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{{Short description|Town and civil parish in Shropshire, England}}
{{Other uses|Ludlow (disambiguation)}}
<noinclude>{{Requested move notice|1=Ludlow, Shropshire|2=Talk:Ludlow#Requested move 22 October 2025}}
</noinclude>{{Use British English|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox UK place
 | country                  = England
 | coordinates              = {{Coord|52.368|-2.718|type:city(10,000)_region:GB-SHR|display=inline,title}}
 | official_name            = Ludlow
 | population               = 10,039
 | population_ref           = (2021)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11126159&c=Ludlow&d=16&e=62&g=6461077&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1448643711853&enc=1|title=Town population 2011|access-date=27 November 2015}}</ref>
 | civil_parish             = Ludlow
 | unitary_england          = [[Shropshire (district)|Shropshire]]
 | lieutenancy_england      = [[Shropshire]]
 | region                   = West Midlands
 | constituency_westminster = [[South Shropshire (UK Parliament constituency)|South Shropshire]]
 | post_town                = LUDLOW
 | postcode_district        = SY8
 | postcode_area            = SY
 | dial_code                = 01584
 | os_grid_reference        = SO512746
 | london_distance          = {{convert|154|mi|km}}
 | static_image_name        = {{Photomontage
| photo1a = Ludlow, Shropshire.jpg
| photo2a = The Town of Ludlow - geograph.org.uk - 5766754.jpg
| photo2b = Ludlow Landscape - geograph.org.uk - 5687930.jpg
| photo4a = St. Laurence's Church (Ludlow) - geograph.org.uk - 5764925.jpg
| position = center
| size = 250
| color = white
| spacing = 2
| color_border = white
}}
 | static_image_caption     = Clockwise from top: Junction of Broad Street and King Street, with the Buttercross, Ludlow skyline, [[St Laurence's Church, Ludlow|St Laurence's Church]] and [[Ludlow Castle]].
 | static_image_2_name      = Coat of arms of Ludlow.png
 | static_image_2_width     = 100px
 | static_image_2_caption   = Coat of arms of Ludlow
 | website                  = [https://www.ludlow.org.uk/ www.ludlow.org.uk]
}}

'''Ludlow''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|l|ʌ|d|l|oʊ}} {{respell|LUD|loh}}) is a [[market town]] and [[civil parish]] in [[Shropshire (district)|Shropshire]], England. It is located {{convert|28|mi|km}} south of [[Shrewsbury]] and {{convert|23|mi|km}} north of [[Hereford]], on the [[A49 road (Great Britain)|A49 road]] which bypasses the town. The town is near the confluence of the rivers [[River Corve|Corve]] and [[River Teme|Teme]].

The oldest part is the [[medieval]] [[Defensive wall|walled town]], founded in the late 11th century after the [[Norman Conquest|Norman conquest of England]]. It is centred on a small hill which lies on the eastern bank of a bend of the River Teme. Situated on this hill are [[Ludlow Castle]] and the parish church, [[St Laurence's Church, Ludlow|St Laurence's]], the largest in the county.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/main.jhtml?xml=/travel/2006/10/04/etludlow04.xml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061014202549/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/main.jhtml?xml=/travel/2006/10/04/etludlow04.xml |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 October 2006 |title= Getting a Taste for Ludlow|access-date=17 September 2007 | work=The Daily Telegraph | location=London | first=Fred | last=Mawer | date=4 October 2006}}</ref> From there the streets slope downward to the rivers [[River Corve|Corve]] and [[River Teme|Teme]], to the north and south respectively. The town is in a sheltered spot beneath [[Mortimer Forest]] and the [[Clee Hills]], which are clearly visible from the town.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scit.wlv.ac.uk/~jphb/shropshire/Ludlow_General.html |title=Ludlow |access-date=10 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070812045202/http://www.scit.wlv.ac.uk/~jphb/shropshire/Ludlow_General.html |archive-date=12 August 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Ludlow has nearly 500 [[listed building]]s,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ludlow.org.uk/arch.html|title=Ludlow's Buildings|access-date=17 September 2007}}</ref> including examples of medieval and [[Tudor architecture|Tudor]]-style [[half-timbered]] buildings. The town was described by Sir [[John Betjeman]] as "probably the loveliest town in England".<ref>[http://www.shropshiretourism.co.uk/ludlow/ Shropshire Tourism] Ludlow</ref>

==Toponymy==
The thirteenth century romance [[Fouke le Fitz Waryn#Romance of Fouke le Fitz Waryn|''Fouke le Fitz Waryn'']] records that Ludlow had been called '''Dinam''' "for a very long time". It is also known that [[Ludlow Castle]] was originally named Dinham Castle when it was constructed in the eleventh century, even today the area immediately south of the castle retains the original name.<ref>{{harvnb|Coplestone-Crow|2000|pp=21–22}}</ref><ref>Shoesmith "The Town of Ludlow" ''Ludlow Castle'', pp.&nbsp;9, 11</ref> [[Samuel Lewis (publisher)|Samuel Lewis]] states that while ''Leadlowe'' and ''Ludlowe'' were the Saxon names for the town, the [[Celtic Britons|British]] name was ''Dinam'', which he translates as "The Palace of Princes".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Lewis |first1=Samuel |title=A Topographical Dictionary of England |date=1848 |location=London |pages=186–190 |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/topographical-dict/england/pp186-190 |access-date=10 September 2022 |quote=This place, called by the Britons Dinam, or "the palace of princes," and by the Saxons Leadlowe, and Ludlowe, appears to have been distinguished for its importance prior to the Norman Conquest, when Robert de Montgomery, kinsman of the Conqueror, fortified the town with walls, and erected the greater part of its stately castle, which was his baronial residence till his death in 1094.}}</ref><ref>Lloyd, David (2008) ''The Origins of Ludlow'' p 77</ref> Even in the eighteenth century, [[Daniel Defoe]] recorded that "the Welch call this town "Llys Tywysog", which is in English, the Prince's Court."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Defoe |first1=Daniel |title=A Tour thro' the Whole Island of Great Britain |date=1724 |url=https://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/travellers/Defoe/23 |access-date=16 September 2025}}</ref>

''Lodelowe'' was in use for this site before 1138 and comes from the [[Old English]] "hlud-hlǣw".<ref name="Room 2003">Room ''Placenames of the World: Origins and Meanings''</ref><ref name=toponymy75>Lloyd, David (2008) ''The Origins of Ludlow'' p 75</ref> At the time this section of the [[River Teme]] contained rapids, and so the ''hlud'' of Ludlow came from "the loud waters", while ''hlǣw'' meant "hill"<ref name="Room 2003"/> or [[tumulus]].<ref>[http://www.ludlowcivicsociety.org/ludlowcivicsoci3.html Ludlow Civic Society]</ref> Thus the name '''Ludlow''' describes a ''place on a hill by the loud waters''. Some time around the 12th century, [[weir]]s were added along the river, taming these rapid flows.<ref>[http://www.temeweirstrust.org.uk/temeweirstrust-t.html Teme Weirs Trust] History of Ludlow's weirs</ref> The hill is that which the town stands on, and a pre-historic burial mound (or barrow) which existed at the eastern summit of the hill (dug up during the expansion of St Laurence's church in 1199) could explain the tumulus variation of the ''hlǣw'' element.<ref name=toponymy75/><ref name=poulton>Poulton-Smith, Anthony (2009) ''Shropshire Place Names'' p 87</ref> [[Ludford, Shropshire|Ludford]], a neighbouring and older settlement, situated on the southern bank of the Teme, shares the ''hlud'' ("loud waters") element.<ref name=poulton/>

==History==
{{see also|History of Shropshire|Ludlow Castle}}
The town is situated close to [[Wales]], and lies near the midpoint of the {{convert|257|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}} [[England–Wales border]]; it is also very close to the county border between Shropshire and [[Herefordshire]] (neighbouring [[Ludford, Shropshire|Ludford]] remained part of Herefordshire until 1895). This strategic location invested it with national importance in [[medieval]] times, and thereafter with the town being the seat of the [[Council of Wales and the Marches]] during its existence (1472 to 1689).<ref>{{cite book|first=William Searle |last=Holdsworth|title=A History of English Law|publisher=Little, Brown, and Company|year=1912|page=502}}</ref>

===Medieval history===
[[File:Ludlow Castle from Whitcliffe, 2011.jpg|left|thumb|[[Ludlow Castle]], built in the late 11th century.]]
[[File:Magnificent stained glass window within St Laurence, Ludlow - geograph.org.uk - 1444523.jpg|thumb|right|upright|The [[stained glass window]] above the west door of St Laurence's displays the Lords of Ludlow Castle and most notably four key royals associated with Ludlow during/after the [[Wars of the Roses]]. The praying figures at the foot are (from left to right) [[Richard of York, 3rd Duke of York|Richard, Duke of York]], his son [[Edward IV of England|Edward IV]] and his son [[Edward V of England|Edward V]] and grandson [[Arthur, Prince of Wales]].]]
At the time of the [[Domesday Book]] survey, the area was part of the large [[Stanton Lacy|Stanton]] parish and [[Manorialism|manor]], a possession of [[Walter de Lacy (died 1085)|Walter de Lacy]].<ref>[http://domesdaymap.co.uk/place/SO4978/stanton-lacy Open Domesday] Stanton Lacy</ref> Neither Ludlow nor Dinham are mentioned in the Book, compiled in 1086, although the Book recorded manors and not settlements ''per se''. The Book does record a great number of households and taxable value for Stanton, perhaps suggesting that any early settlement by the nascent castle was being counted. Neighbouring places Ludford, the Sheet and Steventon do feature in the Book, as they were manors, proving that they were well-established places by the Norman conquest.<ref>[http://domesdaymap.co.uk/place/SO5174/ludford Open Domesday] Ludford</ref> The manor of Stanton came within the [[hundred (county division)|hundred]] of [[Culvestan]], but during the reign of [[Henry I of England|Henry I]] this Saxon hundred was merged into the new [[Munslow (hundred)|Munslow]] hundred.<ref>{{cite web|first1=A. P.|last1= Baggs|first2= G. C.|last2= Baugh|first3=D. C.|last3= Cox|first4=Jessie|last4= McFall|first5=P. A.|last5= Stamper|title='Munslow Hundred', in A History of the County of Shropshire: Volume 10, Munslow Hundred (Part), the Liberty and Borough of Wenlock, ed. G C Baugh |location=London|year=1998|pages=7–8|publisher=British History Online |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/salop/vol10/pp7-8 |access-date= 30 October 2021}}</ref>

