 Some time around the 12th century, weirs were added along the river, taming these rapid flows.The hill is that which the town stands on, and a pre-historic burial mound (or barrow) which existed at the summit of the hill (dug up during the expansion of St Laurence's church in 1199) could explain the tumulus variation of the "hlǣw" element.Ludford, a neighbouring and older settlement, situated on the southern bank of the Teme, shares the "hlud" ("loud waters") element.