Clavering Castle facts for kids

The remains of Clavering Castle are found in the small village of Clavering in Essex, England. They are about 50 meters north of St Mary and St Clement church, on the south bank of the River Stort. This spot is about 10 kilometers north of Bishop's Stortford.

History of Clavering Castle

Before the Normans Arrived

The castle site is special because its earthworks and ringworks were built before the Normans came to England in 1066.

Ringworks were a type of castle built from the late Anglo-Saxon period until the late 1100s. They were small, defended areas with buildings inside. A large ditch and a bank, often topped with a wooden fence (palisade) or sometimes a stone wall, surrounded them. Sometimes, a less defended area called a bailey was next to the ringwork. These castles were used for military actions or to protect important settlements. Ringworks are quite rare, with only about 200 known examples. Clavering Castle is one of these important early fortifications.

There are also old earth banks, channels, and pond areas near the castle. These are thought to be linked to an old mill, but their exact age is unknown. They stretch about 200 meters west of the castle along the River Stort.

The River Stort flows around the north side of the castle site. It was even moved to help fill the castle's moat! Digs by archaeologists have shown that there was a settlement here before the Normans, and then the later Norman castle.

The Lords of Clavering

The first known lord of Clavering was Robert FitzWimarc. He is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. Some people believe his image appears on the Bayeux Tapestry, near Edward the Confessor's deathbed. The "Robert’s Castle" mentioned in the Domesday Book is thought to be Clavering Castle. FitzWimarc was French and a close helper of King Edward the Confessor. A school in Rayleigh, Essex is named after him. The site at Clavering is believed to be one of the castles where the French people at King Edward's court went for safety in 1052.

A Stone Coffin Discovery

In 1923, a stone coffin was found at Clavering. It is believed to have held the body of an old lord of Clavering.

Workmen were building a fence around the churchyard when they found a large stone slab about two feet deep. This slab was the lid of the coffin. When they dug it up, the coffin was seven feet long and two feet wide. The lid, sides, and bottom were six inches thick and made from solid sandstone. Inside, there was a well-preserved skeleton of a man. His skull looked like that of an intelligent person, and his teeth were perfect.

The coffin was found on the edge of the moat that used to surround Clavering Castle. It was probably on the site of an old chapel connected to the castle. The castle itself has mostly disappeared, with only the mound remaining today. It seemed the coffin had been moved before, as one end of the lid was broken. After it was studied, the coffin was buried again.

Archaeology at the Site

Archaeologists have studied the Clavering Castle site, using aerial photos and digging into the ground. They believe the site was used from around 410 to 1065 AD, during the early Medieval period. They found signs of an Iron Age British fort. Later, the Saxons and then the Normans built on this same defensive spot.

The castle, its moat, a bridge, buildings, earthworks, a dam, a pond, and a watermill all date from 1066 to 1539.

Images for kids

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  Earthworks of Clavering castle