Walter's son [[Roger de Lacy]] began the construction of [[Ludlow Castle]] on the western [[promontory]] of the hill about 1075, forming what is now the inner [[Ward (fortification)|bailey]]. Between about 1090 and 1120, the Chapel of [[St. Mary Magdalene]] was built inside the walls, and by 1130 the Great Tower was added to form the [[gatehouse]]. About 1170 the larger outer bailey was added to the castle. (The town walls however were not built until the mid-13th century.) The settlement of Dinham grew up alongside the development of the early castle in the late 11th century, with the northern part of this early settlement disturbed by the building of the outer bailey.<ref name=origins>Lloyd, David (2008) ''The Origins of Ludlow'' pp 75-79</ref> Dinham had its own place of worship, the Chapel of St Thomas the Martyr, dedicated to [[Thomas Becket]] sometime in 1177–1189 when the present chapel replaced an older (late 11th-century) church building.<ref>[http://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MSA360&resourceID=1015 Heritage Gateway]</ref>

During the 12th century, the planned town of Ludlow was formed, in stages, the town providing a useful source of income for successive [[Marcher Lords]], based on rents, fines, and tolls. They developed the town on a regular grid pattern, although this was adapted somewhat to match the local [[topography]], from the late 11th century through the 12th century. The first laid street was along the ridge of the hilltop, what is now Castle Square, High Street and King Street. This formed a wide market place (later in-filled by buildings in places) running from the castle gates east across to St Laurence's and the Bull Ring, itself located on the ancient north–south road, now called Corve Street to the north and Old Street to the south. The wide Mill and Broad Streets were added later, as part of a southern grid plan of streets and [[burgage plot]]s filling the area bounded by Dinham, the new High Street market, Old Street and the Teme to the south.<ref name=origins/> Originally, Old Street ran down to a [[ford (crossing)|ford]] which took the ancient route south across to [[Ludford, Shropshire|Ludford]]. A bridge was constructed (possibly by [[Josce de Dinan]]) at the foot of Broad Street, upstream of the ford, which then replaced the ford; its 15th-century replacement is the present-day [[Ludford Bridge]].<ref>{{National Heritage List for England| num=1281983|desc=Ludford Bridge |grade=I |accessdate=21 June 2017}}</ref>

[[St Laurence's Church, Ludlow|St Laurence's church]], whose origins are late 11th century, was rebuilt and enlarged (with a bell tower) in 1199-1200<ref name=origins/> and became a parish church, with the separation of Ludlow from the [[parish]] of Stanton Lacy by 1200. The town notably had two schools (a choir and a grammar) in existence {{Circa|1200}};<ref>Lloyd, David (2008) ''The Origins of Ludlow'' p 44</ref> [[Ludlow Grammar School]] remained in existence until 1977, when it became Ludlow College.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ludlow-college.ac.uk/news-article/50b5d95be215b/Students-rewarded-for-academic-success|title=Students rewarded for academic success|publisher=Ludlow College|access-date=30 October 2021}}</ref>

[[File:castle square ludlow.jpg|right|thumb|upright|The town's outdoor market, in Castle Square, photographed from St Laurence's Church]]
Ludlow Castle was an important border fortification along the [[Welsh Marches]], and one of the largest in the Norman/English ring of castles surrounding Wales. It played a significant role in local, regional and national conflicts such as the [[Owain Glyndŵr]] rebellion, the [[Wars of the Roses]] and the [[English Civil War]]. The castle and its adjoining town grew in political importance and in the 15th century the castle became the seat of the [[Council of Wales and the Marches]]. It was a temporary home to several holders of the title [[Prince of Wales]], including [[Edward V of England|King Edward V]] and [[Arthur Tudor]], who died there in 1502.<ref>{{cite book | title=Henry VIII | publisher=Oxford University Press | last=Ives | first=Eric | year=2007 | location=Oxford | isbn=978-0-19-921759-5|page=1 }}</ref>

The site features heavily in the folk-story of [[Fulk FitzWarin]], outlawed Lord of [[Whittington, Shropshire]] and a possible inspiration for the ''[[Robin Hood]]'' legend. Fulk is brought up in the castle of [[Josce de Dinan]], and fights for his master against Sir [[Gilbert de Lacy]] – these battles are the source of the story of Marion de la Bruyere, the betrayed lover whose ghost is still said to be heard screaming as she plummets from the castle's turrets.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2009/09/28/castle-ghost-part-of-25-year-study/  |title=Castle ghost part of 25-year study|date=28 September 2009|newspaper=Shropshire Star|access-date=29 October 2021}}</ref>

The first recorded royal permission to maintain defensive town walls was given to the "men of Ludlow" in the [[Patent Rolls]] of 1233. The entry is however incomplete and atypical and was not renewed in the usual way. A [[murage]] grant was next made in 1260 and renewed regularly over the next two centuries. This time the grant was made by name to [[Geoffrey de Genevile]], Lord of Ludlow. From this and other surviving documents it seems that the town walls and gates were in place by 1270.<ref name="train">{{cite book|last=Train|first=C. J.|title=The Walls and Gates of Ludlow, Their Origins and Early Days|publisher=Ludlow Historical Research Group|location=Ludlow|year=1999|series=New Series No. 1|pages=6–12|chapter=2|isbn=0-9536113-0-2}}</ref> They were constructed about the central part of the community with four main gates and three [[postern]] gates. Because the walls were constructed after the development of the town's streets, the positions and names of the four main gates are based on the streets they crossed; the postern gates on the other hand are located by and named after old outlying districts. The 7 gates are (clockwise from the castle; postern gates in ''italics'') ''Linney'', Corve, ''Galdeford'', Old, Broad, Mill and ''Dinham''. An eighth unnamed 'portal' gate (smaller than a postern gate) existed in the wall just to the northwest of the castle, now in the gardens of Castle Walk House.<ref>[http://search.shropshirehistory.org.uk/collections/getrecord/CCS_MSA1346/ Shropshire History] ..portal gate</ref> The town walls are largely still in existence, although a section alongside the churchyard of St Lawrence's is, as of 2015, in need of repairs.<ref>[http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2015/10/01/agreement-made-over-ludlows-historic-town-walls-repair/ Shropshire Star] ''Agreement made over Ludlow’s historic town walls repair'' (1 October 2015)</ref>

The castle complex continued to expand (a Great Hall, kitchen and living quarters were added) and it gained a reputation as a fortified [[palace]]. In 1306 it passed through marriage to the ambitious [[Earl of March]], [[Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March]]. [[Isabella of France|Queen Isabella]] and her son, the young [[Edward III of England|Edward III]], were entertained at the castle in 1329.<ref>{{cite book|last=Harding|first=David |chapter=The Mortimer Lordship|title=Ludlow Castle: Its History & Buildings |publisher=Logaston Press|location=Logaston, UK|year=2000|editor-last1=Shoesmith|editor-first1=Ron |editor-last2=Johnson |editor-first2=Andy|isbn=1-873827-51-2|pages=47–48}}</ref>

===Marcher town===
[[File:Feathers hotel.jpg|thumb|left|upright|The [[Feathers Hotel, Ludlow|Feathers Hotel]], one of Ludlow's more famous timber-framed buildings.]]
The town prospered, with a population of about 1,725 by 1377,<ref name=medievalpop>Lloyd, David (2008) ''The Origins of Ludlow'' p 2</ref> and sustained a population of about 2,000 for several centuries thereafter. It was a market town; market day was held on every Thursday throughout the 15th century. In particular, it served as a centre for the sale of [[wool]] and cloth.<ref name=medievalpop/> It was home to various trades, and in 1372 boasted 12 [[Guilds|trade guilds]] including [[metalworker]]s, [[shoemaker]]s, butchers, [[draper]]s, [[mercery|mercer]]s, tailors, [[cook (profession)|cook]]s, bakers and probably the most notable in the town, the Palmer's Guild.<ref>[http://www.stlaurences.org.uk/history/the-palmers-guild-a-brief-history St Laurence's Ludlow] The Palmer's Guild</ref>

In the mid sixteenth century the London merchant [[Rowland Hill (MP)|Sir Rowland Hill]] gave the money for a new bridge over the Teme, and the annual St. Catherine's fair.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ludlow {{!}} History of Parliament Online |url=http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1509-1558/constituencies/ludlow |access-date=2023-03-01 |website=www.historyofparliamentonline.org}}</ref>

There were [[merchant]]s of moderate wealth in the town and especially wool merchants, such as Laurence of Ludlow, who lived at nearby [[Stokesay Castle]]. The collection and sale of wool and the manufacture of cloth continued to be the primary source of wealth until the 17th century.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hosyers.co.uk/our-history/john-hosyer-draper|title=Our history|publisher=John Hosyer|access-date=30 October 2021}}</ref>

This prosperity is expressed in stone masonry, wood carvings and [[stained-glass]] at [[St Laurence Church, Ludlow|St. Laurence]]'s [[parish church]]; effectively a [[wool church]], it is the largest in [[Shropshire]] and a member of the [[Greater Churches Group]]. Despite the presence of some [[Decorated Period|Decorated]] work it is largely [[Perpendicular Period|Perpendicular]] in style.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.stlaurences.org.uk/ |title= St. Laurence's Church |access-date=10 November 2007}}</ref> Its size and grandeur has given it the nickname "the [[cathedral]] of the Marches", and from 1981 to 2020 there was a [[suffragan bishop|suffragan]] [[Bishop of Ludlow]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Crockford's Clerical Directory |edition=100th |location=London |publisher=Church House Publishing |year=2007 |page=947 |isbn=978-0-7151-1030-0}}</ref>

During the [[Wars of the Roses]], the castle—which he held through his Mortimer inheritance—was one of [[Richard of York, 3rd Duke of York|Richard, Duke of York]]'s main strongholds.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ward |first=Matthew |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uiYbDQAAQBAJ&dq=richard+of+york+ludlow+mortimer+inheritance&pg=PA104 |title=The Livery Collar in Late Medieval England and Wales: Politics, Identity and Affinity |date=2016 |publisher=Boydell & Brewer |isbn=978-1-78327-115-3 |pages=104 |language=en}}</ref> The [[House of Lancaster|Lancastrian]] forces captured Ludlow in 1459, at the [[Rout of Ludford Bridge]], but the [[House of York|Yorkists]] won control of England in 1461. The castle became property of the Crown, passing to Richard's son, [[Edward IV of England|Edward IV]]. The town rose in prominence under Edward's reign and was incorporated as a [[Ancient borough|borough]], and began sending [[Ludlow (UK Parliament constituency)|representatives to Parliament]]. Edward set up the [[Council of Wales and the Marches]] in 1472, headquartering it at Ludlow, and sent his son [[Edward V of England|Edward, Prince of Wales]], to live there, as nominal (being only a young boy) head of the council. It was at Ludlow that the young prince heard the news of his father's death in 1483 and was himself proclaimed King Edward V of England.<ref>{{cite book|last=Faraday |first=Michael|chapter=The Council in the Marches of Wales|title=Ludlow Castle: Its History & Buildings|publisher=Logaston Press |location=Logaston, UK|year=2000|editor-last1=Shoesmith|editor-first1=Ron|editor-last2=Johnson|editor-first2=Andy|isbn=1-873827-51-2|pages=69}}</ref> It was from Ludlow that Edward V was brought back to London with his young brother, both to be confined in the Tower of London when, after a short period of time, they were never seen again.

