Ludlow Castle: Explore Gilbert de Lacy's Thousand Year Old Castle in Shropshire

Of the many who are said to have accompanied William the Conqueror in 1066, one of the few to be verified is William fitzOsbern. He was made Earl of Hereford and tasked with securing the Welsh border. Like the Conqueror, fitzOsbern delegated much of the responsibly to those close to him. His second in command was Walter de Lacy who soon began building a fortification on the manor of Stanton Lacy.
Originally called Dinham Castle, Ludlow quickly became Walter's most important castle. He died in a construction accident in Hereford in 1085, and the building was completed by his sons Roger and Hugh. The first version consisted of the inner bailey with four towers and a gatehouse along the walls and a ditch dug out on two sides, the removed stone being used in the construction.
Roger de Lacy rebelled against King William II and his lands were seized in 1096 and turned over to his brother Hugh. After Hugh's death around 1115, King Henry I gave the castle to Hugh's niece Sybil and married her to Pain fitzJohn. When Pain died in 1137 King Stephen gave Ludlow Castle to Robert fitzMiles, who had planned to marry Pain's daughter, in exchange for future support. The Civil War between Stephen and the Empress Matilda gave Gilbert de Lacy, son of Roger, the chance to rebel. He seized Ludlow Castle but lost it again two years later.
Ludlow Castle was given to Joce de Dinan, who had married Sybil de Lacy, and a private war ensued with Gilbert de Lacy. Gilbert finally won in 1153, but then left for the Levant, leaving his eldest son, Robert, in charge. Following Robert's death Gilbert's youngest son, Hugh, took control.
Between 1140 and 1177 the Great Tower was built, as well as the outer bailey to the south and east. It was probably Gilbert de Lacy who built the round chapel in the inner bailey. Several times from 1172 to 1260 Ludlow Castle was seized by the Crown to ensure the loyalty of Hugh de Lacy or his son Walter, or in response to the lack of it. Some of the times it was placed under the control of Hugh's father-in-law, William de Braose, but he also fell out of favor.
Simon de Montfort took Ludlow Castle in 1264 during the Second Baron's War, but it was reclaimed by supporters of King Henry II, probably led by Geoffrey de Geneville, who had married Maud de Lacy, granddaughter of Walter, and was the legal "owner" of the castle. Geoffrey built the Great Hall and Solar block. Geoffrey and Maud's daughter Joan married Roger de Mortimer, who added the Great Chamber.
I don't have space here to follow all of the story of Roger and his part in Queen Isabella's rebellion against her husband, King Edward II, but Ludlow remained in the Mortimer family until Edmund Mortimer sold his rights to his Welsh estates in 1425. Although it was inherited by his nephew Richard, Duke of York, Richard's son Edward soon became Edward IV and in 1460 Ludlow became property of the Crown.
In the 16th century Ludlow became, essentially, the capital of Wales; being the residence of the monarchs in the West. These included Prince Arthur, Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII, and Mary Tudor. The Council of the Marches was established at Ludlow Castle, charged with maintaining order in Wales. Little was done by way of maintenance during this time and much of the castle was considered unfit for habitation by the 1530s. In the 1560s the larger windows were glazed, a clock installed, and water piped in. Mortimer's Tower in the outer bailey was turned into a record depository for the court installed in the 14th century St. Peter's Chapel, and a fountain, tennis court, and viewing platform were added.
Other than its use as an infantry garrison in the 17th century, Ludlow Castle was allowed to decay. In 1722 Daniel Defoe described Ludlow Castle as "in the very Perfection of Decay", and it became the subject of artists and site seers. Parts of the castle were adapted to other uses until the 20th century when the Earl of Powis took possession of the castle and began restoration and preservation work. Ludlow Castle is currently owned by the Earl of Powis and is maintained by the Trustees of the Powis Castle Estate.
William fitzOsbern
www.missouri-mule.com/fitzosbe...
Walter, Hugh, and Gilbert de Lacy
www.missouri-mule.com/delacy2....
Geoffrey de Geneville
www.missouri-mule.com/genevill...
William de Braose
www.missouri-mule.com/braose.h...
Roger de Mortimer
www.missouri-mule.com/mortimer...
Kings Edward II, Henry II
www.missouri-mule.com/longshan...
King Henry I & Matilda the Empress
www.missouri-mule.com/dukesofn...
King Stephen
www.missouri-mule.com/blois.html
The official Ludlow Castle site
www.ludlowcastle.com

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