Page 26 - Eat Sleep Live Herefordshire Guide 2019

Ludlow
shropshire foodie independent castle markets
Ludlow sits genteelly in the cradle of South Shropshire, on Herefordshire’s northern border and is a real survivor of the Marcher Kings, having become a stylish and picturesque destination for discerning foodies and talented artists.
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Its recorded history begins in 1086 with its impressive castle built by local Norman overlords, the De Lacy family. Ludlow’s was one of a line of castles along the Welsh Marches built to defend the border and subdue the local Anglo Saxon population.
As the settlement grew, Ludlow developed into a fine example of a planned town, expanding around a grid network of streets, adapted to fit the local topography. Wide main streets were intersected by narrow side streets, with the flow of people drawn to the centre for the market, church and castle. The grid nature of the medieval centre of Ludlow is still very obvious today.
The well-preserved castle is open for tours and hosts many events, becoming famous for music and theatre performances, and its very successful food festivals, fairs and medieval themed events The Spring Festival, Food and Drink Festival and Medieval Christmas Fayre bringing together superb local artisan makers and producers to be enjoyed and celebrated by foodie lovers.
Rich in Black and White historic charm, with over 500 listed buildings, keen to preserve this, Ludlow’s traders have actively boycotted the advance of too many large national retailers, making the stunning towering buildings a discovery of wonderful independently owned
24 The ULTIMATE Herefordshire & The Marches Guide
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