Have you ever wondered what it is like running a historical landmark that welcomes tens of thousands of visitors every year? Ludlow Castle’s Gemma England and Julia Hall give us a glimpse behind the scenes at Ludlow Castle…
Gemma initially looked after Weddings and Events at Ludlow Castle and this year she has returned to take up the reins as General Manager. Working closely alongside Gemma is newly promoted Deputy Manager Julia Hall who has been at Ludlow Castle for over 5 years.
What do you enjoy most about working at Ludlow Castle?
Gemma: Having grown up locally and living in Ludlow for many years, I now feel hugely privileged to work at such an important landmark. I enjoy the sense of teamwork and pride that everyone takes in working here and the huge scope and variety my role brings me; we are a visitor attraction, a wedding venue, self-catering accommodation, gift shop and home to a café and gallery – so obviously I have to wear a lot of hats!
Julia: I also love the variety of tasks involved and seeing our apartment guests and visitors happy and enjoying their time here. The castle has so many facets – there is never a dull moment. I have learnt so much about a variety of subjects – from the importance of the castle in British history, to analysing spreadsheet and how to fix a toilet!
What can a typical day at Ludlow Castle look like for you both?
Gemma – Monday mornings start with catching up with Nigel, our groundsman and going over anything that’s urgent for the week and doing out a routine test of the Fire Alarm system. Today was changeover day for our self-catering apartments so I bid farewell to our lovely guests – who were here to celebrate their wedding, then I liaised with the housekeeping team to ensure the apartments are prepared to our high standards ready for our next guests to arrive. I then popped out to our wonderful local deli, Broad Bean to pick up supplies for guest welcome hampers. This afternoon has been; head down in the office, replying to emails, confirming bookings for weddings and the apartments, looking at our marketing options and the not so pleasant task of speaking to environmental health regarding an unpleasant fly tipping situation on the Castle Walks – no two days are the same and it keeps me on my toes!
Julia: I don’t think there is such a thing as a typical day! Mine usually starts with checking e-mails and replying to queries. I then move on to the banking and completing financial spreadsheets. I usually try to get the day-to-day bits and pieces done in the morning so I can spend at least an hour or so in the afternoon on tasks that require more focus. So, for instance, this morning I ordered more stock for the shop and completed the staff rota for the next month, as well as booking in some group visits and arranging maintenance visits by contractors. This afternoon I’m completing the planning for our summer holiday activities. Gemma and I will liaise throughout the day to make sure the castle is running smoothly.
Ludlow Castle makes for an impressive backdrop to a variety of events. What are you particularly looking forward to hosting?
The Ludlow Food Festival is always a huge success and we love seeing the Castle buzzing with lots of visitors and exhibitors. We are also looking forward to lots of families visiting over the summer holidays with an event planned around our Heraldic roll – which for those of you who don’t know is a fantastically preserved record of Coats of Arms from the 16th Century and is a really important document in the Castle’s history. There will be treasure hunts around the castle and a children’s craft activity with a shield-making competition. Keep your eyes peeled on our social media for more details! Can I also say the ‘C word’ yet? Christmas at the Castle will be pretty special this year – or so Santa tells us! Our lips are sealed with regards to 2023, but let’s just say that we have exciting plans in the pipeline…
The stewardship and upkeep of a historic monument such as this is an ongoing project – can you give us an idea of what this looks like for Powis Estates and Ludlow Castle?
The castle is very robust – but being exposed to the elements, regular inspections are required to ensure any maintenance work is flagged up and carried out, and that it is safe to open to the public.
Powis Estates are committed to a five-year £1 million rolling programme of maintenance and remedial work, in light of its nationally important Grade 1 Listed status. Profits are reinvested into the ruin to ensure its long-term future. For instance, Castle House was acquired from the District Council in 2002 to reunite all the buildings of the castle under one ownership; it was subsequently renovated to provide office and café facilities, a function room and self-catering holiday apartments. Prior to this a section of the Outer Bailey buildings were turned from a shell into the current gift shop. In 2019, the Round Chapel roof was replaced, enabling weddings to take place despite the vagaries of the British weather! There are further plans to enhance the visitor experience in the future so watch this space.
Where is your favourite spot in the Castle ruins to enjoy a moment of peace and quiet after a busy day (or first thing in the morning)?
Gemma – We are so lucky that the Castle is usually bustling with visitors, and we don’t often get a quiet moment, but I get so much enjoyment from looking out from the office window and watching everyone enjoying themselves and exploring the Castle. I do however love the end of a busy day, when the gates are closed and the town drops quiet, especially in the early evening summer sunshine like today. There is something magical about the Castle at this time.
Julia – I love walking around the castle first thing in the morning – there’s no time to sit down, but just being in the Inner Bailey on your own, imagining all the history that has taken place there, is magical.
Plan your visit to our magnificent medieval landmark here and don’t forget to take a look at our Events page to see what’s coming up. Connect with us on social media to get the latest news and more behind the scenes action from Ludlow Castle – follow us on Facebook (Ludlow Castle) and Instagram @ludlowcastleofficial.
