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Our members are encouraged to undertake research projects, either individually or as part of small groups. Some of the topics currently being researched by our members include the following:

- Records of Burgess Admissions

Four members have begun transcribing and analysing the records of the Burgesses (Freemen) of the Borough of Ludlow. When completed the transcription will be available and become an invaluable aid for work on Ludlow families and on our understanding of local politics.

- Bastardy Bonds

The Bastardy Bonds have now been transcribed as far as 1745, and is approaching the stage of entering the details onto a database and analysing the results. A general pattern is already emerging. The unfortunate young women who made these applications to the parish for financial help were almost all illiterate hired servants. Putative fathers ranged from fellow servants and labourers to dragoons from the regiment of soldiers stationed at Leintwardine.

- The Merchant House, Ludlow

The purpose of this study is to examine the construction, evolution and past occupancy of The Merchant House. This is a 15th century hall house that in more recent times gained international fame as Ludlow's first Michelin-stared restaurant and so played a key catalytic role in the creation of the town's present gourmet status.

- World War One Soldiers

An ongoing research project is looking into the backgrounds of the Ludlow men killed between 1914 and 1918 during the First World War.

- The David J Lloyd Archives

A new programme of research dealing with the substantial legacy of documents left in 2009 on the death of one of the Group΄s founding members: David J Lloyd MBE PhD MA MEd. His long-standing research interests have led to many publications, some published by the Group, a list of which can be viewed here. He also successfully defended his thesis entitled ΄Property, ownership and improvement in Ludlow, a fashionable country town, 1660 to 1848΄ which was awarded the degree of PhD in 2005; a copy is lodged in the Ludlow Library and Museum Resource Centre and is also available through the British Library on EThOS. David has also left us a huge collection papers together with a comprehensive set of 35 mm slides, many of which he used to illustrate his popular Tuesday morning history lecture series.

David΄s most valuable legacy has been the enthusiasm he generated for local research amongst his friends and colleagues. The size and activity of the LHRG is testament to his success.

If you would like to discuss any of these research projects, or have any information which you think may be of use, then please contact us.

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