[[File:St. Laurence, Ludlow, from west.jpg|thumb|right|The [[St Laurence Church, Ludlow|Church of St Laurence]] has Norman origins and expanded throughout the Middle Ages, being a [[wool church]], becoming the largest parish church in Shropshire.]]
Under [[Henry VII of England|Henry VII]] the castle continued as the headquarters of the Council of Wales and served as the administration centre for [[Wales]] and the counties along the border, known as the [[Welsh Marches]]. During this period, when the town served as the effective capital of Wales, it was home to many messengers of the king, various clerks and lawyers for settling legal disputes. The town also provided a winter home for local [[gentry]], during which time they attended the council court sessions. Henry VII sent his heir [[Arthur, Prince of Wales|Prince Arthur]] to Ludlow, where he was joined briefly by his wife [[Catherine of Aragon]] later to become wife to Henry VIII. Ludlow Castle was therefore the site of perhaps the most controversial honeymoon in English history, when Catherine's claim that the marriage was never consummated became central to the dispute concerning Henry VIII and Catherine's annulment in 1531.<ref>{{cite book |last = Lehman |first=H. Eugene |title=Lives of England's Reigning and Consort Queens |year=2011 |publisher=AuthorHouse Publishing |isbn = 978-1-4634-3057-3 |page=285}}</ref>

Eventually, the council resumed and except for brief interludes, Ludlow continued to host the council until 1689, when it was abolished by [[William III of England|William III]] and [[Mary II of England|Mary II]] as part of the [[Glorious Revolution]]. The castle then fell into decay. The structure was poorly maintained and the stone was [[pillage]]d. In 1772 demolition was mooted, but it was instead decided to lease the buildings. Later still it was purchased by the [[Earl of Powis]], and together, he and his wife directed the transformation of the castle grounds.<ref>{{cite book|last=Hughes |first=Pat|chapter=The Castle in Decline|title=Ludlow Castle: Its History & Buildings|publisher=Logaston Press|location=Logaston, UK|year=2000|editor-last1=Shoesmith|editor-first1=Ron|editor-last2=Johnson|editor-first2=Andy |isbn=1-873827-51-2|page=91}}</ref>

The [[Royal Welch Fusiliers]] were formed by [[Henry Herbert, 4th Baron Herbert of Chirbury]] at Ludlow in March 1689 to oppose [[James II of England|James II]] and to take part in the imminent war with France.<ref name=nam>{{cite web|url=http://www.nam.ac.uk/research/famous-units/royal-welch-fusiliers|title=Royal Welch Fusiliers|publisher=National Army Museum|access-date=24 May 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225230345/http://www.nam.ac.uk/research/famous-units/royal-welch-fusiliers|archive-date=25 February 2014}}</ref> The regiment continued to have ties with the town of Ludlow, and its successor battalion in The [[Royal Welsh]] regiment was granted the freedom of the town in 2014.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-29285314 BBC News] Royal Welsh soldiers in Ludlow for 325th anniversary (20 September 2014)</ref>

===18th and 19th centuries===
[[File:Broad Gate, Ludlow - geograph.org.uk - 1744340.jpg|left|thumb|upright|Ludlow had seven gates in its town walls; the only one remaining is the Broad Gate (viewed from the south).]]
The town contained several [[coaching inn]]s, [[public house]]s and [[ale]] houses, leading to court records of some alcohol-induced violence and a certain reputation for excess. Several coaching inns were constructed to accommodate travellers by [[stagecoach]] and [[mail coach]]. The Angel on Broad Street was one such notable coaching inn, where several passenger and mail coaches departed and arrived on a regular basis every week, including the ''Aurora'' coach which departed for London (taking 27 hours in 1822).<ref>[[commons:File:The Angel plaque, Ludlow - IMG 0233.JPG|Ludlow Civic Society]] [[blue plaque]]</ref> The Angel was the last coaching inn in Ludlow to have such coach traffic, following the arrival of the railways in 1852.<ref>Hobbs, Tony (2002) ''The Pubs of Ludlow and neighbouring villages'' p 55</ref> The Angel ceased trading in the early 1990s, though was revived in 2018 as a wine bar occupying a front part of the original establishment. A surviving medieval coaching inn today is the 15th century [[The Bull Hotel, Ludlow|Bull Hotel]] on the Bull Ring. Several other pubs and hotels in the town have historic pedigree, including the Rose and Crown where allegedly a pub has existed since 1102.<ref>[http://whatpub.com/pubs/SHR/4912/rose-crown-ludlow WhatPub.com (CAMRA)] Rose and Crown, Ludlow</ref>

[[Glove]] manufacture was a major industry of the town, peaking in production in 1814.<ref>[http://www.ludlow.org.uk/history.html Ludlow History]</ref>

In 1802, [[Horatio Nelson]] was awarded the freedom of the borough and stayed at The Angel coaching inn on Broad Street, together with his mistress [[Emma Hamilton|Emma]] and her husband Sir [[William Hamilton (diplomat)|William Hamilton]]. The honour was presented to him in a room at the inn, later to be known as the Nelson Room, and he addressed the crowds from one of the bay windows on the first floor.<ref>Farlow, R and Trumper, D (2005) ''Ludlow and South-West Shropshire'' page 86</ref> During the [[Napoleonic Wars]], [[Lucien Bonaparte]], younger brother of the French Emperor, and his family were imprisoned at Dinham House in 1811.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2012/12/10/napoleons-brother-snared-in-shropshire/ |title=Napoleon's brother: snared in Shropshire|date=10 December 2012|newspaper=Shropshire Star|access-date=30 October 2021}}</ref>

In 1832 Thomas Lloyd, the Ludlow doctor and amateur geologist, met [[Roderick Murchison]] at [[Ludford Corner]] to study the rocks exposed along the [[River Teme]] and on Whitcliffe, advancing Murchison's theory for a Silurian System that he was to publish in 1839.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shropshiregeology.org.uk/sgspublications/Why%20Shropshire%20is%20important.htm|title=Why Shropshire's geology is important|access-date=26 February 2012}}</ref> Immediately above the topmost layer of the marine rock sequence forming Murchison's [[Silurian]] System was a thin layer of dark sand containing numerous remains of early fish, especially their scales, along with plant debris, [[spores]] and [[microscopic]] [[mites]]. In contrast to the underlying sediments of the [[Ludlow Series]] which were deposited in a shallow warm sea some 400 million years ago, the Ludlow [[Bone Bed]] represents terrestrial (land) conditions and thus a fundamental change in the landscape. At the time, this was believed to be the earliest occurrence of life on land. Murchison thus took the Ludlow Bone Bed as the base of his [[Devonian]] System, although over a century later this boundary was to be moved a little higher, the overlying rocks being ascribed to the [[Pridoli epoch|Pridoli]]. The science of [[geology]] has taken a number of local names from these studies and now applies them worldwide, in recognition of the importance of this area to scientific understanding, for example, Ludlow Series. The site is now an [[SSSI]] (Site of Special Scientific Interest) and still attracts international studies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shropshiregeology.org.uk/sgspublications/Table%20of%20Contents%20Proceedings%20No_16.htm#Rosenbaum%20Ray%20Siluria%20Revisited|title=International Subcommission on Silurian Stratigraphy meeting at Ludlow|access-date=26 February 2012}}</ref> The [[Supereon (geology)|geological interval of time]], the [[Ludlow epoch|Ludlow Epoch]], is named after the town as part of the [[Silurian]] Period.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/GeositesLudlow  |title=Ludlow|publisher=The Geological Society| access-date=30 October 2021}}</ref>

===Recent history===
[[File:ludlow shopper.jpg|thumb|right|A greengrocers' shop amidst Ludlow's narrow streets.]]
By the late 20th century, the town had seen a growth in tourism, leading to the appearance of many [[antique dealer]]s, as well as [[art dealer]]s and independent bookshops (the latter now mostly gone). Bodenhams, a clothing retailer, has been trading from a 600-year-old timbered building since 1860 and is one of the oldest stores in Britain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bodenhams.co.uk|title=Bodenhams website|access-date=4 July 2014}}</ref> Ludlow was described by ''[[Country Life (magazine)|Country Life]]'' as "the most vibrant small town in England."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shropshiretourism.info/ludlow/|title=Ludlow Tourist Information|access-date=17 September 2007}}</ref>

A long battle of words between local activists (including many of the town's independent businesses) and [[Tesco]] was eventually solved when the mega retailer obtained planning permission to build a supermarket on Corve Street, on the northern edge of the town centre, but only after agreeing to conform to the architectural demands of the local council. The building is designed to follow the outline of the hills in the background, with a curving roof. An [[Aldi]] supermarket was subsequently constructed on a site over the road from Tesco.

A development of 91 houses by South Shropshire Housing Association at Rocks Green won a Sustainable Housing award in 2009,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rocks Green, Ludlow scoops Sustainable Housing Award |url=https://www.ludlowadvertiser.co.uk/news/4719440.rocks-green-ludlow-scoops-sustainable-housing-award/ |date=11 November 2009 |access-date=19 October 2022 |website=Ludlow and Tenbury Wells Advertiser}}</ref> and a [[Sainsbury's]] supermarket at Rocks Green was opened in 2021.<ref name=Sainsburys>[https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/business/2021/11/26/sainsburys-confirms-opening-date-for-long-awaited-ludlow-store/ Shropshire Star] ''Sainsburys confirms opening date for long awaited Ludlow store'' (26 November 2021)</ref>

In 1983 a small computer magazine started publication in Ludlow by Roger Kean, [[Oliver Frey]] and Franco Frey by [[Newsfield Publications Ltd]] called [[Crash (magazine)|Crash]]. The magazine catered for the various owners of the [[ZX Spectrum]], and its sister magazine ''[[Zzap!64]]'' catered for [[Commodore International|Commodore's]] rival machine [[Commodore 64|the C64]]. The magazine was extremely popular and became Britain's biggest-selling computer magazine in 1986 selling over 100,000 copies monthly. In 1991 Newsfield suffered financial difficulty and the magazines were sold and relaunched by [[Europress]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.outofprintarchive.com/articles/interviews/out-of-print/Roger_Kean_interview_part2.html  |title=Roger Kean interview, part 2|publisher=Out of Print Archive|access-date=29 October 2021}}</ref>

In 2004 funding was granted by Advantage West Midlands to build a new 'Eco-Park' on the outskirts of the town on the east side of the [[A49 road|A49]] bypass, at the [[Sheet, Shropshire|Sheet Road]] roundabout, with space for traditional handcraft businesses, new environmentally friendly office buildings and a [[park & ride]] facility. More construction work began in 2006 on the west side of the roundabout on a much-debated pasture land on the town's fringe known as the Foldgate. The land has now been turned over to commercial use with a [[filling station]], [[Travelodge]] hotel and [[pub chain|chain]] pub/restaurant, opened in late 2008.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-18116375  |title=Ludlow hospital plans approved by NHS trust|date=18 May 2012|newspaper=BBC| access-date=29 October 2021}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Ludlow Castle from the hills.JPG|thumb|left|The town and castle viewed from the Whitcliffe, looking northeast; [[Brown Clee Hill]] looms in the distance.]]
The medieval settlement is largely on the top of a hill, with the castle, market place and parish church (St Laurence's) situated along the flat land on this hilltop, which has a maximum elevation of {{convert|111|m|ft}} at the castle, falling only gradually towards the east, with an elevation of {{convert|107|m|ft}} at the Buttercross.

