Days and Knights in Ludlow

Ludlow in Shropshire, with its castle, St Laurence's Church tower above the trees and the high hill of Titterstone Clee in the background. Even this view from Whitcliffe Common is worth the journey there, but there are so many delights down there that are not just buildings.
Here's a bright start if you don't offend: two of the happiest traffic wardens you will come across anywhere: that's Chris on the right.
They go with the spirit of Ludlow where even the traffic warnings are politely phrased. If you should forget the hour and overstay your allotted time, the sign warns only that you may find yourself with a problem.
And there is plenty to help you forget the time.

Pubs may be closing all over the country, but here they appear to be thriving. What about this for a pub sign. Click to enlarge it and spend an hour or so deciphering the history of the place.











Or you can visit The Marches, a fairly recently opened  and  quickly popular bar and eatery. They know they have competition here: the sign says it all; as do the smiles of Michelle behind the bar and Lauren, all the way from Australia, in the cookery.

You can sit in the bar and watch the world go by in the market through the window.

Or you can just turn your head and watch ladies who lunch lunch well.

They seem to do that a lot here. The day we arrived at the hotel there were 47 ladies of the Inner Wheel dining in style.
The following afternoon, locals Betty and Cicely here on either side of Doreen had been to afternoon tea.




If you tastes are still basic English, but without the tea, you could try fresh air eating.
Black Country is a part of England where their language is hardly English as you may see from the lettering on the van.

The yellow sign will tell you their humour is still English!










Of course, there are the other favourite hobbies to pursue. You could have bet your bottom dollar we would find a handbag stall on the market.
Other ladies find bags, especially the big ones, somewhat of an attraction. One man we met in talking of his wife claimed that it takes her a week to move into a new handbag!











If you really want to go back in time you may find yourself in an old fashioned drapery shop with seats at each end of the counter.


Ludlow is a very friendly town and there is always the possibility of bumping into old friends who will guide you into the tea rooms or the castle itself where you may be lucky enough to see trainee knights at work.

Yes!  Ludlow's for me. But you have to make sure you don't lose your partner. She's here somewhere!