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Tregrug Castle

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471:. The archaeologists concluded that the banks and ditches surrounding the walls were almost entirely Civil War defences, and that the castle had been substantially remodelled in the later 17th century to provide a new main entrance, and to landscape the area inside the walls to form a garden. Some of the ruins became garden features, and others were removed to make way for the landscape garden and the carriage road. The archaeological team had available the extensive historical record of cost accounts from medieval Tregrug, which show expenses for elaborate gardening for the structure. The team concluded that the structure was primarily residential rather than defensive in purpose, a medieval ‘pleasance’ rather than a military castle. 217: 31: 452: 224: 283:, which is first mentioned in records dating from 1262. Surrounded by dense woodland, on the top of a ridge, the present remains include a large, nearly rectangular walled enclosure, about 164 m (180 yards) by 78 m (85 yards), surrounded by ditches - the size of the bailey makes it the largest single-enclosure castle in 431:, having previously been used as a bowling green. These were felled in the early 21st century, as were the softwood trees planted in the central enclosure, while New Llangibby Castle was demolished in 1951. The north and south stable ranges, both contemporaneous with the new house, remain and are 295:, to the left of which stands a large stone tower, known as the 'Lord's Tower'. Recent archaeological thinking suggests that the castle's main function may have been recreational rather than defensive; it was probably built as a hunting lodge, with accompanying gardens in the style of a 483:
is 164 m (180 yards) by 78 m (85 yards), making it "one of the largest single-enclosure castles in Britain." The bailey is entered through a "huge" gatehouse in the south-west corner, with two D-shaped towers, similar in design to the entrance tower at
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spelling of the nearest settlement), Tregruk Castle (English phonetic form) and Llangybi (or Llangibby) Castle. It is unclear whether the settlement of Tregrug was named after the hilltop structure, or the structure was named after the settlement.
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in 1314. Kenyon supports the contention that the primary purpose of the castle was as a “grand country retreat or hunting lodge, albeit martial in appearance”, rather than a truly defensive structure.
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recorded his impressions of Sir Trevor in a letter dated 17 June 1648: “Sir Trevor is the most dangerous man by far… He is a man full of craft and subtlety, full of jealousy, partly out of guilt.”
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Both Whittle (1992) and Salter (2002) favour de Clare as the builder, although Salter acknowledges the possibility of the later castle being the work of Hugh Despenser, during his brief ownership.
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to the east of the existing ruins, is first recorded in 1262. This castle was later superseded by the current structure. The estate, including the motte-and-bailey, came into the ownership of the
496:, is indicative of the domestic and recreational purposes of the castle. To the north-west stands the 'Lord's Tower', the only other tower still standing to any height. The 373:
The historian John Kenyon has suggested that much of the later work at the castle may have been undertaken by Gilbert's widow, Matilda, and by his sister and heiress,
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who began the construction of the late medieval structure from which most of the now-standing ruins derive. It was attacked during the revolt of
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In the late 17th  century, the Williams family built a new house nearby, known as New Llangibby Castle, adapted the castle ruins to a
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residence, enclosed in a high stone wall, with defensive banks and ditches, was started in the early 14th century, probably by
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feature, to complement a new house, New Llangibby Castle, which was built in the grounds at the very end of the 17th century.
