This article is about the town in Shropshire England. For other uses see Ludlow (disambiguation). Coordinates 5222'05N 243'03W 52.3681N 2.7176W 52.3681 2.7176 Ludlow is a market town in Shropshire England close to the Welsh border and in the Welsh Marches. Located along the A49 road about 12 miles north of Leominster it lies within a bend of the River Teme on its eastern bank forming an area of 350 acres (142160ha) and centred on a small hill. Atop this hill is the site of Ludlow Castle and the market place. From there the streets of the medieval walled town slope downward to the River Teme and northward toward the River Corve. The town is in a sheltered spot beneath the Clee Hills which are clearly visible from the town.1 With a population of around 10000 Ludlow is the largest town in South Shropshire and home to the southern area committee of Shropshire Council.2 Ludlow has nearly 500 listed buildings.3 They include some fine examples of medieval and Tudorstyle halftimbered buildings including the Feathers Hotel. The parish church St Laurence Church is the largest in the county.4 edit Toponymy The placename Lodelowe (Welsh Llwydlo) was in use for this site before 1138 and comes from the Old English hludhlaw.5 At the time this section of the River Teme contained rapids and so the hlud of Ludlow came from the loud waters while hlaw meant hill.5 Thus Ludlow meant a place on a hill by a loud river. Some time around the 12th century weirs were added along the river taming these rapid flows. Later in the same century the larger outer bailey was added to the castle. Though the settlement became known as Ludlow Fouke le Fitz Waryn a 13thcentury poem states that it was called Dinham for a very long time.6 The western part of the town immediately south of the castle retains this name and many writers assume it is Saxon in origin and the suffix ham occurs in Shropshire. Another alternative is that the town took its name from Josce de Dinan who controlled the town's castle in the 12th160century.7 edit History See also History of Shropshire edit Medieval history See also Ludlow Castle Ludlow Castle was built in the late 11th century. The town is close to Wales and also very close to the county border between Shropshire and Herefordshire. It was included in the latter in the Domesday Book. This strategic location invested it with importance in medieval times and its large castle remains largely intact. Ludlow Castle was the seat of the Council of Wales and the Marches and a temporary home to several holders of the title Prince of Wales including King Edward IV and Arthur Tudor who died there in 1502. The site features heavily in the folkstory 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 Joce De Dynan and fights for his master against Sir Walter de Lacy these battles are also the source of the story of Marion de la Bruyere the betrayed lover whose ghost is still said to be heard crying Goodbye Cruel World! as she plummets from the castle's turrets.citation needed At the time of the Domesday Book survey Ludlow was the location of the unoccupied large Stanton Manor a possession of Walter de Lacy. Walter's son Roger de Lacy began the construction of a castle on the crest of the hill between about 1086 and 1094 forming what is now the inner bailey. Between about 1090 and 1120 the Chapel of St. Mary Magdalene was built inside the walls a