Describes The Early History Of Clun Castle And Its Owning Families Of Say, Fitz Alan And Mortimer Together With Footnotes To The Original Sources. Includes The Latest Interpretation Of The Castle Remains. Complete With 4 Interpretive Plans, 4 Maps, 1 Genealogical Table And 19 Photographs. Overview; Clun castle guards one of the ridgeway routes into Central Wales and as such proved pivotal in several Marcher campaigns in South Shropshire. History; Charts the progress and activities of the Say and Fitz Alan families from the foundation of Clun castlery, probably before 1086, through the Anarchy to the Barons' Wars of the thirteenth century and then finally into the climatic wars with Prince Llywelyn. During this period the Fitz Alans through marriage became earls of Arundel, though they do not seem to have been present at the battle of Clun in 1263. The Fitz Alans rebuilt the fortress in the fourteenth century as a sumptuous hunting lodge, although it once more took on the role of castle in the wars against Owain Glyndwr. Genealogy; The early history of the Say family of Shropshire is examined and how the castle passed from them to their political enemies, the Fitz Alans.

The genealogy and career of the Fitz Alans is then followed through to 1326 when Earl Edmund was summarily executed by his neighbours, the Charltons of Powis Castle. Archaeology; The massive masonry remains of Clun castle are examined and its layout explored. The relationship of the new rectangular great tower is also explained in relation to its much earlier and smaller probable predecessor. Attention is drawn to the buttressing of the plain castle curtain wall with solid half round buttresses. This mimics the style of Chateau Gaillard in Normandy built by Richard the Lionheart at the end of the twelfth century. William Fitz Alan, it can be proved, was at Chateau Gaillard in the short period of its building and it would seem likely that he returned to the Welsh Marches and proceeded to fortify his castle at Clun in the most advanced continental manner before his own death in 1210. Other remains consist of the foundations of a great round tower, two buttresses, two gatehouses and two outer wards. Further defences around Clun borough as well as the Saxon church are examined.