Clare is referred to in the Domesday Book as a settlement of 600, with extensive vineyards. The vineyards no longer exist but it is possible that Claret took its name from Clare. In the period before 1066 little is known of Clare save indirectly. Roman relics, such as sepulchral urns and a small bronze figure of a dancing boy or Mercury, have been found near the Dancpits, and there is the site of a Roman camp on the north-east of the common. Although dwellings in Bridewell and Common Streets have encroached on the site, its main features can be traced. The camp of about two acres was roughly rectangular in shape, with a double vallurn and double fosse, and it has been assigned to the Romano— British period. Nothing further is known about it, but it is clear that its position was well chosen for defence, with a commanding view over the immediate neighbourhood. With the entry in Domcsday Book we have more precise information, and a part of the Survey may be quoted here:
(At) CLARA (Clare) Aluric held as a manor 24 carucates of land in the time of King Edward. Then 40 villeins, afterwards 3S, 310W 30. Thcts and afterwards so bordars, now 30. Then as now 20 serfs. Then 12 ploughs on the demcsne, afterwards 6, 110W 7. Then 36 ploughs belonging to the men, afterwards 30, now 24. 37 acres of meadow. Woodland for 12 swine. Then as 11(1W 1 null. Now 5 arpents of vineyard.... Then as now a market. Now 43 burgesses. Aluric son of Wisgar gave this manor to Saint John in the time of King Edward... However, after King William came he seized it into his own hand....
The Norman conquest of 1066 saw Clare given by William the Conqueror to one of his supporters, who as Richard de Clare, became the first of a line of Clare Lords, who developed the existing Saxon earthworks into a superb castle covering 20 acres and housing 250 people as well as several hundred horses. Becoming a crown possession in the 15th century, this castle quickly fell into ruin, centuries of predation have left little of the castle except the original mound, a lookout post, the ruined Keep and Baileys. Medieval Clare differed somewhat from the late town.
The origins of the present CLARE CHURCH, which is dedicated to SS. Peter and Paul, but it was probably built soon after the Norman Conquest. The main structure of the church, both chancel and nave, dates from the later fifteenth century, but parts of an earlier church remain. The pillars of the nave arcades are of thirteenth century date, with deep bases which gave greater height in the later rebuilding. The tower dates from the mid-thirteenth century, though the west window and belfry windows are fifteenth century. The beautiful south porch and chapel date from c.1380, and the north porch was built a little later. The massive south and north doors are richly carved, that on the south having the Clare arms, the keys of St Peter and the sword of St Paul The front is of the same period.
Only a part of the fifteenth century screen remains west of the south chapel; and at the east end of the south aisle there is an enclosure formed from the screens of a late medieval chantry pew with beautiful cresting. We have most information about the interior of the medieval church from the wills of Clare inhabitants, who were zealous in their bequests to the church. Apparently a new rood loft was being build in the late fifteenth century, for in 1478 John Horold, a Clare clothier and father-in-law of Thomas Paycocke of Coggeshall, provided for the rebuilding of the rood loft, towards which several bequests had already been made. A later bequest was of five pounds for "the paynting and gilding of the Candibene before the roode". In the extensive rebuilding at the period the nave was made higher and wider, thus encroaching on the porches by one quarter of their length; and the chancel was much enlarge.
