Much Wenlock
Much Wenlock is a community as well as parish in Shropshire, England, situated on the A458 road between Shrewsbury and Bridgnorth. Nearby, to the northeast, is the Ironbridge Gorge, and the new town of Telford. The civil parish includes the towns of Homer (1 mile north of the community), 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, raising to 2,877 at the 2011 Census. Much Wenlock was historically the primary community of the old district of Wenlock. The "Much" was added to the name to distinguish it from the close-by Little Wenlock, and indicates that it is the larger of both negotiations. Significant historic attractions in the town are Wenlock Priory as well as the Guildhall. The name Wenlock probably comes from the Celtic name Wininicas, suggesting "white area" (of the sedimentary rock of Wenlock Edge), plus the Old English loca, suggesting "enclosed 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 modern Olympic Games, as well as one of the London 2012 Summer Olympics mascots; called Wenlock after the town.