The streets then run down to the Rivers [[River Teme|Teme]] and [[River Corve|Corve]] (their confluence being to the northwest of the centre of Ludlow) to the north and south. The surface of the Teme has an approximate elevation of {{convert|76|m|ft}} as it passes Ludford Bridge.

In the western part of the historic core, Dinham retains the character of a village, though dominated by the castle, with a road leading steeply down from Castle Square to the Teme and then over Dinham Bridge (an early 19th century replacement of an older bridge very slightly downstream). The old chapel in Dinham, a Grade II* [[listed building]],<ref>[http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-389935-chapel-house-ludlow- British Listed Buildings] Chapel House, Dinham, Ludlow</ref> though no longer used for worship, features the oldest built structure in Ludlow outside the castle. To the east a rolling landscape exists, and it is in this direction that the town has steadily grown. [[East Hamlet]] was the name of the settlement to the east of the town.

The growth of the town in this eastwards (and to the north-east) direction continues to the present day, with little or no development especially to the south or west, to an extent that the traditional town centre (the medieval town) is actually in the southwest corner of the entire settlement. It has also meant that the village of [[Ludford, Shropshire|Ludford]], immediately on the other side of the Teme at Ludford Bridge (itself at the foot of Lower Broad Street), remains a distinct community.

Localities in the town's suburbs include Gallows Bank and Sandpits. Immediately beyond the A49 by-pass are Rocks Green and [[Sheet, Shropshire|the Sheet]], and it is in these two places that much of the present development and growth of the town is taking place, including a Sainsbury's supermarket at Rocks Green.<ref name=Sainsburys/> They are both approximately {{convert|1|mi|km}} from the town centre.

{{Geographic Location
|title = '''Destinations from Ludlow'''
|Northwest = [[Bromfield, Shropshire|Bromfield]], [[Clun]], [[Bishop's Castle]]
|North     = [[Craven Arms]], [[Church Stretton]], '''[[Shrewsbury]]'''
|Northeast = [[Bridgnorth]], [[Highley]], '''[[Telford]]'''<br />'''[[West Midlands conurbation]]'''
|West      = [[Leintwardine]], [[Bucknell, Shropshire|Bucknell]], [[Knighton, Powys|Knighton]]
|Centre    = Ludlow
|East      = [[Cleehill]], [[Cleobury Mortimer]], [[Bewdley]], [[Kidderminster]]
|Southwest = [[Wigmore, Herefordshire|Wigmore]], [[Presteigne]], [[Kington, Herefordshire|Kington]]
|South     = [[Richard's Castle]], [[Leominster]], '''[[Hereford]]'''
|Southeast = [[Tenbury Wells]], [[Bromyard]], '''[[Worcester, England|Worcester]]'''
}}

===Accolades===
[[File:Ludlow Castle as seen from the tower of St.Laurence's Church.jpg|thumb|right|View from St Laurence's to the castle, looking west across the highest part of the medieval town.]]
The town has regularly been held in high esteem by academics and commentators in the areas of [[urbanism]] and architecture. Ludlow was winner of ''The Great Town Award'' (UK & Ireland) from The Academy of Urbanism in 2007.<ref>[https://www.academyofurbanism.org.uk/awards/ Academy of Urbanism] Awards</ref> The first episode of the BBC television series ''[[TOWN with Nicholas Crane|Town]]'', in which geographer [[Nicholas Crane]] examines the great towns of the United Kingdom, focused solely on Ludlow for the hour-long documentary.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b012xv4m BBC] ''Town with Nicholas Crane'' - Series 1 Episode 1 - Ludlow</ref> Ludlow also was one of the ''Six English Towns'', a 1977 television programme by architectural historian [[Alec Clifton-Taylor]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Clifton-Taylor|first=Alec|title=Six English Towns|publisher=BBC|location=London|date=1978|pages=143–169|isbn=0-563-17397-1}}</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQdg7XGJp-o YouTube] ''Alec Clifton-Taylor - Six English Towns - 1978 - 6/6 - Ludlow''</ref>

The historic centre of Ludlow has largely escaped development that would otherwise alter its medieval, Tudor and Georgian character. Furthermore, the lack of development to the south and west allows for the town's historic setting (and particularly that of the castle) by the Teme and the neighbouring countryside to be readily appreciated in the modern day. [[M.R.G. Conzen]] remarked of Ludlow "Its composite medieval town plan and a history of eight and a half centuries with several periods of considerable importance have endowed its Old Town with an historically well-stratified and richly textured landscape."<ref>Conzen "Morphogenesis, morphological regions and secular human agency in the historic townscape, as exemplified by Ludlow" ''Urban Historical Geography'' p.&nbsp;254</ref> Michael Raven, who created a detailed gazetteer of all the settlements of Herefordshire and Shropshire in the late 20th century, stated that "There can be little doubt that Ludlow is the finest town in Shropshire."<ref>Raven, M (2005) ''A Guide to Shropshire'' Third Edition page 120</ref>

The medieval street plan remains, though the town walls and gates have disappeared in many places. Mill Street and Broad Street, leading down from the very centre to the Teme in the south, are particularly famous for their rich architectural heritage and vistas, with many fine Georgian buildings. Sir [[Nikolaus Pevsner]] described Broad Street as "one of the most memorable streets in England".<ref>Nicolle, Dorothy (1999) ''Francis Frith's Shropshire'' page 98</ref>

==Population==
The [[Census in the United Kingdom|2011 UK census]] recorded 10,266 people living in Ludlow's [[Civil parishes in England|civil parish]].<ref>[http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=11126159&c=ludlow&d=16&e=61&g=6461077&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1396207434197&enc=1&dsFamilyId=2491 Office for National Statistics] Ludlow 2011</ref> A further 673 live in the neighbouring [[Ludford, Shropshire|Ludford]] parish to the south,<ref>[http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=11126154&c=ludford&d=16&e=61&g=6486531&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1396024204241&enc=1&dsFamilyId=2491 Office for National Statistics] Ludford 2011</ref> meaning the population for the town and adjoining settlements is approximately 11,000. The 2021 Census showed a population of 10,039 in Ludlow parish and still 673 in Ludford parish, giving a total of 10,712, plus about a further 1,000 in neighbouring parishes within the three county wards of Ludlow East, North and South.

===Historical===
In 1377, [[Poll taxes of 1376–1381|poll tax]] was levied against 1,172 of the parish's residents.<ref>Fenwick ''The poll taxes of 1377, 1379 and 1381'', p.&nbsp;376</ref> By this measure, Ludlow was the 35th most populous town in England.<ref>Pallister ''The Cambridge Urban History of Britain'', p.&nbsp;758</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:80%; width:70%; border:0; text-align:center; line-height:120%;"
! colspan="20" style="text-align:center;font-size:90%;"|[[Population growth]] in Ludlow since 1801
|-
! style="background:#9cc; color:navy; height:17px;"| Year
! style="background:#fff; color:navy;"| 1801
! style="background:#fff; color:navy;"| 1811
! style="background:#fff; color:navy;"| 1821
! style="background:#fff; color:navy;"| 1831
! style="background:#fff; color:navy;"| 1841
! style="background:#fff; color:navy;"| 1851
! style="background:#fff; color:navy;"| 1881
! style="background:#fff; color:navy;"| 1891
! style="background:#fff; color:navy;"| 1901
! style="background:#fff; color:navy;"| 1911
! style="background:#fff; color:navy;"| 1921
! style="background:#fff; color:navy;"| 1931
! style="background:#fff; color:navy;"| 1951
! style="background:#fff; color:navy;"| 1961
! style="background:#fff; color:navy;"| 1971
! style="background:#fff; color:navy;"| 1987
! style="background:#fff; color:navy;"| 2001
! style="background:#fff; color:navy;"| 2011
! style="background:#fff; color:navy;"| 2021
|- style="text-align:center;"
! style="background:#9cc; color:navy; height:17px;"| Population
| style="background:#fff; color:black;"| 3,897
| style="background:#fff; color:black;"| 4,150
| style="background:#fff; color:black;"| 4,820
| style="background:#fff; color:black;"| 5,253
| style="background:#fff; color:black;"| 5,064
| style="background:#fff; color:black;"| 4,691
| style="background:#fff; color:black;"| 5,035
| style="background:#fff; color:black;"| 4,460
| style="background:#fff; color:black;"| 4,552
| style="background:#fff; color:black;"| 5,926
| style="background:#fff; color:black;"| 5,674
| style="background:#fff; color:black;"| 5,642
| style="background:#fff; color:black;"| 6,456
| style="background:#fff; color:black;"| 6,796
| style="background:#fff; color:black;"| 7,470
| style="background:#fff; color:black;"| 7,450
| style="background:#fff; color:black;"| 9,548
| style="background:#fff; color:black;"| 10,266
| style="background:#fff; color:black;"| 10,039
|-
| colspan="20" style="text-align:center;font-size:90%;"|<small>'''Source: A Vision of Britain through Time and the Office for National Statistics'''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_page.jsp?data_theme=T_POP&data_cube=N_TOT_POP&u_id=10149757&c_id=10001043&add=N |title=Ludlow AP/CP: Historical statistics / Population |publisher=A Vision of Britain Through Time |access-date=2 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=799036&c=Ludlow&d=16&e=15&g=482740&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&r=1&s=1333397606376&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779 |title=Area: Ludlow CP (Parish)&nbsp;–Parish headcounts |publisher=Office for National Statistics |access-date=2 April 2012}}</ref></small>
|}

==Transport==
===Railways===
[[File:Ludlow railway station - DSCF2178.JPG|thumb|right|The southbound platform at Ludlow station]]

[[Ludlow railway station]] began serving the town in 1852 and is about five minutes' walk from the town centre. It is on the [[Welsh Marches Line]] and is served by trains between {{rws|Manchester Piccadilly}}, {{rws|Crewe}}, {{rws|Shrewsbury}}, {{rws|Hereford}}, {{rws|Abergavenny}}, {{rws|Cardiff Central}} and {{rws|Swansea}}; these are operated by [[Transport for Wales Rail|Transport for Wales]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Timetables |work=Transport for Wales |date=10 December 2023 |access-date=14 April 2024 |url= https://tfw.wales/service-status/timetables |quote=}}</ref>

There is a short tunnel to the south of the station, which runs under Gravel Hill. [[Clee Hill Junction]] existed just to the north of the station, with a goods line leading off the main line up to the quarries on [[Titterstone Clee Hill]].

