Much Wenlock, earlier known as Wenlock, is a small town in central Shropshire, England. It is situated on the A458 road between Shrewsbury and Bridgnorth. Nearby, to the northeast, is the Ironbridge Gorge, and the new town of Telford. The town holds the Wenlock Olympian Games set up by Dr William Penny Brookes in 1850. Dr Brookes is credited as a founding father of the Modern Olympic Games, and the Olympic mascot for London 2012 is named Wenlock after the town.
The "Much" was added to the name to distinguish it from the nearby Little Wenlock, and signifies that it is the larger of the two settlements. Notable historic attractions in the town are Wenlock Priory and the Guildhall. The name "Wenlock" as found in Much Wenlock and Little Wenlock (and also Great Wenlock, a now obsolete name, but found in some historic sources) is probably derived from the Old English *Wenan loca meaning "Wena's Stronghold" (wéna being feminine and meaning "hope"). The town was recorded in the Domesday Book as Wenloch. The population of the town's parish, according to the 2001 census, was 2,605.
Read more about Much Wenlock: History, Churches, Cultural Associations, Schools, Twin Towns
Famous quotes containing the word wenlock:
“On Wenlock Edge the wood’s in trouble;
His forest fleece the Wrekin heaves;
The gale, it plies the saplings double,
And thick on Severn snow the leaves.”
—A.E. (Alfred Edward)