Ludlow

I’ve wanted to visit Ludlow ever since reading AE Housman’s poetry in A Shropshire Lad when I was 18. It’s taken a while, but we got there. Here’s the card for Ludlow in the Shropshire set, part of the card game Counties of England. It’s a fun and educational game where you collect cards of places in sets of counties, a lot like playing Happy Families.

The card for Ludlow has the castle as its image. The game was first produced in 1866 but had multiple editions, updated for each era. The population of Ludlow is shown as 5,680. It’s now 11,000.

There are fabulous views from the Castle.

Here’s The Recruit, which features Ludlow, by AE Housman:

A Shropshire Lad, III – The Recruit

Leave your home behind, lad, And reach your friends your hand, And go, and luck go with you While Ludlow tower shall stand. Oh, come you home of Sunday While Ludlow streets are still And Ludlow bells are calling To farm and lane and mill, Or come you home of Monday When Ludlow market hums And Ludlow chimes are playing ‘The conquering hero comes’, Come you home a hero, Or come not home at all, The lads you leave will mind you Till Ludlow tower shall fall. And you will list the bugle That blows in lands of morn, And make the foes of England Be sorry you were born. And you till trump of doomsday On lands of morn may lie, And make the hearts of comrades Be heavy where you die. Leave your home behind you, Your friends by field and town: Oh, town and field will mind you Till Ludlow tower is down.

I love the doomed atmosphere, the strong rhythm, and simple language of Housman’s poetry.

We’re staying in the heart of Ludlow, next to the Assembly Rooms and the outdoor market. It’s a perfect spot for browsing antique shops and feasting at The Fish House, sitting outdoors and having a taste of everything fishy, all of which is top quality and delicious apart from the smoked shrimps. Just because you can smoke it doesn’t mean you should.

I hope it’s a long time ‘Till Ludlow tower shall fall.’