Editing Ludlow (section)

==History==
{{see also|History of Shropshire|Ludlow Castle}}
The town is situated close to [[Wales]], and lies near the midpoint of the {{convert|257|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}} [[England–Wales border]]; it is also very close to the county border between Shropshire and [[Herefordshire]] (neighbouring [[Ludford, Shropshire|Ludford]] remained part of Herefordshire until 1895). This strategic location invested it with national importance in [[medieval]] times, and thereafter with the town being the seat of the [[Council of Wales and the Marches]] during its existence (1472 to 1689).<ref>{{cite book|first=William Searle |last=Holdsworth|title=A History of English Law|publisher=Little, Brown, and Company|year=1912|page=502}}</ref>

===Medieval history===
[[File:Ludlow Castle from Whitcliffe, 2011.jpg|left|thumb|[[Ludlow Castle]], built in the late 11th century.]]
[[File:Magnificent stained glass window within St Laurence, Ludlow - geograph.org.uk - 1444523.jpg|thumb|right|upright|The [[stained glass window]] above the west door of St Laurence's displays the Lords of Ludlow Castle and most notably four key royals associated with Ludlow during/after the [[Wars of the Roses]]. The praying figures at the foot are (from left to right) [[Richard of York, 3rd Duke of York|Richard, Duke of York]], his son [[Edward IV of England|Edward IV]] and his son [[Edward V of England|Edward V]] and grandson [[Arthur, Prince of Wales]].]]
At the time of the [[Domesday Book]] survey, the area was part of the large [[Stanton Lacy|Stanton]] parish and [[Manorialism|manor]], a possession of [[Walter de Lacy (died 1085)|Walter de Lacy]].<ref>[http://domesdaymap.co.uk/place/SO4978/stanton-lacy Open Domesday] Stanton Lacy</ref> Neither Ludlow nor Dinham are mentioned in the Book, compiled in 1086, although the Book recorded manors and not settlements ''per se''. The Book does record a great number of households and taxable value for Stanton, perhaps suggesting that any early settlement by the nascent castle was being counted. Neighbouring places Ludford, the Sheet and Steventon do feature in the Book, as they were manors, proving that they were well-established places by the Norman conquest.<ref>[http://domesdaymap.co.uk/place/SO5174/ludford Open Domesday] Ludford</ref> The manor of Stanton came within the [[hundred (county division)|hundred]] of [[Culvestan]], but during the reign of [[Henry I of England|Henry I]] this Saxon hundred was merged into the new [[Munslow (hundred)|Munslow]] hundred.<ref>{{cite web|first1=A. P.|last1= Baggs|first2= G. C.|last2= Baugh|first3=D. C.|last3= Cox|first4=Jessie|last4= McFall|first5=P. A.|last5= Stamper|title='Munslow Hundred', in A History of the County of Shropshire: Volume 10, Munslow Hundred (Part), the Liberty and Borough of Wenlock, ed. G C Baugh |location=London|year=1998|pages=7–8|publisher=British History Online |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/salop/vol10/pp7-8 |access-date= 30 October 2021}}</ref>

Walter's son [[Roger de Lacy]] began the construction of [[Ludlow Castle]] on the western [[promontory]] of the hill about 1075, forming what is now the inner [[Ward (fortification)|bailey]]. Between about 1090 and 1120, the Chapel of [[St. Mary Magdalene]] was built inside the walls, and by 1130 the Great Tower was added to form the [[gatehouse]]. About 1170 the larger outer bailey was added to the castle. (The town walls however were not built until the mid-13th century.) The settlement of Dinham grew up alongside the development of the early castle in the late 11th century, with the northern part of this early settlement disturbed by the building of the outer bailey.<ref name=origins>Lloyd, David (2008) ''The Origins of Ludlow'' pp 75-79</ref> Dinham had its own place of worship, the Chapel of St Thomas the Martyr, dedicated to [[Thomas Becket]] sometime in 1177–1189 when the present chapel replaced an older (late 11th-century) church building.<ref>[http://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MSA360&resourceID=1015 Heritage Gateway]</ref>

