Ludlow Castle.

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Over the years, there have been many discussions on whether or not Ludlow Castle began its life as a fortress and ended it as a palace. It is my intention to contemplate whether this interpretation is correct or not. Based on my recent visit to the castle and from various secondary sources, I will decide the stages the castle went through in the past. I will come to a conclusion- whether it be that it did indeed begin life as a fortress and end as a palace, or whether it started as a fortress and fulfilled many other roles and did not end as a palace.

The battle of Hastings was in fact the reason why castles were invented William of Normandy came up with the clever idea of a castle as not only did they keep the enemy out, it was also a base for people involved in the battles. A castle in in fact a fortified building which is used for defence. Ludlow needed this as they were going into battle. The people of Ludlow had to decide where to place the castle. They had to ensure that it would be beneficial for them. They came to an agreement that it had to be near a river and had to be high on a hill as if it were high on a hill they would have the advantage because they would have the better position in terms of shooting. They decided to place a castle in Ludlow as it was becoming a growing town and therefore, a good place for a castle to be placed.

At first, the castle belonged to the De Lacy family. This family were extremely powerful Normans. Powerful because Walter De Lacy, who was the father of Roger De lacy, had supported King William during his invasion in 1066. Ludlow was firstly recognised in 1138, however people suspected that it was probably built around 1086-1094. This part will be about the castles fortress stage which was durily could the defendant avoid any arrows being shot into the castle, the small archways only allowed small amounts of people to get into the castle at one time. The magazine, otherwise known as the ice house was effective as it was firstly a place where people kept there armour before and after battle, but later on, it was a place for food to be kept in. So in both periods of times, it was an essential part of the castle. There were also portcullis  and crenulations present in the castle. The portcullis was important in the fortress stage as it prevented the enemy access in to the castle. Crenulations were also an important feature in the fortress stage of the castle as it protected the castle.

The castle also went through a palatial stage in its life too. This stage was the time when people started to live in the castle and not just use it for battle bases. There was a greater importance in constructing buildings such as the garderobes and the great chamber block as if people were to live there, they would need these essential buildings to live and maintain their everyday lifestyle. There were many features in the castle which portray that there were people living in the castle. Examples of these are the fireplaces and the kitchen. St peters chapel also held various marriage ceremonies. This shows that the castle was not just used for battles.
As I have stated before, the ice-house/magazine used to be a place where people stored their armour. That was in the 11th and 12th century. However, in my visit to the castle, I recall the old ice house being a place to store food. The armour has been replaced with food which therefore conveys to us that people did once live in the castle and makes us see it as a palatial stage in the castles life.
I have also found out that in St Mary s chapel, there used to be masses held there daily. In addition, there were many ovens in the kitchen which could suggest that there were a lot of people to cook for. No only do both of these show palatial features within the castles life, the ovens position in the kitchen, or even the kitchens position in the castle suggest that great amounts of people had previously lives in the castle. By the kitchen being far away from the Great Hall, it suggests to us that they placed it there for a reason. That reason being in-case of an emergency. I.e. Fire. If there ever was a fire in the kitchen, the Lords  and Ladies in the Great Hall would not be harmed one bit as they would not have been anywhere near it.
The castle contains a block of toilets. This shows that whoever did actually live in the castle, was extremely wealthy. Wealthy because they didn t want just a normal toilet, they wanted a block of them. This shows them to be wealthy and therefore adds to the palatial features in the castle. Ludlow castle also contains a solar block. This was used frequently as it was the best room in terms of sunlight. (It lets in the most sunlight and because of this, the solar block became very popular with the people living in the bright environment.) In my opinion, this next point I m about to reveal is what makes the castle amazing in its palatial features. Before Henry viii, Catherine of Aragon had her honeymoon at Ludlow and spent most of her time in the Solar Block. That for me is the best, most important palatial feature that Ludlow Castle can offer. Royalty has actually been present in Ludlow Castle.
The Great Hall is another room that s fit for royalty. It has 2 entrances. One for the Lords and one for the Ladies. It also contains corbels.
Ludlow Castle also replaced the older, Norman windows with some new windows. Now the new ones had mullion framing around it. This made the windows more wide and allowed more light to enter.

