Ludlow Castle

Performance Spaces

Overview

History

Bibliographic Sources

Events
Legend
map legend

Base layers

Data layers

Other Images

18th c. description
18th c. view
Castle approach
Early 19th c. map showing the location of Ludlow Castle
Ground plan
Inner bailey
Ludlow Castle - Main image
Tag this record 

Venue Type & Location

Private Residence

Site Name: Ludlow Castle
Location: Ludlow
County: Shropshire
Location Type: Town - in town at determined location
http://www.ludlowcastle.com/

Performance Spaces

Great Hall

Overview

The red and grey sandstone castle is located on a fine defensive site at the NW corner of a plateau rising high above the confluence of the River Teme with the Corve.

The fortified site was strengthened by steep cliffs on the N and W sides and a deep ditch cut into the rock on the town side. A wall and deep ditch further protected the original, now inner, bailey. The outer bailey was also enclosed by a wall with towers.

The entrance remains through a late 12th c. gatehouse off the High Street. Most of the stonework remains although floors and walls are lacking.

Performance History

A performance by Lord Stafford's Players is recorded at Ludlow Castle in 1577.

In 1634 the castle was the setting for the first performance of Milton's masque of Comus, to celebrate the installation of the Earl of Bridgewater as President of the Council.

It is possible that performances by Pembroke's Men also took place here during the years when Henry Herbert was Lord President of the Marches of Wales although his household records have not yet been discovered.

Current Status

Ludlow Castle is the property of the Earl of Powis and the Trustees of the Powis Castle Estate. Open to the public year round at specified times.

History of the Venue

ca. 1085 Roger de Lacy built a castle on the site, probably including most of the remaining inner bailey walls, the gatehouse tower and the 4 square open-backed towers. For most of the next 2 centuries the castle was held by the de Lacys, although the family was sometimes in conflict with the Crown, with consequent disruption in ownership.

later 12th c. Outer bailey added.

ca. 1283--92 The de Lacy heir, Peter de Geneville, replaced an earlier building with the fine great hall and lower chamber block joined to an open-backed Norman tower (later remodelled) on the curtain wall. The first floor hall was built with a residential cross wing at the W end. Soon after, a second floor was added above the cross wing.

1306 Joan, heiress of Peter de Geneville, married Roger Mortimer of Wigmore. The castle became the stronghold of the Mortimers, Earls of March, for the next 2 centuries.

1308--28 Roger Mortimer added the double chamber block at the E end and completed the block W of the hall. The chapel was probably built in the same period.

1424 Richard, Earl of Cambridge, nephew of the 5th Earl of March, inherited Ludlow Castle.

1459 Captured by the Lancastrian forces and badly damaged.

1461 The castle became a Crown possession when Edward, 7th Earl of March, became Edward IV. Repairs undertaken.

1472 With the establishment of the Council of the Marches of Wales, the castle became its administrative headquarters.

1473--83 Used as a residence for the young Princes of Wales.

1501--2 Arthur, Prince of Wales, and his wife, Katherine of Aragon, in residence. Arthur died here.

ca. 1502 The castle became the residence of the President of the Council in the Marches of Wales.

1525--7 Princess Mary in residence. Some repairs carried out but sections of the castle remained in disrepair.

1559--86 Sir Henry Sidney, President of the Council in the Marches of Wales, undertook substantial renovations and repairs. Judges' lodgings built by the entrance to the inner bailey, as well as a new bridge, renovations to the chapel and the addition of a tennis court.

1646 Ludlow surrendered to parliamentary forces.

1650 Furnishings were sold.

1661 Repairs and new furniture purchased for the reinstated Council.

1689 With the abolition of the position of President of the Council in the Marches of Wales, the castle was allowed to fall into disrepair.

early 18th c. The lead was stripped from the roofs.

