Published twice a year by Ludlow Civic Society www.ludlowcivicsociety.org
HeritageNo 63 Autumn/Winter 2015 NEWS FREE
Inside this issue Luck of An Old Programme e ‘Lad’ Welsh Capital and Events LUCK OF THE ‘LAD’
‘When smoke stood up from Ludlow, And mist blew o from Teme ....’
is stunning shot by Ludlow’s Two memorable views – one in the form of a hilltop vista He not only advised that the title foremost photographer, Gareth and the other by way of a man’s voiced opinion – have be changed but that the hitherto anonymous author be persuaded to omas, is one of nearly one combined to serve the county of Shropshire with its most hundred appearing in his add his name. ‘Shropshire Lad’ illustrated book. generous slice of literary luck. Fame and immortality have By March of 1896, the immortal e publication was launched by been the o spring of the union. title of ‘A Shropshire Lad’ by Merlin Unwin Books in 2009 and Some time in the second half University to read and make A.E.Housman was o ered to the has, not surprisingly, enjoyed two of 1895, one ALFRED WILLIAM comment upon a collection of world. e book was initially reprints. Gareth’s striking images POLLARD is said to have crossed poems written by the same student published by Kegan Paul, but at appear in countless other books the threshold of ‘Byron Cottage’ friend. ey were about to be Housman’s expense. It has never and journals and, as prints, hang in Highgate, North London; he o ered to a publisher under the since been out of print. in houses worldwide. had been invited there by a former title of ‘Poems by Terence Hearsay’. Exactly what this slim volume student colleague at Oxford What Pollard did next was crucial. of near-monosyllabic verses has Continued overleaf LUCK OF THE ‘LAD’ (continued) meant to Shropshire in terms of for them.’ Laurence further wrote those popular TV world-wide fame, visitor attraction, that the change in title ‘must have detectives, Lewis and even hard tourist-trade cash, may had a considerable e ect upon its Frost have included only be guessed at. And guessed fortunes’ (one is tempted to add... ‘Into my heart..... at by, among others, the poet’s upon Shropshire’s too!). Pollard’s blue remembered own younger brother. Laurence inspired suggestion of ‘A Shropshire hills’. A little more Housman, himself a proli c Lad’ was, he said, ‘a piece of good commercially, I may playwright and author, had no advice which the author luckily was now shop at the doubt at all about the great and not above taking’. Ludlow Food Centre lasting service done to this county’s Although the title was initially for ‘Remembered standing. He wrote in his ‘Memoir’ slow in retail uptake, it found Hills’ cheese and, ‘.....that small book of poems has enormous favour in later years. It maybe, wash it down given to Shropshire place-names has been a rich source for musical with a bottle of an added romance comparable to settings such as the 1909 o ering ‘Shropshire Lad’ ale that which attaches to the place- ‘On Wenlock Edge’ by Ralph from Edward Wood’s names of Hardy’s novels....but I Vaughan Williams, and has likewise brewery. e same wonder what would have happened proved an inspirational magnet for two-verse poem had the poems been published scores of artists and photographers. allows me to browse under the title originally chosen In the last decade even scripts for a ‘Lost Content’ museum at Craven Photo credit British Library British credit Photo Arms, though for a Alfred W Pollard was the Oxford proper appreciation student friend of Housman who of the poet’s ‘Loveliest of trees, the suggested a change of title to ‘A cherry....’, I should perhaps journey Shropshire Lad’. He joined the further a eld – to the Housman sta of the British Museum in Society branch in Japan! 1883, and by 1919 was Keeper of As much as good fortune Printed Books. From 1893 to 1934 attached to the change of title, it he was Honorary Secretary of the was even more a stroke of luck Bibliographical Society. us TWO that Shropshire was mentioned alpha Alfreds of great scholarly at all. Housman, a er all, was a achievement. Pollard died in 1944. Worcestershire man – born on 26th March 1859 at Fockbury and imaginary.’ In childhood, the near Bromsgrove – and nearly all Housman siblings o en climbed a of the sixty-three poems within local hill which they referred to as the covers of ASL were written in the biblical ‘Mount Pisgah’. Alfred London. He selected Shropshire was ever a er nostalgic about as his landscape of imagery simply views of the distant Shropshire because of emotions experienced hills, and it was happy chance that in youth. ‘I am Worcestershire by the very rst line of the very rst birth,’ he wrote in 1934, ‘Shropshire poem in ASL should read ‘From was our Western horizon, which Clee to heaven the beacon burns’. made me feel romantic about it. But what if the budding poet and I do not know the county well, classicist had expressed a preference except in parts, and some of my for other hills? Or, maybe, become topographical details are wrong emotional about the horizons to A E HOUSMAN at the age of 35 years in 1894.
