Town tours uncover 1,000 years of Clare history

Clare has an extensive and fascinating history with physical remains still visible going back to the Iron Age. This ‘history; includes:

The Aristocrats who owned Clare castle. From the start of the reign of William the Conqueror, and for the next 3-400 years, the castle was owned by powerful barons and aristocrats with very close royal connections who held vast estates throughout England, Wales and Ireland. There are fascinating details of those who built and owned the castle and the events that were of national or local importance.
The Wool trade. The royal connections and the wool trade were the two main sources of the wealth of Clare. Evidence of this can be seen in many of the existing listed buildings.
Listed Buildings. There are around 140 Listed Buildings. These include two major medieval religious buildings (both Grade One Listed). St Peter & St Paul parish church, which has some features the casual tourist can easily miss and The Priory, founded in 1248. There other buildings, dating from the 1400s, with interesting backgrounds .
People. As well as the aristocrats, there other individuals who have contributed to what can be seen in Clare today.

It was with the above in mind that Derek Blake was inspired to set up a Clare Tour Guides group. Derek had been a founder Trustee of Clare Castle Country Park Trust when it was transferred to Clare in 2015; he was also the driving force behind the walks group that mapped the walks around Clare. He said “Clare has an incredible history, from its mention in the Domesday Book, role in the Magna Carta, the wool trade and so much more. But people don’t know a lot of this history. We felt an official town tour was the logical step for both local residents and tourists alike”.

Clare ‘Tour Guides’ provide three services: ‘Standard Tours’ which are run on Saturdays from Easter to the end of September, ‘Standard’ or ‘Tailored’ tours for groups at agreed times and days throughout the year, and speakers to give illustrated talks that cover the above.

The guides are local people who have a real interest in Clare and its history. They have gone through an extensive training programme with academics and researchers with specialist knowledge, and also included sessions (theoretical and practical) with qualified tour guides from Bury St Edmunds.