Clun: A Castle Town

The history of the planned town of Clun is closely linked to the development of the castle.

Reconstruction of Clun © English Heritage Before the Norman Conquest, Clun was a small Saxon village, its houses clustered near the parish church. In the 12th century a new town was laid out next to the castle by the lords of Clun.

This new settlement was built within a grid of streets, containing regular 'burgage plots' or smallholdings. Defences surrounded the town and these were probably extended as the town grew in the 13th century.

The redevelopment of Clun helped to stabilise the newly conquered area of the Welsh Marches, which was prone to uprisings and revolts. It also provided the lord of the castle with an income as each occupier paid an annual rent. Payments were also collected from the town's weekly market and two annual fairs.

By the mid-13th century Clun was larger than Oswestry, its prosperity based on the wool trade. However, by 1300 some 60 burgage plots were already lying empty. Further decline after the medieval period has led to the survival of the original street grid plan.