epw061922 ENGLAND (1939). The town centre, Ludlow, 1939

The telephone exchange was housed in the top storey here, over the entrance to Quality Square. The very tall telegraph poles can be seen along Linney and Raven Lane, carrying North-South trunk lines linked to the exchange which was later moved to a new building near the railway tunnel.

Branch line to Clee Hill, where it served the quarries on Titterstone Clee

Clifton cinema; now the site of Clifton Court sheltered housing.

Dinham Hall - Boarding house for Ludlow Grammar School and home to 40 boarders (max) until 1983. Now a hotel. Tree to the left (as you look) long since gone but large tree to front right still there replete with carved initials of old boarders, as is the lead window sill of the 3rd floor bay window.

The Buttercross. Built 1743-46, the building was designed by William Baker of Audlem. The upper rooms have been used variously as a boys’ charity school and the Ludlow Museum. It has now returned to its original use as Chamber for the Town Council.

High Hall A town house build about 1770 for the Poole family of Stretton Grandison near Ledbury on the site of a house formerly owned by the Littleton and Kettleby families In 1910, it became Ludlow Girls High School. Insertion of new windows destroyed some of the Georgian elegance of Farnolls Pritchard’s architecture, but the fine porch and staircase remain.

Formerly Ludlow Grammar School for Boys. A peculiarity of the boys Grammar School was that there was no 1st year, with new boys entering in 2nd year. Ludlow Grammar School was founded in the 13th Century (1282), making it one of the oldest educational institutions in England. The original boys school is in ancient stone and brick buildings at the bottom of Mill Street. The grammar school was originally operated by the Palmer's Guild and contains a 14th Century open hall. The roof was raised and dormer windows added in 1686 to light dormitories for boarders. In 1967 the then Ludlow Grammar School merged with Ludlow Girls High School (in Georgian buildings at the top of Mill Lane in the Market Square), the whole retaining the name Ludlow Grammar School. Ludlow College is now a coeducational sixth form college. Local historian David Lloyd (who went to the school) has a book "Country Grammar School: History of Ludlow Grammar School" published by Ludlow College in 1977. Copies remain available.

Linney

Grave Hill, it passes over the railway which for a short distance is in a tunnel.

Mill Street

Bell Lane

Raven Lane

Silkmill Lane with the old town walls immediately to its South, markes the Southern boundary of the mediaeval town. The streets above here have retained their original general plan. Many buildings in the old section of town are in off-street courtyards or lanes with no road access.

Broad Street

St Johns Road

Old Street

The Feathers Hotel, Grade 1 listed. Built 1619 as a home for an attorney, after 1670 it was converted into an inn (and an outside balcony added), and in 1863 became the Feathers Hotel. The street front is early 17th C. The studded plank door is the original.

Corve Street

Bull Ring

Corve Street

Coronation Avenue

Bromfield Road

Ludlow Castle Tennis Club

This area is now full of houses - there is little to indicate the railway siding was there.

At this point the road passes through the building. The single lane passage through is quite narrow and today's wider vehicles have been scouring the old brickwork.

This building on the corner is Castle Lodge, in private hands and in need of serious sums of money. It is open to the public most days. Grade 2* listed building, mostly 16th C with a 14th C door arch. The lower storeys were built c 1570 by Thomas Sackford, the upper storey added later. In 1938 Hansard (parliaments proceedings) recorded an intention to sell the building to America but that did not happen. The ground floor has an excellent pendant ceiling and there is much quality carved woodwork.

Ludlow Market. The market is open most days with varying numbers of stalls with special themed products for each day.

Ludlow Castle, probably 11th C. Grade 1 listed; Scheduled Ancient Monument. Privately owned with public access. Grounds used for annual Ludlow Show. The Earls of Powis purchased the castle from the Crown in 1811.

Ludlow Railway Station. Opened 1852. To the South (right of image) the line passes to Hereford and Cardiff.

This railway building survives as a brewery (Ludlow Brewery).

Railway line heads North to Shrewsbury

St Laurence's Church. Norman. Expanded and rebuilt 1199. Major rebuilding 1433, 1471. There were internal modifications in 1860, and again in 2013 with the fashionable "re-organisation" - pew removal and installation of movable chairs. Normally it is possible to climb the 135 foot high tower from where good views are available. The octagonal South porch facing us but hidden from view is 14th C. 1764 3 manual Snetzler organ, fourth manual added 19th C. Restored 1980's and additional pipework 2006.

Ludlow signal box