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TWO Ludlow Heritage News the North, South or East? Clearly a by that eminent Head and scholar Muse of poetry must have climbed of Shrewsbury School, Benjamin in Housman’s footsteps and been on Hall Kennedy. Who could possibly Shropshire’s side. Possibly ‘Sabrina’ have guessed that the schoolboy was hiking as well. clutching his Speech Day prize Housman’s confession of would celebrate 1911 by himself topographical waywardness was being installed as Kennedy very quickly con rmed by the Professor of Latin in the University evidence of his brother. ‘It happened of Cambridge? It placed him at the in the same year ‘A Shropshire Lad’ pinnacle of his chosen profession. was published,’ wrote Laurence. From half a century ago, I recall ‘I went to stay with friends at a remark made by the late Enoch Buildwas; and nding that Hughley Powell MP, who studied under and its steeple were only ve miles Housman, and who described his away, I went over to look at the professor as ‘the most charismatic ‘far-known sign’ (ASL LX1) and of people I knew’. Something the graves of ‘suicides’ on the north altogether lighter came from the late side of the tower. When I reached Ludlow constituency Member, Sir it I found that the ‘far-known sign’ Jasper More of Linley. He chanced was buried away in a valley, and to be dining in hall within earshot that the ‘suicides’ were, most of of Housman when some of the dons them, respectable church-wardens fell to chatting about the ‘new’ form and wives of vicars, all in neatly- of travel, the aeroplane. One don tended graves.’ He then added, stated rmly that aeroplanes could ‘When I reproached Alfred for NOT carry luggage. Housman his romantic falsi cation of local glanced up from his soup course history his explanation was that the to say, ‘I happen to know they place he really meant had an ugly CAN.’ Surprisingly, the prim Latin name so he substituted ‘Hughley’. scholar who appeared de cient ‘I did not apprehend,’ he wrote me, in adventurous body bones, was ‘that the faithful would be making particularly well quali ed to know A E HOUSMANS passport photograph when aged 70 years. pilgrimages to these holy places.’ about the new-fangled ying But that is what has now happened.’ machines. From as early as 1920 he A PASSENGER WHO BUTTED Border normally represented by A Shropshire connection – this made annual holiday ights to the HIS HEAD THROUGH THE that name...... it is more that in time with no falsi cation – lay Continent and, on one occasion, WINDOW TO BE SICK!’ ‘creating’ Shropshire, he produced at the very roots of Housman’s noted the novelty of having a No better comments on the a stage, a little world in which to classical scholarship and love of uniformed ‘waiter’ on board to relationship between Housman’s set in motion the characters, the poetry. One of several prizes which serve him with cheese and biscuits. verse and Shropshire exist emotions and the dramas that he won at Bromsgrove School was However, observations to his sister beyond those of the author and he needed to portray. What he a book which, he said, had rst Katherine a er another such jaunt educationalist, Keith Jebb, who was produced is therefore much closer directed him to classical studies were of a far more alarming nature. born and raised in the county and to Tolkein’s Middle Earth than to ‘and implanted in me a genuine He wrote to her: ‘On the return who wrote ‘A.E.Housman’ for the the historically-rooted accuracy of liking for Greek and Latin’. is journey we were two hours late Border Lines series in 1992. ‘ e Hardy’s Wessex.’ was a copy of ‘Sabrinae Corolla’, a in starting because the machine rst thing to say about Housman’s Accuracy of topographical detail book of English poetry translated required repairs, having been Shropshire is that it is not, and may not have caused Housman into those languages and edited damaged on the previous day BY never was, the county on the Welsh any great concern but accuracy on
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THREE www.ludlowcivicsociety.org Photo credit Ludlow Museum Ludlow credit Photo
For over forty years it was supposed that the very private burial of Housman’s ashes at Ludlow Parish Church had passed unrecorded. is grainy photograph is taken from a negative of Mr Howard Corbishley, a former Traveller with the Ludlow Corn Merchants, Marston Bros. On the evening of 25July 1936 he guessed ‘something important was going on’ so he snapped with his Box Brownie. We cannot identify individuals in the photo’ but “relatives present included Professor Housman’s two sisters, Miss Clemence Housman and Mrs E W Symonds; his only surviving brother Mr Laurence Housman; one of his nephews Dr A D Symonds, and Mrs A D Symonds” (Bromsgrove Messenger 1/8/1936). e photo’ came to light in 1979.
