Ludlow
Ludlow maps (2 available)
Map of Shropshire
Beautifully hand-drawn and coloured, dating from around 1840
See this old map of Shropshire
Personalised maps
Create an historic map centred directly on any postcode!
Ludlow books (2 available)
- 73 photos on Ludlow appear in 2 Frith books - View photos of Ludlow
- Read extracts and see photos from these books on Ludlow and Shropshire
Ludlow memories
Do you have a photo of Gravel Hill?
I was born at the top of Gravel Hill, which was knocked down a long time ago, does anyone have photos of the top of Gravel Hill please??
I joined the army in 1960 and moved to Dover. My mum lived in Ludlow until a few years ago and passed away in a local home. My address all that time ago was 89 Gravel Hill.
Contributed by derek jacks
Custodian of the Castle
Andrew CORDEN, a widowed and retired police constable, became the Custodian or Warden of Ludlow Castle before 1871. He was still taking care of it when he died in 1879 on Dinham at the age of 74.
Did he live in a house on Dinham that came with the job? Which house might this have been? Are there any records of this position?
Andrew was my great great great Grandfather . . .
Mandy Sutton
Contributed by Mandy Sutton
Dinham Weir
The Ludlow weirs were navigation Flash Lock weirs until the railways came to the Teme valley. Sailing Trows from the Severn worked up the river with wheat for the mills from Gloucester returning with flour for the villages and iron bar from Downton for blacksmiths downstream. An 1820's painting shows the old Dinham Bridge with four square rigged trows unloading at Dinham Mill now Mr Underwoods lovely restaurant and other trows at the opposite bank and under full sail up to the Downton Gorge.
Contributed by Max Sinclair
Artists
Groups of artists would visit in summer and stay at The Feathers Hotel. After breakfast they would choose their locations, some at the church, some at the castle, others would be in the middle of Broad Street. They would set up their stools and easels and stay there all day (except for lunch of course!). There was very little traffic in 1955. One wonderful afternoon, I was invited to join them and I was able to draw the mud & wattle buildings with charcoal. At the age of 13, it was a great honour to be included in this wonderful group of people.
Does anyone remember Miss Grayfoot? She was head-mistress of Ludlow Girls Grammar School during the fifties. She ...read more here
Contributed by Charlotte Gatling
schooldays
I went to the High School in Ludlow from 1941 - 49 and then went back to teach there in about 1956. I had a flat in Broad Street just below where this picture stops and used to go to this church of St Laurence on a very regular basis- they were wonderful days. I ran the Guides and also re-started the Sea Ranger Crew with a boat on the Teme.Ludlow was very different then as the old town hall was standing: I had such a shock when I visited years later and discovered it had gone. If only it had been replaced by a small park and flowerbeds instead of a car park it would have improved the town! ...read more here
Contributed by The Revd. Madeleine Evans
Extracts From Ludlow & Shropshire books
At this time in its history
the Dinham Bridge was
probably still known
locally as the New
Bridge. The present
bridge was built in 1823
on possibly medieval
stone piers, replacing a
much older bridge.
Sometimes in dry
weather when the river
is low the old piers can
still be seen.
An extract from from"Ludlow Photographic Memories".
The Bell Inn with its ‘good
stabling’ is obviously for
visitors to the town (those
who cannot afford to stay at
the Feathers or the Angel),
while the Wheatsheaf
probably serves an even
poorer local clientele. The
carriage sitting on the left is
made of wicker-work.
An extract from from"Ludlow Photographic Memories".
In these views you can
clearly see another weir
just beyond the bridge.
In fact, there were
several weirs all along
this stretch of the River
Teme; they were built to
hold up the river so that
there would always be
water available to power
the mills.
An extract from from"Ludlow Photographic Memories".
Notice the paths around
the castle – walks were
first laid out here in the
18th century for the
gentry to enjoy. At the
time it was a very
popular pastime to
promenade along such
walks, meet friends,
gossip and show off
your finery in this way.
An extract from from"Ludlow Photographic Memories".
The Normans may
have settled around
their castle, but the
first settlement on the
hilltop was probably
near the site of the
present church. Part of
it sits on the site of a
prehistoric burial
mound that was
demolished when the
church was extended
at the end of the
12th century.
An extract from from"Ludlow Photographic Memories".





