Much Wenlock
Much Wenlock is a community and parish in Shropshire, England, positioned on the A458 road between Shrewsbury and Bridgnorth. Nearby, to the northeast, is the Ironbridge Gorge, and the brand-new town of Telford. The civil church consists of the towns of Homer (1 mile north of the community), Wyke (2 miles northeast), Atterley (2 miles southeast) and 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 traditionally the chief town of the old borough of Wenlock. The "Much" was included in the name to differentiate it from the nearby Little Wenlock, as well as symbolizes that it is the bigger of both settlements. Noteworthy historical destinations in the town are Wenlock Priory and also the Guildhall. The name Wenlock possibly comes from the Celtic name Wininicas, indicating "white area" (in reference to the sedimentary rock of Wenlock Edge), plus the Old English loca, suggesting "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 town. Dr Brookes is credited as a founding father of the modern Olympic Games, and one of the London 2012 Summer Olympics mascots; called Wenlock after the town.