Much Wenlock
Much Wenlock is a town and also parish in Shropshire, England, located on the A458 road between Shrewsbury and also Bridgnorth. Close by, to the northeast, is the Ironbridge Gorge, and also the brand-new community of Telford. The civil church consists of the villages 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 traditionally the chief community of the ancient borough of Wenlock. The "Much" was contributed to the name to distinguish it from the nearby Little Wenlock, and symbolizes that it is the larger of the two settlements. Significant historic destinations in the town are Wenlock Priory and the Guildhall. The name Wenlock most likely comes from the Celtic name Wininicas, indicating "white location" (in reference to the sedimentary rock of Wenlock Edge), plus the Old English loca, indicating "enclosed place". 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 town. Dr Brookes is credited as a founding father of the modern-day Olympic Games, and also one of the London 2012 Summer Olympics mascots; called Wenlock after the town.