|
IRONBRIDGE
The Ironbridge Gorge was the scene of the remarkable breakthrough
which led Britain to become the first industrial nation and the workshop
of the world. The area still retains much of the atmosphere of those
momentous times.
Here, the ironmaster Abraham Darby first smelted iron using coke as
a fuel. This paved the way for the first iron rails, iron bridge, iron
boat, iron aqueduct and iron-framed building.
Since Doomsday,
Travellers have stayed in Cleobury Mortimer, a market town which derives
its name from the great Norman family of Mortimer, who established themselves
here in 1096. Half timbered and 18th Century houses line the tree shaded
main street. It is believed that William Langland author of "piers
Plowman" was born here in the 14th Century and the Church was a
window to his memory.
The beautiful
Shropshire countryside has great historical past and the Ironbridge
Industrial Museum and Ludlow are places that you will want to visit.
Close to Bridgnorth and the Severn Valley Railway.
|
|
LUDLOW CASTLE, Ludlow
Construction of Ludlow Castle began in the late 11th century as
the border stronghold of one of the Marcher Lords, Roger de Lacy. Early
in the 14th century it was enlarged into a magnificent palace by Roger
Mortimer, then the most powerful man in England. Later, in the 15th
century under the ownership of Richard, Duke of York, the castle was
involved in the wars of the Roses before becoming a royal palace. In
1472 Edward IV sent the Princes of Wales and his brother ( Later the
'Princes in the tower' of shakespeare fame ), to live at the castle,
which was also the seat of Government for Wales and the Border counties.
Prince Arthur,
( son of
Henry the VII, and brother to Henry the VIII ) with his bride
Catherine of Aragon, lived here for a short time before his early death.
Queen Mary Tudor and her court spent three winters at Ludlow between
1525 and 1528.
In 1689 the
Royal Welch Fusiliers were founded at the castle by Lord Herbert of
chirbury, but soon after it was abandoned and fell into decay. In 1811
the ruins were purchased from the crown by the 2nd Earl of Powis, in
the ownership of whose family it remains.
The castl'e long history is reflected in its varied architecture: Norman,
medieval and Tudor. Many of the buildings still stand. From the huge
outer bailey a bridge across he moat leads to the inner bailey with
the keep, the great chamber, the solar wing and other interesting buildings
including the Chapel of St. Mary Magdalene with its circular nave one
of the very few still surviving. On the other side of the moat is the
ice house - once used to store explosives.
Milton's
famous comus was first performed in the Great Hall in 1634 and the tradition
of a performance is continued each June and July when a play is performed
in the open air within the inner bailey, as part of the successful Ludlow
Festival.
|
