Ludlow

Ludlow: castle

Ludlow, town (parish), administrative and historic county of Shropshire, western England, on the River Teme.

A castle, occupying a commanding position, was begun probably in 1085 by Roger de Lacy; it fell into ruin in the 18th century. The planned town was laid out in 12th-century grid fashion sometime after the castle was built; the earliest reference to Ludlow dates to 1138. The burgesses owed most of their privileges to their allegiance to the house of York. In 1461, when King Edward IV ascended the throne, the castle became royal property, and the town received a royal charter. Because of its strong position, Ludlow was the final Shropshire fortress to yield (1646) to Parliamentary forces during the English Civil Wars.

The greater portion of the old town wall, together with one of the original seven gates, still remains. The town has many fine half-timbered buildings and several Georgian houses. St. Laurence’s church is of great size with a lofty central tower and some 14th- and 15th-century glass; the ashes of A.E. Housman, the poet, are buried in the churchyard. The medieval Ludford bridge over the Teme has been declared an ancient monument.

Ludlow is a thriving market town. It is also a tourist centre. Apart from light engineering, industries are mostly agricultural. Pop. (2001) 9,548; (2011) 10,266.