It is not known how the first Norman castle was constructed, but it must not be assumed to have been wooden. The Normans did build most castles initially out of wood, but flint was readily available at Clare and something must have been in place from earlier usage. It was probably a mixture of the two. The hill was almost certainly heightened to its present 105 feet {32 m) with a circumference of about 306 yards (28o m) at the base and a diameter at the top of 22 yards (20 m). The side would have been made steeper with wooden steps leading to the summit at an angle of approximately 45“. This would have made attack extremely difficult, especially after rain. There is however no evidence of the defences ever having been tested. There would have been a tower reinforced by a curtain wall, probably at first a mixture of flint rubble and wooden pointed stakes.
The main construction in stone, using flint as the principal building material with ashlar and Caen stone brought by barge along the river, would probably have been started by 1124 when the priory was moved and the stones reused. These stones would have been used to face many of the walls, the flint remaining in many places representing the rubble infill. (Most of the lowest bricks arc later, but the tiles in the walls arc original.)
The present ruins at the top of the mound arc part of a polygonal shell keep of the 12th or 13th century. In other words it had an open central space. Excavations have shown that it originally had 14 buttresses, but it was never a large keep. Similar examples can be seen at Rcstormcl in Cornwall and Clifford’s Tower in York. In addition
FURTHER RE/IDJNG
G. A. Thornton, A History of Clare Suffolk Institute of ArchaeotojiyVol. 1 (1948) - Contains good early illustrations
Suffolk Institute of Archaeology Vol. 28 (1961) - Excavations of 1958
To this rather disappointing remnant arc traces of a wall running down the motte slope to the curtain wall below and the inner bailey. This inner bailey extended around the motte from the River Stour to approximately where Station Road is now in the north. Most of the inner bailey was surrounded by a moat and some ponds remain on the eastern side of the hill.
The main entrance to the inner bailey was on the northern side. A double-towered barbican and drawbridge connected possibly to an island double-towered barbican; a secondary drawbridge would have protected this gateway. (This arrangement is as far as I know unique.) The inner bailey was protected by a wall and four towers which became known as Auditorstower, Constablestower, Oxfordstower and Maidenstower (the surviving curtain wall is called Lady’s Walk). The wall had at least three gateways known as Crowshouse, Redgate and Derngate. Within the bailey would have been the main residence of the family. The keep acted as a lookout and a place of refuge in the event of attack. It must have been fairly luxurious as there are records of many important visitors. On 29th November 1296, Edward I came to stay for Christmas after visiting Bury St Edmunds Abbey. In addition to the main abode there would also have been stables, a malthouse, servants’ quarters.
Storehouses, kitchens, a prison, blacksmiths’ and brewers’ premises, guardrooms etc. spread over the inner and outer bai Icy to the north.
In the 14th century the two baileys were also provided with formal gardens, pools, a vineyard and accommodation for hunting dogs and guests (the family was apparently very fond of hunting).
By the 15th century when the castle had passed to the Crown the buildings were used as a quarry for materials, with timbers being used in many local buildings. The final death knell for any substantial remains was in 1863 when the Great Eastern Railway built the station and line, wiping out any traces of buildings and of the main ditches which would have contained the moat. Hopefully at some point the motte will be completely cleared of trees so that the total extent of the hill’s height can be fully appreciated.
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