Much Wenlock is a community and parish in Shropshire, England, located on the A458 road in between Shrewsbury and also Bridgnorth. Close by, to the northeast, is the Ironbridge Gorge, as well as the brand-new community of Telford. The civil church includes the villages of Homer (1 mile north of the town), Wyke (2 miles northeast), Atterley (2 miles southeast) and also Bourton (3 miles southwest). The population of the civil parish, according to the 2001 census, was 2,605, increasing to 2,877 at the 2011 Census. Much Wenlock was historically the chief town of the old district of Wenlock. The "Much" was added to the name to distinguish it from the nearby Little Wenlock, and represents that it is the larger of the two settlements. Noteworthy historic attractions in the community are Wenlock Priory and the Guildhall. The name Wenlock probably originates from the Celtic name Wininicas, implying "white area" (in reference to the sedimentary rock of Wenlock Edge), plus the Old English loca, indicating "confined place". The community was recorded in the Domesday Book as Wenloch. The Wenlock Olympian Games developed by Dr William Penny Brookes in 1850 are centred in the community. Dr Brookes is credited as a founding father of the contemporary Olympic Games, as well as one of the London 2012 Summer Olympics mascots; named Wenlock after the town.