Chapter XLIV: Part 44

In the 47th of Henry III., Roger Mortimer, James de Alditheley, and Hamo L’Estrange had a general rendezvous with the barons of the Marches at Ludlow, to concert proper measures for suppressing the insolence of Simon de Montford, Earl of Leicester, and the other barons who had taken up arms against the king. The Earl of Leicester, to oppose the powers of the Marches, made a league with Leoline Prince of Wales, who with united forces attacked the castles of Hay and Ludlow, which were both burnt and demolished. Roger Mortimer, governor of the castle in the time of Edward II., was committed to the tower for a riot that he promoted on account of his dissatisfaction with the ministry of the Spencers: being jealous of a design against his life, he made an entertainment for Sir Stephen de Segrave, the constable of the tower, and in the midst of their cups and jollity, he privately gave him a soporiferous medicine, which, with the contrivance of his keeper, gave him an opportunity of sliding down a rope, and so flying into France. Upon his return, out of a grateful acknowledgment of divine providence for his deliverance out of the tower, he built a chapel in Ludlow castle, dedicated it to St. Peter, and appointed a priest to celebrate divine service for ever. In the second of Edward III. he was made chief justice of Wales, and created Earl of March; and the same year he celebrated with great magnificence the feast of the round table at Bedford. Soon after, the king making a progress into Wales, he was entertained at Ludlow. The promotion of this lord to exalted stations made him excessively proud, and he eventually fell into disgrace at court. He was apprehended at Nottingham, and carried under arrest to London; all his land being seized, and his chattles secured at the same time to the king’s use. The two main articles against him were, his having a hand in conspiring the murder of King Edward II., and his lewd familiarity with the queen, for which he was executed near Smithfield, where his corpse hung two days, and was exposed to greater indignities than usual. The castle, on his insurrection, having come into the possession of Richard Duke of York, was subjected to a siege by the forces of Henry VI. As he advanced towards Ludlow, the army of the Yorkists was drawn out into an intrenched camp in the fields of Ludford. Sir Andrew Trollop, who had been made marshal of the Yorkist army, deserted to the royalists, carrying with him the veteran troops under his particular command, and betrayed all their councils to the king. Dismayed by this defection, the Yorkists broke up their camp and fled, and the Lancasterians entered Ludlow, and wreaked their vengeance on the town and castle, which are said by old historians to have been plundered to “the bare walls.” The Duchess of York, with her two sons, were taken and placed in safe ward, and many of the rich partisans of the duke were executed, and their estates confiscated.

Edward Earl of March was on the Welch border when he received the first intelligence of the disastrous battle of Wakefield, and of the death of his father. He had collected an army in the north and was already marching against the Queen when he was called to oppose a large force of Welsh and Irish, which, under the Earl of Pembroke were advancing in the hope of making themselves master of his person. The two armies met at Mortimer’s Cross, near Ludlow, and it is said that before the battle commenced three suns appeared in the sky over the field, which approached each other till they joined in one, and that Edward taking this as a favourable omen subsequently adopted a sun as his badge in remembrance of this circumstance. The Yorkists obtained a decisive victory and nearly four thousand of the enemy were slain. All the persons of rank were beheaded at Hereford in retaliation for the Queen’s cruelties at the battle of Wakefield. Edward immediately proceeded to London and was proclaimed king under the title of Edward IV. Among the towns which had supported the house of York, none had been more staunch than that of Ludlow. On the 7th of December, in the first year of his reign, he rewarded the townsmen with a charter which extended the privileges of the inhabitants. He created his eldest son Edward, then a mere infant, Prince of Wales, and sent him and his younger brother to the Castle of Ludlow. Hall, in his Chronicles, tells us that he was sent to Ludlow “for justice to be doen in the Marches of Wales, to the end that by the authoritie of hys presence the wild Welshemenne, and evill-disposed personnes should repair from their accustomed murthers and outrages.” On the King’s death, in 1483, the two princes were immediately recalled to London, and perished there within a few weeks, amid the mysterious events which attended the accession of Richard III. to the throne. In 1631, Sir John Egerton was appointed Lord President of Wales and the Marches. At this period Charles I. visited Ludlow, and was welcomed with much ceremony and rejoicing, at which time the exquisite effusion, the “Mask of Comas,” was performed before his Majesty. It is said to have been founded on an incident which occurred in the Lord President’s own family, and which is thus related by Nightingale:—“When the Earl had entered on his official residence he was visited by a large assembly of the neighbouring nobility and gentry. His sons, the Lord Brackley and Sir Thomas Egerton, and his daughter, the Lady Alice, being on their journey, were benighted in Haywood Forest, in Herefordshire, and the lady, for a short time, was lost. Their adventure being related to their father on their arrival at the Castle, Milton, at the request of his friend Henry Lawes, wrote the Mask. Lawes set it to music, and it was acted on Michaelmas night, the two brothers, the young lady, and Lawes himself, each bearing a part in the representation.” The poem, familiar to every English reader, has been allowed by the most competent judges to be one of the finest compositions in the English language, and will ever be held in peculiar estimation, as exhibiting the fair dawn of that genius which burst forth in full splendour in the poem of Paradise Lost.

In the civil wars between Charles I. and the Parliament, Ludlow was occupied by the royal party. In the summer of 1645, a force of nearly two thousand horse and foot, drawn together out of the garrisons of Ludlow, Hereford, and Worcester, were, by a less number of the Parliamentary forces, defeated at Stokesay, near Ludlow. It was not, however, till the following year that Ludlow Castle fell into the hands of General Sir Wm. Brereton, to whom it was given up by Sir Michael Woodhouse. The Earl of Bridgwater, governor of the castle, died in 1648, and was succeeded by Richard Lord Vaughen, Earl Carbery. Samuel Butler, the satirical author of “Hudibras,” was appointed his secretary and steward. A tower is still shown as the place where Butler wrote a part of his incomparable work, the first part of which was published in 1663. This poem was universally admired; the King quoted, the courtiers studied, and the royalists applauded it, but the author was the dupe of promises which were never fulfilled. In the midst of disappointment and neglect he published the third part in an unfinished state, and in 1080 he died in indigence.

