Standing in a peaceful Shropshire valley near the Welsh border, Stokesay Castle has survived remarkably intact since a leading wool merchant, Laurence of Ludlow, built it in the late 13th century. His fine fortified manor house was both comfortable and impressive, designed as a statement of his wealth and power.
Today, barely touched by the passage of years, the castle offers a unique insight into life in medieval England. Delve into its history here.
Read a full history of Stokesay Castle, built in the 1280s by Laurence of Ludlow and one of the first fortified manor houses in England.
Find out how the extraordinary growth of the wool trade not only paid for the building of Stokesay Castle but also bought its owner power and status.
In 1342 Sir Laurence Ludlow of Stokesay Castle was arrested for failing to collect taxes.