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FOUR Ludlow Heritage News the printed page most assuredly constant confusion between himself during his lifetime. Appropriately, one I now wish to echo: did. He waged a life-long battle and his brother. Each was credited it was voiced in Ludlow and, just as I wonder what would have with printers over the misplacing with the other’s publications. ttingly, by a fellow poet. In July happened had the poems been or omission of punctuation marks Given his regard for accuracy 1934, John Drinkwater had written published under the title originally to ‘destroy’ his verse and rhythm. in print, it was perverse in the ve ‘Historical Episodes’ to be chosen for them? In fact, in a brief introductory note extreme that such an error should performed at the great ‘Shropshire Lovers of ‘A Shropshire Lad’ to ‘Last Poems’ of 1922, the printer pursue Alfred Edward nigh unto Historical Pageant’, played in the primarily admire this little book must have choked at being told his grave. In arranging for burial main at Ludlow Castle, with Queen for the simplicity, beauty and to set ‘it is better that what I have of the ashes near the north wall of Mary as patroness. Drinkwater poignancy of Housman’s poems. written should be printed while Ludlow Parish Church, Laurence had once met Housman socially Yet those who live in this county I am here to see it through the gave to a local stonemason very to talk about poetry and, in 1917, should, perhaps, reserve a small press and control its spelling and precise instructions about every had himself won inspiration for a part of their appreciation for that punctuation.’ e scholar-poet’s character, spacing, dot and comma sonnet by a rst visit to the Castle, very good friend who was not afraid view of accuracy on the printed with which to adorn a tablet of and speci cally, ‘to the Hall where to give the poet advice. page – to hell with geography that stone. But shock – horror – drama! ‘Comus’ was rst produced’. Now, In matters of the heart it is universally accepted that ‘just didn’t suit – was that it was not e dra for approval showed a in conjunction with the Pageant’s three little words can make all the a virtue but a duty. His reply to proposed chiselling of ‘Arthur’ ‘Prologue Writer’, Sir Owen di erence’. For those three little a lady who regretted that she had instead of ‘Alfred’. e letter Seaman, he composed other very words that form ‘A Shropshire not been able to buy a First Edition urging correction is still preserved much shorter lines by way of a L a d ’, it is Alfred William Pollard of ‘Last Poems’ and had to content in Ludlow Museum archives as programme dedication. who should join Alfred Edward herself with a Second, exempli es is one to the Rector detailing this Housman to accept our salute. All this passion: ‘In that case you have ‘extraordinary mistake’. True Shropshire must rejoice that his the more valuable edition. In the to form, at least one newspaper inspired choice was accepted and rst, two commas are missing.’ managed to oblige the gremlins that the leading Latin scholar of Irksome, too, was the frequent with a ‘Houseman’ in its obituary his day should have agreed to add misspelling of his name – usually notice. his own name to the book. us, Houseman with an e (as appears Given the very private nature ‘Shropshire’ and ‘Ludlow’ are writ even today) - and once, very of the ceremony on the evening of large for all time. Would ‘Hearsay’ spitefully, ‘this Houseboat person’. 25th July 1936, it was satisfying that Near the opening of this article, have done it? Yet it was impish amusement rather some slight Shropshire ‘thank you’ I quoted the question posed by than annoyance that was kindled by to Housman had been expressed Laurence Housman and nd it is David Edwards
“NOT ‘Arthur’: Alfred”! Notes sent to the stonemason a er Laurence Housman discovered the ‘extraordinary mistake’ on the rough for his brother’s memorial.
