Modelmaker recreates Ludlow's forgotten historic town halls

David Jackman Ludlow of Ashford Carbonel near the town began his project in 2019 after joining an art group.

The retiree said his models, one of which is a whopping 10 feet (3 metres) long, are as close to exact recreations of the two now demolished buildings as he could manage.

He used historic photographs and council documents to create his models.

“For over nearly 300 years these were arguably the most important buildings in Ludlow,” Mr Jackman said. “There is nothing in town about the building and its significance. I wanted to try and raise its profile because this building was serving the people of South Shropshire for 100 years and seems to have been completely wiped from history."

He said his model of the first town hall, built in 1704, is 10 feet long.

“I built it from a photograph and it is the best effort I could provide that looks like Ludlow Town Hall built in 1704.

“It was knocked down in 1886 to make way for the bigger version - the story is that it was dilapidated and was going to be knocked down anyway but they replaced it in 1887. It was designed by a well known architect called Henry Cheers after an open competition. He also built Hereford Town Hall and a few others around the country.

“It was light years ahead of the 1704 building as had a covered market, council offices, a mayor's parlour, a stage and a spring dance floor,” said Mr Jackman.

However, he added that the second Town Hall had the same fate as its predecessor, as it was demolished in March 1986.

Mr Jackman's models are going to be part of an exhibition held at St Laurence's Church in the town from February 17 until March 2.

The exhibition, titled, A Tale of Two Ludlow Town Halls, will include Mr Jackman's images of the 18th century and Victorian town halls as well as photographs, plans, and materials from events held at the later hall.