LUDLOW,
WITH THE VILLAGES OF BROMFIELD, STANTON LACY, ONIBURY, AND NEIGHBOURHOODS.
Ludlow is a market town, and borough, both corporate and parliamentary, having separate jurisdiction, locally in the hundred of Munslow; 143 miles N.W. by N. from London, and 29 S. by E. from Shrewsbury, and a station on the Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway. It is pleasantly situated on an eminence, in a fertile and picturesque district, commanding a variety of beautiful prospects. The ancient British name of this place was Dynan Llys Twysog, or the ‘Prince’s Palace,’ and is supposed to have been the residence of some prince of the country, prior to the subjugation of Wales by Edward I. By the Saxons it was called Leadlowe, Ludelaue, and Ludlowe, which last name, with a slight variation, it still retains. The town is about a mile in length, and was formerly surrounded by a wall, with towers at certain distances; some part of the wall still remains, but the towers have long since disappeared, as have also the gates (which were seven in number), with the exception of one called Broadgate. The streets are mostly wide and well paved, lying in a diverging and inclined direction from the highest, or central part of the town. The houses are in general well built, and some elegant, while all are more regularly disposed than in most inland towns of the same antiquity. The town is lighted with gas, and several of the public buildings of Ludlow are remarkably neat structures. Nearly in the centre of the town, at the top of Broad-street, stands the cross a handsome stone erection; and in Castle-street is the market-house, a large building, beneath which is an area, serving as a corn-market, and the upper rooms, which are commodious, are used for the corporation meetings, balls, assemblies, &c. Two handsome buildings, originating with some spirited gentlemen of the town, were erected in Mill-street and Castle-street, as public rooms, and they include a subscription library, conservative reading rooms; together with spacious ball and refreshment rooms. The museum of the natural history society, a valuable collection, is arranged within the building in Mill street; and here likewise are the offices of the savings’ bank; the mechanics’ institute is in Castle-street—they are all flourishing establishments. The Guildhall, where the quarter sessions and other courts are held, is a neat, commodious, modern structure. To the west of the church stands a range of buildings, called the College, and there is a prison, named Gaolford’s tower, a commodious edifice, erected by the corporation in 1764. But the object of perhaps the greatest interest, both to the inhabitants of Ludlow and the visitor, and that to which the town owed its early importance, is the castle; which stands on a bold wooded rock, at the north-west angle of the town, and commands extensive and lovely prospects. It was founded according to the generally received opinion, by Roger de Montgomery, about the year 1130, who strongly environed it by lofty embattled walls of great thickness, with towers at convenient distances. This noble baronial fortress now presents a mass of magnificent ruins, retaining, however, ample assurance of its former extent and glory. Along the sides of the castle eminence, are public walks, laid out in 1772, at the instigation of the Countess Powis, Lucien Buonaparte, his family and suite, when prisoners of war in this country, occupied the house belonging to the Earl Powis, adjoining the castle.
The manufacture of gloves, which at one time was considerable, is now extinct. Malting at the present time may be taken as the principal branch, and there are several mills for grinding corn, upon the Teme, which river runs close to the town. A brass and iron foundry, one ropery, and two tanneries, may be mentioned as the other chief branches—exclusive of the general business (supported in a respectable town); and the inns, of which latter there are several excellent ones. On the Clee hills, about six miles from the town, are coal mines. The inhabitants received a charter of incorporation from Edward IV, which remained in force until the Municipal Reform Act (passed in 1835), vested the government of the borough in a mayor, four aldermen, and twelve councillors, assisted by a recorder, and other officers. Quarter sessions are held, at which capital offences can be tried; and there is a court of record every Tuesday, for the recovery of debts to any amount: in both these courts the recorder presides as judge. The debt court, however, has become inoperative, if not superseded by the new County Court—Ludlow being included in the twenty-seventh circuit of towns under the acts for recovery of debts to any amount not exceeding £50. The burgesses first exercised the elective franchise in the 12th of Edward IV, since which time they have continued to send two members: the present members are Lord William P. F. Powlett, 19 Curzon-street, May Fair, London, and Col. the Honourable P. E. Herbert, 45 Berkeley-square, London. Races are held annually on the 17th of August, and efforts are being made to establish races also in the month of November, and a small theatre is open in Mill-street during the race meeting.