The ruins of this ancient baronial fortress are strikingly fine; the sullen stillness that now reigns throughout these forlorn and deserted towers, once the scene of royal splendour and feudal revelry, present a spectacle of the fallen magnificence of past ages, rarely to be equalled. The structure stands at the extremity of a bold headland, and its foundations are laid upon a bare grey rock. The part towards the north consists of square towers, with high connecting walls which are embattled; the old foss and part of the rock have been formed into walks and planted with beech, elm, and lime trees. These trees having now arrived at maturity, form an agreeable shade, and add much to the picturesque ruins of the castle. The principal entrance is by a gateway under a low pointed arch, on the height of which are the ruins of the barracks, which were in constant use when the castle was the residence of the lords presidents of the Marches of Wales. A portion of the barracks has lately been converted into a dwelling house. Further on is a square tower, the embattled rampart pierced with loops here and there, remain in picturesque masses. On the left is a range of stone buildings supposed to have been the stables; contiguous are the ruins of the court house, and beyond it rises a lofty tower called Mortimer’s Tower. The lowest apartment of this tower appears to have been a prison, the original entrance being through a circular aperture in the ponderous keystone of its vaulted roof. On the north and west sides a deep foss cut in the solid rock guarded the body of the castle. The place of the ancient draw-bridge is supplied by a stone bridge of two arches. The portal was built during the presidency of Sir Henry Sidney; over it are the arms of England and France, and the following inscription:—

“_Anno Domini Millessimo Quinquitesimo Octagesimo completo_, _Anno regni illustrissimæ ac serenissimæ regina Elizabethæ vicesima iertio currente_, 1581.”

The court is an irregular square, and not very spacious, but the lofty embattled walls by which it is enclosed, though in ruins, still preserve their original outlines, and the frowning towers and bold masses, luxuriously mantled with ivy, present a rare specimen of the fallen magnificence of the feudal ages. The keep is a large square embattled tower, divided into four stories, and rises to the height of 110 feet. It is probably the only part of the castle which dates from the time of Roger de Montgomery. Most of the windows and doorways are distinguished by their round Norman arches. The ground floor is the dungeon half under ground. The arched roof is twenty feet in height. In the arch are three square apertures, which communicating with the chamber above, served for the purpose of admitting and inspecting the prisoners, and were probably intended also for raising supplies of ammunition and provisions, during a time of siege. On the second floor is a room measuring 30 feet by 18, with a fire place. The room communicates on the left with a square arched chamber, and on the right with a narrow oblong room. This tower measures 46 feet by 34, and the walls are from 9 to 12 feet thick. Facing the gate is the hall, measuring 60 feet by 30, and was originally approached by a flight of steps. There remains now neither roof nor floor to this once elegant apartment where the splendid scene of Comus was first exhibited, and where hospitality and magnificence blazed for ages in succession without diminution or decay. Two pointed arches lead to a spacious tower attached to the west end of the hall, in which are several apartments, one of which is still called Prince Arthur’s room. On the opposite end of the hall is another square tower, one of the rooms of which is pointed out as the banqueting hall. A spacious chamber above has been adorned with an unusual degree of rude magnificence.

The chapel was built in the reign of Henry I. by Joce de Dinan; all that now remains of it is the nave—a circular building, one of the earliest of this description in England. The approach is by a remarkably elegant Norman doorway, richly adorned with ornaments peculiar to the style of the period in which it was built. In the interior rising from the floor are fourteen recesses in the wall formed by small pillars, with indented capitals supporting round arches, which have alternately plain and zigzag mouldings. A filleted ornament runs round the exterior of the wall. A covered way led from the state apartments to the chapel. In the time of Queen Elizabeth the interior was covered with panels exhibiting the armorial bearings which church-yard describes as “armes in colours sitch as few can shewe.”

From an inventory of goods found in Ludlow Castle bearing date 1708, the eleventh year of the reign of Queen Anne, we learn that about forty rooms were found entire at that period. Among these were the hall, council chamber, lord president’s and my lady’s, with drawing rooms, the steward’s room, great dining room, chief justice’s room, second judge’s room, Prince Arthur’s room, captains’ apartments, kitchen, &c.; and as in this inventory a table and altar are stated to have been found in the chapel, we may presume the choir was at that time remaining. In the account prefixed to Buck’s antiquity published in 1774, it is observed that many of the apartments were then entire, and that the sword of state and the velvet hangings were preserved. Dr. Todd in his learned edition of Comus says, “A gentleman who visited the castle in 1768 has acquainted me that the floor of the great council chamber was then pretty entire, as was the staircase. The covered steps leading to the chapel were remaining, but the covering of the chapel was fallen, yet the arms of the lord presidents were visible. In the great council chamber was inscribed on a wall a sentence from I. Samuel, chapter 12, verse 3; all which are now wholly gone. On the accession of George I. an order is said to have come down for unroofing the buildings, and stripping them of their lead. The decay of this magnificent structure soon ensued. Many of the panels bearing the arms of the lord presidents were converted into wainscotting for a public house in the town, a former owner of which enriched himself by materials clandestinely taken away. The Earl of Powis, who previously held the castle by virtue of a long lease, acquired the reversion in fee by purchase from the crown in the year 1811.”

