Much Wenlock is a community and also parish in Shropshire, England, positioned on the A458 road between Shrewsbury and also Bridgnorth. Nearby, to the northeast, is the Ironbridge Gorge, and also the new town of Telford. The civil church consists of the villages of Homer (1 mile north of the town), Wyke (2 miles northeast), Atterley (2 miles southeast) as well as Bourton (3 miles southwest). The population of the civil parish, according to the 2001 census, was 2,605, boosting to 2,877 at the 2011 Census. Much Wenlock was historically the chief community of the old district of Wenlock. The "Much" was contributed to the name to distinguish it from the close-by Little Wenlock, and also symbolizes that it is the bigger of both settlements. Notable historic destinations in the town are Wenlock Priory as well as the Guildhall. The name Wenlock probably comes from the Celtic name Wininicas, implying "white location" (in reference to the limestone 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 established by Dr William Penny Brookes in 1850 are centred in the community. Dr Brookes is credited as a founding father of the modern-day Olympic Games, and also one of the London 2012 Summer Olympics mascots; named Wenlock after the community.