===Buses===
[[File:Coach, Mill Street, Ludlow - IMG 0226.JPG|thumb|right|A Minsterley Motors [[Optare Tempo]]]]

Bus services in the area are operated by [[Diamond West Midlands|Diamond Bus]], Lugg Valley Travel and [[Minsterley Motors]]. Routes link the town with Church Stretton, [[Kidderminster]] and Shrewsbury; there is also a [[Park and ride bus services in the United Kingdom|park and ride]] service, on a circular route.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ludlow Bus Services |work=Bus Times |date=2024 |access-date=14 April 2024 |url= https://bustimes.org/localities/ludlow |quote=}}</ref>

===Roads===
On 4 February 1980, the £4.7 million single-carriageway [[bypass (road)|by-pass]] road was officially opened by [[Kenneth Clarke]]. The by-pass had been built to the east of Ludlow in the late 1970s, opening to traffic in the summer of 1979, and diverts the [[A49 road|A49]] [[trunk road]] around the town. The former route of the A49 through the town was reclassified as the B4361.

The town centre retains its medieval streets and has had long-running problems with motor traffic and car parking, which is now restricted seven days a week. There is a town centre residents' parking permit scheme in operation. Council-owned car parks exist in a number of locations in Ludlow to cater for much of the long-stay car parking. The Eco-Park situated on the eastern outskirts of the town, at [[Sheet, Shropshire|the Sheet]] and adjacent to the A49.

The [[A4117 road|A4117]] begins at the Rocks Green roundabout on the Ludlow by-pass and runs across the [[Clee Hills]] to [[Cleobury Mortimer]]; it then continues via the [[A456 road|A456]] onwards to [[Bewdley]] and Kidderminster.

Two historic bridges cross the [[River Teme]] at Ludlow: [[Ludford Bridge]] (a Scheduled Ancient Monument) and Dinham Bridge (early 19th century, Grade II listed);<ref>[http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-389936-dinham-bridge-ludlow- British Listed Buildings] Dinham Bridge, Ludlow</ref> both of which still take vehicular traffic as no modern bridges have been built over the Teme in the area. To the north of the town centre, the historic Corve Bridge crosses the River Corve and this bridge was relieved by [[Burway Bridge]] in the mid-20th century. However, on 26 June 2007, [[2007 United Kingdom floods|dramatic flooding]] on the Corve caused the Burway Bridge to collapse, severing a gas main and causing 20 homes in nearby Corve Street to be evacuated.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/shropshire/6240030.stm|title=Bridge collapse severs gas main | work=BBC News | date=26 June 2007 | access-date=5 January 2010}}</ref> The old stone bridge has now been replaced with a modern steel and pre-fabricated concrete construction.

===Cycling===
[[National Cycle Network]] [[National Cycle Route 44|route 44]] runs over Dinham and Ludford Bridges (via Camp and Silkmill Lanes in-between) en route from Bromfield to [[Pipe Aston]]. It is known as the ''Six Castles Cycleway'', with Ludlow Castle as one of the six.

===Walking===
The [[Mortimer Trail]], a [[Long-distance trail|long-distance footpath]], runs from Ludlow to [[Kington, Herefordshire]].

==Culture==

===Festivals and fairs===
The now-defunct Ludlow Festival was held annually from 1960, during June and July each year.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ludlow Festival|url=http://www.ludlowfestival.co.uk/|access-date=2 September 2011}}</ref> An open area within the castle served as the stage and backdrop for various [[Shakespeare]]an plays, while a number of supporting events at various venues included classical and pop/rock concerts, varied musicians, lecture talks from public figures, and entertainers. The 54-year-old Festival which had been "loss-making" collapsed in 2014 due to "financial troubles". Organisers said it was "simply not commercially viable".

The Medieval Christmas Fayre continued to take place until 2019, the Covid 19 pandemic meant that the 2020 and 2021 Fayres couldn’t go ahead. It was set up for 2022 but a storm caused damage the night before and meant it was cancelled at last minute. The financial impact meant that the festival organisers folded.

The Medieval Christmas Fayre was replaced by the Ludlow Winter festival in 2023 and is due to take place again in November 2024 <ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.ludlowcraftevents.co.uk |archive-url= https://archive.today/20010417022602/http://www.ludlowcraftevents.co.uk/ |url-status= usurped |archive-date= 17 April 2001 |title= Ludlow Medieval Christmas Fayre |access-date=15 August 2008}}</ref>

===Gastronomy===
[[File:DW Wall - traditional butcher's shop, Ludlow - geograph.org.uk - 1601159.jpg|thumb|right|One of the two remaining traditional [[Butcher#Butcher shop|butcher shops]] in the centre of the town]]
Ludlow was for a time a [[gastronomic]] centre, at one point the only town in England with three [[Michelin Guide|Michelin-starred]] restaurants.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.touruk.co.uk/shropshire/ludlow.htm|title=Ludlow Shropshire tourist and visitor information|access-date=17 September 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070817174655/http://www.touruk.co.uk/shropshire/ludlow.htm|archive-date=17 August 2007}}</ref> The town had boasted eight [[AA Rosette]] starred restaurants, and three Michelin-starred establishments. In 2016, Ludlow lost its last Michelin-starred establishment — ''Mr Underhills''<ref>[http://www.viamichelin.co.uk/web/Restaurant/Ludlow-SY8_1EH-Mr_Underhill_s_at_Dinham_Weir-188206-41102 Via Michelin] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022113215/http://www.viamichelin.co.uk/web/Restaurant/Ludlow-SY8_1EH-Mr_Underhill_s_at_Dinham_Weir-188206-41102 |date=22 October 2014 }} Mr Underhill's at Dinham Weir</ref> — which had featured in the ''[[Sunday Times]]'' ''Top 100 Restaurants''.<ref>[http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2014/10/18/delight-for-ludlow-restaurant-as-its-named-one-of-the-best-in-britain/ Shropshire Star] ''Delight for Ludlow restaurant as it's named one of the best in Britain'' (18 October 2014)</ref> Another previously starred establishment in Ludlow was ''[[La Bécasse]]'' which went into liquidation for the second time in 2014.

The town hosts the annual Ludlow [[food festival]]. Ludlow was the first UK member of [[Cittaslow]] or "[[slow food]]" movement,<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.cittaslow.org.uk |title= UK Cittaslow Website |access-date=10 November 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://womans-world.co.uk/going-slow-in-ludlow.html|title=Woman's World – Going slow in Ludlow|access-date=17 September 2007}}</ref> but after ongoing controversy over public funding, the town is no longer a member. As of 2021, the town has three butchers (one located in the suburbs), four bakers, a regular [[farmers market]] and a range of specialist food shops. The town has a brewery which has been producing [[real ale]] (using local [[hops]]) since 2006; it is in a renovated goods shed near the [[Ludlow railway station|railway station]].<ref>[http://whatpub.com/pubs/SHR/5005/railway-shed-ludlow WhatPub.com (CAMRA)] Railway Shed, Ludlow</ref>

The annual Ludlow Marches Festival of Food & Drink is a [[trade fair]] that takes place in and around Ludlow in September. Centred on Ludlow Castle, where over 150 local, small food producers showcase and sell their wares, the three-day event involves the town centre in food and drink trails including a "Sausage Trail".<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.foodfestival.co.uk/ |title= Ludlow Food Festival |access-date=10 November 2007}}</ref>

===Arts===
The town is home to an arts and cinema centre, The Ludlow Assembly Rooms, that hosts live and streamed music, theatre, stand-up comedy and talks. It acts as an arts community centre, has a [[visual arts]] gallery, and on most evenings, shows a film, from a wide variety of genres (including classic, [[arthouse]], and [[blockbuster (entertainment)|blockbuster]]).<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.ludlowassemblyrooms.co.uk/ |title= Ludlow Assembly Rooms |access-date=10 November 2007}}</ref> Ludlow is now also home to the Rooftop Theatre Company. Originally from the South East, they have been delivering contemporary-styled Shakespeare since 2003. Their first Ludlow production was The Comedy of Errors in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.rooftoptheatre.co.uk/ |title= Rooftop Theatre Company |access-date=9 April 2015}}</ref>

Ludlow has featured in movies and TV programmes including [[Tom Sharpe]]'s ''[[Blott on the Landscape]]'' and 90s TV adaptations of ''[[The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling]]'' and ''[[Moll Flanders]]''. In Shakespeare's [[Richard III (play)|''Richard III'']], Ludlow is mentioned,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Austin |first=Sue |date=2023-11-08 |title=Shropshire's remarkable connections with Shakespeare are fascinating |url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/north-shropshire/2023/11/09/shropshires-remarkable-connections-with-shakespeare-are-fascinating/ |access-date=2023-11-10 |website=www.shropshirestar.com |language=en}}</ref> as the place where the young [[Edward V of England|Edward V]] is to be fetched as Richard III plots to seize the crown. The town is described as the capital of [[Wales]] following a [[zombie apocalypse]] in the novel [[World War Z]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Brooks |first=Max |title=World War Z |year=2010 |publisher=Gerald Duckworth |isbn=978-0715637036 |page=188 |edition=Kindle }}</ref>

Ludlow has connections with a number of figures in the arts – including [[Alfred Edward Housman]], poet and author of "[[A Shropshire Lad]]" (his ashes were buried in the graveyard of St Laurence's Church and were marked by a cherry tree). [[Stanley J. Weyman]], the novelist known as the "Prince of Romance", was born in Ludlow, as was sculptor [[Adrian Jones (sculptor)|Adrian Jones]], whose ashes are buried in the same churchyard. The naval historian and novelist Captain [[Geoffrey Bennett (historian)|Geoffrey Bennett]] (Sea Lion) lived in Ludlow after his retirement in 1974 up to his death in 1983 and his ashes, too, were interred in the parish churchyard.

===Sport===
[[File:Ludlow Town FC - geograph.org.uk - 148132.jpg|thumb|right|[[Ludlow Town F.C.#Stadium|Ludlow's football stadium]], located at Burway on the northern edge of the town (actually in Bromfield civil parish), was home to AFC Ludlow and several other sports teams.]]
The town had a [[association football|football]] team (AFC Ludlow), which competed in the [[West Midlands (Regional) League]] Division One.<ref>[http://full-time.thefa.com/ProcessPublicSelect.do?psSelectedSeason=585583996&psSelectedDivision=7248658&psSelectedLeague=3244788 FA Full-time website] West Midlands (Regional) League Division One</ref> The club could no longer field a full team, and folded in June 2016. Ludlow's [[rugby union]] club have their ground situated just off Linney near the castle, competing in the Midland league. There is a [[cricket]] club sporting its 1st and 2nd XI teams in the Shropshire Premier Cricket League and its 3rd and 4th XI in the Shropshire Cricket League Division 5 and Division 6 respectively. The cricket ground is near the junction of Burway Lane and Bromfield Road in the north of the town and has a picturesque setting with the castle, St Laurence's church and surrounding hills and countryside clearly visible.