THE CHURCH, which stands in the highest part of the town, is a very beautiful cruciform edifice in the decorated gothic style of the latter part of the fifteenth century, forming undoubtedly the finest ecclesiastical fabric in the county, and perhaps the most stately parochial church in England. The structure is dedicated to St. Lawrence, and has a lofty and noble appearance; it consists of nave, chancel, choir, side aisles, transepts, and two chantry chapels, with a handsome tower rising from the centre, having at each angle an octangular turret, surmounted by a pinnacle. The tower contains eight musical bells, and a set of chimes was put up at the expense of the parish in the year 1795. The principal entrance is by a large hexagonal porch. The nave is divided from the aisles by six lofty pointed arches on each side, springing from light clustered pillars. Above them is a clerestory with a range of heavy windows. The four great arches under the tower are remarkably bold, beneath the eastern arch is the choral rood loft, embellished with open carved work, but upon it is erected a modern gallery, above which stands a powerful and fine toned organ, the gift of Henry Arthur Earl of Powis, in the year 1764; it cost £1,000. The choir is lighted by five lofty pointed windows on each side, and one of much larger dimensions at the west end. This window is richly adorned with stained glass, chiefly representing the legend of St. Lawrence, the patron saint of the church. The other windows in this venerable edifice bear evidence of having once been enriched with a profusion of stained glass of the most exquisite workmanship. The large eastern window containing the legendary history of St. Lawrence having been so defaced and wantonly broken that the various subjects could with difficulty be traced. It remained in this state till the year 1828, when the corporation of Ludlow directed Mr. David Evans, of Shrewsbury, to restore the window according to its original design. It was completed in a masterly manner in 1832, and the skill displayed by the artist in overcoming the difficulties he had to encounter has excited the admiration of every one who has seen it. The window is justly considered the most magnificent specimen of the art of glass staining in the county, and for general effect is surpassed by few in England. The window is divided into sixty-five compartments, and contains five hundred and forty feet of glass. The whole of the subjects depicted in the window are under elegant canopies of delicate tabernacle work, differing in design; and the costume of the figures throughout the various scenes are particularly curious, and well deserve attention, as the richness of colour and general effect is not inferior to some of the finest specimens of the ancient stained glass. The window is supposed originally to have been setup during the episcopacy of Thomas Spoford, who was promoted to the see of Hereford in 1421. The three large windows on the south side of the chancel display full length figures of bishops, apostles, and Romish saints, the apex of each containing twelve small curious figures. The glass in the windows on the north side has been greatly mutilated, but sufficient remains to show the splendour and magnificence of the colouring.

The north and south chapels of the choir are separated from the transepts by remarkably handsome carved screens; in the windows are paintings representing the history of the apostles, and also very splendid remnants of stained glass, portraying the story of the ring presented by some pilgrims to Edward the Confessor, who, as “The Chronicles” relate, “was warned of his death certain days before he died by a ring that was brought him by certain pilgrims, which ring he had secretly given to a poor man that asked his charity in the name of God and St. John the Evangelist. These pilgrims, as the legend recites, were men of Ludlow.” The ceiling is of oak resting on corbels, which spring from highly decorated figures of angels bearing shields. The extreme length from east to west is 203 feet, and the breadth across the transepts measures 130 feet. The tower rises 131 feet in height, forming a prominent object, and gives considerable beauty to many prospects from the neighbouring country. In the church there are two highly finished effigies of Judge Bridgeman and his lady, but much mutilated. The head of the tomb was opened in 1805 (on sinking a grave for the body of Mrs. Turner) when the hair of both Sir John and his lady was found perfectly entire; the coffins mouldered on exposure to the air. In the high chancel is a large Grecian monument displaying an elegant sculptured cherub and emblems of time and eternity, in memory of Theophilus Salwey, Esq., who died in 1760. A handsome altar tomb of white marble has recumbent effigies of chief Justice Waiter and his lady; and on the front are figures representing their issue. Judge Walter died in 1592. Within the communion rails is a tomb in memory of Sir Robert Townsend and his lady, with two full length figures, and surrounding the base stand their children. Dame Mary Evre, who died in 1612, has a tomb erected to her memory, at the back of which are the armorial bearings of the family. Upon the tomb is a recumbent figure resting on a cushion, habited in the dress of the times and the head covered with a hood. In various parts of the building will be found several interesting tablets and mural monuments. Though not collegiate the church of St. Lawrence anciently possessed a chantry of ten priests, maintained by the rich guild of St. John, who gave to its choral services the splendour of a cathedral. The living is a rectory valued in the king’s book at £19. 12s. 6d., now returned at £160 in the patronage of the lord chancellor. The tithes have been commuted for £23. 13s. 6d. Ecclesiastical courts are held here for granting probates of wills and letters of administration.

THE INDEPENDENT CHAPEL, situated in Old street, is a neat structure capable of accommodating upwards of three hundred persons, and was erected in 1830. The congregation formerly assembled for divine worship in a chapel still standing, situate on the banks of the river, near the bottom of Corve street. Before the erection of this fabric, in which they continued to meet for nearly a century, the dissenters conducted their religious services in a licensed dwelling house, where, in the early part of 1731, they were furiously assailed by a mob. This vain attempt to crush them led to the erection of the first dissenting house in the borough. The Rev. Theophilus Davies is the pastor of the congregation.

THE METHODIST CHAPEL, a plain structure situated in Lower Broad street, was enlarged in 1835, and is now capable of holding about five hundred hearers. THE PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHAPEL, situated in Old street, is a substantial building erected in 1836, and has accommodation for upwards of three hundred worshippers.

THE BOYS’ NATIONAL SCHOOL is held in a spacious room over the Market Cross; and the GIRLS’ SCHOOL is held in a house in Brand lane. They are supported by voluntary subscriptions and charitable benefactions: the latter will be found noticed with the general charities of the borough. The gross income for the year 1850 was £155. 16s. 3d.

THE SAVINGS’ BANK, held in the public buildings, Castle street, was established in 1816. On November 20th, 1850, the total number of accounts was 1,939, of which twenty-three were charitable societies and eighteen friendly societies. The capital stock of the bank at the same period amounted to £70,958. 18s. 4d. The respective balances of 961 depositors did not exceed £20; 543 were above that sum and not exceeding £50; 231 not exceeding £100; 96 not exceeding £150; 62 not exceeding £200; and five accounts exceeded the latter sum. Mr. John Williams, actuary.

