Ludlow Civic Society
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Ludlow Published twice a year by Ludlow Civic Society www.ludlowcivicsociety.org HeritageNo 62 Spring/Summer 2015 NEWS FREE Inside this issue Castle Part of the Ludlow Jubilee Programme Garden Preacher’s Tale? Garden and Events THE OLD BELL HOUSE, LUDFORD Anthony Cant Ludford lies immediately to the south of the 13th century bridge adjacent dug in along the river. Several was built in the 16th century. The to the Charlton Arms on the road to Leominster. It used to be in Yorkists defected overnight to the earliest evidence of its being an inn Herefordshire (the river Teme was the county boundary). The small but Lancastrians followed by a full scale is in a lease to a John Arnold in 1705 when it was called the Three fine church of St Giles has its origins in the 11th century when it was a retreat on the morning of 12th Crowns. The name changed to the chapel to Bromfield Priory. October 1459. No blood was spilt. Old Bell some time before 1741, The village is mentioned in of the Roses. The Yorkists were As Lancastrians, my wife and I are when Edward Bough, a Ludlow history books because of the battle camped in the town, while the delighted that the red rose won! bailiff, took the lease. of Ludford Bridge during the Wars Lancastrians (King Henry VI) were It is likely that the Old Bell House (continued overleaf) THE OLD BELL HOUSE, LUDFORD (continued) Ludlow Corporation was the one of only four properties in the road to Leominster was opened role. The name changed again (to beneficiary of the Ludford estate parish with three hearths at the time in c.1835. This was disastrous for the Old Bell House) in 1909 when when the Palmers’ Guild ceased in of the hearth tax (2s. Each) between the Old Bell as there were no more Henry Mahler, the new owner 1551. A succession of leases were 1662 and 1689. Ludford House passing travellers – but to the great and a noted artist, undertook granted by the Corporation in the had seventeen hearths. The Three advantage of the Charlton Arms considerable changes to the 17th century and earlier, and leases Crowns relied on passing travellers which was then owned by Edmund property. He used Basil Stallybrass, have been traced back to 1664 when who could stable their horses, be fed Charlton of Ludford House. John an associate architect of William one was granted to a Humphrey and stay the night. Carrier was the tenant of the Old Lethaby who was a member of Powell (an official of the Council The road over Ludford Bridge Bell. He ceased trading and moved a group of architects who met of the Marches of Wales, based in to Leominster was not a through to the Charlton Arms. The Old regularly with William Morris of Ludlow Castle) for 41 years at an road according to a plan drawn in Bell was probably empty in 1845 the Arts and Crafts movement. annual rent of ‘£1 4s 0d and two 1802. It was blocked by a farm gate when it was still owned by Ludlow Stallybrass was what became known good fat capons (or 2s in lieu) and twenty yards up from the Charlton Corporation as it had been for most as an ‘itinerant architect’ and was fetching of coal from Clee Hill to Arms. There was a turnpike on of its existence. required not only to design, but to the Bailiffs (or 3s 4d in lieu)’. The the corner by the right turn to In 1846 ownership of the Old take a very hands-on approach to Three Crowns comprised ‘the inn, Wigmore. The Old Bell, as it was Bell transferred from Ludlow the work. This required staying at stables, yards, gardens and pigsty’, now called, is shown as a coaching Corporation to a succession of the Old Bell House to supervise the and a dwelling house, also with a inn in a prominent position on the families, and the name was changed work. Stallybrass was described as pigsty and two small gardens. It was road to Worcester. The current to Ludford Villas to reflect its new ‘probably the architect who most 4.The Old Bell House, weir and grotto. Travelarts Castle My name is Justin Lewis. I have arranged exclusive garden tours Bookshop which are fully escorted with local pick ups available (Craven Arms and Ludlow). Space is limited so book now. 5 Castle Street, Ludlow SY8 1AS HIGHGROVE (Full day) £55.00 per person. Tel: 01584 872562 Monday 11th May. Tuesday 2nd June Fax: 01584 876366 Proprietor: Stanton Stephens THE LASKETT (Half Day) £30.00 per person. FREE BOOK ORDERING SERVICE Thursday 21st May. Tuesday 15th September BOOKS AND MAPS ART MATERIALS Please contact Justin on: 01568 613836 or BOOKS OF LOCAL INTEREST email: [email protected] STATIONERY AND GIFTS or call in at Castle Bookshop Ludlow for a booking form. GREETINGS CARDS TWO Ludlow Heritage News nearly met Ruskin and Morris’s shelters the bird or beast that lives Other major work included