During the 12th century, the planned town of Ludlow was formed, in stages, the town providing a useful source of income for successive [[Marcher Lords]], based on rents, fines, and tolls. They developed the town on a regular grid pattern, although this was adapted somewhat to match the local [[topography]], from the late 11th century through the 12th century. The first laid street was along the ridge of the hilltop, what is now Castle Square, High Street and King Street. This formed a wide market place (later in-filled by buildings in places) running from the castle gates east across to St Laurence's and the Bull Ring, itself located on the ancient north–south road, now called Corve Street to the north and Old Street to the south. The wide Mill and Broad Streets were added later, as part of a southern grid plan of streets and [[burgage plot]]s filling the area bounded by Dinham, the new High Street market, Old Street and the Teme to the south.<ref name=origins/> Originally, Old Street ran down to a [[ford (crossing)|ford]] which took the ancient route south across to [[Ludford, Shropshire|Ludford]]. A bridge was constructed (possibly by [[Josce de Dinan]]) at the foot of Broad Street, upstream of the ford, which then replaced the ford; its 15th-century replacement is the present-day [[Ludford Bridge]].<ref>{{National Heritage List for England| num=1281983|desc=Ludford Bridge |grade=I |accessdate=21 June 2017}}</ref>

[[St Laurence's Church, Ludlow|St Laurence's church]], whose origins are late 11th century, was rebuilt and enlarged (with a bell tower) in 1199-1200<ref name=origins/> and became a parish church, with the separation of Ludlow from the [[parish]] of Stanton Lacy by 1200. The town notably had two schools (a choir and a grammar) in existence {{Circa|1200}};<ref>Lloyd, David (2008) ''The Origins of Ludlow'' p 44</ref> [[Ludlow Grammar School]] remained in existence until 1977, when it became Ludlow College.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ludlow-college.ac.uk/news-article/50b5d95be215b/Students-rewarded-for-academic-success|title=Students rewarded for academic success|publisher=Ludlow College|access-date=30 October 2021}}</ref>

[[File:castle square ludlow.jpg|right|thumb|upright|The town's outdoor market, in Castle Square, photographed from St Laurence's Church]]
Ludlow Castle was an important border fortification along the [[Welsh Marches]], and one of the largest in the Norman/English ring of castles surrounding Wales. It played a significant role in local, regional and national conflicts such as the [[Owain Glyndŵr]] rebellion, the [[Wars of the Roses]] and the [[English Civil War]]. The castle and its adjoining town grew in political importance and in the 15th century the castle became the seat of the [[Council of Wales and the Marches]]. It was a temporary home to several holders of the title [[Prince of Wales]], including [[Edward V of England|King Edward V]] and [[Arthur Tudor]], who died there in 1502.<ref>{{cite book | title=Henry VIII | publisher=Oxford University Press | last=Ives | first=Eric | year=2007 | location=Oxford | isbn=978-0-19-921759-5|page=1 }}</ref>

The site features heavily in the folk-story of [[Fulk FitzWarin]], outlawed Lord of [[Whittington, Shropshire]] and a possible inspiration for the ''[[Robin Hood]]'' legend. Fulk is brought up in the castle of [[Josce de Dinan]], and fights for his master against Sir [[Gilbert de Lacy]] – these battles are the source of the story of Marion de la Bruyere, the betrayed lover whose ghost is still said to be heard screaming as she plummets from the castle's turrets.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2009/09/28/castle-ghost-part-of-25-year-study/  |title=Castle ghost part of 25-year study|date=28 September 2009|newspaper=Shropshire Star|access-date=29 October 2021}}</ref>

The first recorded royal permission to maintain defensive town walls was given to the "men of Ludlow" in the [[Patent Rolls]] of 1233. The entry is however incomplete and atypical and was not renewed in the usual way. A [[murage]] grant was next made in 1260 and renewed regularly over the next two centuries. This time the grant was made by name to [[Geoffrey de Genevile]], Lord of Ludlow. From this and other surviving documents it seems that the town walls and gates were in place by 1270.<ref name="train">{{cite book|last=Train|first=C. J.|title=The Walls and Gates of Ludlow, Their Origins and Early Days|publisher=Ludlow Historical Research Group|location=Ludlow|year=1999|series=New Series No. 1|pages=6–12|chapter=2|isbn=0-9536113-0-2}}</ref> They were constructed about the central part of the community with four main gates and three [[postern]] gates. Because the walls were constructed after the development of the town's streets, the positions and names of the four main gates are based on the streets they crossed; the postern gates on the other hand are located by and named after old outlying districts. The 7 gates are (clockwise from the castle; postern gates in ''italics'') ''Linney'', Corve, ''Galdeford'', Old, Broad, Mill and ''Dinham''. An eighth unnamed 'portal' gate (smaller than a postern gate) existed in the wall just to the northwest of the castle, now in the gardens of Castle Walk House.<ref>[http://search.shropshirehistory.org.uk/collections/getrecord/CCS_MSA1346/ Shropshire History] ..portal gate</ref> The town walls are largely still in existence, although a section alongside the churchyard of St Lawrence's is, as of 2015, in need of repairs.<ref>[http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2015/10/01/agreement-made-over-ludlows-historic-town-walls-repair/ Shropshire Star] ''Agreement made over Ludlow’s historic town walls repair'' (1 October 2015)</ref>

