Ludlow a Town in Middle England

Ludlow a small town in Shropshire England first came into existence in the year 1086 just a few short years after the Norman invasion of England. The De Lacy family first built the castle that still stands to day in 1086. In addition, Ludlow became an important part of medieval life. Many important people stayed at the castle. Including Roger Mortimer, whose mistress was Queen Isabella the wife of King Edward II. Who both helped to overthrow. However, by far the most famous residents of Ludlow castle were the little princes were held before been taken to the Tower of London where they both were murdered. One more prince that lived there was the young Prince Arthur son of King Henry VII the history of England was changed forever at Ludlow castle when Prince Arthur died as a child, and the young Mary first became Queen and then her sister Elizabeth.                                                                                                                           Vacations

In 1377, Ludlow had become very successful and unbelievably had 1700 tax paying residents not very many by today’s standards but for medieval England, it was considered very densely populated. The castle was built mainly to defend the population from the war like welsh that came now and again to wage war against the English. However, as time came and went and England Wales Scotland and Ireland became as one Nation the town and the castle become more peaceful, by the 18th and 19th century Ludlow became the centre for glove making and many townsfolk built elegant town houses. The town has one notable church the elegant St Laurence the notable poet A. E. Housman born 1859- died 1936 had his ashes scattered in the church grounds.

Today many visitors wonder through the narrow streets marvelling at the fine buildings and walking the ramparts of the castle. Broad St is delight to shop in with its parade of fine and elegant shops and for a treat dine at the De Grays teashop. It is said that Ludlow has more eating establishments per person than any place in England. The population now is 10,000 and today the industry is mainly agriculture with a smattering of engineering.

To get to Ludlow you drive from Birmingham on the A456 and drive through the town of Kidderminster. To travel by rail just buy a ticket from any major railway station and there is an hourly service from Manchester, Crewe, and Cardiff in Wales.

So if you are ever in Great Britain and want to see somewhere else rather than the same old tourist attractions then take a day trip to Ludlow were I am sure that you will walk back in time to a place were a king was overthrown, and two young princes were taken from the safety of a castle to there deaths. Moreover, were the history of England was shaped forever.

The Ludlow castle has a very good tea shop was you could relax and eat very good English food. Just before you enter the castle, Ludlow has an English open market. Open markets in England are an old tradition before there were any shops towns folk could only buy there goods from these markets, farmers, merchants and such like would once or twice a week come into towns and set up stalls and sell there goods. To day in many English towns this tradition still exists, my own town of Newcastle under Lyme has one that meets twice a week once on a Wednesday and then on Saturday.