Watch out for our packed £9.99 Spring/Summer DVD Season 2015 -2016 CONSERVING HISTORIC BUILDINGS Produced by Ludlow Civic Society Would make an ideal present. Available now from local outlets.
FIVE www.ludlowcivicsociety.org AN OLD WELSH CAPITAL is interesting little essay, full of Shrewsbury. e turbulent history strength which enabled it to remain little aloof from the rush of modern period charm, was given to us by of these years le Ludlow deeply the last Shropshire stronghold to life. the son of the Rev. D.M.Gri n, scarred but rich in fame. surrender to Cromwell. It is not dicult in such an Mr Paul Gri n, a well-known It is interesting to recall that Ludlow has many treasures. A old-world place to call to mind its Ludlow citizen. the rst church of this old town Butter Cross, certainly only two many customs and revelries. One of A town before the conquest was a little Saxon sanctuary, and centuries old, but replacing an older these, the shrove-tide rope-pulling, and mentioned as Lude in the in the Castle grounds the ruin one; a Grammar School whose was kept up until 1850. Again, a Domesday records, Ludlow, of a round Norman chapel still fabric and foundation have few glimpse back into the 18th Century standing supreme in the rich beauty remains. To-day, in complete rivals in the matter of age; and a shows this quiet country town gay of Shropshire, is a treasure-house of contrast, a magni cent church timber and plaster house founded and fashionable, with a Season. memories. rises with tall grace. Its spacious in 1674 as an ‘almshouse for old A traveller leaving Ludlow by way From such a beginning it grew interior is enriched by ne glass and women’ are but a few. ese and of Ludford Bridge would follow a until it reached a marked prosperity 15th century carving. Its stall and many more go to make up this old- very ancient road. is picturesque in the 12th Century. Its greatest misereres are of unique interest. world country town. bridge spans the river Teme. It is at years, however, were those during As background to a pageant of Charm, too, is found in the least seven centuries old, and may which it was the headquarters many of Ludlow’s richest memories streets of Ludlow. Black and white be Norman. With tall trees lining of the Council of the Marches, is the Castle, and one may be houses mingle with modern ones its bank on one side, the Teme which met frequently in the Castle, forgiven for recalling the obvious. and a ord a wealth of interest and splashes over rough stones past the the President’s ocial residence. Ruined but beautiful, it stands with beauty. Of Elizabethan ones, the nearby Castle. To stand on this Perhaps the best-known President stately grandeur, a silent tribute to famous Feathers Inn is te nest bridge and bid farewell to Ludlow was Sir Henry Sydney, whose young the glory of past centuries. It was example, and the Reader’s House is to step back, momentarily, into son, later the famous Sir Philip inhabited until the reign of George in Church Yard adds to the rich history, and it would be dicult to Sydney, rode from here to I, and many famous names are store. e Regency fronts in Corve suppress a desire to return again, school in linked with its history. From its Street are some of the nest in and to nd this gem of Shropshire walls, the ill-fated young Edward the country; and the Georgian unchanged. V set o for London and his early merchant houses in Broad Street death. Here, too, in the Great Hall, claim their share of interest. But Halford Vicarage the rst performance of Milton’s this charm lies deeper. ere is Craven arms Masque of Comus took place, when a calm, unhurried atmosphere in Shropshire its author was but twenty-six. To- Ludlow, as if the town lingered with day, its grand outline speaks of the its history in the past, remaining a D. M. Gri n
