St Laurence’s Church, Ludlow
A “Special Edition” from the Shropshire Market Town
A “Special Edition” from the Shropshire Market Town
Prior to today’s sojourn in the Shropshire market town of Ludlow, I had travelled through and via it’s almost magnetic central staging post hundreds of times and spent only one amount of significant time there, and inside both the grounds of the castle as well as a circus “Big Top” tent for a comedy gig from the American comedian Reginald D Hunter. Other than that, I’ve stopped briefly to walk through the “Friday Market” (coincidentally held every Friday it seems) but otherwise breathed a sigh of relief that I’ve reached Ludlow before heading west into Wales or the beautiful Brecon Beacons that entertain you as you cross the Welsh border heading south, or south east (kind of) as you head toward Hereford and out of the county.
My budget rarely allows for the luxury that is a tour of the castle so I settled for a quick couple of snaps and broke with tradition by entering a church in the town that I visit. I rarely venture inside a church despite seeing many on my travels and rather prefer marvelling at the external architecture, seeing what images I can capture and seeing where my wandering feet will take me next. I am an agnostic heathen for sure but I’m certainly not incurious.
Whenever I’ve ventured inside a church (outside of an official occasion), I’ve always felt as though I’m intruding!
Today I caught the eye of the smiling official “greeter” at the entrance to the church (his church as I believe it to be the Rector although I didn’t confirm this) and he warmly welcomed me inside and couldn’t have been more helpful. I blathered about rarely entering a church and preferring to take pictures from the outside, he jokingly replied I’d be safe inside and I could take as many pictures as I wished. Whether he was the Rector or maybe one of the two Reverends, he kindly said that, for a small fee, I could climb the “200 steps” that make up the 157 foot high tower and I’d “see for miles” but I lost my head for heights a long time ago and I’d probably need some oxygen and a rest halfway up!
So I marvelled at the splendour of this Grade I listed building that dates back to the 12th Century and incredibly popular tourist attraction in Shropshire that draws over 70,000 people every year. I joined this statistic, didn’t feel as though I was intruding and had a beautiful half hour of peace.
I hope you enjoy the images that follow. The artificial lighting inside the church didn’t help the taking of the pictures and I hope this doesn’t spoil your enjoyment.
*All images captured by me on Friday 5th August 2022*
Thanks for reading. Please see my archived articles for a wealth of articles in recent months covering the waterways, rivers, canal and riverside towns as well as articles on centuries old castle ruins that dot the countryside in central England.
Alternatively, my three most recently published articles within my travel series are linked below:
Ellesmere in Bloom
Whistle stop tour of the Shropshire Market Townmedium.com
White Ladies Priory
12th Century remains of a nunnerymedium.com