1489: 1032: 350:, for some years before his death. In 1369, the community of Tregrug was severely affected by one of the later outbreaks of 831: 599: 497: 1114: 492:. John Kenyon suggests that the high quality of the design and construction of these facilities, built in finely cut 151: 120: 1450: 363: 1303: 1243: 836: 299:‘pleasance’. The castle had fallen into disuse by the 16th century but was refortified and garrisoned during the 412: 308: 1177: 1154: 280: 270: 44: 1474: 1400:
Llangibby Castle, Near Usk, Monmouthshire, South Wales: Archaeological Evaluation and Assessment of Results
857: 633:"The Castle Builders: Dreams & Decorations – Castles as Homes & Palaces - Free Documentary History" 525:
Sir Trevor’s frequent changes of allegiance during the Civil War and its aftermath saw him support firstly
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house, known as New Llangibby Castle, was still standing when Tyerman and Warner published their
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notes the conscious attempt to imitate the architecture of the almost contemporaneous
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in February 1951. They described the avenue of Scots Pines which was also noted by
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The ruin is called by several different names, including Tregrug Castle (from the
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the dilapidated castle was refortified and held by an influential local magnate,
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Cadw/ICOMOS Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales
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Cadw/ICOMOS Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales
1362: 1195: 632: 583: 562: 277: 1436: 1386: 1321: 1261: 657:"Tregrug Castle, Llangybi: earthwork castle; Llangibby Castle Mound (307862)" 71: 58: 1350: 1224: 461: 420: 405: 304: 292: 1459: 1171: 269:, Wales, located about 1 mile (1.5 km) to the north of the village of 1412: 1366: 1297: 1237: 1330: 1204: 656: 338: 701: 637: 553:
and Warner (1951) repeat the myth that the new castle was "designed by
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Tregrug Castle, Llangybi; Earthwork Castle, Llangibby Castle Mound
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Llangybi Castle Estate records at the National Library of Wales
1002:"North Stable at Llangybi Castle Farm (Grade II) (26228)" 882: 880: 878: 393: 949: 947: 806: 804: 802: 423:. In the late-19th century, the motte was planted over with 897: 895: 774: 772: 307:
at the war's end, it was subsequently redeveloped as a
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Registered historic parks and gardens in Monmouthshire
1296:(2009). "16". In Gray, Madeline; Morgan, Prys (eds.). 735: 733: 731: 729: 727: 725: 723: 858:"Letters and Speeches of Oliver Cromwell - Letter 61" 459:
In 2010, the remains at Tregrug were investigated by
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which surrounds the bailey is still largely intact.
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feature and in around 1707 established an avenue of