THE LUDLOW COUNTY COURT, for law proceedings in actions and claims not exceeding £50, embraces the following places, viz., Abdon, Ashford Bowdler, Ashford Carbonell, Aston, Acton Scott, Bitterley, Bromfield, Burrington, Cainham, Clee St. Margaret, Cold Weston, Culmington, Diddlebury, Downton, Elton, Halford, Heath, Holdgate, Hope Baggot, Hopton Cangeford, Leinthall Starkes, Leintwardine, Ludford, Munslow, Onibury, Richards Castle, St. Lawrence Ludlow, Sibdon Carwood, Stanton Lacy, Stoke St. Milborough, Stoke Say, Tugford, Wigmore and Wistanston. _Judge_, Uvedale Corbett, Esq.; _Clerk_, John Williams, Esq.; _High Bailiff_, William Davies.

THE LUDLOW LIBRARY, AND MECHANICS’ INSTITUTION, established in 1841, is held in one of the rooms of the market hall, the use of which has been granted by the corporation. The institution has an interesting library of nearly 300 volumes. Mr. George Cocking is the secretary.

THE PUBLIC ROOMS, situated in Castle street, were erected in 1840 by a company of shareholders. One portion is set apart for the _Ludlow Natural History Society_, where there is deposited a choice and valuable collection of fossils, British and foreign birds and animals, &c. This institution was established in 1834. There is also a spacious and elegant _Assembly Room_, and another for magisterial purposes, besides a _Reading Room_ well supplied with the principal London and provincial journals. THE MARKET CROSS is a neat edifice, with a cupola, where butter and other productions are sold on the market days. THE MARKET HOUSE is a plain brick building in Castle street, containing large and convenient rooms for the meetings of the corporation.

THE DISPENSARY is supported by voluntary subscriptions, a collection made in Ludlow church every alternate year, and the dividends of certain charitable bequests. The number of patients cured or relieved during the year 1851 was 279. Mr. H. Hodges, consulting surgeon; and Mr. Harley, dispenser. THE LYING-IN INSTITUTION was established in 1810, since which 3,561 persons have been relieved and visited, under the direction of the managing directors.

THE GAS WORKS. The Union Gas Works were established in 1840 by a company of shareholders with a capital stock of £3,050. The old gas works are situated on the road to the Clee Hill.

THE WATER WORKS are the property of the corporation. The water is forced by an engine from the river to a reservoir at the top of the Market-hall, and thence conveyed in pipes to different parts of the town. There are also conduits supplied by pipes with excellent water from the neighbouring hills.

LUDLOW POOR-LAW UNION WORKHOUSE is a spacious stone edifice, situated in the parish of Stanton Lacy. The union comprehends an area of 125 miles, and embraces the following parishes, viz.:—Abdon, Ashford Bowdler, Ashford Carbonel, Bitterley, Bromfield, Caynham, Clee St. Margaret, Cold Weston, Culmington, Diddlebury, Halford, Heath, Holdgate, Hope Baggott, Hopton Cangeford, Munslow, Onibury, Richard’s Castle, St. Lawrence Ludlow, Stanton Lacy, Stoke, St. Milborough, Stokesay, and Tugford, all in the county of Salop; Aston Burrington, Downton, Elton, Leinthall Starkes, Richard’s Castle, and Wigmore, in Herefordshire; the parishes of Leintwardine and Ludford are situated in both counties. Expenditure for the year ending 28th September, 1850, £3,533. 15s. 10½d. _Clerk_: Robert Thomas. _Medical Officers_: Henry Meymott, John Southern, Charles Pothecary, Daniel Gingell, Robert Jones. _Relieving Officers_: William Russell, James Jones, John Harding, Edward Millichap. _Chaplain_: Robert Meyricke. _Master and Matron_: William and Mrs. Russell.

GAOLFORD TOWER, a small structure, situated in Tower street, has four cells for the confinement of prisoners, and a day room and airing yard. It was built by the corporation in the 4th of George III.

DINHAM HOUSE, an elegant and spacious mansion, situated near the Castle (now the residence of John Thomas, Esq.), towards the close of the late war was occupied by Lucien Bonaparte, being then detained a prisoner in England. He left Ludlow on Sunday, June 30th, 1811.

Among the customs peculiar to this town that of rope pulling is not the least extraordinary. On Shrove-Tuesday the corporation provides a rope, three inches in thickness and thirty-six yards in length, which is given out at one of the windows of the Market House, when a large body of the inhabitants, divided into two parties (one contending for Castle street and Broad street wards, and the other for Old street and Corve street wards), commence an arduous struggle; and as soon as either party has gained a victory, by pulling the rope beyond the prescribed limits, the pulling ceases. The rope is usually purchased from the victorious party, and then given out again. Ludlow preserves the custom of walking over the limits of the township once a-year. This procession takes place on the Wednesday before Holy Thursday, on which occasion the boys of the different schools, attended by one of the clergy, proceed from the church to a place near Corve Bridge, where a cross formerly stood. Here the Epistle for the preceding Sunday is read; from whence passing to Weeping Cross, the boys again kneel down, and the Gospel for the same day is read by the clergyman.

THE BROAD GATE, the only one now remaining entire, receives its name from an ancient religious foundation called Barnaby House, famous in past ages as the temporary resting place of the numerous devotees passing through Ludlow on their way to the Holy Well of St. Winefrede, in North Wales. Adjoining formerly stood a chapel, dedicated to St. Mary of the Vale. The Gateway of Millgate is at the end of Barnaby lane. In Lower Millgate traces of the town wall are still to be seen. In 1786 Dinham gate remained entire, adjoining which anciently stood a chapel, approached by a flight of steps. The land leading from the bottom of Mill street to Dinham bears the name of Camp, from the frequent encampment of soldiers there. Old Gate stood at the bottom of Old street.

A religious house of WHITE FRIARS was founded at Ludlow, in 1349, by Sir Laurence de Ludlowe, Knt., which we are informed by Leland “was a fayre and costlie thinge, and stoode without Corve Gate by north, almost at the end of that suburb.” Stukeley, who wrote about the year 1720, says, “There was a rich priory out of the town, on the north side. Little remains now to be seen, excepting a small adjoining church once belonging to it. About the same place an arched gateway went across the street, but now demolished.” The church above mentioned was the chapel of St. Leonard, founded in 1590, and intended for a charitable and religious establishment, the almshouse having survived its chapel, and, according to the will of the founder, contributes to the maintenance of four poor persons. Near to Friars’ lane was situated the establishment of AUGUSTINE FRIARS, to which Edmund de Pontibus was a benefactor. There was an HOSPITAL, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, situated near the bridge, founded by Peter Undergod, and endowed with certain lands for the maintenance of certain religious brethren, and sustentation of poor and infirm people. The annual value at the dissolution was £17. 13s. 3d.

