White Ensign of HMS Ludlow begins conservation process

The White Ensign of HMS Ludlow was formally lowered from the flagstaff at St Laurence’s Church in Ludlow and placed in the care of a textile conservator on May 18, 2026 at 2pm.

The conservation marks the start of a project to preserve the flag, which was returned to the church after the decommissioning of HMS Ludlow in 1945.

It has hung in the church for decades.

St Laurence’s Church launched a fundraising appeal in April 2025 under the banner Save Our Flag, aiming to raise money for the urgent repairs.

By August, the community had raised more than £6,000 through public donations.

Support came from Ludlow residents, societies, visitors, a family with connections to the ship, and even supporters in the United States.

Cub Scouts visiting the church also donated their pocket money to the cause.

The White Ensign had previously undergone conservation in the late 1990s or early 2000s, but by 2007 reports indicated that the treatment had failed.

A 2016 assessment confirmed the need for urgent repairs, but funding was not available at the time.

A conservator from the National Trust examined the flag in March 2025 and advised that action needed to be taken quickly if the ensign was to be saved.

A respected textile conservator in Hereford has agreed to take on the conservation project within the available budget.

Although funding was secured in 2025, a six-month legal process under ecclesiastical law delayed the start of the work.

Conservation will begin with a full assessment of the flag’s condition, but the final timescale for the project has not been determined.

Once completed, the White Ensign will be returned to St Laurence’s Church and displayed alongside the ship’s bell, which remains at the site.

The church has expressed its gratitude to everyone who contributed to the campaign.

In a statement, the church said: "St Laurence’s Church extends heartfelt thanks to everyone who has contributed, in ways large and small, to reaching this milestone."