Wednesday, 16 March 2011

That's My World

There are so few people who know about the beauties of the English Border  County of Shropshire, that I have decided to sing its praises in these pages. When we first came to live here and told people in London that we were moving to the South Shropshire Hills area, most of them asked: "Where's that near then?" Although I don't particularly want great hordes of people to come and join us, it would be nice to spread a little envy at our good fortune. I hope that That's My World will help me to do that now and again. Although the new issue appears every Tuesday, there are one or two reasons why my contribution will not appear until Wednesdays. I hope they will let me join them, nevertheless.

To whet your appetite, let me show you a few sights of the ancient town of Ludlow, our nearest town of any size, to begin with.

The place name Ludlow, then spelt 'Ludelaue', is first recorded in 1138. It means 'hlaw' or 'low', i.e. hill or mound, beside the 'loud waters', i.e. rapids. 'Hill' may refer to the 'hill within a valley' on which Ludlow stands, or to a tumulus or burial ground.




Lower Corve Street



Broad Street



The Castle and Dinham Bridge over the River Teme



The Feathers Hotel (from a postcard)



Mill Street - The Wheatsheaf Inn and Town Wall



The Market Place with the Tower of St Lawrence's Parish Church



And here is where other people are showing off their world.



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36 comments:

  1. Ruth16 March 2011 at 23:40

    There is such a variety of architecture, Friko. I would visit for any one of them. But all in one county?

    The castle and bridge are brilliant. Mill Street, all the photos are terrific. Thank you for showing your corner of things.

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  2. Marilyn & Jeff17 March 2011 at 00:05

    if I am ever fortunate to visit the UK again your photos have convinced me that this is one place that I will not miss! Your photos are fantastic.

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  3. DJan17 March 2011 at 00:09

    Thank you, Friko, for sharing your corner of the Universe with me. It's a very beautiful place. Hugs to you and yours...

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  4. Unknown17 March 2011 at 00:24

    It is indeed beautiful and great pictures. I only know from my genealogy research that some of my ancestors come from a place called Middlesex. I have no idea where that is. But I am hoping it looks a little like that. Blessings
    QMM

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  5. Frances17 March 2011 at 00:52

    Friko, I cannot remember when I saw my first photos of Ludlow, and others of the Marches, but knew that those photos showed wonderful places, places I would want to see for myself.

    So far, I have not been there, or to Cornwall, or to the Lakes, or to Wales. I keep telling myself that there is still time.

    Your post is giving me a reminder.

    xo

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  6. larkswing17 March 2011 at 01:17

    Ooooh, I love your part of the world! So beautiful and enchanting :)

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  7. Brian Miller17 March 2011 at 02:05

    i think your town is gorgeous...i love love love the architecture...

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  8. Pearl17 March 2011 at 02:36

    Oh, Friko, that looks like nothing I've ever seen!!

    Pearl

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  9. Pat - Arkansas17 March 2011 at 02:55

    I love those half-timbered buildings, and the castle, and the bridge and the river, and The Feathers and...everything! Thank you for the photos of your beautiful corner of the world.

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  10. Pat17 March 2011 at 03:35

    You sure know how to rekindle my long held dream of visiting England...your images are so evocative of how I picture each town. I love the roof lines - a little dip here or there and the lean of the buildings that have stood for so long. Oh yes, I am envious!!Thank you for sharing.

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  11. Pondside17 March 2011 at 04:45

    I could enlarge and zoom in and still not be satisfied....I want to walk on the streets and look in the windows. You live in a beautiful place - I look forward to visiting again.

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  12. Anonymous17 March 2011 at 07:05

    welch eine wundervolle kleine (?) Stadt! Ich fühle mich glatt in ein Märchen versetzt. Es muss herrlich sein, durch diese Strassen zu gehen und diese schönen alten Häuser zu betrachten... Und dann gibt es noch diese schöne Brücke und gar ein Schloss dazu - nun wirklich, märchenhaft!

    Einen schönen Tag wünsche ich Dir, liebe Friko!

    Renée

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  13. marciamayo17 March 2011 at 08:44

    Friko, I'm on my way. Pick my up at Heathrow.

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  14. Anonymous17 March 2011 at 09:55

    I was born in Oswestry and spent all my childhood holidays in the county of Shropshire. I confess I haven't been back for nearly 26 years but sometime soon I will be making the Great Trek - lovely lovely photos!

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  15. June17 March 2011 at 09:59

    The place looks like the Jacquie Lawson Advent Calendar. I love the way it's grown in all those years, with short and tall buildings and odd little streets.
    I think I would almost feel I'd gone back in time if I were walking there.

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  16. bayou17 March 2011 at 10:19

    Indeed, Ludlow is one of my favourite places in the UK and we have been looking to buy a house in the area, perhaps you know. We dream on. Always so charming, the place and how you show it in your blog. But hey, if one wants to follow that 'that's my world' one would be doing nothing else but reading blogs. The day has not enough hours to discover all those nice places in this beautiful world.