194: 186: 178: 170: 161: 147: 139: 130: 116: 108: 99: 87: 50: 40: 23: 1302:. The Gwent County History. Vol. 3. Cardiff: 1242:. The Gwent County History. Vol. 2. Cardiff: 1094: 1070: 1058: 938: 793: 537:. This gained him a reputation for unreliability. 1417:. A Guide to Ancient and Historic Wales. London: 565:, another building erroneously ascribed to Jones. 276:The castle appears to have superseded an earlier 1470:Llangibby House entry at Parks & Gardens UK 1465:Llangybi Castle at the Gatehouse Gazetteer site 1406:. Salisbury, Wiltshire: Wessex Archaeology Ltd. 1335:. Malvern, Worcestershire: Folly Publications. 419:which ran from the gates of the estate to the 886: 479:The site is broadly rectilinear. The central 455:View of New Llangibby Castle dating from 1793 8: 1460:Llangybi Castle at the Castles of Wales site 1115:"Llangibby Castle (Castell Tregrug) (MM110)" 488:. Turrets either side of the towers contain 1278:. The Buildings of Wales. London: Penguin. 231:Location of Tregrug Castle in Monmouthshire 1082: 332:The original castle on the site, a Norman 29: 20: 1239:The Age of the Marcher Lords, c.1070-1536 342:family in 1245, and was in possession of 1105: 1103: 821: 819: 752:Cambrian Archaeological Association 1936 435:. The site is listed at Grade II on the 404:. At the end of the war, the castle was 1368:Monmouthshire: A Green and Smiling Land 778: 684: 650: 648: 624: 509: 160: 129: 16:Medieval castle in Monmouthshire, Wales 1299:The Making of Monmouthshire, 1536-1780 1209:. Llandysul, Ceredigion: Gomer Press. 953: 901: 810: 763: 739: 695: 693: 273:, close to the settlement of Tregrug. 223: 1332:Castles of Gwent, Glamorgan and Gower 1236:; Hopkins, Tony; Howell, Ray (eds.). 256: 193: 185: 177: 169: 146: 138: 115: 107: 98: 7: 1500:Scheduled monuments in Monmouthshire 1146:Cambrian Archaeological Association 827:"Sir Trevor Williams (c.1623-1692)" 1451:Llangibby Castle (Castell Tregrug) 1033:"Llangibby House (PGW(Gt)27(MON))" 291:. The bailey is entered through a 14: 1173:Oxford Dictionary of Architecture 1120:National Historic Assets of Wales 1038:National Historic Assets of Wales 1007:National Historic Assets of Wales 976:National Historic Assets of Wales 447:2010 archaeological investigation 112:Llangybi Castle (Castell Tregrug) 1232:Kenyon, John R. (2008). "4". In 402:Sir Trevor Williams, 1st Baronet 222: 215: 377:, after Gilbert's death at the 699:Wiles, J. (13 February 2003). 654:Wiles, J. (13 February 2003). 346:(1248-1294), the third son of 72:51.6717048000°N 2.9204741000°W 1: 832:Dictionary of Welsh Biography 77:51.6717048000; -2.9204741000 1411:Whittle, Elisabeth (1992). 1521: 392:to the Williams family of 258:[ˈkastɛɬtrɛˈɡriːɡ] 1361:; Warner, Sydney (1951). 1304:University of Wales Press 1244:University of Wales Press 887:Tyerman & Warner 1951 837:National Library of Wales 702:"Llangybi Castle (94896)" 433:Grade II listed buildings 210: 206: 202: 157: 126: 95: 28: 1495:Castles in Monmouthshire 1170:; Wilson, Susan (2016). 