The inspiration

While his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, was certainly familiar with Castle Lodge, it's not clear whether England's most notorious monarch ever walked these floors. Nonetheless, just as he left an indelible mark on the church and state, Henry VIII's actions changed Ludlow forever.

Until Henry's reign, Ludlow had spent a prosperous few decades as the seat of the Council of the Marches. This made it the de facto capital of Wales. But with his Laws in Wales Acts of 1535 and 1543, Henry effectively unified England and its neighbour.

Thus began Ludlow's slow fall from grace. By 1700, the Council of the Marches had been wound up, Ludlow Castle had been abandoned and the town had lost its national importance.