Our collections...

Clare's Ancient House Museum features local history and genealogy in a 14th-century timbered building.

Our artifacts range from Iron Age and pre-Roman through to Victorian and later, including clothing, tools, coins and everyday domestic items.

Of particular interest to residents of Clare and to visitors are our extensive computerised records. These allow people to trace their families back to the 16th century and to discover the history of the houses and other historic buildings of Clare. The records include transcripts of the wills of Clare people; miscellaneous records relating to the period from 1550 to 1820; the Censuses of 1841, 1851 and 1891; details, histories and images of Clare's many listed buildings; and cuttings from the local press, 1760 to 1900.

Several categories of records are viewable on the Museum computer and are also available to purchase on CD. These include:

1. Clare in 1610
2. Clare 1805 to 1825 (census, rate reviews etc)
3. Clare Houses (from title deeds etc)
4. Clare People (miscellaneous)
5. Canterbury Wills (held in the National Archives)
6. Clare Wills (held in Suffolk Record Office, Bury St Edmunds)
7. The War Memorial

Please visit the Museum or email us for further information.

Clare Park & Castle
After the Battle of Hastings in 1066, William the Conqueror gave his cousin, Richard Fitzgilbert the Manor of Clare. Richard then started building Clare Castle, and became known as Richard de Clare. The ruin of the castle’s stone keep, which was built to protect the surrounding land, still remains today. The spiral path around the motte leads to the keep where beautiful views of historic Clare can be seen.