A Journey through Shropshire

The first stop on this journey is Ludlow right in the south of Shropshire.

This is a very delicate document from Shropshire Archives, written on 20th June 1344. It is a letter from King Edward III (1327-1377), who grants a licence to "the Guardian and Company of the Palmer's Guild confirming land and rents in Lodlowe, Staunton Lacy, Sete, Steveton and Huntyton"

Notice the way that 'Lodlowe' was spelt, you can see how the people of Ludlow arrived at their present name.

Who were the Palmer's Guild?
The Palmer's Guild in Ludlow were a religious organisation, whose members paid a yearly membership fee.

When were they around? Shropshire Archives  have documents relating to the Palmer's Guild that date back to 1284.

What did they do?
They raised funds which they used to pay the guild's chaplains and they helped out their members in times of difficulty. They also bought property and rented it out to the people of Ludlow and surrounding areas, as this letter shows.

What else did they do?
They provided a building for the Grammar School in Ludlow in 1431. Some of the guild's richest members used to donate money for masses and memorials, so that prayers would be said in their name.

So when did they finish?
The guild was broken up in 1552. At the time they dissolved, they owned nearly 250 buildings in Ludlow.

What happened to these building?
They were passed on to the Ludlow borough, who took over some of the guild's duties.