The castle complex continued to expand (a Great Hall, kitchen and living quarters were added) and it gained a reputation as a fortified [[palace]]. In 1306 it passed through marriage to the ambitious [[Earl of March]], [[Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March]]. [[Isabella of France|Queen Isabella]] and her son, the young [[Edward III of England|Edward III]], were entertained at the castle in 1329.<ref>{{cite book|last=Harding|first=David |chapter=The Mortimer Lordship|title=Ludlow Castle: Its History & Buildings |publisher=Logaston Press|location=Logaston, UK|year=2000|editor-last1=Shoesmith|editor-first1=Ron |editor-last2=Johnson |editor-first2=Andy|isbn=1-873827-51-2|pages=47–48}}</ref>

===Marcher town===
[[File:Feathers hotel.jpg|thumb|left|upright|The [[Feathers Hotel, Ludlow|Feathers Hotel]], one of Ludlow's more famous timber-framed buildings.]]
The town prospered, with a population of about 1,725 by 1377,<ref name=medievalpop>Lloyd, David (2008) ''The Origins of Ludlow'' p 2</ref> and sustained a population of about 2,000 for several centuries thereafter. It was a market town; market day was held on every Thursday throughout the 15th century. In particular, it served as a centre for the sale of [[wool]] and cloth.<ref name=medievalpop/> It was home to various trades, and in 1372 boasted 12 [[Guilds|trade guilds]] including [[metalworker]]s, [[shoemaker]]s, butchers, [[draper]]s, [[mercery|mercer]]s, tailors, [[cook (profession)|cook]]s, bakers and probably the most notable in the town, the Palmer's Guild.<ref>[http://www.stlaurences.org.uk/history/the-palmers-guild-a-brief-history St Laurence's Ludlow] The Palmer's Guild</ref>

In the mid sixteenth century the London merchant [[Rowland Hill (MP)|Sir Rowland Hill]] gave the money for a new bridge over the Teme, and the annual St. Catherine's fair.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ludlow {{!}} History of Parliament Online |url=http://www.historyofparliamentonline.org/volume/1509-1558/constituencies/ludlow |access-date=2023-03-01 |website=www.historyofparliamentonline.org}}</ref>

There were [[merchant]]s of moderate wealth in the town and especially wool merchants, such as Laurence of Ludlow, who lived at nearby [[Stokesay Castle]]. The collection and sale of wool and the manufacture of cloth continued to be the primary source of wealth until the 17th century.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hosyers.co.uk/our-history/john-hosyer-draper|title=Our history|publisher=John Hosyer|access-date=30 October 2021}}</ref>

This prosperity is expressed in stone masonry, wood carvings and [[stained-glass]] at [[St Laurence Church, Ludlow|St. Laurence]]'s [[parish church]]; effectively a [[wool church]], it is the largest in [[Shropshire]] and a member of the [[Greater Churches Group]]. Despite the presence of some [[Decorated Period|Decorated]] work it is largely [[Perpendicular Period|Perpendicular]] in style.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.stlaurences.org.uk/ |title= St. Laurence's Church |access-date=10 November 2007}}</ref> Its size and grandeur has given it the nickname "the [[cathedral]] of the Marches", and from 1981 to 2020 there was a [[suffragan bishop|suffragan]] [[Bishop of Ludlow]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Crockford's Clerical Directory |edition=100th |location=London |publisher=Church House Publishing |year=2007 |page=947 |isbn=978-0-7151-1030-0}}</ref>

