Short Walk Series
2 miles
60-80 minutes
Easy
The Common, Nuttery and Priory Walk is a tour of the hinterlands of the town and takes you through places of historical note and beauty. This walk is a particular delight in Spring when the Common is a sea of yellow.
1 From the car park walk with the ‘Old Goods Shed’ on your right towards the Station House. Before reaching the house turn left past the moat and, keeping the field on your right, walk along Station Road to the town centre.
At the top of Station Road turn right. Cross the road towards the Co-op and walk along Church Lane, past the Church.
2 Cross the High Street, turning right and then left through the cemetery gates. At the end of the cemetery drive turn right and along the footpath to the Primary School. Take the path to the right of the School towards the Common. Walk across the Common. You are aiming for the corner of the Common across and to your left. At the gate walk up the hill and take the second path on your left. You may at this point keep walking up the hill and around the Upper Common, adding about a half mile to your walk.
3 Walk along this path until you meet a path coming up from Clare. Turn right on this path and then take the next left hand footpath towards the Nuttery. At the Nuttery walk around the perimeter, enter on the south side and follow the path to the right.
4 Follow the path down past the cemetery, turn right at the bottom and walk around the field, keeping the field on your right.
5 When you reach a large metal gate, go through this gate and walk down past Clifton Cottages to Stoke Road. Walk across this road and then along Ashen Road. Keep on the right here to face oncoming traffic. Walk across the bridge and then for about 50 metres to the Priory entrance on your left.
6 At the entrance walk through the Priory and take the path between the large house and outbuildings. When facing the Catholic Church turn left.
7 Follow this path around to an old wooden gate. Go through this gate; you are now back in the Park. Turn right to get to the car park.
Originating in Clare Castle Country Park, the Common, Nuttery and Priory Walk is a tour of the hinterlands of the town and takes you through places of historical note and beauty. This walk is a particular delight in Spring when the Common is a sea of yellow.
A Clare Castle began as an earth and timber castle in the late 11th century. It has two baileys, a moat and a high motte with the ruin of an early thirteenth century keep. In the nineteenth century a railway station was built through its inner bailey.
B St Peter and St Paul’s Church in Clare is one of the largest and most beautiful in East Anglia. The church is principally of the
fourteenth and early fifteenth centuries. Nearby is the Ancient House Museum, a Grade I listed building. The oldest part of the building is the west wing, dating from the fourteenth century.
C Clare Common is marked as ‘Clare Camp’ on many maps. In medieval times, the Lower Common served Clare Castle as its manor farm, with extensive agricultural buildings. Catherine of Aragon (1485-1536) leased out the Common Pastures for the benefit of the poor of Clare. Today they are used for grazing, allotments and arable farming.
D The Nuttery is owned by Clare Town Council and forms part of the Dedham Vale and Stour Valley Countryside Project. At the Nuttery you can experience the birth of a woodland. Hundreds of young trees have been planted in recent years, along with boundary hedges. There is also a large pond. As you leave the Nuttery you will see a carved totem pole near the pond.
E Ashen Road crosses a cast-iron bridge that bears the date 1813. It was one of the earliest such bridges in Suffolk, made by Ransome’s of Ipswich, and later improved by Ward’s of Long Melford. Take a short detour along the river to see the span.
F Clare Priory is one of the oldest religious houses in England. Established in 1248 at the invitation of Richard de Clare, it was the first house of the Augustinian (or Austin) Friars in England. Following its suppression in 1538, the house passed through many hands and uses until the Augustinian Friars purchased the house in 1953 and returned to their origins in England. It is still in use as a Priory and is also home to the local Catholic Church. Well worth a visit.
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