Welsh Marches are the lands along the border between Wales and England. They lie between the Cambrian Mountains in Wales and the urban areas of the West Midlands in England. Borderlands in Europe are sometimes called marches.
The Welsh Marches contain attractive, rolling countryside and ancient market towns. Such towns include Ludlow, which was the main administrative center of the region for most of the period from 1470 to 1689. Sheep and cattle farming contribute to the region’s economy. Tourists visit the area for hiking, fishing, and other outdoor activities. The remains of castles can be seen in Chepstow, Clun, Ludlow, and other towns.
After William I conquered England in 1066, he established three earldoms—Chester, Shrewsbury, and Hereford—on the Welsh border. The earls and other nobles gradually expanded into Welsh territory along the border with England. This borderland was known as the March or the Marches, and it was ruled by nobles called Marcher lords. The Marches became divided into over 100 distinct lordships. In 1536, when England united with Wales, the Marches were reorganized into counties.
