Castle House

Until World War II Castle House and its gardens formed part of Ludlow Castle but it was requisitioned by the military to help with the War effort.

After the War, but still under the wartime notice, the building was sold to Ludlow Borough Council who divided it into eight residential flats to meet local needs for housing.

Through successive local authority re-organisations Castle House passed to South Shropshire District Council who, with some foresight, retained it when the remainder of the district’s housing stock was transferred to Local Housing Association(s).

Budgetary pressures on Councils led to a low level of maintenance over many years and the condition of this fine Grade I Listed Building declined. In 1998, when six of the eight flats were vacant, the Council decided Castle House should be sold. A substantial offer was made by a speculative property developer but fortunately, after protracted negotiations, the Trustees of the Powis Castle Estate, owners of the rest of Ludlow Castle, were able to salvage the situation at the eleventh hour – many people were greatly relieved to hear that, with Secretary of State’s consent, Castle House could be reunited with the main Castle. Transferring ownership has been a laborious process, complicated by the fact that Castle House is a Listed Building, forms part of a Scheduled Monument and is occupied in part by Council tenants.