Norman Wisdom

Today we spent a happy few hours in, and around Ludlow.

We parked on the roadside at Dinham Bridge, followed a well  defined track adjacent to the River Teme, and climbed up and over Whitecliffe Common.

The views over the town are expansive, far reaching and impressive.

Ludlow developed as a prosperous centre of trade after the Norman invasion of the late 11th century. Whilst the invasion and subjugation of the population was not exactly greeted with glee it did bring many benefits and improvements. Ludlow, like many other towns, expanded greatly, due largely to the burgeoning wool trade, whilst  throughout the mainland the 'motte and bailey' style of construction was introduced in the building of castles, and many new churches were built such as St Laurence's, the largest church in Shropshire.

In the 12th century many timber built castles were replaced with stone built fortifications and Ludlow boasts a wonderful example, open to the public and enjoying a fine elevated position looking out over the Shropshire Hills and countryside.

Our walk brought us down to the quaint and impossibly beautiful precinct of Ludford, where a stunning bridge crosses the river, leading us back to the outer reaches of the town. 

My collage shows the view from the bridge, looking up Lower Broad Street, and the magnificent Broad Gate. 

Ludlow is a fine old town, with myriad lanes, byways and quiet backwaters which give us more than a glimpse of it's history and progress down the ages.

Yes, while I didn't vote for it at the time, the Norman invasion left us a legacy that we still see and enjoy today, in the layout of towns like Ludlow, with its network of quaint roads and side streets, and stunning old buildings that offer more than a glimpse of our fascinating and often violent past.