Your History - Ludlow: A Regional Centre for Social Life

After centuries as a thriving agricultural market town and political centre, the 18th century saw a change to Ludlow’s status. It became a regional centre for the social life of both the local gentry and an increasingly affluent ‘middling sort’, benefitting from a buoyant economy based on international trade. Exotic goods became readily available and affordable to many more people, and a taste for following ‘fashion’ in all things took off. Ludlow was perfectly placed to become the shopping centre for the region.

Another fashionable pastime was keeping good society at afternoon tea,dinner,parties and balls – an accepted way of meeting a future spouse with just enough freedom to become acquainted but strict rules about how to behave to maintain decorum. Ludlow’s social ‘season’ attracted the fashionable and well to do for several decades, with many buying or renting a house in town and modernising it to make the most of the opportunity.The resulting beautiful 18th century streetscape remains today.

Staying for a number of weeks, visitors needed something to do during the day. The Palisades outside the Castle walls were developed as a place to walk, see and be seen; a theatre was built on Mill Street; one of the first Circulating Libraries opened on Old Street; and of course there were ‘the races’ at Bromfield and the shopping! If you look at the small paned windows in today’s streets, you might be able to imagine the Georgian shopping centre alive in the 21st century.

www.mortimerhistorysociety.org.uk

www.ludlowhistory.co.uk