[[Ludlow Racecourse]] and Ludlow Golf Club are situated together just off the [[A49 road]] {{convert|2|mi|km}} northwest of the town centre, at a place called Old Field near [[Bromfield, Shropshire|Bromfield]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.ludlow-racecourse.co.uk/ |title= Ludlow Racecourse |access-date=10 November 2007}}</ref> A smaller (9-hole) golf course exists at Elm Lodge, just off Fishmore Road on the northern edge of the town.

A privately run leisure and fitness centre, which includes a swimming pool, is on Bromfield Road on the northern edge of the town (near the secondary school).<ref>[http://www.teme-leisure.co.uk/teme-leisure-ludlow.html Teme Leisure] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407065937/http://www.teme-leisure.co.uk/teme-leisure-ludlow.html |date=7 April 2014 }} Ludlow</ref> [[Lawn bowls]] is played in the area, with several teams from Ludlow's two bowling clubs (Burway and Ludlow Castle) playing against each other and teams from further afield, in the Ludlow & District Bowls League,<ref>[http://ldbl.leaguerepublic.com Ludlow and District Bowls League]</ref> as well as in the higher Shropshire leagues. There is an amateur [[boxing]] club, situated on Wheeler Road, with its new clubhouse opening in 2014.

===Media===
[[File:Castle Square, Ludlow - geograph.org.uk - 1337418.jpg|thumb|left|Castle Square looking east towards St Laurence's Church. [[Ludlow College]] is to the left; [[Castle Lodge, Ludlow|Castle Lodge]] to the right.]]

====Newspapers====
The ''Ludlow Advertiser'' was founded in 1855 by John Crosse, with its original offices at 18 King Street. New premises for the Advertiser were constructed in 1914 on Upper Galdeford, still called the Advertiser Buildings, but now a fast-food outlet. It has published an edition weekly ever since,<ref>Lloyd, David & Klein, Peter (2006) ''Ludlow: An Historical Anthology'' p 96</ref> though is now the ''Ludlow and Tenbury Wells Advertiser'' and published from the ''Hereford Times'' offices in Hereford.
The current free paper is the ''Teme Valley Times'', founded in 2006.
In 2010 the ''Ludlow Journal'', a free weekly newspaper, ceased publication and was absorbed into its paid-for sister, the ''South Shropshire Journal''.<ref>[http://www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/2010/news/caption-blunder-weekly-ceases-publication Hold The Front Page] ''Caption blunder weekly ceases publication'' (6 July 2010)</ref> 
The ''[[Shropshire Star]]'' – with its related publication the ''South Shropshire Journal'' – is published in [[Ketley]] and had an office in Ludlow, at The Angel on Broad Street, but this closed in 2017.
The magazine publisher [[Newsfield]] was based in Ludlow.

====Television====
Regional TV news is provided by [[BBC West Midlands]] and [[ITV Central]]. Television signals are received from the [[Ridge Hill transmitting station|Ridge Hill]] and the local relay transmitters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Ridge_Hill|title= Full Freeview on the Ridge Hill (County of Herefordshire, England) transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=25 September 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/Ludlow|title= Freeview Light on the Ludlow (Shropshire, England transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|accessdate=25 September 2023}}</ref>

====Radio stations====
[[Sunshine 855|Sunshine Radio]], once a [[pirate radio]] station, is now a legitimate commercial broadcaster in the south Shropshire and north Herefordshire/Worcestershire.<ref>[http://www.sunshineradio.co.uk Sunshine Radio]</ref> Other radio stations include its [[Sunshine Radio (Herefordshire and Monmouthshire)|sister station in Hereford]], and [[BBC Radio Shropshire]].

BBC Hereford and Worcester's 1584 AM and Sunshine Radio's 105.9 FM broadcasts are made from the [[Woofferton transmitting station]], just south of Ludlow, which is notable for its [[Cold War]] history and now being the UK's only remaining [[shortwave]] broadcasting site.

==Governance==
===Civic===
[[File:The Buttercross, Ludlow.jpg|thumb|right|The Buttercross, built in 1743–1746, at the top of Broad Street and the highest point of the medieval town (the site of the High Cross); historically this spot was used as a benchmark for road distances to Ludlow.]]
[[File:The Guildhall building, Mill Street, Ludlow. - geograph.org.uk - 1337410.jpg|thumb|[[Ludlow Guildhall]]]]
Ludlow is a [[civil parishes in England|civil parish]] with a [[parish councils in England|town council]] and a mayor. Ludlow was a [[Ancient borough|borough]] from 1461 to 1974 (becoming a [[municipal borough]] in 1835 and a [[rural borough]] in 1967); the borough encompassed the same area as Ludlow's [[parish]] until the mid-late 19th century. Its borough status meant Ludlow was largely autonomous from the hundred of [[Munslow (hundred)|Munslow]] which it lay in.

Wider local government was provided by [[Ludlow Rural District]] from 1894 (this rural district absorbed the borough of Ludlow in 1967, causing the change in status to a rural borough) until 1974 when [[South Shropshire]] District Council (with Ludlow as its seat) took over along with [[Shropshire County Council]] in a two-tier arrangement. Rural boroughs were abolished in 1974 and Ludlow's [[Borough status in the United Kingdom|borough status]] at that point ended. The district councils of Shropshire were abolished in 2009 and the county now has a [[unitary authority]] called [[Shropshire Council]], based in Shrewsbury. The South Shropshire District Council's offices at Stone House on Corve Street were gradually emptied of local government staff until their sale in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2014/06/02/council-offices-put-up-for-sale-in-ludlow/|title=Council offices put up for sale in Ludlow|date=2 June 2014|newspaper=Shropshire Star|access-date=19 July 2024}}</ref>

The town council is based at [[Ludlow Guildhall]] on Mill Street, a grade I listed building,<ref>[http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-390045-the-guildhall-and-adjoining-coachhouse-l British Listed Buildings] The Guildhall and adjoining Coachhouse</ref> which was the home of the town's [[County court|county]] and magistrates' courts until their closure in 2011.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-15113637 BBC News] Ludlow, Shrewsbury and Oswestry county courts close (30 September 2011)</ref> There was a Town Hall, situated in the Square, which was built in 1887–1888 and demolished in March 1986;<ref>Farlow, R and Trumper, D (2005) ''Ludlow and South-West Shropshire'' page 11</ref> it featured prominently just prior to its demolition in the 1985 television drama ''[[Blott on the Landscape]]''. The other notable civic building in the centre of town is the [[Ludlow Buttercross|Buttercross]] (named as it was the butter market at the site of the medieval High Cross); it was the home of the town council after the demolition of the Town Hall and prior to the closure of the courts. It is now an 'interpretation centre' for the town's architectural heritage.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ludlow.gov.uk/Uploads/Site817/Files/bx/thebuttercrossupdate.pdf |title=The Buttercross update|publisher=Ludlow Town Council|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220024113/https://www.ludlow.gov.uk/Uploads/Site817/Files/bx/thebuttercrossupdate.pdf|archive-date=20 December 2014}}</ref>

===Electoral arrangements===
The boundaries of Ludlow's wards and electoral divisions were most recently reviewed in 2008.<ref>[https://www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/west-midlands/shropshire/shropshire LGBCE] Shropshire review (2008)</ref>

Fifteen councillors sit on the town council, representing seven [[wards in the United Kingdom|wards]], and elections (when contested) are held every four years (at the same time as elections to Shropshire Council). The seven wards changed slightly in 2008, retaining their previous names and number of councillors they each return – they are (with the number of town councillors returned given): Rockspring (2), Hayton (2), Bringewood (2), Corve (2), Whitcliffe (2), Gallows Bank (3), and Clee View (2).

Ludlow together with nearby parishes comprise three electoral divisions, each returning one councillor to Shropshire Council in elections held every four years, the [[2021 Shropshire Council election#Ludlow East|most recent being in 2021]]. The electoral divisions comprise:

* Ludlow North (the wards of Corve, Whitcliffe and Bringewood together with the parish of [[Bromfield, Shropshire|Bromfield]])
* Ludlow East (the wards of Hayton, Clee View and Rockspring)
* Ludlow South (Gallows Bank and the parishes of [[Ludford, Shropshire|Ludford]], [[Richard's Castle]], [[Ashford Bowdler]] and [[Ashford Carbonell|Ashford Carbonel]]).

===Civil parishes===
Ludford is a separate [[civil parishes in England|civil parish]], with its own parish council, and covers the adjoining places of [[Ludford, Shropshire|Ludford]], Foldgate, Steventon, [[the Sheet]] and Rocks Green. Until 1901 an area of land at the foot of Old Street, called [[Holdgate Fee]], was a detached part of Ludford parish in the town itself. Ludlow Castle was a parish of its own, contained within the castle's walls and the immediate hillside; it was abolished in 1901 and ceded to Ludlow's civil parish.<ref>[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10362866 Vision of Britain] Ludlow Castle</ref> Other than Ludford, the only other civil parish in the present-day that neighbours Ludlow is [[Bromfield, Shropshire|Bromfield]].

The civil parish of [[East Hamlet]], created in 1884 covered a limited area to the east of the town; this parish was largely absorbed by Ludlow's parish as the town expanded into it (in 1901, 1934 and finally in 1987 when it was abolished). Ludlow's parish in 1901 expanded into Ludford to the east (taking in Holdgate Fee and the Steventon New Road area); another two expansions into Ludford in 1934 involved taking in the Whitcliffe (which had been acquired by the burgesses of Ludlow already in the 13th century)<ref>[http://www.friendsofwhitcliffecommon.org.uk Friends of Whitcliffe Common]</ref> and a further part to the east (the Gallows Bank area). 1934 also saw a significant expansion of the Ludlow parish west into Bromfield's parish, on both sides of the Teme; this coupled with the inclusion of Whitcliffe constitutes the western, essentially rural part to Ludlow's civil parish in the present day.

===Parliament===
[[File:Coat of arms of Ludlow.png|thumb|right|upright|The coat of arms of Ludlow date to the creation of the parliamentary borough and pay homage to [[Richard of York, 3rd Duke of York|Richard, Duke of York]]. It displays the white lion of the [[Earl of March]] surrounded by three [[White Rose of York|white roses]] of the [[House of York]]]]

For representation to the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]], Ludlow falls within the [[South Shropshire (UK Parliament constituency)|South Shropshire constituency]], which has its origins in the [[Ludlow (UK Parliament constituency)|Ludlow]] [[parliamentary borough]] constituency created in 1473, and which until 1868 returned two [[Burgess (title)|burgesses]] to Parliament.

