Ludlow is one of our two market towns nearby us. Ludlow is (by car) 30 minutes north of us and Hereford the same distance south of Eardisland. It was founded immediately after the Norman conquest of England. It is still an active market town. The open market at the large square in Ludlow is open 4 days a week. In summer as in winter. And the small medieval streets in the centre harbours small boutiques, delicatessen shops, bakeries and fishmongers. And the setting makes it such a rewarding experience to go shopping there.
The construction of Ludlow Castle began around 1075 and nearly a hundred years later the larger outer bailey (what you can see in the photo above here) was added. However the town walls protecting the medieval town weren’t added until the 13th C.
Due to its location central in the Marches (the border land between England and Wales) it became important, both for trade and defence. In the 15th C the castle became the seat of the Council of Wales and the Marches. Several Princes of Wales were based there including Prince Edward (later King Edward V; the young boy who together with his brother were brought to the Tower of London by Richard (later Richard III) and probably murdered there.
Ludow has nearly 500 listed buildings including many examples of medieval and Tudor-style half-timbered buildings. I strolled around the town on a beautiful but crisp January day starting by walking outside the town along the river Teme, which protects the south and west sides of the town. Then I entered the town and strolled around the centre to capture some of the old medieval buildings.