917:. Parks & Gardens UK 1178:Oxford University Press 1155:Archaeologia Cambrensis 1095:Wessex Archaeology 2009 1071:Wessex Archaeology 2009 1059:Wessex Archaeology 2009 939:Wessex Archaeology 2009 794:Wessex Archaeology 2009 281:motte-and-bailey castle 45:Llangybi, Monmouthshire 1379:Hodder & Stoughton 1083:Curl & Wilson 2016 456: 249: 35:Castle remains in 2011 1490:Castle ruins in Wales 1329:Salter, Mike (2002). 454: 379:Battle of Bannockburn 1203:Howell, Ray (1988). 863:. OliverCromwell.org 396:in 1554. During the 254:Welsh pronunciation: 1414:Glamorgan and Gwent 1275:Gwent/Monmouthshire 1234:Griffiths, Ralph A. 956:, pp. 311–312. 813:, pp. 104–105. 441:scheduled monuments 68: /  1395:Wessex Archaeology 1374:The King's England 1206:A History Of Gwent 1150:"Llangibby Castle" 602:published in 2000. 600:Buildings of Wales 588:The King’s England 457: 384:Tregrug came into 375:Elizabeth de Burgh 354:. A new ambitious 187:Reference no. 148:Reference no. 133:Scheduled monument 117:Reference no. 102:Scheduled monument 1428:978-0-117-01221-9 1342:978-1-871-73161-3 1313:978-0-708-32198-0 1285:978-0-300-09630-9 1253:978-0-7083-2198-0 1216:978-0-863-83338-0 1187:978-0-199-67499-2 915:"Llangibby House" 398:English Civil War 301:English Civil War 239: 238: 1512: 1440: 1407: 1405: 1390: 1354: 1325: 1289: 1265: 1228: 1199: 1163: 1132: 1131: 1129: 1127: 1107: 1098: 1092: 1086: 1080: 1074: 1068: 1062: 1056: 1050: 1049: 1047: 1045: 1025: 1019: 1018: 1016: 1014: 994: 988: 987: 985: 983: 963: 957: 951: 942: 936: 927: 926: 924: 922: 911: 905: 899: 890: 884: 873: 872: 870: 868: 862: 854: 848: 847: 845: 843: 823: 814: 808: 797: 791: 782: 776: 767: 761: 755: 749: 743: 737: 718: 717: 715: 713: 697: 688: 682: 676: 675: 673: 671: 652: 643: 642: 629: 612: 609: 603: 572: 566: 548: 542: 523: 517: 514: 486:Beaumaris Castle 464: 413:landscape garden 388:and was sold by 360:Gilbert de Clare 348:Richard de Clare 341: 334:motte-and-bailey 309:landscape garden 263:Llangibby Castle 260: 255: 226: 225: 219: 83: 82: 80: 79: 78: 73: 69: 66: 65: 64: 63:02°55′13.70676″W 61: 60:51°40′18.13728″N 33: 21: 1520: 1519: 1515: 1514: 1513: 1511: 1510: 1509: 1480: 1479: 1447: 1429: 1410: 1403: 1393: 1357: 1343: 1328: 1314: 1292: 1286: 1268: 1254: 1231: 1217: 1202: 1188: 1166: 1162:. W. Pickering. 1144: 1141: 1136: 1135: 1125: 1123: 1109: 1108: 1101: 1093: 1089: 1081: 1077: 1069: 1065: 1057: 1053: 1043: 1041: 1027: 1026: 1022: 1012: 1010: 996: 995: 991: 981: 979: 965: 964: 960: 952: 945: 937: 930: 920: 918: 913: 912: 908: 900: 893: 885: 876: 866: 864: 860: 856: 855: 851: 841: 839: 825: 824: 817: 809: 800: 792: 785: 777: 770: 762: 758: 750: 746: 738: 721: 711: 709: 700: 698: 691: 683: 679: 669: 667: 655: 653: 646: 631: 630: 626: 621: 616: 615: 610: 606: 573: 569: 549: 545: 539:Oliver Cromwell 524: 520: 515: 511: 506: 477: 460: 449: 386:Crown ownership 337: 330: 317: 253: 250:Castell Tregrug 235: 234: 233: 232: 229: 228: 227: 182:1 February 2022 166: 135: 104: 91:Privately owned 76: 74: 70: 67: 62: 59: 57: 55: 54: 36: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1518: 1516: 1508: 1507: 1502: 1497: 1492: 1482: 1481: 1478: 1477: 1472: 1467: 1462: 1457: 1446: 1445:External links 1443: 1442: 1441: 1427: 1408: 1391: 1355: 1341: 1326: 1312: 1290: 1284: 1266: 1252: 1229: 1215: 1200: 1186: 1164: 1140: 1137: 1134: 1133: 1099: 1087: 1085:, p. 583. 