Ludlow

Ludlow, small market town in the county of Shropshire, situated in the Ludlow parliamentary constituency. It is located on the Teme River near its junction with the Corve, about 40 km (25 mi) north of Hereford, and about 230 km (143 mi) north-west of London.

Important from early times because of its location, Ludlow may have been of pre-Saxon origin. It was the seat of the Lord Presidents of the Marches, established by Edward IV in 1461, who met there until 1689. The castle of the Lord Presidents, now a ruin, saw the first presentation of Comus (1634), a masque by the English poet John Milton. The poet Samuel Butler wrote most of his satirical poem Hudibras (1663-1678) while serving as steward of the castle. The ashes of the poet A. E. Housman are buried in St Lawrence’s churchyard in the town.

Ludlow is situated in a farming area, and agriculture and related industries are the mainstays of the local economy. There is a little tourism too, visitors attracted by the medieval castle ruins, old town wall, the town’s half-timbered houses, and the medieval bridge over the Teme. Population (1990 estimate) 8,000.