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Ludlow Castle

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Frommer's Staff

This Norman castle was built around 1094 as a frontier outpost to keep out the as-yet-unconquered Welsh. The original castle, or the inner bailey, was encircled in the early 14th century by a very large outer bailey and transformed into a medieval palace by Roger Mortimer, the most powerful man in England at the time. After the War of the Roses, the castle was turned into a royal residence, and Edward IV sent the Prince of Wales and his brother (the "Princes in the Tower") to live here in 1472. It was also the seat of government for Wales and the Border Counties. Catherine of Aragon and Mary Tudor and her court also spent time in this 900-year-old home. Norman, medieval, and Tudor architectural styles can be found throughout the castle. Many of the original buildings still stand, including the Chapel of St. Mary Magdalene, with one of England's last remaining circular naves. Excellent views of the castle can be spied from the banks of the River Teme.