1811 Purchased by the Earl of Powis. Cared for in its ruined state since this time.

Record Source

REED Shropshire 1.85, 113

Patrons who owned this venue

Name Dates Titles
Aragon, Katherine of 1485-1536 Princess of , Queen of
Compton, William 1572-1630 2nd Baron , 10th Earl of , Knight of the
Eure, Ralph 1558-1617 3rd Baron
Herbert, Henry 1538-1601 Lord , Baron , 21st Earl of
Sidney, Henry 1529-1586 Knight , Knight of the
Tudor, Arthur 1486-1502 8th Duke of , 20th Earl of , Prince of
Tudor, Mary 1516-1558 Princess of , Queen of

Bibliographic Sources

View a list of abbreviations.

  • Anderson, John Corbet. Shropshire: Its Early History and Antiquities. London: Wills & Sotheran, 1864.
  • Buck, Samuel, and Nathaniel Buck. [A Collection of Engravings of the Castles, Abbeys, and Towns in England and Wales]. 5 vols. London: The authors, 1726–52.
  • Clark, George T. Mediaeval Military Architecture in England. 2 vols. London: Wyman & Sons, 1884.
  • Colvin, H.M., D.R. Ransome and John Summerson, eds. The History of the King's Works: 1485–1660 (Part I). 1 vol. London: HMSO, 1975.
  • Colvin, H.M., John Summerson, Martin Biddle, J.R. Hale and Marcus Merriman, eds. The History of the King's Works: 1485–1660 (Part II). vol 4. London: HMSO, 1982.
  • Colvin, H.M., R. Allen Brown and A.J. Taylor, eds. The History of the King's Works: The Middle Ages. 2 vols. London: HMSO, 1963.
  • Curnow, P.E. 'Ludlow Castle.' Archaeological Journal 138 (1981): 12–14.
  • Defoe, Daniel. A Tour through the Whole Island of Great Britain. London: J.M. Dent & Sons, 1974.
  • Emery, Anthony. Greater Medieval Houses of England and Wales 1300–1500. 3 vols. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 1996–2006.
  • Evans, Herbert A. Castles of England and Wales. London: Methuen, 1912.
  • Faulkner, P.A. 'Domestic Planning from the Twelfth to the Fourteenth Centuries.' Archaeological Journal 115 (1958): 150–83.
  • Grose, Francis. The Antiquities of England and Wales. 8 vols. London: Hooper & Wigstead, 1785.
  • Hope, W.H. St. John. 'The Castle of Ludlow.' Archaeologia 61 (1908): 257–328.
  • Hussey, Christopher. 'Ludlow Castle – I.' Country Life 99 (11 Jan. 1946): 72–5.
  • Hussey, Christopher. 'Ludlow Castle – II.' Country Life 99 (18 Jan. 1946): 118–21.
  • Jackson, Michael. Castles of Shropshire. Shrewsbury: Shropshire Libraries, 1988.
  • Lloyd, David, and Peter Klein. Ludlow: A Historic Town in Words and Pictures. Chichester: Phillimore, 1984.
  • Mackenzie, James D. The Castles of England: Their Story and Structure. 2 vols. New York: The Macmillan Co., 1896.
  • Oman, Charles W.C. Castles. London: The Great Western Railway, 1926.
  • Page, William, A.T. Gaydon and G.C. Baugh, eds. The Victoria History of the County of Shropshire. Victoria History of the Counties of England. 11 vols. London: Archibald Constable, U of London, 1908–98.
  • Pettifer, Adrian. English Castles: A Guide by Counties. Woodbridge: The Boydell P, 1995.
  • Pevsner, Nikolaus. Shropshire. The Buildings of England. Harmondsworth, Midd: Penguin Books, 1958.
  • 'Proceedings of the annual meeting.' Archaeological Journal 85 (1928): 209–41.
  • Salter, Mike. The Castles and Moated Mansions of Shropshire. Malvern, Worc: Folly Publications, 1988.
  • Sandford, George. 'Ludlow Castle and Its Connection with the Marches of Wales.' Transactions of the Shropshire Archaeological and Natural History Society 1 (1878): 217–54.
  • Simpson, W. Douglas. Castles in England and Wales. London: B.T. Batsford, 1969.
  • Somerset Fry, Plantagenet. Castles of the British Isles. New York: Dorset P, 1990.
  • Wright, Thomas. The History of Ludlow. Ludlow: R. Jones, 1852.