CLARE, a market-town and parish in the hundred
of RISBRIDGE, county of SUFFOLK, 18 miles (S. S. W.)
from Bury St. Edmund's, and 55 (N. E. by N.) from
London, containing 1487 inhabitants. This place, which
is of great antiquity, derived considerable importance during
the Saxon Octarchy 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 remainfe
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 Octarchy. 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
market is on Monday: the fairs are on Easter-Tuesday
and July 26th, chiefly for toys and pedlary. 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 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 readingdesk:
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 southwest
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 Bee 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 marks of a Roman
camp.