After the Norman conquest, William the Conqueror handed out lands along the Welsh borders - or The March - to nobles who became know as the Marcher Lords. These lords still owed fealty to their monarch, but they ruled free from the jurisdiction of the king, administering their lands as they saw fit. They were not held subject to royal law. Most importantly, they were able to build castles at will - a right that was not enjoyed by their English counterparts who had to apply to the king for the "right to crenelate". They were also free to wage war at will - another right not enjoyed by their contemporaries.

Today, the Welsh border is still referred to as 'The Marches' and is littered with the ruins of the castles built by these Norman lords. Clun castle is one of the lesser known Marcher fortifications, built by Robert de Say sometime after 1140.

Clun saw military action a number of times during its occupancy - a fact not unrelated to the volatile nature of the border region. In 1270 it was abandoned as a residence by the Fitzalan family in favour of Arundel castle. Although neglected, it appears to have survived as a fortification until the 1400s when it was once again attacked - this time by Owain Glyndwr. This is the last record that survives, so it's reasonable to assume that this event marks the castle's demise.

Overlooking the village of Clun, Clun castle sits brooding on the side of a hill, looking for all the world like the carcass of some great carrion bird, long dead and turned to stone. It's easy to see how the location would've been selected for its strategic value and for the easily fortifiable hill which could readily be converted into the castle's motte.

Clun castle is augmented by a beautifully tranquil and secluded landscape. The Welsh marches are still somewhat of an oddity even today, seeming to belong neither in this age nor the last, but rather nestled quietly in a forgotten part of Britain, sleepily remembering less complicated times. This alone makes Clun well worth a visit.