Battle of Ludford Bridge

[Stuart]

On holiday in Ludlow and intrigued by this battle or non battle, anyone got more information other than Wikipedia?

[Arlequín]

Wikipedia pretty much has it covered. The Lancastrians issued a large number of commissions of array, hence the massive army. Ludlow was the centre of York's heartland of support, as well as his largest collection of estates.

[Stuart]

Could be a great what if army/ campaign then? Set against a rather nice backdrop (though with less real ale, cider, sausage and cheese than at present.

[Arlequín]

Certainly. You have the Lancastrians in control of the country. York is in Ireland, Warwick, Salisbury and March are in Calais. Each has to land near their base of power, gather an army, march and assemble at Ludlow. The Lancastrians have to try and stop them from linking up and raise an army to oppose them.

Henry VI mentally stable and with the army in armour was a big morale factor in the event, but had he suffered one of his many relapses it could have been a very different story. Only a few months after Ludlow, public opinion swung the other way to be favourable for York too.

That being said, it's no more or less campaign/what if worthy than any of the other campaign possibilities, albeit that this one is set in God's Own County.

[Stuart]

I also found this hiding under a choir stall, always worth looking

[Atheling]

I also found this hiding under a choir stall, always worth looking

They are an excellent source of material for all sorts of historical information. In fact, I think I'm right in saying that the only evidence of early English Coat of Plates comes from just such a place. There being no surviving examples in England.

Darrell.

[Arlequín]

Yes, definitely. The sacristy door at Tewkesbury is allegedly reinforced with pieces of armour, some of which have 'arrow holes' in them. I'm dubious myself, but it is a great anecdote nonetheless.

In the Tudor period, the communal armoury (the Tudors decided that people keeping weapons at home was not a good idea for a shaky regime) was usually located in the parish church, so unsurprisingly that's where those sort of things turn up.

Certainly no argument over whose badges are represented on that choir stall piece though. 

[Stuart]

Sorry to bore you with my holiday snaps but this place (Stokesay Castle) is well worth a visit

[Captain Blood]

Gorgeous.
Looks like you're getting around a bit Stuart 

[Arlequín]

Not boring by any means, but I am getting a little homesick. 

[Anna Elizabeth]

Beautiful photos. I so want to go to the UK someday. So many things to see and do.

[Stuart]

Great hall ceiling at Stokesay and the Feathers inn, Ludlow. The latter got me wondering whether there were local or regional styles of beam and plasterwork.....sorry Arlequin!

[Plynkes]

I remember being bored to death as a schoolboy in St. Lawrence's Church while some old fool droned on and on about those misericords and how interesting they were. Wish I'd paid a bit more attention now. 

My friend and work colleague works at Stokesay on the weekends. I've lived fairly near to it all my life and have still never got around to actually paying some money and going in there (Ludlow Castle was always free for us, as there's a secret spot where you can climb over the walls - just make sure the Man in The Hut doesn't see you and chase you out).

[tp_1983]

Just down the road from me!

Where did you hail from Arlequín? Plynkes are you a Salopian as well?

[Arlequín]

Great hall ceiling at Stokesay and the Feathers inn, Ludlow. The latter got me wondering whether there were local or regional styles of beam and plasterwork.....sorry Arlequin!

That would be my opportunity to bore you to death.  

Each craftsman had his own style... or at least each craftsman as an apprentice learned the style of the guy who taught him. Then as now though there were fashion styles that everyone tried to copy. If memory serves me the Feathers 'looks' Elizabethan/Early Stuart, the gatehouse at Stokesay is about the same time, but the solar (in the foreground) is Early Tudor. The manor house itself is 13th Century (I seem to recall?). I could be totally wrong though, it's been a while since I've had to date anything like that.

Where did you hail from Arlequín? Plynkes are you a Salopian as well?

I regret to say I'm not a 'Proud Salopian', more a 'Staffordshire Volunteer'. I was born and bred in the Black Country part of Wolverhampton, but lived in Wellington for a long time and then Shrewsbury for a time. However many happy childhood memories (mine and my kids') of Stokesay, Ludlow, Leominster and Hereford.

Beautiful photos. I so want to go to the UK someday. So many things to see and do.

If you ever do visit... stay on the road, keep clear of the moors and beware the moon.