Monument Type(s):

• BOWLING GREEN (16th century to 17th century - 1500 AD to 1699 AD)
• GARDEN (16th century to Late 18th century - 1500 AD to 1799 AD)
• REAL TENNIS COURT (16th century to 17th century - 1500 AD to 1699 AD)
• CASTLE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1901 AD)
• COURT HOUSE (Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1901 AD)

Summary

The castle was used by the Council of the Welsh Marches from C16th. New buildings were built in the outer bailey and inner bailey, and medieval buildings were converted to new uses.

Related records

Associated Finds: None recorded

Associated Events

• ESA6315 - 2002 DBA at Castle House, Ludlow, by Ron Shoesmith

Description

CMHTS Comment:- In C16 the castle was turned into an administrative centre. Defined as component of postmedieval town; outer ditch defined as open space (SA6179) <1>

The castle was used by the Council of the Welsh Marches from C16th. New buildings were built in the outer bailey and inner bailey; medieval buildings were converted to new uses. St Peters Chapel was converted to a courthouse (PRN06169). A new bridge was built over outer ditch. Enclosures were constructed in outer bailey for prisoners and for a timberyard. There was a real tennis court in the C16th, and a new house (The Fair House) built by Sir Henry Sidney. A detailed description of the buildings in the castle in early C18th is transcribed, which identifies various buildings. <2>

William Stukeley's plan of c1721 shows layout of castle (reproduced). The "Governors' House" built in 1581 was in ruins in 1765 when elevations were drawn (reproduced). A further plan was drawn in 1771 by T E Pritchard (reproduced). Both plans show the northern part of the outer bailey was divided into a garden and a bowling green. <3>

CMHTS Report. <4>

A desk-based assessment was undertaken in 2002 of Castle House (PRN 10949), now in use of flats, a complex building that incorporates various structures including part of the Castle's curtain wall. This describes the history and development of the castle from the 16th century, using a range of documentary, cartographic and illustrative resources. Includes a phased plan of development in this area of the castle bailey. ->

-> Change of use from a family seat to an administrative centre required the alteration of existing buildings and the construction of additional ones: as well as work in or near the inner bailey, extensive works were also carried out in the outer bailey to the south of the gate house including the building of the porter’s lodge now used as the ticket office and shop.->

-> Prior to use by the Council in the Marches there are no records of buildings within the outer bailey to the north of the gate-house, and it could be that this area was traditionally used for recreational purposes so explaining why Sir Henry Sidney (President of the, Council, active 157 1-1575) built a tennis court here. This was for “real tennis” which is played in a walled covered court, one of the walls being the existing curtain-wall the others being purpose built. A garden and bowling green were also provided in this area and probably some sort of shelter north of the tennis court. When the castle was abandoned following the abolition of the Council in 1689 many of the buildings fell into decay but the grounds were still used by the citizens of Ludlow.
<5>

<01> Dalwood Hal, 1993/ 1996, CMHTS SMR Records Shropshire: Ludlow, Ludlow 6178 (Record form). SSA19968.

<02> Hope W H St John, 1909, The Castle of Ludlow, p263,269,299,327-8 (Article in serial). SSA4701.

<03> Lloyd D J & Klein P, 1984, Ludlow: an Historic Town in Words and Pictures, p60,70,71 (Monograph). SSA11577.

<04> Dalwood Hal et al, 1996, Archaeological Assessment of Ludlow, Shropshire (CMHTS) (Historic landscape survey report). SSA12072.

<05> Shoesmith Ron, 2002, Castle House, Ludlow: a desk-based study (Deskbased survey report). SSA23343.

Sources

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.