the ideal’. amidst its branches’ – see Photo enlargement of the kitchen, with a Country Life published a series 2. The fireplace in the same room new floor, and the conversion of two of short articles in 1914 on ‘The contains several old Delft tiles, bathrooms. I think it appropriate to CASTLE lesser country houses of yesterday’. some of which – a Chinese pattern conclude with a word of thanks to The article on the Old Bell House – could be of 17th century origin – the Planning Department for their described it as ‘a small old house see Photo 3. helpful and constructive approach GARDEN of peculiar merit. Its present A later improvement was the to the changes, Treasure and Son seemliness of aspect is due to Mr removal of the stone-flagged floor for the new kitchen, and County UPDATE Basil Stallybrass, for the house had in the entrance hall. Alan Poulton, Bathrooms for the two restored fallen on very evil days.’ The article who sadly died last year, told us that bathrooms. All their work was The Society is pleased to described the earlier conversion his father, a prominent local builder, faultless. announce that on 22nd to villas as ‘base’. Mahler found replaced the stone flags with oak December they received the house ‘smothered in Victorian blocks in 1926, in a herring-bone permission from Ludlow plaster, grained woodwork, cast- pattern. The floor came from Sir Town Council to commence iron lattices and other abominations Alfred Chester Beatty’s home in the restoration of the Castle of that day’. Stallybrass made many Kent. He was an American-born Garden Fountain. changes: revealing old fireplaces copper magnate, frequently referred This was a result of and four old wall paintings which, to as the ‘King of Copper’. presenting the Council Country Life suggests, could date to Subsequent owners have made with Memorandum of 1500. The best preserved of these various improvements to the house Understanding which outlined is described in Madge Moran’s and garden to accord with their the undertaking of the Society. definitive book on Vernacular own tastes. Our predecessors, Val 3. The old Delft tiles in the drawing room. The Committee is in the Buildings of Shropshire as of and Neil Aiken, carried out some process of complying with ‘guilloche work with concentric major alterations to tighten the these requirements, such as circles and huge roses’. She dates structure, and added a Border Oak informing English Heritage them as nearer 1600 – see Photo 1. garden room to improve and extend and delivering a Method Other changes by Mahler and the seasonal use of that area of the Statement. The projects Stallybrass included joining the garden. delivery team will include two separate parts of the house We moved here in 2010 and are, Colin Richards and Stephen into a single dwelling. Some walls perhaps, the twelfth owners of the Treasure of Treasure & Son, and a scullery were removed, the house. One project we undertook and Dan Lloyd, our Chairman. old smithy and brew house were was the restoration of the shell It is hoped that the work will converted to a new kitchen, another grotto below the house, down by 2. A section of the replastered ceiling in commence in April of this year, kitchen into a nursery, and a second the river. It was in need of repair as the drawing room. and it is anticipated that it will scullery converted into a study. The several shells had fallen off during be completed in approximately front door was moved from the left the years. We salvaged fifty-six of two months. The Council of the house to its present position these and incorporated them into a will seek quotations for an (there is an old photo of the present new design, strengthened the brick interpretation board which porch in its original position). Old ceiling by the insertion of stainless will tell the origin and history panelling (mostly recovered from steel rods and an aluminium mesh of the fountain. For the Civic lumber rooms and old back yards – see Photo 4 of the weir, showing Society, the restoration is a way in Ludlow) was introduced into five the position of the grotto. The work of celebrating our Diamond rooms. The drawing room ceiling was undertaken in 2011, and 2011 Jubilee. was replastered: each of six panels shells were used, kindly supplied Tony Mahalski is ‘devoted to a different tree which free by the Fish House. 1. A XVI century wall painting. The Little Big Cheese Shop Hardware and Cookware Merchants Upholding traditional standards Where else would you find a greater Of service and quality Since 1864 variety of cheeses, eggs, home-made Stockists of: farm butter and pickles (some produced organically)? Aga, Rayburn, Dualit, Delonghi, Wesco, Tala Retro, & Dimplex Stoves and a wide range of ironmongery LUDLOW MARKET products and Giftware.