SIX Ludlow Heritage News COMMITTEENews CHAIRMAN’S NOTES Street cobbles form part of Ludlow’s character. ey have separated the roads from the pavements and houses for centuries around the centre of the town. ere is a system in place to ensure that the cobbles are put back correctly aer digging up by contractors usually working on behalf of the Utility companies. Unfortunately, the system (operated closely with the water, electricity and by Shropshire Council) has failed to gas installers to have a joint e ect to carry out any checks on work carried repair the cobbles, e ectively using out by contractors in recent years. trained workers employed through It is now at a stage where no-one is the Civic Society. is may be a rst prepared to take any responsibility in the country and it requires a lot of for the appalling state of the cobbles time and e ort by the Civic Society in the town. Some of them are and the utility companies to succeed. now unattractive and a hazard to e only absentee from the table is pedestrians. A sub-group of the Civic BT, the biggest o ender a er ripping Society Committee has been formed to up cobbles and laying concrete down see what can be done. badly a erwards for many years. e initial survey has highlighted is is perhaps not surprising since the extent of the problem, and they have taken two years NOT to a further survey, with the help remove an o ending telephone pole of householders and businesses in the Jubilee Garden. is is severely a ected will reveal the various utility holding up that project! and private contractor companies concerned. e intention is to work Dan Lloyd
TALKS AND EVENTS Once again we thank you all winter, aer the fascinating on 9th March. All of these Wednesday 9th December and will for attending our last series of talk on Agincourt, ,we o er lectures have been arranged for be held in St Laurence’s Church lectures. We certainly covered Children’s Pop-up Books on us brilliantly by Penny Wake. at 5.30 p.m. e early start is to a wide range of subjects from 11th November, the almshouses We will warmly welcome you to enable our guests who want to the gardens of Gertrude Jekyll, of Ludlow on 13th January, these events in the Oscars Room at attend the talk given by Dr Rowan through Ludlow and the First the Newlyn School of British Ludlow Assembly Rooms. Please Williams at the Assembly Rooms World War, to the World of Impressionism on 10th February note the new start time is 7 p.m. later that evening, to be able to t Wild Swimming! is autumn/ and Aspects of Design in Ludlow is year’s Christmas Party is on in both events.
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LUDLOW CIVIC SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP
We have welcomed many new members to the Society over the past year, particularly people who have recently moved to Ludlow. We are also pleased to have recruited several Corporate members from Ludlow’s business community whose logos will appear on our website and more! It has been enjoyable sometimes to talk or write to members who used to live in Ludlow If you love Ludlow many decades ago, and who have interesting memories of days gone by. I have encouraged these former Ludlovians to send those Here are six good reasons recollections for inclusion in this magazine. why you should join Members will be aware from their programme cards that the monthly talks will now begin at 7 p.m. It is greatly appreciated when members pay by standing order as Ludlow Civic Society this reduces postage and paperwork, and, of course, by completing Gi Aid forms, we all achieve an increase in revenue. 1. An increased membership strengthens our inuence in protecting this unique town. Jane Hunt 2. We need your support in our ght against over-development and bad design. ✃ 3. We need your ideas on how we can promote To: e Membership Secretary, Ludlow Civic Society, improvements for the town. 51 Julian Road, Ludlow SY8 1HD Please accept my/our application to join the society. 4. You can enjoy our social functions, lectures and trips. Annual membership subscription is £13 per person. £24.50 per couple - 5. You will receive our free magazine which comes normally due on September 1st. I enclose £ to cover. Cheques payable to ‘Ludlow Civic Society’ please. out normally twice a year. Please treat all my subscriptions and/or donations to the Ludlow Civic 6. You choose just how much you do for us. Society until further notice as GIFT AID. I am currently a UK taxpayer.
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Ludlow Civic Society Address 2015 OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE President: Sir Keith omas Vice-Presidents: Dr Martin Speight, Philip Dunne M.P. Chairman: Dan Lloyd Postcode Vice-Chairman: Richard Hurlock Hon. Secretary: Juliet Diamond Email Hon. Treasurer: Richard Mangnall Committee Members: Jane Hunt, Tony Mahalski, John Nash, Anthony Shuster, Stanton Stephens,Valerie omas, Responses to articles are always welcome. Hinny Varley, Penny Wake Please address your letters to: e Editor, Heritage News, 5 Castle Street, Ludlow SY8 1AS
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