STOKESAY CASTLE

Stokesay Castle is not really a castle as we generally understand it and that's what makes it so attractive. It is in fact a fortified mansion built in the 13th century by Lawrence Ludlow, a rich wool merchant who wanted to settle as a gentleman in the countryside... Border tensions with Wales may have eased after Edward I's victory over Dafyd, the last Welsh prince, but Ludlow expected unstoppable security. The site then took on its current appearance, between domestic residence and fortress. This combination gives all its delight and originality to the monument, which brilliantly mixes genres. The master of the place had been more afraid than hurt, however, since his dwelling had remained wonderfully preserved throughout the ages, like the Great Hall, unaltered since its construction in 1291.