Thomas Johnes, Esq., was born at Ludlow, in the year 1783. He received his early education at Shrewsbury school, and took his degree of M.A. at Oxford. In 1783 Mr. Johnes erected an elegant mansion at Hafod, which in 1807 was consumed by a destructive fire, with much of its valuable contents, the loss amounting to £70,000. Notwithstanding this disaster, he rebuilt and adorned his mansion anew. Here he indulged his taste for literature, employed a printing press on his own premises, and produced some elegant historical works. He died in 1814, and was buried in the church which he had built at Hafod.

Richard P. Knight, Esq., an elegant scholar and distinguished in the literary circles of Europe, represented Ludlow in parliament for many years. Mr. Knight bequeathed his fine collection of medals, drawings, and bronzes (worth at least £30,000), to the British Museum. They include a single volume of drawings by the inimitable Claude, which was purchased for £1,600 from a private individual, who a short time previously had given £3 for the same volume.

CHARITIES.—_The Grammar School_.—It appears that all the premises specified in a certain grant, and constituting the possessions of the Guild or Fraternity of Palmers, had been unconditionally surrendered by them to King Edward VI. by deed under their common seal, dated 1st June, in the fifth of his reign. The property thus unconditionally surrendered to the king was granted by him to the corporation for the relief and better sustaining of the town and borough of Ludlow, and for the corporation, “_at their own costs and charges_,” to maintain a free grammar school, and other charitable institutions mentioned in the charter. It appears the legal import of the charter was not to grant the property upon trust to employ the whole of the rents and profits to the maintenance of the charities, but to make a beneficial grant of it to the corporation, coupled with a condition that they should, out of the income they thus acquired, sufficiently maintain the charitable institutions therein specified. The school premises comprise two houses, in which the master resides. About fifty years ago, the premises were nearly rebuilt, at a cost of £700. The school is open to the whole town, without any limitation of number, on payment of £3 annually. Four of the boys, nominated by the bailiffs, receive a benefaction of £2. 13s. 4d. per annum, under the will of _Dr. Langford_. The school is also entitled to two exhibitions of £45 to Baliol College, Oxford, for 11 years, founded by the _Rev. Richard Greaves_ in the year 1704. There are also three exhibitions of £50 for three years to any college in Oxford, Cambridge, or Durham. It is stated in the particular of the Guild estate, that “there is an almshouse to the Guild appertaining, with thirty-three chambers therein inhabited by poor people, according to the foundation and ordinance of _John Hoyser_, to every of which poor people is weekly allowed 4d.” THE PALMERS GUILD was a religious fraternity, established about the year 1248, for the relief of the poor, and for the administration of charitable bequests. Before the period of the Reformation, their funds had increased so considerably that they formed a college, with a warden for three priests, and maintained the above almshouse for thirty-three poor people, and the grammar school. On the passing of the Municipal Act, in 1835, it became necessary to separate the charity from the municipal property; and, after much litigation, lands yielding a clear rental of £1,800 a-year were secured to the charity for the purpose of maintaining the above-named objects. The preacher, now called the lecturer (and who, as well as the assistant, is appointed by the corporation), received from them a salary of £26. 13s. 4d. per annum, when the Charity Commissioners published their report. It appears that the Palmers Guild had been used to pay yearly to a schoolmaster, for keeping a free grammar school, £10; to one priest, £6; and to two others, £5. 6s. 8d. each. The particular duties of these priests are not specified; but it seems probable that the usher, preacher, and assistant, were intended to be substituted by the charter in their stead.

From an old book belonging to the corporation, containing copies of wills and other documents relating to the charities of the town, it appears that _James Walters_, _Esq._, in 1624, devised an annuity of £20 to be paid out of his lands in Stanton Lacy and Richards Castle; £10 thereof to be distributed among the inmates of the almshouse, and £10 to be bestowed on the preacher. It appears that a fee farm rent of £24. 13s. 4d., reserved by a charter of King Edward IV., out of certain lands granted to the corporation of Ludlow, and also the rent of £8. 13s. 4d., reserved by charter of King Edward VI., eventually became vested in the corporation; and £20 is now paid to the treasurer of the national school, and the remainder, £13. 6s. 8d., is considered as forming a part of the weekly payments to the almspeople.

_Thomas Candland_, by will dated 1617, gave a house and shop in Ludlow to William Bevan and Alice his wife, and their heirs, in trust, that they should pay annually the sum of 20s. out of the profits thereof to the bailiffs of the town, to be disposed of by them; to every chamber in the almshouse, 4d.; and the residue of the said 20s. to such other poor of Ludlow as they should think fit. _William Archer_, by deed dated 1677, charged his close, called Sutton’s close, with a yearly rent of 20s., to be divided among the poor in the almshouse near the parish of St. Lawrence. _Susan Gay_, by indenture dated 1724, conveyed to Richard Plummer and his heirs, a piece of land called Old Hill, in Kingsland parish, in Herefordshire, in trust, that after her death the bailiffs, rector, lecturer and reader of Ludlow for the time being, should receive from the rents and profits thereof an annuity of £7 for ever; £6 thereof to be yearly distributed among the poor of the almshouses in the upper room and in Corve street, and 20s. to the person who received the rent and looked after the estate. An annual sum of 13s. 4d, from one of the Earl of Powis’s stewards, which is distributed among the 33 almspeople in the upper almshouse. The origin of this payment is not known. _Mary Beetenson_, who died about the year 1806, bequeathed to the bailiffs of the town of Ludlow, and their successors, the sum of £100, to be placed out at interest, and distributed to the poor people inhabiting the almshouse opposite the church of St. Lawrence. _Ann Smith_ in 1809 gave £50 to the corporation of Ludlow, in trust, to be placed out at interest, and distributed in coals to the poor inhabiting the upper almshouse. _Susannah Smith_, by will in 1801, gave to the rector of the parish of St. Lawrence, in Ludlow, the sum of £100 to be placed out at interest, and distributed among the inhabitants of the almshouses near the church. These small payments amount annually to the sum of 12s. 5¾d, for each of the almspeople.