The parish church of Saint Lawrence (formerly collegiate), a very spacious and elegant cruciform edifice, appears to have been built in the reigns of Henry VII. and VIII. From the centre rises a lofty square tower, embattled and handsomely embellished: this tower adds, in no small degree, to the beauty of many of the views in the surrounding country. In the chancel are several fine monuments of the Lords Presidents of the council of Wales, who resided in the neighbouring castle. The living is a rectory, in the gift of the Crown; the Rev. John Phillips is the present incumbent, and the Rev. Robert W. Russell, B.C.L. is the lecturer. There are places of worship for Independents, and Wesleyan and Primitive Methodists. Almshouses, containing thirty-three apartments for indigent persons, founded by Mr. John Hosier, merchant; others, called Fox’s almshouses, erected in 1590, and a well sustained dispensary for the sick poor, are among the charities of Ludlow. The grammar school, an excellent foundation, in Mill-street, is under the regulations of a charter granted by Edward IV. by which both the ancient and modern languages are taught; and in a national school are instructed a considerable number of children of both sexes. The healthful situation of the town and the beauty of the surrounding country have been the means of inducing numerous families, of independent fortune, to make Ludlow and its vicinage their residence. The principal seats in the neighbourhood are Oakley Park, two miles hence, the property of the Hon. Robert Henry Clive, M.P.; Ludford House, Francis Lechmere Chariton, Esq.; Caynham Court, Sir William Curtis, Bart. and Downton Hall, Sir W. E. R. Boughton, Bart. The principal market, which is for grain, is held on Monday; and the smaller markets for provisions on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. The fairs are the Monday before 13th February, Tuesday before Easter, Wednesday in Whitsun-week, May 1st, August 21st, September 28th, the first Monday in November, and December 6th. Large quantities of butter and cheese are brought to the first and last mentioned fairs, and hops, cattle, horses, sheep, and pigs, to the others. The municipal borough of Ludlow (which consists of the parish of St. Laurence), contained, in 1841, 5,064 inhabitants, and in 1851, 4,691, being a decrease of 373, but the parliamentary borough (which consists of the parish of St. Laurence, part of the parish of Bromfield, of Stanton Lacy and of Ludford, part in the county of Salop, and part in the county of Hereford), contained, in 1851, 5,376
Bromfield is a village in the parish of its name 3 miles N.W. by W. from Ludlow. The parish church dedicated to St. Mary is part of a larger conventual church that belonged to Benedictine Priory, founded about 1155, a small portion of the ruins is included within the grounds of Oakley Park. The living is a vicarage in the gift of Earl Powis. Population of the parish in 1851 was 682, of which number 541 was returned for the village.
Stanton Lacy is a parish 3 miles N.N.W. from Ludlow. The parish church is dedicated to St. Peter. The living is a vicarage in the gift of the Earl of Craven. The population of the parish in 1851, was 1,556.
Onibury is a parish 5½ miles N.W. from Ludlow. The parish church is dedicated to St. Michael; the living is a vicarage in the gift of the Bishop of Hereford. A court baron is occasionally held here. The population in 1851, was 362.
POST OFFICE, Broad-street, Elizabeth Sankey, Post Mistress.—Letters arrive from London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Bristol, Manchester, and parts North every morning at ten minutes before seven, and are despatched every evening at a quarter past seven.—Letters arrive from Hereford, Leominster and Tenbury, every morning at eight, and are despatched every morning at a quarter past six.—Letters from Knighton, Builth and South Wales, arrive every evening at eight, and are despatched every morning at six.
NOBILITY, GENTRY AND CLERGY.
Acton Miss Sarah, Tenbury road