Ludlow is a market town in the English county of Shropshire. It lies approximately 28 miles (45 kilometres) south of Shrewsbury and 23 miles (37 km) north of Hereford via the main A49 road, which bypasses the town. According to the 2011 Census, the town has a permanent population of around 10266 people. This makes Ludlow the largest town in south Shropshire. The town is notable in the history of the Welsh Marches and neighbouring Wales. The town is close to the confluence of the rivers Corve and Teme. The earliest part is the middle ages walled town, built in the late 11th century after the Norman conquest of England. It is centred on a little hill which rests on the eastern edge of a bend of the River Teme. On top of this hill is Ludlow Castle and the parish church, St Laurence's, the largest in the county. From there, the streets slope downward to the River Teme, and northward toward the River Corve. The town is in a sheltered area beneath Mortimer Forest and the Clee Hills, which are clearly visible from the town. Ludlow is the home of close to 500 listed structures. They include some fine examples of medieval and Tudor-style half-timbered structures featuring the Feathers Hotel. The town was portrayed by Sir John Betjeman as 'probably the loveliest town in England'. By the late 20th century, the town had seen a progression in tourism, triggering the appearance of various antique dealerships, as well as art dealers and independent bookshops. Bodenhams, a clothing shop, has been trading from a 600-year-old timbered building since 1860 and it is one of the oldest shops in Britain. For all your home developments, be sure to identify respected contractors in Ludlow to make certain of quality.