Throughout  the 1600;s, Ludlow castle was used as an Administrative Centre. The judges Lodgings, which may I add was the last building to be built in Ludlow Castle, was made during this period for 2 purposes. 1- so that the judges could stay there, and 2- so that the people who lived there could impress the queens and judges. Also, a prison was added- hence the name Administrative Centre. However, in the prisons, larger windows were added so that they could feel more comfortable and 1 more thing. No, larger windows weren t added so that the prisoners could escape. Bars were added on top of them to ensure that the prisoners could not get away.
When Ludlow Cstle became an Administrative Centre, people thought that it was a very important place. They thought that it was so important that Ludlow nearly became the capital of Wales. A stable was also built. This was due to there being prisoners. They built the stables so that they could have a place where they could keep their prisoners locked up before their trails.
During the civil war of 1642-1646, Ludlow Castle got besieged. However, it did indeed remain strong. It was attacked by the parliamentarians. It was not at all ruined as such and proof of that is the fact that the castle is still standing today. After this period of time, no one lived in the castle permanently ever again. It was left in a ruin. It seemed that the people of Ludlow did no longer need the castle in terms of housing.

The castle went through a final stage in its life. This stage is from the 20th-21st century. This is a tourist attraction. During the 19th century, the castle had many uses sports wise. They also held public events. All of which were held in the outer bailey.
Shakespearian plays take place every year for the public. Also festivals and car shows. Evidence of this is in the leaflet called,  Ludlow castle Shropshire  which it attached at the back. You can also spend the day in luxurious tea rooms which again is open to the public.(With payments)
Handrails/banisters have also been added to the castle for the publics safety. The porters Lodging ha also been converted into a gift shop for the visitors at Ludlow Castle. These past points prove that Ludlow Castle went through a 4th stage in it s life, this being a tourist attraction. However, they are not the only pieces of evidence. Ludlow castle has also added more wider, modern windows. They did this for 2 reasons. 1- for the publics safety, so that the public are able to see things clearly and 2- so that the castles is more appealing to people. Glass tiles have also been added. Especially to Mortimer  Tower. Each year, there are 50,00 visitors. This makes the castle very valuable and well respected.
In the keep, there were 3 murder holes used for defence. However, when it became a tourist attraction, the people who owned the castle decided to block them out the safety reasons.
More evidence of the castle being a tourist attraction is the fact that signs have been put up so that visitors know where things are e.g. toilets, gift shops. The last 2 points were and still are beneficial for the tourists  who are at the castle. After the castles stage as a ruin, people decided that if it was going to be a tourist attraction, they would need to fix things to make it look more presentable. They have repaved pavements for health and safety reasons for both themselves and the public. Metal grids have also been added on the windows. This stops the tourists falling out and harming themselves. The current owner of the castle- Jane George Herbert, is the 8th earl of Powis. The earl of Powis who brought the castle in 1811, had a goal, an aim, a dream. This was to keep the castle in an untouched ruin. Mortimer s Tower has tow indent son the floor. It has previously been filled in for both the publics and the workers health.

Over the years, Ludlow Castle has played 4 different roles. These being a fortress, a palace, an Administrative Centre and a tourist attraction. It DID NOT go through just 2 stages.  Ludlow castle began its life as a fortress and ended as a palace.  This interpretation is not accurate and is incorrect. I feel that I have proven it is incorrect by identifying the specific roles that the castle undertook. I feel that the castle has kept the same style, although having numerous changes to its structure. They have managed to change the castles dangerous/hazardous points, without loosing its character. Overall, I have reinforced the fact that Ludlow Castle didn t begin its life as a fortress and end as a palace. That after that, it fulfilled 2 other roles. I feel that I have effectively done this too.


By Danielle Greening
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