Much Wenlock Tourist Information

Much Wenlock, lying at the north-eastern end of Wenlock Edge, is one of the oldest settlements in the Shropshire.

The small market town grew up around a monastery, founded in 680 AD by Merwalt, King of Mercia. It continued to prosper as Wenlock Priory grew in fame and importance.

Today the attractive town is a mix of medieval buildings, bustling narrow streets and specialist shops.

Much Wenlock is almost untouched by modern development and there is even a working farmyard at its centre.

The best known building is the splendid timber-framed Guildhall, dating from 1577, still used for Town Council meetings.

Wenlock Priory, dissoloved by Henry VIII in 1540, sustained damage during the Civil War and was later pilaged for building materials. The evocative ruins of the 12th century priory, at the heart of the town, are now surrounded by gardens with striking topiary.

Dr William Penny-Brookes (1809-1895), founder of the modern Olympics, was born in Much Wenlock. The Wenlock Olympian Society held its first games in the town in 1858. The Society's concept was quickly adopted and developed across the world and as a result the first international Olympic Games were held in Athens in 1896. Much Wenlock still organises its own Olympics every July.

Much Wenlock has a Tourist Information Centre