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Clare in Suffolk County England History and GeographyCLARE, a market-town and parish in the hundred of RISBRIDGE, county of SUFFOLK, 18 miles (S.S.W.) from Bury-St. Edmund's, and 55½ (N.E. by N.) from London, containing 1487 inhabitants. This place, which is of great antiquity, derived considerable importance during the Saxon Heptarchy from being on the frontier of the kingdom of East Anglia; and after the Conquest it was distinguished for having given the title of earl to the family of De Clare, and that of duke to Lionel, third son of Edward III., who was created Duke of Clarence. To the south of the town are the ruins of a castle, formerly the baronial residence of the earls of Clare, and equal to any of those structures in feudal grandeur and magnificence: the site of the fortifications, which may be distinctly traced, comprehended an area of thirty acres, divided into an outer and an inner ward, of which the latter only was enclosed by walls; the whole was surrounded with a deep fosse: on the summit of a high mount, evidently of artificial construction, are the remains of the ancient keep, a circular building of flints, strongly cemented with mortar, and strengthened with buttresses, which, from its situation near the frontier, is supposed to have been erected either prior to or during the heptarchy. The town is situated on the river Stour, which separates this county from Essex, on the south: the houses are, in general, of mean appearance, and the streets, though spacious, are neither paved nor lighted; the inhabitants are amply supplied with water, and the approaches to the town are gradually improving. The county magistrates hold petty sessions for the division here: the courts baron of Erbury, and Stoke with Chilton, and a court for the duchy of Lancaster, are also held. The market is on Monday: the fairs are on Easter-Tuesday, and July 26th, chiefly for toys and pedlary. The living is a discharged vicarage, in the archdeaconry of Sudbury, and diocese of Norwich, rated in the king's books at £4. 18. 9., and in the patronage of the King, as Duke of Lancaster. The church, dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul, is a large, handsome, and ancient structure, chiefly in the decorated style of English architecture, with a square tower, strengthened with buttresses, and of an earlier date than the body: the interior, which has been improved by the heightening of the nave, and the addition of side aisles, is richly ornamented, and contains an octagonal and elegantly designed font in the later English style, and a brass eagle, on a pedestal, with wings displayed, forming the reading desk: in the chancel are said to have been interred the remains of Lionel, Duke of Clarence, who died in 1368, at Piedmont, and is supposed to have been born here, but there is no monument to his memory. There are places of worship for Baptists and Independents. Mr. William Cadge, in 1669, bequeathed a farm, now let for £60 per annum, appropriating £10 per annum to a master, for teaching ten poor boys, and £15 per annum to the clothing of eight or ten poor widows. A Sunday school, for children of both sexes, is supported by subscription; and there are several charitable bequests for distribution among the poor, who have also the privilege of depasturing forty milch cows on a piece of land granted by Queen Mary for that purpose. To the south-west of the town are the remains of Clare priory, founded by Eluric, or Alfric, Earl of Clare, for Secular canons, which Gilbert de Clare, in 1090, gave to the Benedictine abbey of Bec, in Normandy, to which it was a cell till 1124, when his son Richard removed the monks to the village of Stoke: Joan d'Acre, daughter of Edward I., and wife of Gilbert de Clare, who was a great benefactress to this establishment, is traditionally said to have been interred in the chapel, which has been converted into a barn: the priory, now a private residence, though it has undergone considerable repairs and alterations, still retains much of its original character. A monastery for Augustine monks is said to have been founded here in 1248, but by whom is not known. To the north-west of the town are evident remains of a Roman camp. From Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of England 1831, courtesy of Databases 4 Sale |
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