Much Wenlock is a town as well as parish in Shropshire, England, located on the A458 road in between Shrewsbury as well as Bridgnorth. Close by, to the northeast, is the Ironbridge Gorge, and also the new community of Telford. The civil church 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, boosting to 2,877 at the 2011 Census. Much Wenlock was historically the primary community of the old district of Wenlock. The "Much" was contributed to the name to identify it from the neighboring Little Wenlock, and also symbolizes that it is the larger of the two settlements. Notable historic tourist attractions in the community are Wenlock Priory and the Guildhall. The name Wenlock probably originates from the Celtic name Wininicas, implying "white area" (of the sedimentary rock of Wenlock Edge), plus the Old English loca, indicating "enclosed area". The town 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 contemporary Olympic Games, and among the London 2012 Summer Olympics mascots; called Wenlock after the town.
