Clare Castle, Seat Of Elizabeth De Clare Who Defied Her King
Not all castles are occupied by fairy princesses. In the 14th century, Elizabeth de Clare was one of the wealthiest and most powerful women of her time, who defied her king to defend her lands. Today in Suffolk, the ruins of Clare Castle, located within a country park which was once part of the Castle grounds, perch on top of a steep 30-meters (98-feet) high motte. The site is popular amongst tourists and has long attracted historians hoping to uncover the Castle's hidden history, but it is only over the past 20 years that archaeological excavation has intensified and little by little, the soil has been giving up its secrets.
Aerial view of Clare Castle perched on top of the motte and surrounding park. (steve /Adobe Stock)
Early History of Clare Castle
There is early historical reference to a settlement at Clare dating to the Anglo-Saxon period when it is recorded that the manor and estate were held by Earl Aluric, also called Aelfric, a thane of Suffolk. Although the records do not specify the form this estate took, they do inform that Aelfric gifted grounds within the Castle boundary to the monastery of St John the Baptist. Aside from the Anglo-Saxon manor the area also had a mill, a market and vineyards.
