Ludlow Castle
A short drive down the A49 from Stokesay brings us to Ludlow and it's majestic Castle towering over Dinham bridge and the River Teme below, Shropshire, England, UK
Ludlow Castle stands like a colossus atop a high bluff over the River Teme. The first fortifications here were probably by Roger de Lacy, Earl of Shrewsbury, shortly after 1086. By the time de Lacy was banished by William II in 1095 a curtain wall with defensive towers had been built around a bailey.
Ludlow was built in stone from the beginning, rather than hastily thrown together in earth and timber and later converted to stone as with most other Norman fortresses.
The curtain is defended by a ditch cut into the solid rock of the cliffs, crossed by a single drawbridge. Outside this ditch, or moat, is a larger outer bailey, itself surrounded by an extension of the curtain wall. There is only one large entry through the outer curtain, from Castle Street, while the other sides of the site are protected by the high, steep cliffs.
The outer bailey contains Mortimer's Tower, originally the west gate to the castle, and St Peter's Chapel, added in the 14th century. Within the 11th-century inner curtain wall is a sturdy stone keep, originally used as a gatehouse. Beside the gatehouse is the Judge's Lodging, added in the Elizabethan period.
Text source: www.britainexpress.com/attractions.htm?attraction=91
Dinham Bridge, crossing the River Teme, with Ludlow Castle above. Originally built in 1823 by Thomas Telford. Only one arch remains of the original bridge.
Ludlow Castle
A short drive down the A49 from Stokesay brings us to Ludlow and it's majestic Castle towering over Dinham bridge and the River Teme below, Shropshire, England, UK
Ludlow Castle stands like a colossus atop a high bluff over the River Teme. The first fortifications here were probably by Roger de Lacy, Earl of Shrewsbury, shortly after 1086. By the time de Lacy was banished by William II in 1095 a curtain wall with defensive towers had been built around a bailey.
Ludlow was built in stone from the beginning, rather than hastily thrown together in earth and timber and later converted to stone as with most other Norman fortresses.
The curtain is defended by a ditch cut into the solid rock of the cliffs, crossed by a single drawbridge. Outside this ditch, or moat, is a larger outer bailey, itself surrounded by an extension of the curtain wall. There is only one large entry through the outer curtain, from Castle Street, while the other sides of the site are protected by the high, steep cliffs.
The outer bailey contains Mortimer's Tower, originally the west gate to the castle, and St Peter's Chapel, added in the 14th century. Within the 11th-century inner curtain wall is a sturdy stone keep, originally used as a gatehouse. Beside the gatehouse is the Judge's Lodging, added in the Elizabethan period.
Text source: www.britainexpress.com/attractions.htm?attraction=91
Dinham Bridge, crossing the River Teme, with Ludlow Castle above. Originally built in 1823 by Thomas Telford. Only one arch remains of the original bridge.