stone; but it is likely that the keep was constructed after this attack.  It has what can only be described as a peculiar position.  Instead of building on top of the motte or next to the motte the keep is built halfway down the side of the motte!  There is no other English Castle quite like this one!

The Castle passed to the FitzAlan lords of Oswestry, John FitzAlan probably being responsible for much of the current stonework, including the keep.  King John took the Castle in the Magna Carta rebellion.  The FitzAlan's retained title to the Castle, but once they became Earls of Arundel they seem to have decided that the Welsh Borders were far too dangerous for them and they retreated to their home in Sussex.

Owain Glyndwr attacked the Castle in the early 1400s, after which time Clun passes out of history and into its current sleepy peacefulness.

The Castle is open to view for no charge.

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2001