_Charles Foxe_, by his will dated 1590, after reciting that he had lately purchased the chapel of St. Leonard, in Corve street, Ludlow, and a parcel of ground near thereto, whereon he had begun to erect four almshouses, for four poor and impotent persons, gave and bequeathed to certain trustees, in trust, four messuages, and all lands, tenements and hereditaments, with their appurtenances, situated in the city of Worcester, of the annual value of £8; to be by them so settled that out of the rents £4 should be paid to the four poor persons in the almshouse, and divided amongst them quarterly. To the curate of Ludford, or some other sufficient minister, for reading divine service to the poor there, the sum of 40s. yearly. To some learned preacher for a sermon in the said chapel at Christmas, 6s. 8d.; and the like sum for a sermon there in Lent. And the residue of the rents (being £1. 6s. 8d.) he directed to be employed for the necessary repairing the said almshouses and chapel, and other necessary charges. He gave two bells to be hung up in the steeple of the chapel. About the year 1751 the chapel had gone greatly to decay, and the houses in Worcester become so ruinous and incapable of repair, that in 1758 the ground on which the tenements stood was let on building leases, at an annual rent of £11. 9s. 6d., for 99 years. James Foxe the trustee, by deed in 1769, conveyed to the bailiffs, burgesses and commonalty of Ludlow, the aforesaid premises, in trust, for the support of the almshouse, in consequence of his residing so remote from Ludlow. The present income of the charity is £14. 13s. 10d. The almshouse consists of four dwellings, with a garden to each, and is inhabited by two poor persons from the parish of Bromfield, and two from Ludlow; who also receive from the corporation 1s. 6d. per week each, and 3s. 2d. yearly from Mrs. Susan Gay’s benefaction.

_Thomas Lane_, by will in 1674, after giving certain legacies, bequeathed all the rest of his estate to Sir Job Charlton and two others, to be disposed of by them as he should appoint; and in default of such appointment, to some charitable use according to their best discretion. From the will of Sir Job Charlton, bearing date 1691, it appears that the money derived from this bequest had been employed in repairing and furnishing an old house which had been granted to the trustees by the town of Ludlow, and in purchasing certain lands in Middleton of the annual value of £30. Under the residuary clause of Thomas Lane’s will, a reversion passed to the use of this charity of a dwelling house, a garden, and two meadows, containing 5A. 1R. 9P. of land, which had been granted to his wife by a codicil to his will. These lands, comprising an area of 74A. 2R. 9P. of land, and let at an annual rent of £44 per annum, were exchanged in 1790 with C. W. B. Rouse, Esq. for meadow and pasture lands, situated in Stanton Lacy, containing 41A. 3R. 7P. of land, let for £56 per annum. At the time the charity commissioners published their report, the income of the charity amounted to £120, (exclusive of the interest of £216. 8s. 3d., the amount of a balance due in 1816, arising from savings of income,) which was applied in paying to the governor of the workhouse a salary of £20; in disbursements for taxes and repairs of the building and furniture; and in providing flax, hemp and yarn for making stockings, and leather for shoes, for the poor people in the house to work up.

_Thomas Lane_, by a second codicil to his will, in 1676, devised his closes of meadow and pasture land, lying near the east side of Broad street, in Ludlow, to be conveyed to feoffees in trust, that the rents and profits should be weekly disposed of in bread and money to twelve poor widows of the town of Ludlow. The land contains 1A. 3R. 34P., which produces an annual income of £23. 10s.

From an entry in an old book belonging to the corporation, it appears that _Evan Phillips_ gave £22 to remain a stock for ever for the poor of the town of Ludlow; and directed certain trustees to dispose of the same in the purchase of lands, or otherwise, as they should think fit; the profits of the £20 to be given to twelve poor persons, and the remaining 40s. to be spent by the trustees, for their recreation, at their meetings on the business of the charity. It appears from the same book that he also gave a judgment debt of £10, due to him, for the use of six more poor persons of Ludlow. There is now a piece of land in Lynney appropriated to this charity, called the Poor’s Close, containing 3R. 26P., which is let at an annual rent of £13; of which £12. 6s. 8d. is distributed among eighteen poor persons by the bailiffs of the town.

_Richard Davies_, by will dated 1699, bequeathed £100 to be laid out in lands, in trust, to distribute the rents and profits among eight poor widows of Ludlow, not partakers of any other charity in the town. In respect of this sum the corporation make an annual payment of £6, which is distributed as the donor directed. _Eleanor Handford_ left £25, the interest thereof to be given to ten poor persons in Castle street ward on Good Friday, yearly. _John Long_, by will, gave to the poor of the parish of St. Lawrence, in Ludlow, the sum of £20, the interest thereof to be distributed among the poor. There is also found copied into the charity book a statement that Mrs. Robinson left £100 to the poor of Ludlow, the interest to be applied as follows; viz.: 50s. to the Charity school, and 50s. to twenty poor housekeepers, to be named by the bailiffs and rector on St. John the Evangelist’s day.

_Thomas Meyricke_, by will, dated 1724, bequeathed to the bailiffs, burgesses, and commonalty £40, in trust, to lend it from time to time to four poor tradesmen, not being ale sellers for three years, without interest, in sums of £10 each, upon sufficient security. _Sir Timothy Tourueur_, _Knight_, also gave £100, to be lent for a like time to four young tradesmen upon good security. Thomas Meyricke also bequeathed £40, the interest to be paid to the charity schools at Ludlow.

_Richard Gwilliams_, by will, dated 1629, gave to the parson of Ludlow and vicar of Leominster, and the vicar of Kings Capel £3 a year, issuing out of all his messuages, lands, tenements, and hereditaments in the county of Hereford, to the intent that they should distribute 20s. thereof yearly to the poor impotent people of each of those places.

