Family history day

We awoke surprisingly refreshed and relaxed after our busy last few days. Today we went looking for our family roots with Anthony and Fleur. Before we met them for lunch we had a bit of a look at Ludlow which is another lovely medieval town.

Some of the carving almost looks like of Maori origin.

 

We kept getting lost because of the street patterns were so random. We spent some time looking through Ludlow castle. There are a lot more accessible parts compared to 30 years ago.

The Castle, firstly built in 1086 as a Norman Fortress and extended over the centuries to become a fortified Royal Palace it was originally built to hold back the Welsh, passing through generations of the de Lacy and Mortimer families to Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York. It became Crown property in 1461 and remained a royal castle for the next 350 years, during which time the Council of the Marches was formed with responsibility for the Government of Wales and the border counties. Abandoned in 1689 the castle quickly fell into ruin but was rescued to some extent when it was sold to Earl of Powis in early nineteenth century.

Hard to imagine how knights in armour could quickly climb these stairs

Toilet medieval style

We met Antony and Fleur at A lovely old fashioned cafe for lunch. We all had Rarebit which was quite delicious

After lunch we went to Stokesay castle which is a fortified medieval manor house, built in late 13th century.

Lawrence of Ludlow, a wealthy local wool-merchant bought the property in 1281, when the long Anglo-Welsh wars were ending. So it was safe to raise here one of the first fortified manor houses in England, 'builded like a castle' for effect but lit by large domestic-style windows. Dating has revealed that it has scarcely been altered since. In 1645 Stokesay experienced its only known military encounter, surrendering without fighting to a Parliamentarian force. The house has remained as it was from this period.

Fleur enjoying the rare moments of sunshine.

We then went in search of where our forebears came from. According to the census records the family lived in Cuckoos Nest in the parish of Hopesay. Earlier they lived at Edgton.

Village of Hopesay

Hopesay Church.

This is Cuckoos Nest where the family lived in the 1880's and 1890's. It is thought that my great grandfather built this house.

Edgton church

Perhaps the font that baptised members of the family

My great great grandfather died in the workhouse at Bishops Castle. This workhouse had been unique for that times because it was to care for the aged only. It seems fitting that there is now this nursing home built on the site.

The wall in front is probably from the original workhouse.