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  17. Anonymous17 March 2011 at 11:08

    It looks charming! No wonder you're worried about hordes of newcomers following you!

    Thanks for sharing your world with us. Entries are welcome all week, so we hope you'll come back again.

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  18. Martin17 March 2011 at 11:16

    Very nice idea, Friko. My brother worked in Shrewsbury for a while, years ago. We used to visit, some weekends and head off for a pint and a walk up to Stiperstones. He eventually fell over the border, and has lived in Wales for more than 30 years, now.

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  19. Tabor17 March 2011 at 11:26

    Well, it looks very romantic and historic, I must say. Clearly you like living there. What is the population?

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  20. Frances Garrood17 March 2011 at 11:49

    We love Ludlow, and the surrounding countryside is great for walking. You are lucky to live in Shropshire!

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  21. Arkansas Patti17 March 2011 at 12:10

    Wow, what a beautiful and picturesque place. Be carefull with your selling for you might be over run with gawkers.
    The people of Oregon here in the states, have taken the attitude to down sell their state to keep it all for themselves. Might be a good idea where you live.
    Looking forward to more.

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  22. Reader Wil17 March 2011 at 12:50

    Wow! That's a place I should like to live! It looks even more beautiful than Stratford-upon Avon with all those wonderful half timbered houses, the castle and the scenery. We twice went to Wales and stayed in a cottage near Llandrindod Wells, that's not far from where you live.
    Thanks for your visit! To answer your question if I tidied my room before taking the photos:"No, I didn't I just do my house once a week and the bookshelves once a year. I still do it myself and everything looks reasonably okay, I think!;)

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  23. Penelope Notes17 March 2011 at 12:54

    I am so glad you came by to share your part of the planet. Seeing your pictures is like stepping through time or into a storybook of enchantment. I look forward to seeing more. My world is so young in comparison and the buildings so different. :)

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  24. jabblog17 March 2011 at 13:16

    I'm glad you've decided to showcase your part of the world. I think many people don't know much about Shropshire. It is a lovely part of the world. Ludlow is a beautiful town - the architecture is delightful and so old.

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  25. Lorrie17 March 2011 at 15:33

    Thanks for sharing your corner of the world with us. I did a quick Google search to place Ludlow on the map. In doing so I came across a few images of the same bridge and castle you've shown, in the summer. Your photo, wintry and bare, evokes the medieval character of the town more clearly.

    I also read that Catherine of Aragon and Arthur (Henry VIII's elder brother) spent their wedding night in Ludlow Castle - a night which was later discussed at length, as Catherine claimed the marriage was never consummated.

    How I'd love to wander those streets!

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  26. Dave King17 March 2011 at 15:40

    Doreen and I used to visit the area quite regulaly and came to love it. The friends we visited used to say that no one knew of it because the Tourist Board had never put it on the map. But they, too, said that that was half its charm. Methinks I do detect some ambivalence here.

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  27. Al17 March 2011 at 16:53

    This looks like a beautiful, classic English village - great photos. Sometimes I dream of moving back to England, but I don't think I could leave Colorado.

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  28. Freda17 March 2011 at 17:42

    It looks like an ideal place to visit - the old buildings and bridge down from the Castle look enchanting. Somewhere I have never been, and I suspect the weather will be better than up in Scotland.

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  29. hyperCRYPTICal17 March 2011 at 18:40

    It's beautiful Friko - you are so lucky to live nearby.

    There is a town, quite similar, but not so beautiful, not far from my grimy little town. I love visiting, and the people seem so different; there is an air of happiness and contentment.
    Beauty rubs off the lucky folk that live there I guess.

    Anna :o]

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  30. schmidleysscribblins.wordpress.com17 March 2011 at 18:55

    Believe it or not, we buzzed through your town back in 1989. We were on our way north. One day, perhaps I will get a chance to stop and smell the flowers. Dianne

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  31. Susan Scheid (Raining Acorns)17 March 2011 at 20:49

    I've only had a little glimpse of your part of the world, but it is indeed gorgeous, and I hope to get back that way one day before too long. Thank you for these beautiful photos to enjoy in the meantime!

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  32. Vagabonde17 March 2011 at 20:56

    Your World is very picturesque – looks very British to me and I like that. I miss this when we can go from one part of the US to another and find the same stores, the same restaurants, the same drugstores. Your pictures give a good idea of your lovely town.

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  33. Molly17 March 2011 at 21:58

    Ludlow is beautiful. We are so lucky to live where we do!

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  34. Heidrun Khokhar, KleinsteMotte20 March 2011 at 00:03

    So truly european. Lovely.

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  35. Karen (formerly kcinnova)22 March 2011 at 13:31

    Someday, God willing, I will travel back to England and see everything my heart desires to see. Until then, I will be happy to have seen your photographs.

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  36. Sally Wessely30 March 2011 at 21:01

    Your world looks like a fantasy. It is beautiful. I hope I get back to England some day. If I do, I will want to visit your world.

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