Clare was given by William the Conqueror to his relative Richard de Bienfait, the first Earl of Clare, and members of this family played an important part in national history. They were involved in the drawing up of the Magna Carta and in calling the first popular parliament.
The parish church of St Peter and St Paul, built in 1450, reflects the great wealth of the community in earlier times. The town’s fine architectural legacy also includes the Ancient House, timbered and pargetted façades along the streets, and the 13th-century priory. Today, Ancient House is an intriguing museum of local and social history.