In modern times, the Ludlow constituency came to cover a large area of southern Shropshire including [[Bridgnorth]] and after constituency boundary changes was redesignated [[South Shropshire (UK Parliament constituency)|South Shropshire]] ahead of the [[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024 general election]] when the current member, [[Stuart Anderson (politician)|Stuart Anderson]] of the [[Conservative Party (United Kingdom)|Conservative Party]], was elected.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election/2024/uk/constituencies/E14001493 |title=South Shropshire |publisher=BBC |language=en-gb |access-date=29 June 2024}}</ref>

==Economy==
McConnel Limited, a manufacturer of hedge cutting and verge mowing machinery, is based in Ludlow, occupying a seven-acre industrial site in the Temeside/Weeping Cross area of the town known as the Temeside Works.<ref>[http://www.mcconnel.com/Aboutus/factory.aspx?nav=Factory McConnel Limited] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512222114/http://www.mcconnel.com/Aboutus/factory.aspx?nav=Factory |date=12 May 2014 }} - Factory</ref> The company claims to be the innovator of the first tractor-mounted hedge cutting machine (produced in 1945) and a leading producer of reach flail mower hedge and verge mowing power-arm technology.

===Market===
The town has regular outdoor markets held on Castle Square, an area that was enlarged in 1986 with the demolition of the Town Hall (which was also known as Market Hall). General markets are held on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Specialist markets (examples being crafts, antiques, local produce) are held on occasional Thursdays and Sundays. They are run by the town council.<ref>[http://www.ludlowmarket.co.uk Ludlow Market]</ref>

==Education==
Ludlow has two primary schools for children aged 5–11 and a secondary school – the [[Ludlow Church of England School]] — for pupils aged 11–16.

[[Ludlow College]] is a sixth form college in the town centre, formed by the merger of the town's boys grammar school and girls high school. Prior to its merger with [[Herefordshire and Ludlow College|Herefordshire College]] in 2012 it was one of the oldest educational institutions in the country, dating back some 800 years.<ref>[http://www.ludlow-college.ac.uk Ludlow College]</ref>

==Health==
[[Ludlow Hospital]] is an NHS community hospital at the junction of Gravel Hill and New Road. It had until recently several inpatient and outpatient departments and wards, as well as a minor injuries unit.

There are two doctors' surgeries in the town, both just off Upper Galdeford.

==Emergency services==
The [[Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service]] have a fire station on Weeping Cross Lane, staffed by [[retained firefighter]]s.

[[West Mercia Police]] have a police station on Lower Galdeford. Its front counter closed in 2015.

Voluntary aid society, the [[British Red Cross]], has a hall in the Smithfield car park, just off Lower Galdeford, and adjacent to the fire station.

==Religion==
[[File:St. Peter's Catholic Church, Ludlow - geograph.org.uk - 628950.jpg|thumb|left|St Peter's church, built in the late 1930s in the neo-Byzantine and plain Romanesque styles, is the town's Roman Catholic church]]

There are two [[Parish (Church of England)|Church of England parishes]] in Ludlow and two Church of England churches – the large and historic [[St Laurence's Church, Ludlow|St Laurence's Church]] in the centre of the town – and the 19th century St John's Church on Gravel Hill. Within St Laurence's Church are the St John's, Lady and St Catherine's chapels.<ref>[http://stlaurences.org.uk/history-and-virtual-tour/a-virtual-tour-st-laurences St Laurence's] virtual tour</ref> Ludford has its own Church of England [[ecclesiastical parish|parish]] and church, dedicated to St Giles.

Ludlow falls within the Church of England's [[Diocese of Hereford]] and between 1981 and 2020 was a suffragan [[Episcopal see|see]] with its own [[suffragan bishop]], the [[Bishop of Ludlow]], the only such bishop in the diocese. There has long been an [[Archdeacon of Ludlow]], historically known as the Archdeacon of Shropshire, overseeing the other parishes in the southern part of the county (the part of the Hereford diocese that is within Shropshire).

The [[Roman Catholic]] church of St Peter is on Henley Road.<ref>[http://cornmill.freeshell.org/stpetersludlow/ St Peter's Ludlow]</ref> Construction to a design by the Welsh-based Italian architect [[Giuseppe Rinvolucri]] began in 1935, using stone from nearby [[Farlow, Shropshire|Farlow]] and building in a neo-Byzantine and plain Romanesque style. The construction also involved novel reinforced concrete technology. The Byzantine design continues inside, with a blue dome with twelve gold-leaf stars representing St Peter and the other Apostles.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ludlow – St Peter |url=https://taking-stock.org.uk/building/ludlow-st-peter/ |website=Taking Stock |publisher=Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales |access-date=16 October 2021}}</ref><ref>[http://cornmill.freeshell.org/stpetersludlow/tour.pdf Tour of St Peter's church, Ludlow]</ref> An [[Art Deco]] [[Clergy house|presbytery]] was built next to the church. St Peter's chapel, within the castle, is now a ruin.

Ludlow has a [[Methodist Church of Great Britain|Methodist]] church on Broad Street,<ref>[http://www.ludlowmethodistchurch.org Ludlow Methodist Church]</ref> a [[Quaker Meeting House]] on St Mary's Lane,<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20130416134550/http://ludlowquakers.co.uk Ludlow Quakers]}}</ref> a [[Baptists Together|Baptist]] church at the Rockspring Community Centre,<ref>[http://ludlow.churchinsight.com Ludlow Baptist Church],</ref> and an [[Elim Pentecostal Church|Elim Pentecostal]] church off the Smithfield car park.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20130421060801/http://ludlowelim.co.uk Elim Pentecostal Church]}}</ref>

Two [[monastery|monastic institutions]] once existed in Ludlow – one Augustinian ("Austin") Friars on the corner of Lower Galdeford and Weeping Cross Lane, and the other Carmelite ("White") Friars between Linney and Corve Street. Both were [[Dissolution of the Monasteries|dissolved in 1538]]. The White Friars site became the town's cemetery in 1824, with a new church constructed, dedicated to St Leonard (a St Leonard's chapel existed on the corner of Corve Street and Linney in medieval times). The St Leonard's graveyard and church still exist but are no longer used for burials or worship (instead the church building is now a commercial premises). The Austin Friars site became the town's livestock market (the Smithfield) and is now a public car park.

==Landmarks==
[[File:Ludlow bridge.jpg|thumb|right|Dinham Bridge crossing the River Teme; Ludlow Castle is situated above on the hill]]
The following are the principal landmark buildings and structures in the town, the majority of which are grade I or II* [[listed building]]s.

{|
|-
|valign="top"|
*[[Ludlow Castle]]
*[[St Laurence's Church, Ludlow|St Laurence's Church]]
*[[Feathers Hotel, Ludlow|Feathers Hotel]]
*The [[Ludlow Buttercross|Buttercross]]
*[[Ludford Bridge]]
*Horseshoe Weir (immediately downstream of Ludford Bridge)
*Dinham Bridge
*[[Castle Lodge, Ludlow|Castle Lodge]]
*Reader's House, rear of St Laurence's
|valign="top"|
*The Broad Gate
*1 Broad Street (Bodenhams)
*St Thomas Chapel, Dinham
*Dinham House & Dinham Lodge
*Hosyers Almshouses, College Street
*Palmers Hall, [[Ludlow College]], Mill Street
*The Guildhall, Mill Street
*Old Stone House & Tudor House, Corve Street
*[[Fishmore Hall Hotel]]
|}

==Twinning==
Ludlow has three [[sister city|twinning]] arrangements.<ref>[https://www.ludlow.gov.uk/visit-ludlow/twinning Ludlow Town Council] Twinning</ref>

* [[La Ferté-Macé]], [[Orne]], France (since 1986)
* [[San Pietro in Cariano]], [[Province of Verona]], Veneto, Italy (since 1989)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ludlowitaliantwinning.org.uk/about.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707171846/http://ludlowitaliantwinning.org.uk/about.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=7 July 2017 |title=About |publisher=Ludlow Italian Twinning Association |access-date=18 April 2021}}</ref>
* [[Narberth, Pembrokeshire|Narberth]], [[Pembrokeshire]], Wales (since 2003)

== Notable people ==
=== Aristocracy, public servants and politicians ===
[[File:Thomas 11Warwick.jpg|thumb|140px|Katherine Mortimer and Thomas de Beauchamp]]
[[File:Official portrait of Rt Hon Philip Dunne MP crop 2.jpg|thumb|140px|Philip Dunne, 2020]]

* [[Katherine Mortimer, Countess of Warwick]] (ca. 1314 in [[Ludlow Castle]] – 1369), aristocrat, wife of [[Thomas Beauchamp, 11th Earl of Warwick]]
* [[Lady Philippa Mortimer]] (1375-1400) <ref>[[Alison Weir|Weir, Alison]]. (1999). ''Britain's Royal Family: A Complete Genealogy''. London: The Bodley Head. pp. 97–98.</ref> and [[Edmund Mortimer (rebel)|Sir Edmund Mortimer]] (1376 - 1409).<ref>Richardson, D. (2011). Kimball G. Everingham (ed.). ''Magna Carta Ancestry''. Vol. 3 (2nd ed.). Salt Lake City. p. 195.</ref>, two of the children of [[Edmund Mortimer, 3rd Earl of March]], and [[Philippa Plantagenet, 5th Countess of Ulster|Philippa Plantagenet]] (the only child of [[Lionel, 1st Duke of Clarence]], and [[Elizabeth de Burgh, Countess of Ulster]]) were born in [[Ludlow Castle]] 
* [[Robert Mascall]] (died 1416), medieval Carmelite friar, Bishop of Hereford, 1404 / 1416, was born at Ludlow.<ref>{{cite DNB|wstitle= Mascall, Robert |volume= 36 |last= Pollard |first= Albert |author-link= Albert Pollard |pages= 405-406 |year= |short=1}}</ref>
* Sir [[John Bridgeman (judge)|John Bridgeman]] (1568/69 – 1638), a Chief Justice of The Marches in the 17th century is buried in St Laurence's church, within a tomb monument attributed to [[Francesco Fanelli]].
* Sir [[Timothy Littleton]] (ca.1608 – 1679) judge and politician, MP for [[Ludlow (UK Parliament constituency)|Ludlow]], 1660 / 1670.
* Admiral [[James Vashon]] (1742–1827) lived in Ludlow, on Broad Street, following his distinguished service in the Royal Navy. He died in the town and is buried at St Laurence's. A civic society [[blue plaque]] commemorates him at 54 Broad Street;<ref>[http://www.ludlowcivicsociety.org/ludlowcivicsoci9.html Ludlow Civic Society] blue plaques</ref> there is a Vashon Close in Ludlow's eastern suburbs.
* [[Thomas Johnes]] (1748 in Ludlow – 1816) an MP, landscape architect, farmer, writer and social benefactor.<ref>{{cite DNB|wstitle= Johnes, Thomas |volume= 30 |last= Wroth |first= Warwick William |author-link= Warwick William Wroth |page= 2 |year= |short=1}}</ref>
* [[William Steward (New Zealand politician)|Sir William Jukes-Steward]] (1841–1912), later [[Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives]], had a boyhood home marked by plaque in Ludlow, where he attended the Grammar School, 
* [[Uvedale Corbett (politician)|Uvedale Corbett]]  (1909–2005) a British Lieutenant-Colonel, politician, businessman and Conservative MP for [[Ludlow (UK Parliament constituency)|Ludlow]] 1945 / 1951.
* [[Philip Dunne (Ludlow MP)|Philip Dunne]] (born 1958), local MP, was born in Ludlow.

