Nooks and Corners of ShropshireTimmins, H. Thornhill (Henry Thornhill)
History
Nooks and Corners of Shropshire
Timmins, H. Thornhill (Henry Thornhill)
Shropshire (England) -- Description and travel
The antiquary may discover much matter of this sort in the course of a
stroll through St. Lawrence's church; but, not to pursue the subject ad
nauseam, we will now sally forth into the town again, and continue our
peregrinations. Before leaving the church, however, let us glance at the
ancient font, a strange, archaic-looking stone vessel, large, plain and
bowl-shaped, and bearing traces of the days when it did duty as a
watering trough somewhere in the vicinity.
Once more in the open air we turn towards the east end of the
churchyard, where the ancient abode known as the Reader's House raises
its old weatherbeaten gable beside the pathway; a delightful jumble of
rough stonework, carved beams and dim, diamond-paned windows. The low
portal, enclosing an ancient nail-studded door, is beautiful with rare
old Jacobean carving, and a row of plain brick dwellings alongside
contrast not unpleasingly with their venerable neighbour.
* * * * *
A terraced walk on the north side of the churchyard occupies the site of
the old town wall, and embraces a fair prospect over the surrounding
country, a goodly, fertile landscape, very pleasant to behold. In
ancient times, before the Normans built their church on the site of the
present edifice, a prehistoric tumulus occupied the western end of what
is now the graveyard. From this monticle the town is said to acquire
its name, the word Ludlow being derived from Leod-hlaw, the People's
Hill, shewing the place is at least as old as Saxon times.
[Illustration: Palmers Guild, Ludlow.]
Of the 'fayre House' of the Palmers' Guild 'at the west end of the
Paroche Churche-yard,' there are some scanty remains incorporated amidst
more modern buildings, now not easy to find, nor yet very imposing when
discovered. And as for the 'Hospitall or Almes-house of a 30 poore
Folke,' built by one Hosyer in the year of grace 1468, and noticed by
Leland, its place is now usurped by the gaunt red-brick edifice opposite
the west front of the church.
We now retrace our steps to the Butter Cross, calling to mind old
Churchyard's lines on Ludlow:
'Who that lists to walk the Towne about
Shall find therein some rare and pleasant things.'
Yonder before us lies Broad Street, a spacious, respectable-looking
thoroughfare still, if not as in Leland's time, 'the fayrest part of the
Towne;' with Butcher Row under the pillars to the left, the Angel Hotel
farther on, and the solitary survivor of Ludlow's seven town-gates
spanning the lower end of the street.
So down Broad Street we now take our way, pausing beneath the grim old
archway to notice the grooves for the portcullis in its massive masonry.
Two semicircular towers, jutting boldly forth, protect the gateway upon
its outer side, and command the approach from Ludford Bridge. Sober,
antiquated tenements cling like parasites around the ancient gateway,
and the humble Wheat-Sheaf Inn thrusts out its bar-parlour window upon
the site of the old town moat.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account