Ludlow Castle (Wales)

Ludlow Castle is a ruined medieval fortification in the town of the same name in the English county of Shropshire, situated on a headland overlooking the River Teme. The castle was probably founded by Walter de Lacy after the Norman conquest and was one of the first stone castles to be built in England. During the 12th century civil war the castle changed hands several times between the de Lacys and rival suitors, and was further fortified with a large tower and large outdoor courtyard. In the mid-13th century, Ludlow passed to Geoffrey de Geneville who rebuilt part of the inner courtyard and the castle played a role in the Second War of the Barons. Roger Mortimer acquired the castle in 1301, further expanding the internal complex of buildings, and the Mortimer family maintained Ludlow for over a century.

Richard, the Duke of York, inherited the castle in 1425 and became an important symbol of Yorkist authority during the Wars of the Roses. When Richard's son, Edward IV, ascended the throne in 1461, it passed into the ownership of the Crown. Ludlow Castle was chosen as the seat of the Council in the Marches of Wales, effectively acting as the capital of Wales, and was extensively renovated during the 16th century. In the 17th century the castle was luxuriously furnished, hosting cultural events such as the first representation of John Milton's Comus mask. Ludlow Castle was held by the Royalists during the English Civil War of 1640, until it was besieged and taken by a parliamentary army in 1646. The castle's contents were sold and a garrison was held there for much of the interregnum.

With the Restoration of 1660, the Council was re-established and the castle repaired, but Ludlow never recovered from the years of the civil war and when the Council was finally abolished in 1689 it fell into neglect. Henry Herbert, the Earl of Powis, leased the property from the Crown in 1772, extensively beautifying the ruins, and his brother-in-law, Edward Clive, bought the castle outright in 1811. A villa was built in the outer court but the rest of the castle remained largely intact, attracting an increasing number of visitors and becoming a popular spot for artists. After 1900, Ludlow Castle was cleared of vegetation and over the course of the century was extensively repaired by the Powis Estate and government agencies. In the 21st century it is still owned by the Earl of Powis and served as a tourist attraction.

Ludlow's architecture reflects its long history, preserving a blend of different building styles. The castle is approximately 500 by 435 feet (152 by 133 m) in size, covering nearly 5 acres (2.0 ha). The outer courtyard includes the Castle House building, now used by the Powis Estate as offices and housing, while the inner courtyard, separated by a stone trench, houses the Great Tower, solar block, Great Hall and Great Chamber block , along with later additions from the 16th century, as well as a rare circular chapel, modeled on the sanctuary in the church of the Holy Sepulcher. English Heritage notes that the ruins represent "an extraordinarily complete multiphase complex" and considers Ludlow "one of the most beautiful castles in England".