Steeped in history, stronghold of the Marcher Lords, the place where Prince Arthur died.
For anyone with an interest in medieval English history, Ludlow Castle is a 'must see' place. You could be forgiven for thinking that anyone who was anyone between 1300 and 1600 came to Ludlow. The castle's story covers everything from passionate love, royal ambition and intrigue to tragic deaths and treason.
The Mortimers who held court here were practically rulers of the Welsh Marches. For a short time, Roger Mortimer, lover of Queen Isabella, the She-Wolf of France, actually held almost full power in England when Edward II was deposed and murdered.
Years later, the Duke of York who was prominent in the Wars of the Roses held Ludlow as his centre of influence. He fought a battle nearby, fleeing as his forces faced defeat, leaving his Duchess at the mercy of the Lancastrian troops.
The unfortunate sons of Edward IV - son of the ill fated Duke of York, known to history as 'The Princes in The Tower' lived in the castle for a period of their youth, leaving there on the journey to London to be crowned King Edward V. Of course thanks to their uncle Richard of Gloucester, neither Edward or his younger brother Richard were to rule. They were taken into the Tower, never to be seen again. History is still debating what happened to them, and who was responsible.
Not many years later, Henry VII sent his eldest son and heir, Prince Arthur and his new wife, Catherine of Aragon to Ludlow as newly weds. Tragically Arthur became ill soon after and died. His heart is buried at Ludlow, his body lies in Worcester Cathedral. Catherine fell ill too, but survived and married Arthur's younger brother, Henry VIII. The rest is history!
Even Henry's daughter, Mary Tudor spent several years with her court at Ludlow while still a Princess.
The castle fell into a poor state in the years following the Civil War, but is now well loved and cared for.
Amongst it's very many attractions is a rare circular Norman chapel.
Everywhere you go in the castle you feel a close connection with the many historical characters who've lived here. Indeed, so atmospheric is it that there are several ghost stories about the castle too. There are numerous romantic historical novels using Ludlow in their plots.
The latest that I know of, is a fictional story by Phil Rickman called 'The Smile of a Ghost'. It's part of his Merrily Watkins series about a female Church of England Vicar who plays detective in semi-supernatural plots. If that sounds a bit weird, well I can't think of a better book to read before a visit to Ludlow.
