Clunton and Clunbury, Clungunford and Clun, are the quietest places under the sun.
A E Housman A Shropshire Lad
We arrived in Clun last Tuesday in summer weather and headed for the Bridge Cafe. The little South Shropshire town was indeed quiet, although the young woman at the cafe apologised for still being in a bit of a confusion after the town’s two-day Green Man Festival. It was quite a do from all accounts, and the Green Man duly defeated the Ice Queen after heavy battling on the bridge.
One can easily imagine, too, that if the Green Man still lived anywhere, then it would be in the Clun Valley. The mysterious manifestation of spring renewal has ancient roots, possibly Celtic, or maybe older still, back in Stone Age. Trees and greenery have anyway long been reverenced in many cultures across the world. And you will certainly see his face peering from a garland of leaves among the carvings and gargoyles of many medieval churches.
But I forgot to look for him at the parish church of St. George, our next stop up the hill from the cafe. I was too diverted with other finds there. Most particularly the graves of playwright John Osborne and his journalist wife, Helen Osborne. John Osborne blazed into the theatrical world with Look Back In Anger (1956) and The Entertainer (1957) changing British theatre forever. In fact he changed the air we breathed in post-war England, especially in the sixties when his plays were often performed. We grew up questioning establishment mores. These were the days of activism.
After his death, Helen honoured his wishes to hang on to their house, The Hurst, at nearby Clunton – this despite massive debts – and later ensured that it would serve future would-be writers. It is now one of the three homes of the world famous Arvon Foundation that nurtures creative writing and writers on its residential courses.
Let me know where you’re working tomorrow night and I’ll come and see you
Inscription on John Osborne’s grave
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The church itself is very old, begun in the C12th, but added to in the C13th, C14th, and C17th centuries and considerably and carefully restored in 1877. It has some fine Norman arches, and a magnificent timber ceiling with added angels. Also in the porch are some interesting C18th and C19th boards announcing donations by the well off to the poor of the parish. Beyond the acts of generosity, the public proclamation of them at the church door rather struck me as more of a bid to ensure holy favours for the donors.
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One of the most pleasing aspects of St. George’s are the fine views of the countryside from the churchyard. The town itself has a population of around 700.
From the church it’s back down the hill and over the river, and up another hill into the main street where there is a butcher’s, a Spar supermarket, two inns, a gift shop, hair salon, hardwear store, cafe and (in the old town hall) a small museum. By the time we got there, after stopping to eat some very fine fish cakes in the Malt House Cafe, the summer weather had gone, so the following photos have lost their sunny lustre.
The museum is well worth a visit – mostly for its quirkiness. It is very much the community attic (and none the worse for that in my professional museum person’s opinion). It houses a melee of artefacts and memorabilia dating from 10,000 years ago (Mesolithic micro-flints used in the making of harpoons) to the silk dress worn by one Mrs Nora Bright in 1928. Hanging on the wall there is also a horrific mantrap (use illegal in England since 1827 apart from within houses at night to deter thieves). Alongside are spears and various agricultural implements, and in nearby Victorian display cases there’s an array of prehistoric flint tools, a Roman bead, and the once personal belongings of Clun’s inhabitants. Upstairs the display is more themed and mostly features military and war-time service uniforms with associated period objets. You can also rifle through three files of the town’s photographic collection – a must for those with tendencies to nosiness.
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Back into town:
We had saved the best of this visit until last. Because Clun also has a castle – or at least some very dramatic ruins thereof. The only problem was, by the time we reached it, the weather gods had opened the door and let winter back in. So much for the Green Man’s conquest of the Ice Queen. Not only was it too cold to explore – the sudden wind cutting us in half, but the light was very poor. So these next photos only give a quick view of this ancient Norman motte and bailey fortress. But just look at the scale of the earthworks – and think of the enforced human-power necessary to construct them.
Norman rule was all about domination of locals. The castle was built to control the rebellious souls of the Welsh Marches in the late C11th by one of King William’s marcher lords, Picot de Say. In 1155 it passed by the marriage of Isabella de Say into the powerful Fitzalan dynasty (later known as the Earls of Arundel).