_Charles Sonnibank_, _D.D._, by deed dated 10th of October, 10th Charles I., after reciting a grant made by him to Margaret Postern and her heirs of a messuage and lands containing about 155 acres, situated at Brome, in the parish of Hopesay, in Shropshire, reserving to him and his heirs a rent of £13. 6s. 8d., granted the said rent to trustees, in trust, to distribute it among ten poor widows inhabiting Ludlow, in weekly payments of 6d. each, and the parson to retain 6s. 8d. for his care in receiving it.

_Robert Horne_, by will, dated 1640, gave to the rector and rectors of the parish church of St. Lawrence, in Ludlow, for the time being for ever, a rent charge of £10 per annum issuing out of lands in the parish of Kingsland, in the county of Hereford.

_Jane Higginson_, by will, dated 1707–8, gave £5 per annum to five decayed tradesmen’s widows in Ludlow, for keeping clean the chancel of the church, to be paid on the 28th day of February. She likewise gave an annuity of £5 to the rector of Ludlow and his successors for ever.

_The Rev. Richard Morgan_, in 1766, left £140, in trust, the interest therefrom to be expended in teaching poor children. The present fund derived from this bequest is £120, three per cent. consols, the dividends of which are £3. 12s. per annum, which is now paid to the national school. There was an ancient charity school in Ludlow called the Blue Coat School, which has formed the basis of a national school now established there. It has been seen in the report of Tonlyne’s charity that in the year 1716 it was ordered by the corporation that £20 should be secured to the trustees of this charity school out of the tolls of the market, as forming part of Mr. Tonlyne’s charity. From an entry in the corporation ledger in 1782 it appears that this sum of £20 was paid by the chamberlain to the treasurer of the charity school till the 28th of October, 1761, from which time it had been in arrear; and that this arrear, together with the interest of the several sums of £100, £50, and £40 due to the charity school on several bonds from the corporation, then amounted to the sum of £629, which sum was afterwards invested in the purchase of £1,000, three per cent. consols. It appears from the ledger that on the 29th of October, 1806, a further arrear of the annuity and of the interest on the bonds had occurred, which left a balance due from the corporation of £458. This balance it was resolved to apply in the purchase of a schoolhouse, which was effected in 1815. The purchase money of this house, with the charges of repairing and fitting up, amounted to £600. 13s., exceeding the amount of the arrears by £142. 13s., which was paid out of the corporation funds. From the year 1806 the annuity of £20 was paid by the charity school till its combination with the national school. The house is now used for the female department of the national school. The children of the Blue Coat School were clothed, and accordingly clothing to the amount of £27 a year is now given to children in the national school, chosen by the subscribers in rotation. These children are also put out apprentice with a premium of £3 each.

_Thomas Hollingworth_, by will, dated 1809, gave £50 four per cent. bank annuities, to be transferred to the rector and churchwardens of St. Lawrence, Ludlow, the dividends to be laid out in bread and distributed at Christmas to poor widows, inhabitants of the said parish. _Richard Nash_, by will, dated 1814, gave to the ministers and churchwardens of the parish of St. Lawrence, Ludlow, £100, the interest thereof to be distributed among the poor of the parish. _Lost Charities_: Among the books of the corporation are mentioned charities left by six several donors, amounting in the whole to £200, which have long been lost to the poor.

Letters arrive from London and Shrewsbury at 8 A.M., Birmingham and London 8.45 P.M., Hereford, &c., 9.58 A.M., and Worcester at 11.58 A.M., and are despatched to London and Shrewsbury at 4.50 P.M., Birmingham 8.45 A.M., Hereford, 2.47 P.M., and Worcester at 1.30 P.M.—_Eleanor Sankey_, _post-mistress_.