During the [[Wars of the Roses]], the castle—which he held through his Mortimer inheritance—was one of [[Richard of York, 3rd Duke of York|Richard, Duke of York]]'s main strongholds.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Ward |first=Matthew |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uiYbDQAAQBAJ&dq=richard+of+york+ludlow+mortimer+inheritance&pg=PA104 |title=The Livery Collar in Late Medieval England and Wales: Politics, Identity and Affinity |date=2016 |publisher=Boydell & Brewer |isbn=978-1-78327-115-3 |pages=104 |language=en}}</ref> The [[House of Lancaster|Lancastrian]] forces captured Ludlow in 1459, at the [[Rout of Ludford Bridge]], but the [[House of York|Yorkists]] won control of England in 1461. The castle became property of the Crown, passing to Richard's son, [[Edward IV of England|Edward IV]]. The town rose in prominence under Edward's reign and was incorporated as a [[Ancient borough|borough]], and began sending [[Ludlow (UK Parliament constituency)|representatives to Parliament]]. Edward set up the [[Council of Wales and the Marches]] in 1472, headquartering it at Ludlow, and sent his son [[Edward V of England|Edward, Prince of Wales]], to live there, as nominal (being only a young boy) head of the council. It was at Ludlow that the young prince heard the news of his father's death in 1483 and was himself proclaimed King Edward V of England.<ref>{{cite book|last=Faraday |first=Michael|chapter=The Council in the Marches of Wales|title=Ludlow Castle: Its History & Buildings|publisher=Logaston Press |location=Logaston, UK|year=2000|editor-last1=Shoesmith|editor-first1=Ron|editor-last2=Johnson|editor-first2=Andy|isbn=1-873827-51-2|pages=69}}</ref> It was from Ludlow that Edward V was brought back to London with his young brother, both to be confined in the Tower of London when, after a short period of time, they were never seen again.

[[File:St. Laurence, Ludlow, from west.jpg|thumb|right|The [[St Laurence Church, Ludlow|Church of St Laurence]] has Norman origins and expanded throughout the Middle Ages, being a [[wool church]], becoming the largest parish church in Shropshire.]]
Under [[Henry VII of England|Henry VII]] the castle continued as the headquarters of the Council of Wales and served as the administration centre for [[Wales]] and the counties along the border, known as the [[Welsh Marches]]. During this period, when the town served as the effective capital of Wales, it was home to many messengers of the king, various clerks and lawyers for settling legal disputes. The town also provided a winter home for local [[gentry]], during which time they attended the council court sessions. Henry VII sent his heir [[Arthur, Prince of Wales|Prince Arthur]] to Ludlow, where he was joined briefly by his wife [[Catherine of Aragon]] later to become wife to Henry VIII. Ludlow Castle was therefore the site of perhaps the most controversial honeymoon in English history, when Catherine's claim that the marriage was never consummated became central to the dispute concerning Henry VIII and Catherine's annulment in 1531.<ref>{{cite book |last = Lehman |first=H. Eugene |title=Lives of England's Reigning and Consort Queens |year=2011 |publisher=AuthorHouse Publishing |isbn = 978-1-4634-3057-3 |page=285}}</ref>

Eventually, the council resumed and except for brief interludes, Ludlow continued to host the council until 1689, when it was abolished by [[William III of England|William III]] and [[Mary II of England|Mary II]] as part of the [[Glorious Revolution]]. The castle then fell into decay. The structure was poorly maintained and the stone was [[pillage]]d. In 1772 demolition was mooted, but it was instead decided to lease the buildings. Later still it was purchased by the [[Earl of Powis]], and together, he and his wife directed the transformation of the castle grounds.<ref>{{cite book|last=Hughes |first=Pat|chapter=The Castle in Decline|title=Ludlow Castle: Its History & Buildings|publisher=Logaston Press|location=Logaston, UK|year=2000|editor-last1=Shoesmith|editor-first1=Ron|editor-last2=Johnson|editor-first2=Andy |isbn=1-873827-51-2|page=91}}</ref>