1075: 1063: 1051: 1020: 989: 958: 943: 928: 906: 904:, p. 341. 891: 874: 849: 815: 798: 783: 781:, p. 193. 768: 756: 754:, p. 375. 744: 719: 689: 687:, p. 190. 677: 644: 623: 622: 620: 617: 614: 613: 604: 598:volume of the 567: 543: 518: 508: 507: 505: 502: 476: 473: 448: 445: 364:Hugh Despenser 329: 326: 316: 313: 242:Tregrug Castle 237: 236: 230: 221: 220: 214: 213: 212: 211: 208: 207: 204: 203: 200: 199: 196: 192: 191: 190:PGW(Gt)27(Mon) 188: 184: 183: 180: 176: 175: 174:Llangybi House 172: 168: 167: 162: 159: 158: 155: 154: 149: 145: 144: 141: 137: 136: 131: 128: 127: 124: 123: 118: 114: 113: 110: 106: 105: 100: 97: 96: 93: 92: 89: 88:Governing body 85: 84: 52: 48: 47: 42: 38: 37: 34: 26: 25: 24:Tregrug Castle 15: 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1517: 1506: 1503: 1501: 1498: 1496: 1493: 1491: 1488: 1487: 1485: 1476: 1473: 1471: 1468: 1466: 1463: 1461: 1458: 1456: 1452: 1449: 1448: 1444: 1438: 1434: 1430: 1424: 1420: 1416: 1415: 1409: 1402: 1401: 1396: 1392: 1388: 1384: 1380: 1376: 1375: 1370: 1369: 1364: 1360: 1359:Tyerman, Hugo 1356: 1352: 1348: 1344: 1338: 1334: 1333: 1327: 1323: 1319: 1315: 1309: 1305: 1301: 1300: 1295: 1291: 1287: 1281: 1277: 1276: 1271: 1267: 1263: 1259: 1255: 1249: 1245: 1241: 1240: 1235: 1230: 1226: 1222: 1218: 1212: 1208: 1207: 1201: 1197: 1193: 1189: 1183: 1179: 1175: 1174: 1169: 1165: 1161: 1157: 1156: 1151: 1147: 1143: 1142: 1138: 1122: 1121: 1116: 1112: 1106: 1104: 1100: 1096: 1091: 1088: 1084: 1079: 1076: 1073:, p. 19. 1072: 1067: 1064: 1060: 1055: 1052: 1040: 1039: 1034: 1030: 1024: 1021: 1009: 1008: 1003: 999: 993: 990: 978: 977: 972: 968: 962: 959: 955: 950: 948: 944: 940: 935: 933: 929: 916: 910: 907: 903: 898: 896: 892: 889:, p. 68. 888: 883: 881: 879: 875: 859: 853: 850: 838: 834: 833: 828: 822: 820: 816: 812: 807: 805: 803: 799: 795: 790: 788: 784: 780: 775: 773: 769: 766:, p. 88. 765: 760: 757: 753: 748: 745: 742:, p. 30. 741: 736: 734: 732: 730: 728: 726: 724: 720: 707: 703: 696: 694: 690: 686: 681: 678: 666: 662: 658: 651: 649: 645: 640: 639: 634: 628: 625: 618: 608: 605: 601: 597: 596:Monmouthshire 593: 589: 585: 581: 580:Monmouthshire 577: 571: 568: 564: 560: 556: 552: 547: 544: 540: 536: 532: 528: 522: 519: 513: 510: 503: 501: 499: 495: 491: 487: 482: 474: 472: 470: 469: 465:television's 463: 453: 446: 444: 442: 438: 434: 430: 426: 422: 418: 414: 409: 407: 403: 399: 395: 391: 387: 382: 380: 376: 371: 369: 368:Llywelyn Bren 365: 361: 357: 353: 349: 345: 344:Bogo de Clare 340: 335: 327: 325: 322: 314: 312: 310: 306: 302: 298: 297:late medieval 294: 290: 286: 282: 279: 274: 272: 268: 267:Monmouthshire 265:is a ruin in 264: 259: 251: 247: 243: 218: 209: 205: 201: 197: 189: 181: 173: 171:Official name 165: 156: 153: 150: 142: 140:Official name 134: 125: 122: 119: 111: 109:Official name 103: 94: 90: 86: 81: 53: 49: 46: 43: 39: 32: 27: 22: 19: 1413: 1399: 1372: 1367: 1331: 1298: 1294:Newman, John 1274: 1270:Newman, John 1238: 1205: 1172: 1159: 1153: 1124:. Retrieved 1118: 1097:, p. 3. 