Acton Capt. Edward, Gravel Hill

Barnes Thomas, wool agent, Castle street

Baxter Mrs. Elizabeth, Broad street

Breakwell Mr. Thomas, Friars Cottage

Brittle Mrs. Penelope, Broad street

Bryce Dr. Charles, Broad street

Burlton Miss Ann, Mill street

Butler Miss Sarah, Mill street

Calvert Mrs. Hannah, Old street

Childe Mr. Thomas, Corve street

Crocker Joseph, inland revenue officer, Corve street

Davenport Mrs. Mary, Bull Ring

Davies Mrs. Ann, Mill street

Davies Miss Mary, Mill street

Davies Rev. Theophilus, (Independent), Brand lane

Dean Rev. Wm., (Prim. Meth.), Old street

Gardner Mr. William, Upper Gaolford

Greenhouse Mrs., Old street

Griffiths Mrs. Ella, Dinham

Hammond Richard, town crier, Old street

Hodges Mrs. Elizabeth, Broad street

Hodges Miss Ann, Cave street

Hodson Mr. William, Castle street

Hookey George, gentleman, Corve street

Hutchings Hubert, Esq., Broad street

Jefferson Mrs. Mary, Mill street

Jenson Mary, poulterer, Harp lane

Jones Robert, superintendent of police

Jones Miss Selina, Brand lane

Lambe Mr. William, Corve street

Lambe Mrs. Sarah, Mill street

Leake Mr. John Linney

Ledderdale Miss Margaret, Corve street

Leech Mr. Edward, Corve street

Locke Rev. John, (Wesleyan), Old street

Mallett Mrs. Mary, Corve street

Maund Mrs. Sarah, Mill street

Middleton Rev. Joseph (Prim. Meth.), Old st

Owen Mr. John, Corve street

Pardoe Miss Isabella, Broad street

Page Mrs. Martha

Parry James, pump maker, Brand lane

Parsons Mrs. Hannah, Brand lane

Penny Mr. John Dingham

Penwarne John, Esq., Mill street

Phillips Rev. John, Broad street

Pillinger Maria and Charlotte, Italian warehouse, Bull Ring

Price John, manager of gas works, Upper Gaolford

Pritchard Mrs. Ann, Corve street

Ree Adam, organist, Mill street

Robinson John, parish clerk, Dinham

Rocke, Eytons, Campbell, and Co., bankers, Broad street

Russell Miss Ann, Mill street

Russell Mr. Benjamin, The College

Salwey Mrs. Isabella, Broad street

Sargeant Richard, supervisor, Corve street

Smith Mr. Jacob, Dinham

Smith The Misses, Broad street

Stott Rev. Ralph, (Wesleyan), Lower Broad st

Swainson Rev. Edward C., Broad street

Taylor Mrs. Elizabeth, Dinham

Thomas John, Esq., Dinham House

Thomas Mrs. Jane, Old street

Thomas Edward, warden, Almshouses, The College

Vaughan Mr. Brettle, Castle street

Warman George, horse trainer, Raven lane

Wayn Mary, stamp office, Corve street

Weems Mrs. Mary, Corve street

Wellings Capt. George, Brand lane

Williams John, town clerk, Mill street

Woodyatt Mary, fancy repository, High st

Academies.

_Marked * take Boarders_.

Copner Maria, Linney

* Evans Caroline, Castle st

* Evans Thomas, Old street

* Harley Elizabeth, Linney

* Lewis Misses, Corve street

Legge John, College

National, John Robinson and Charlotte Baker

* Powill E. & C., Castle st

* Russell Horatio, Mill street

Williams John, Mill street

Willis Rev. Arthur, (Free Grammar School), Mill st

Whitwell Thomas, Old street

Accountants.

Oliver Samuel, Old street

Whitwell Thomas, Old street

Agricultural Implement Maker.

Hodges Chaplin, Dinham

Artists.

Gill George, Mill street

Gwynn William, Corve street

Attorneys.

Anderson George & Rodney, Mill street

Clark Lutrell, Mill street

Dansey George, Castle street

Lloyd John, Brand street

Russell Charles, College

Salwey Humphrey, Guildhall

Southern Francis, Mill street

Urwick & Marston, Castle st

Weyman Thomas, Corve st

Williams J. & Son, Guildhall

Auctioneers and Valuers.

Bach James, Broad street

Crosse John, High street

Davies William, Guildhall

Griffiths Thomas, Bull ring

Bakers and Flour Dealers.

Christmas William, Corve st

Collings George, Bell lane

Crundell James, Tower st

Davies John, Lower Broad st

Gatehouse Richard, Corve st

Harris William, Harp lane

Holloway Charles, Old street

Jacob Joseph, Old Gate Fee

Leary Edward, Tower street

Lewis Thomas, Bull ring

Whatmore John, Broad st

Bankers.

Shrewsbury and Ludlow Old Bank, Broad st. Rocke, Eytons, Campbell, & Co.; draw on Robarts and Co., London

Ludlow & Tenbury Banking Company; draw on Barnett and Co., London. H. Whittall, manager

Basket Makers.

Price Edward, Corve street

Price Joseph, Lower Gaolford

Blacksmiths.

Lowe Joseph, Corve street

Pillinger Sarah, Bull ring

Pound John, Raven lane

Pugh Richard, Raven lane

Rudd Thos., Lower Gaolford

Booksellers, Binders, Printers and Stationers.

Evans John, Castle street

Felton William, Narrows

Griffiths Thomas, Bull ring

Griffiths Thos. jun., Narrows

Humphries George, Bull ring

Jones Richard, Broad street

Partridge Edward, Broad st

Woodyatt William, High st

Boot & Shoe Makers.

Ashcroft Edward, Bull ring

Baker John, High street

Barker Thos., (and Grindery dealer), Brand lane

Byrne Hugh R., Brand lane

Evans John, Bull ring

George James, Raven lane

King Henry, Bull ring

Morris Thomas, Old street

Needham John, High street

Pearce Alex., Lower Broad st

Pugh William, Bell lane

Robinson John, High street

Venables Charles, Broad st

Watkeys Mary, High street

Wilkes Ricd., Lower Gaolford

Brazier & Tin-plate Worker.

_See also Ironmongers_.

Cobbin Jph., Upper Gaolford

Builders.

Atkins Robert, Corve street

Griffiths Jno. Lower Gaolford

Grosvenor John, Bell lane

Smith Blakeway, Corve street

Stead Edward, St. John’s

Brick & Tile Manufacturer.

Sheffield T. Upper Gaolford

Butchers.

Chipp S., Tower st. & Bell ln

Coleman Thomas, Broad st

Dayus Samuel, Bull ring

Griffiths John, Old street

Nash John, Bull ring

Pitt Benjamin, High street

Preen Thomas, Old street

Price John, High street

Price Richard, Bull ring

Towers, John Harrows

Williams Charles H., Harp ln

Cabinet Makers.

_Marked * are Upholsterers_.

* Bowen Thomas, Bull ring

* Davies William, Bull ring

Harper Joseph, Broad street

Price Edward, Castle street

Carvers and Gilders.

Bowen Richard, Old street

Gwynn William, Old street

Chemists & Druggists.

Cocking George, Bull ring

Foster Edward, Castle street

Grounds Ambrose, King st

Grieves John E., Old street

Marston Richard, Broad st

Coach Makers.

Griffiths James, Raven lane

Hunt Thomas, Raven lane

Rollings Elias, Upper Gaolford

Confectioners.

Crane Thomas, Bull ring

Crundell James, Tower street

Lewis Thomas, Bull ring

Powell George, Narrows

Taylor William, Broad street

Coopers.

Bayliss Thomas, Bull ring

Cooke James, Bull ring

Green Geo., Lower Gaolford

Price Edward, Corve street

Sankey Jeremiah, Broad st

Sankey Mry, Lower Gaolford

Curriers and Leather Cutters.

Griffiths Margaret, Narrows

Lello Thomas, Bull ring

Mantell Fred., Lower Gaolford

Cutlery Dealer.

Bursnell Francis, Tower st

Farmers.

Ball Richard, Broad street

Griffiths George, Bull ring

Hand James, Corve street

Fellmonger.

Weaver Joseph, Tower street

Fire & Life Offices.

County.—E. Foster, Castle st