The [[Royal Welch Fusiliers]] were formed by [[Henry Herbert, 4th Baron Herbert of Chirbury]] at Ludlow in March 1689 to oppose [[James II of England|James II]] and to take part in the imminent war with France.<ref name=nam>{{cite web|url=http://www.nam.ac.uk/research/famous-units/royal-welch-fusiliers|title=Royal Welch Fusiliers|publisher=National Army Museum|access-date=24 May 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225230345/http://www.nam.ac.uk/research/famous-units/royal-welch-fusiliers|archive-date=25 February 2014}}</ref> The regiment continued to have ties with the town of Ludlow, and its successor battalion in The [[Royal Welsh]] regiment was granted the freedom of the town in 2014.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-29285314 BBC News] Royal Welsh soldiers in Ludlow for 325th anniversary (20 September 2014)</ref>

===18th and 19th centuries===
[[File:Broad Gate, Ludlow - geograph.org.uk - 1744340.jpg|left|thumb|upright|Ludlow had seven gates in its town walls; the only one remaining is the Broad Gate (viewed from the south).]]
The town contained several [[coaching inn]]s, [[public house]]s and [[ale]] houses, leading to court records of some alcohol-induced violence and a certain reputation for excess. Several coaching inns were constructed to accommodate travellers by [[stagecoach]] and [[mail coach]]. The Angel on Broad Street was one such notable coaching inn, where several passenger and mail coaches departed and arrived on a regular basis every week, including the ''Aurora'' coach which departed for London (taking 27 hours in 1822).<ref>[[commons:File:The Angel plaque, Ludlow - IMG 0233.JPG|Ludlow Civic Society]] [[blue plaque]]</ref> The Angel was the last coaching inn in Ludlow to have such coach traffic, following the arrival of the railways in 1852.<ref>Hobbs, Tony (2002) ''The Pubs of Ludlow and neighbouring villages'' p 55</ref> The Angel ceased trading in the early 1990s, though was revived in 2018 as a wine bar occupying a front part of the original establishment. A surviving medieval coaching inn today is the 15th century [[The Bull Hotel, Ludlow|Bull Hotel]] on the Bull Ring. Several other pubs and hotels in the town have historic pedigree, including the Rose and Crown where allegedly a pub has existed since 1102.<ref>[http://whatpub.com/pubs/SHR/4912/rose-crown-ludlow WhatPub.com (CAMRA)] Rose and Crown, Ludlow</ref>

[[Glove]] manufacture was a major industry of the town, peaking in production in 1814.<ref>[http://www.ludlow.org.uk/history.html Ludlow History]</ref>

In 1802, [[Horatio Nelson]] was awarded the freedom of the borough and stayed at The Angel coaching inn on Broad Street, together with his mistress [[Emma Hamilton|Emma]] and her husband Sir [[William Hamilton (diplomat)|William Hamilton]]. The honour was presented to him in a room at the inn, later to be known as the Nelson Room, and he addressed the crowds from one of the bay windows on the first floor.<ref>Farlow, R and Trumper, D (2005) ''Ludlow and South-West Shropshire'' page 86</ref> During the [[Napoleonic Wars]], [[Lucien Bonaparte]], younger brother of the French Emperor, and his family were imprisoned at Dinham House in 1811.<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2012/12/10/napoleons-brother-snared-in-shropshire/ |title=Napoleon's brother: snared in Shropshire|date=10 December 2012|newspaper=Shropshire Star|access-date=30 October 2021}}</ref>

In 1832 Thomas Lloyd, the Ludlow doctor and amateur geologist, met [[Roderick Murchison]] at [[Ludford Corner]] to study the rocks exposed along the [[River Teme]] and on Whitcliffe, advancing Murchison's theory for a Silurian System that he was to publish in 1839.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shropshiregeology.org.uk/sgspublications/Why%20Shropshire%20is%20important.htm|title=Why Shropshire's geology is important|access-date=26 February 2012}}</ref> Immediately above the topmost layer of the marine rock sequence forming Murchison's [[Silurian]] System was a thin layer of dark sand containing numerous remains of early fish, especially their scales, along with plant debris, [[spores]] and [[microscopic]] [[mites]]. In contrast to the underlying sediments of the [[Ludlow Series]] which were deposited in a shallow warm sea some 400 million years ago, the Ludlow [[Bone Bed]] represents terrestrial (land) conditions and thus a fundamental change in the landscape. At the time, this was believed to be the earliest occurrence of life on land. Murchison thus took the Ludlow Bone Bed as the base of his [[Devonian]] System, although over a century later this boundary was to be moved a little higher, the overlying rocks being ascribed to the [[Pridoli epoch|Pridoli]]. The science of [[geology]] has taken a number of local names from these studies and now applies them worldwide, in recognition of the importance of this area to scientific understanding, for example, Ludlow Series. The site is now an [[SSSI]] (Site of Special Scientific Interest) and still attracts international studies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shropshiregeology.org.uk/sgspublications/Table%20of%20Contents%20Proceedings%20No_16.htm#Rosenbaum%20Ray%20Siluria%20Revisited|title=International Subcommission on Silurian Stratigraphy meeting at Ludlow|access-date=26 February 2012}}</ref> The [[Supereon (geology)|geological interval of time]], the [[Ludlow epoch|Ludlow Epoch]], is named after the town as part of the [[Silurian]] Period.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/GeositesLudlow  |title=Ludlow|publisher=The Geological Society| access-date=30 October 2021}}</ref>