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English Heritage kindly provide a visual reconstruction for the year 1300 as drawn by Dominic Andrews, by which time life was less martial in aspect, and lords in castles also went in for pleasure gardens. You can see them in the right hand top corner. The castle also had its own farm (bottom right) and accommodation with associated trades for the soldiers and servants (left outer bailey).
And with this final very green view of the Clun Valley and of St. George’s church, Dr. and Mrs. Farrell hotfooted it back to the car before it started to rain.
I’m linking this to Jo’s Monday Walk. I’m thinking she might have paid Clun a wee visit during her Shropshire safari last summer.
Tish Farrell 
I did enjoy this little visit. Love the old buildings and the handwork on the smock is ….oh my goodness…beautiful.
It’s wonderful isn’t it. To think so much work went into work clothing!
Very impressive photo essay! I am amazed how much information you have been able to pack into this interesting post, Tish.
Thank you, Peter 🙂
Fascinating
Nice, nice, nice. 🙂
Thank you, Celestine 🙂
This is a much better look than we managed on our homeward journey last year, Tish, and I thoroughly enjoyed peering at those museum exhibits over your shoulder. And a Fatima’s hand! How did I miss that? 🙂 🙂 That tipsy turvy hill up to the castle was nearly my undoing. I seem to remember limping back to the car afterwards. Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity for another look.
Just wish it was a bit sunnier for the castle scramble. But happy to give you a second view.
I liked Clun. We saw a house there that I was quite keen on buying, but the bus service is non-existent so OH said no. Now we live in a house where the bus service is non-existent… as well as no pub, store, butcher etc. So that worked out well.
Oh dear. G and I have those kinds of discussions about places to live and the necessary services. Shropshire is very poor bus-wise. But it sounds as if you’re similarly afflicted.
Loved this post Tish, it’s a place I’ve never heard of never mind visited. I love history & found it fascinating especially the castle, and that door knocker!
Glad you liked this.
Wonderful post Tish. I’d never even heard of Clun and now I almost feel I’ve been there. The church is magnificent and I do love your “village attic” description. 😀
So happy you could come on the tour, Su.
A fascinating look at small rural England. They must have a very active historical society to have such a varied and comprehensive collection of relics. That hand on the door amused me. Was it a door knocker? We have a mask of a green man that Jack made hanging on our fence. Pity about the weather
A door knocker it was, Pauline. I dare say Clun does have a historical society, but these little rural museums that have not changed in a century just appear to be the places where people take stuff that they think has a certain ‘something’ and they don’t want to throw it away. The prehistoric artefacts (in this case mostly flint tools) seemed to have been gathered by Lily Chitty, a rector’s daughter and something of an archaeological pioneer, who put her mind to scouring Shropshire for finds in the 1920s -30s.
It always amazes me the sort of stuff people save
I think that about myself too 😦
Good job some people reserve memories of our past for the rest of us to know what happened
I may not be interested in the royal wedding, but I’d flap my arms really hard to visit YOU! I love the place you live and visit. They are magical.
Yep. We are so very lucky. We should never ever be grumpy living in Shropshire.
Lovely tour, Tish. So many little treasures. That grave was amazing.
Thanks, Ali. It was definitely ‘a grand day out’ 🙂
I so enjoyed this!
Thanks, Jennie.
You’re welcome, Tish.
This is amazing
Asante sana!
That was a very nice and informative visit, Tish. I wish they made the smock for today’s wear 🙂
A good smock – yes, that would be a very excellent garment to have, though fear mine would always be very grubby.
The hand door knocker is like you see around Portugal, I think they originates from the Moors. What a lovely village and area this is Tish, the remains of the castle look romantic now, but what a history and storries it could tell.
I guess this must have been very much a ‘frontier town’ when the castle was in its heyday – his lordship’s troops out subduing unruly Welsh and difficult Saxons. Now it such a sleepy place.
I’ve never been to Clun so walking with you was very enjoyable and informative. I love old castles so maybe one day I’ll get there 🙂
So nice of you to come my way, Eunice 🙂
Fantastic images.
Loved it!!
Thank you.