1090: 1078: 1066: 1054: 1042:. Retrieved 1036: 1023: 1011:. Retrieved 1005: 992: 980:. Retrieved 974: 961: 941:, p. ?. 919:. Retrieved 909: 865:. Retrieved 852: 840:. Retrieved 830: 796:, p. 2. 779:Whittle 1992 759: 747: 710:. Retrieved 705: 685:Whittle 1992 680: 668:. Retrieved 660: 636: 627: 607: 595: 587: 584:Arthur Mee’s 579: 570: 546: 521: 512: 498:curtain wall 478: 467: 458: 429:rhododendron 410: 383: 372: 331: 318: 275: 262: 241: 240: 18: 1168:Curl, James 954:Newman 2000 902:Newman 2009 811:Kenyon 2008 764:Howell 1988 740:Salter 2002 592:John Newman 559:John Newman 555:Inigo Jones 535:Restoration 475:Description 417:Scots Pines 75: / 51:Coordinates 1484:Categories 1377:. London: 1363:Arthur Mee 1196:1055586546 1176:. Oxford: 1044:6 February 619:References 582:volume of 563:Troy House 531:Charles II 427:trees and 390:Queen Mary 352:the plague 179:Designated 1437:473187732 1387:906097367 1322:552064875 1262:836831938 1126:21 August 1013:20 August 982:20 August 921:20 August 867:19 August 842:19 August 712:1 October 670:1 October 527:Charles I 468:Time Team 462:Channel 4 421:River Usk 370:in 1316. 293:gatehouse 1397:(2009). 1351:54947157 1272:(2000). 1225:19268836 1148:(1936). 708:. RCAHMW 576:Georgian 490:latrines 406:slighted 339:de Clare 305:Slighted 271:Llangybi 198:Grade II 41:Location 1365:(ed.). 1139:Sources 706:Coflein 661:Coflein 638:YouTube 594:in his 551:Tyerman 533:at the 425:conifer 328:History 285:England 195:Listing 1435:  1425:  1385:  1349:  1339:  1320:  1310:  1282:  1260:  1250:  1223:  1213:  1194:  1184:  1061:, iii. 665:RCAHMW 494:ashlar 481:bailey 278:Norman 1404:(PDF) 861:(PDF) 504:Notes 356:noble 321:Welsh 289:Wales 261:) or 246:Welsh 152:MM110 121:MM109 1455:Cadw 1433:OCLC 1423:ISBN 1419:HMSO 1383:OCLC 1347:OCLC 1337:ISBN 1318:OCLC 1308:ISBN 1280:ISBN 1258:OCLC 1248:ISBN 1221:OCLC 1211:ISBN 1192:OCLC 1182:ISBN 1128:2021 1111:Cadw 1046:2023 1029:Cadw 1015:2021 998:Cadw 984:2021 967:Cadw 923:2021 869:2021 844:2021 714:2021 672:2021 574:The 315:Name 287:and 1453:at 586:’s 557:". 394:Usk 1486:: 1431:. 1421:. 1381:. 1371:. 1345:. 1316:. 1306:. 1256:. 1246:. 1219:. 1190:. 1180:. 1160:91 1158:. 1152:. 1117:. 1113:. 1102:^ 1035:. 1031:. 1004:. 1000:. 973:. 969:. 946:^ 931:^ 894:^ 877:^ 835:. 829:. 818:^ 801:^ 786:^ 771:^ 722:^ 704:. 692:^ 663:. 659:. 647:^ 635:. 443:. 408:. 303:. 252:; 248:: 1439:. 1389:. 1353:. 1324:. 1288:. 1264:. 1227:. 1198:. 1130:. 1048:. 1017:. 986:. 925:. 871:. 846:. 716:. 674:. 641:. 244:(

Index


Llangybi, Monmouthshire
51°40′18.13728″N 02°55′13.70676″W / 51.6717048000°N 2.9204741000°W / 51.6717048000; -2.9204741000
Scheduled monument
MM109
Scheduled monument
MM110
Cadw/ICOMOS Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales
Tregrug Castle is located in Monmouthshire
Welsh
[ˈkastɛɬtrɛˈɡriːɡ]
Monmouthshire
Llangybi
Norman
motte-and-bailey castle
England
Wales
gatehouse
late medieval
English Civil War
Slighted
landscape garden
Welsh
motte-and-bailey
de Clare
Bogo de Clare
Richard de Clare
the plague
noble
Gilbert de Clare

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