===Recent history===
[[File:ludlow shopper.jpg|thumb|right|A greengrocers' shop amidst Ludlow's narrow streets.]]
By the late 20th century, the town had seen a growth in tourism, leading to the appearance of many [[antique dealer]]s, as well as [[art dealer]]s and independent bookshops (the latter now mostly gone). Bodenhams, a clothing retailer, has been trading from a 600-year-old timbered building since 1860 and is one of the oldest stores in Britain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bodenhams.co.uk|title=Bodenhams website|access-date=4 July 2014}}</ref> Ludlow was described by ''[[Country Life (magazine)|Country Life]]'' as "the most vibrant small town in England."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shropshiretourism.info/ludlow/|title=Ludlow Tourist Information|access-date=17 September 2007}}</ref>

A long battle of words between local activists (including many of the town's independent businesses) and [[Tesco]] was eventually solved when the mega retailer obtained planning permission to build a supermarket on Corve Street, on the northern edge of the town centre, but only after agreeing to conform to the architectural demands of the local council. The building is designed to follow the outline of the hills in the background, with a curving roof. An [[Aldi]] supermarket was subsequently constructed on a site over the road from Tesco.

A development of 91 houses by South Shropshire Housing Association at Rocks Green won a Sustainable Housing award in 2009,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rocks Green, Ludlow scoops Sustainable Housing Award |url=https://www.ludlowadvertiser.co.uk/news/4719440.rocks-green-ludlow-scoops-sustainable-housing-award/ |date=11 November 2009 |access-date=19 October 2022 |website=Ludlow and Tenbury Wells Advertiser}}</ref> and a [[Sainsbury's]] supermarket at Rocks Green was opened in 2021.<ref name=Sainsburys>[https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/business/2021/11/26/sainsburys-confirms-opening-date-for-long-awaited-ludlow-store/ Shropshire Star] ''Sainsburys confirms opening date for long awaited Ludlow store'' (26 November 2021)</ref>

In 1983 a small computer magazine started publication in Ludlow by Roger Kean, [[Oliver Frey]] and Franco Frey by [[Newsfield Publications Ltd]] called [[Crash (magazine)|Crash]]. The magazine catered for the various owners of the [[ZX Spectrum]], and its sister magazine ''[[Zzap!64]]'' catered for [[Commodore International|Commodore's]] rival machine [[Commodore 64|the C64]]. The magazine was extremely popular and became Britain's biggest-selling computer magazine in 1986 selling over 100,000 copies monthly. In 1991 Newsfield suffered financial difficulty and the magazines were sold and relaunched by [[Europress]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.outofprintarchive.com/articles/interviews/out-of-print/Roger_Kean_interview_part2.html  |title=Roger Kean interview, part 2|publisher=Out of Print Archive|access-date=29 October 2021}}</ref>

In 2004 funding was granted by Advantage West Midlands to build a new 'Eco-Park' on the outskirts of the town on the east side of the [[A49 road|A49]] bypass, at the [[Sheet, Shropshire|Sheet Road]] roundabout, with space for traditional handcraft businesses, new environmentally friendly office buildings and a [[park & ride]] facility. More construction work began in 2006 on the west side of the roundabout on a much-debated pasture land on the town's fringe known as the Foldgate. The land has now been turned over to commercial use with a [[filling station]], [[Travelodge]] hotel and [[pub chain|chain]] pub/restaurant, opened in late 2008.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-18116375  |title=Ludlow hospital plans approved by NHS trust|date=18 May 2012|newspaper=BBC| access-date=29 October 2021}}</ref>