Inner Bailey

The oldest buildings in Ludlow Castle can be found in the Inner Bailey - the most important part of the Castle.

The Inner Bailey is surrounded by a six feet thick wall, called a 'curtain wall.' Much of the original stonework is still clearly visible here.

There are four towers around the Inner Bailey now, but it is thought that there may have been more than this previously. Three of these towers are open, but they would have been adjoined by timber-framed buildings originally.

The towers were built so that archers could aim down at attackers scaling the walls from below.

The original gatehouse on the south-eatern side was later turned into a Keep, and later, the Great Tower.

The picture shows the high building over the Gate through to the Inner Bailey - the Keep is just visible on the left.