65 



Times are strangely altered in the valley of the Clun, The scenes of 



strife and bloodshed, of rapine and plunder, which befel this border district in 



olden times have been replaced by a profound repose for ages past, untU now 



the popular distich runs — 



"Clunton and Clunbury, 

 Clungunford and Clun, 

 Are the quietest places 

 Under the sun." 



The town of Clun itself still has some 1,100 inhabitants, with room for 



more. If the Flemings were ever here vrith their cloth factories, they are gone 



in spirit as in fact. To a casual observer but little life or energy seems left in 



the place. It has an air of listless decadence. It lives only in the past, and i» 



fitly represented by the ruins of its interesting castla and the dilapidated 



state cf its fine old church. 



But the carriages were waiting at the Buffalo, and a rapid journey back 

 to the Craven Arms enabled the different railway trains to swallow up all tha 

 travellers and carry them ofi in divers directions. 



I 