=== The Arts ===
[[File:William Owen - Self-Portrait.jpg|thumb|140px|William Owen, self-portrait, ca.1800]]
[[File:PD James Cologne.JPG|thumb|140px|P.D. James, 2013]]
[[File:Alastair McGowan 2016.jpg|thumb|140px|Alistair McGowan, 2016]]
* [[Thomas Holland (translator)|Thomas Holland]] (1549 in Ludlow – 1612) Calvinist scholar, theologian and translator of the [[King James Version]] of the Bible.<ref>{{cite DNB|wstitle= Holland, Thomas (d.1612) |volume= 27 |last= Boase |first= George Clement |author-link= George Clement Boase |pages= 158-159 |year= |short=1}}</ref>
* [[Samuel Butler (poet)|Samuel Butler]] (1613–1680), poet, lived at Ludlow while working as steward to the Lord President of the Marches in 1661–62, during which time he completed the first part of his well-known satire ''[[Hudibras]]''.<ref>{{citation |last=Dickins|first=Gordon |year=1987 |title=An Illustrated Literary Guide to Shropshire |publisher=Shropshire Libraries |pages=12, 101 |isbn=0-903802-37-6}}</ref>
* [[Thomas Johnes]] FRS (1748–1816, MP, landscape architect, farmer, printer, writer and social benefactor.<ref>{{cite DNB|wstitle= Johnes, Thomas |volume= 30 |last= Wroth |first= Warwick William |author-link= Warwick William Wroth |page= 2 |year= |short=1}}</ref>
* [[Samuel Scott (painter)|Samuel Scott]] (1702–1772), painter, moved to Ludlow in 1765,<ref name="Twickenham">{{cite web|last1=The Twickenham Museum|title=Samuel Scott|url=http://www.twickenham-museum.org.uk/detail.php?aid=110&cid=11&ctid=1|website=The Twickenham Museum|access-date=1 July 2016}}</ref>
* [[William Owen (painter)|William Owen]] (1769–1825), portrait painter was born in Ludlow.
* [[Thomas Wright (antiquarian)|Thomas Wright]] (1810–1877), an English antiquarian and writer.<ref>{{cite EB1911 |wstitle= Wright, Thomas (antiquarian) |volume= 28 |page= 847 |short=1}}</ref>
* [[Charles Badham]] (1813–1884), classical philologist, textual critic, headmaster, and university professor.<ref>{{cite EB1911 |wstitle= Badham, Charles |volume= 3 |pages= 188-189 |short=1}}</ref>
* [[Henry Peach Robinson]] (1830–1901), [[Pictorialism|pictorialist]] photographer was born in the town.
* [[Adrian Jones (sculptor)|Adrian Jones]] (1845–1938), sculptor, his works included the Peace Quadriga on the London [[Wellington Arch]]
* [[Stanley J. Weyman]] (1855 in Ludlow – 1928) an English writer of historical romance.
* Captain [[Geoffrey Bennett (historian)|Geoffrey Bennett]]  (1909–1983), naval officer and author, writing novels such as ''Sea Lion'' and naval histories, he retired to a cottage in central Ludlow in 1976, where he died.
* [[Fred Griffiths (actor)|Fred Griffiths]] (1912–1994), an English film and television actor. 
* [[P. D. James]], ''Baroness James of Holland Park'' (1920–2014) spent part of her youth in Ludlow and attended the British School there.
* Fr. [[John Fitzgerald (poet)|John Fitzgerald]] (1927–2007) a Carmelite friar, priest, poet and philosopher was from Ludlow.
* [[Anthony Howard (journalist)|Anthony Howard]] (1934–2010), senior political journalist, obituary writer and social commentator; had a home there.
* [[Dick Heckstall-Smith]] (1934–2004) from Ludlow was an English jazz and blues saxophonist.
* [[Sheena Porter]] (born 1935) a British author of children's novels, lives in Ludlow.
* [[John Challis]] (1942–2021), actor, he played [[Boycie]] in ''Only Fools & Horses'' lived near Ludlow, 
* [[Pete Postlethwaite]] (1946–2011), character actor, lived near [[Bishop's Castle]]
* [[Kate Charles]] (born 1950) an American crime writer, lives in Ludlow. 
* [[Lucy Jones (artist)|Lucy Jones]] (born 1955) a British painter and printmaker, lives in Ludlow.
* [[Holly Davidson]] (born 1980), actress (from ''[[Casualty (TV series)|Casualty]]'' and ''[[The Bill]]'') grew up locally.
* [[Hollie Robertson]] (born 1985), winner of the [[BBC]]'s ''[[Strictly Dance Fever]]'' in 2006 is from Ludlow.
* [[Alistair McGowan]] (born 1964), impressionist, lives in Ludlow, where he is patron of the Ludlow Fringe Festival where he has performed live.<ref>{{cite news|title=Star's show in new home town|work=Shropshire Star|date=19 July 2021|page=3}}Report by Rory Smith.</ref>

=== Academia, science and business ===
[[File:Official portrait of Lord Rees of Ludlow crop 2.jpg|thumb|140px|Lord Rees of Ludlow, 2019]]

* [[John Senex]] (1678–1740) cartographer, engraver and explorer.<ref>{{cite DNB|wstitle= Senex, John |volume= 51 |last= Norgate |first= G.le G.|author-link= |page= 244 |year= |short=1}}</ref>
* [[Molly Morgan]] (1762 in Ludlow as Mary Jones -1835) lived in the area until transported in 1788 as a convict to Australia, where she eventually became a landowner and benefactor in [[New South Wales]].
* Sir [[Charles Hastings (English physician)|Charles Hastings]] (1794 in Ludlow – 1866), was a pioneering Victorian doctor and founder of the [[British Medical Association]].
* [[Henry Hill Hickman]] (1800–1830), a very early pioneer of anaesthetics, at Lady Halton, near [[Bromfield, Shropshire|Bromfield]].
* [[Thomas Taylor Lewis]] (1801–1858), geologist and antiquarian.<ref>{{cite DNB|wstitle= Lewis, Thomas Taylor |volume= 33 |last= Archbold |first= W.A.J. |author-link= |page= 198 |year= |short=1}}</ref>
* [[Cardale Babington]] (1808–1895), botanist, entomologist, and archaeologist.<ref>{{Cite DNBSupp |wstitle= Babington, Charles Cardale |volume= 1 |pages= 90-92 | first= George Simonds |last= Boulger |author-link= George Simonds Boulger |year= |short= 1}}</ref>
* [[Charles Badham]] (1813 in Ludlow–1884), a [[Victorian era|Victorian]] scholar and professor at [[Sydney University]]
* [[Charles Lethbridge Kingsford]] (1862–1926), historian, his father was headmaster at Ludlow Grammar School.
* [[John Marston (businessman)|John Marston]] (1836–1918), the founder of the [[Sunbeam Motor Car Company|Sunbeam]] racing car and [[Sunbeam Cycles|motorcycle]] company.
* [[Martin Rees]], ''Baron Rees of Ludlow'' (born 1942), the current [[Astronomer Royal]], is associated with the town where he grew up,

=== Sport ===
* [[Cyril Lello]] (1921–1997) from Ludlow was a footballer, notably for [[Shrewsbury Town F.C.|Shrewsbury Town]] and [[Everton F.C.|Everton]]. 
* [[Jamie Tolley]] (born 1983), a footballer who has played over 330 games, incl. 180 for [[Shrewsbury Town F.C.|Shrewsbury Town]] 
* [[Harry Burgoyne]] (born 1996 in Ludlow), a footballer who played for Shrewsbury Town until 2024.
* [[Lark Atkin-Davies]] (born 1995), a rugby union player, she has played 62 games for [[England women's national rugby union team|England women]].

==See also==
*[[Listed buildings in Ludlow (northern area)]]
*[[Listed buildings in Ludlow (southern area)]]

==References==
===Citations===
{{reflist|30em}}

===Sources===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last=Conzen |first=M. R. G. |contribution=Morphogenesis, morphological regions and secular human agency in the historic townscape, as exemplified by Ludlow |title=Urban Historical Geography: Recent Progress in Britain and Germany |orig-year=1988 |year=2011 |edition=paperback |series=Cambridge Studies in Historical Geography |publisher=Cambridge University Press |volume=10 |isbn=978-0-521-18974-3 |pages=253–272}}
* {{cite book |last=Coplestone-Crow |first=Bruce |contribution=From Foundation to the Anarchy |title=Ludlow Castle: Its History & Buildings |publisher=Logaston Press |year=2000 |editor=Ron Shoesmith |editor2=Andy Johnson |isbn=1-873827-51-2 }}
* {{cite book |editor-last=Fenwick |editor-first=Carolyn |title=The poll taxes of 1377, 1379 and 1381: Part 2, Lincolnshire–Westmorland |year=2001 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-726228-3}}
* {{cite book |editor-last=Pallister |editor-first=David Michael |title=The Cambridge Urban History of Britain |volume=I: 600–1540 |year=2000 |publisher=Cambridge University Press}}
* {{cite book |first=Adrian |last=Room |year=2003 |title=Placenames of the World: Origins and Meanings |publisher=McFarland |isbn=0-7864-1814-1}}
* {{cite book |last=Shoesmith |first=Ron |contribution=The Town of Ludlow |title=Ludlow Castle: Its History & Buildings |publisher=Logaston Press |year=2000 |editor=Ron Shoesmith |editor2=Andy Johnson |isbn=1-873827-51-2}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
* [http://www.ludlow.gov.uk Ludlow Town Council]
* [https://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=49626967 Geograph] – photos of Ludlow and surrounding areas

{{Sister bar|auto=y|Ludlow (England)}}
{{Shropshire}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Ludlow| ]]
[[Category:Market towns in Shropshire]]
[[Category:Towns of the Welsh Marches]]
[[Category:Cittaslow]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Shropshire]]
[[Category:Towns in Shropshire]]
[[Category:Fortified settlements]]
[[Category:Ludlow epoch| ]]
[[Category:Civil parishes in Shropshire]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 11th century]]