Editing Ludlow (section)

===Accolades===
[[File:Ludlow Castle as seen from the tower of St.Laurence's Church.jpg|thumb|right|View from St Laurence's to the castle, looking west across the highest part of the medieval town.]]
The town has regularly been held in high esteem by academics and commentators in the areas of [[urbanism]] and architecture. Ludlow was winner of ''The Great Town Award'' (UK & Ireland) from The Academy of Urbanism in 2007.<ref>[https://www.academyofurbanism.org.uk/awards/ Academy of Urbanism] Awards</ref> The first episode of the BBC television series ''[[TOWN with Nicholas Crane|Town]]'', in which geographer [[Nicholas Crane]] examines the great towns of the United Kingdom, focused solely on Ludlow for the hour-long documentary.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b012xv4m BBC] ''Town with Nicholas Crane'' - Series 1 Episode 1 - Ludlow</ref> Ludlow also was one of the ''Six English Towns'', a 1977 television programme by architectural historian [[Alec Clifton-Taylor]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Clifton-Taylor|first=Alec|title=Six English Towns|publisher=BBC|location=London|date=1978|pages=143–169|isbn=0-563-17397-1}}</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQdg7XGJp-o YouTube] ''Alec Clifton-Taylor - Six English Towns - 1978 - 6/6 - Ludlow''</ref>

The historic centre of Ludlow has largely escaped development that would otherwise alter its medieval, Tudor and Georgian character. Furthermore, the lack of development to the south and west allows for the town's historic setting (and particularly that of the castle) by the Teme and the neighbouring countryside to be readily appreciated in the modern day. [[M.R.G. Conzen]] remarked of Ludlow "Its composite medieval town plan and a history of eight and a half centuries with several periods of considerable importance have endowed its Old Town with an historically well-stratified and richly textured landscape."<ref>Conzen "Morphogenesis, morphological regions and secular human agency in the historic townscape, as exemplified by Ludlow" ''Urban Historical Geography'' p.&nbsp;254</ref> Michael Raven, who created a detailed gazetteer of all the settlements of Herefordshire and Shropshire in the late 20th century, stated that "There can be little doubt that Ludlow is the finest town in Shropshire."<ref>Raven, M (2005) ''A Guide to Shropshire'' Third Edition page 120</ref>

The medieval street plan remains, though the town walls and gates have disappeared in many places. Mill Street and Broad Street, leading down from the very centre to the Teme in the south, are particularly famous for their rich architectural heritage and vistas, with many fine Georgian buildings. Sir [[Nikolaus Pevsner]] described Broad Street as "one of the most memorable streets in England".<ref>Nicolle, Dorothy (1999) ''Francis Frith's Shropshire'' page 98</ref>