Castle

Town Hall

Trinity Hospital

Clun Forest Sheep

Boot & Shoe Trade

Tailors

The church, dedicated to St George, has a fine squat Norman tower typical of border churches.  The existence of a Saxon church on the site of the present church has been proved.  Internally, the church is large and airy with both north and south aisles.  The church, apart from the tower was largely rebuilt in 1877 (being in a dangerous condition)  by the famous Victorian architect, G E Street.

The Norman columns in the nave were carefully restored, and one can see the new matching stones alongside worn original ones.  In the north aisle a plaster ceiling was removed to reveal the splendid 14th century roof timbers and, where necessary, the lovely carved angels had their wings renewed.  The south aisle had been as wide as the present north aisle (one can see the boundary markers in the churchyard).  It was taken away and a new smaller aisle built on earlier foundations.  This reduced the height of the roof and allowed ancient clerestory windows to be reopened.

A vestry at the east end of the north aisle was removed to make way for the present lady chapel, panelled with carved portions of the old box pews. (The panelling was nearly but not quite finished; near the door from the lady chapel the carving falters and only the craftsman's pencil design is to be seen.)  On the east wall is a brass commemorating Sir Robert Howard, Lord of the Manor of Clun, who died in 1653 at Hall of the Forest.  Above the old vestry, covered in whitewash, was a beautiful 15th century wooden canopy which now stands over the main altar in the chancel.

A new chancel was built to Mr Street's design.  The reredos and the east window are a memorial to Charles Warner, the vicar under whose guidance and inspiration the restoration was undertaken. The pulpit has some fine Jacobean carving.  The font is ancient, standing on a more recent base and having interesting carving on its west face.

The tower, the lower part of which may have been built for defence before the Normans built the castle on the other side of the river, has housed a set of bells since the 16th century.  On the outside of the church the west door of the tower has incised on it "Isaac Morgan Thomas Powis Churchwardens Anno 1666" and dates from the restoration of the church after extensive damage during the Civil War.  Similarly the small door on the north side of the church has carved in the stonework "HB RB 1658".  Next to this is a fine 14th century tomb recess, but who it was intended to commemorate is not known.

The lych-gate is much-travelled.  It was originally built in 1723, taken down in 1841 to make way for iron gates, rescued by a curate and re-erected at the gateway to Handcauseway, returned to its original position about 1881, and restored in 1956.  Several of the original timbers are still in place.

Further information:  St George's Church Restoration