THE ORIGIN OF THE NAME

1.1. THE ANCIENT HISTORY

ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF THE PRIORY
The present priory remains date to the 12th and 13th centuries. A corner tower of the precinctwall stands in the Bull Ring and the fishponds are well survived at earthworks to the east. Earlier priory  churches are represented by foundations beneath the pre-sent Priory church and the site of Holy Trinity Church. The town’s early street pattern can still be seen and focused on Holy Trinity’s Churchyard, which by the late Anglo-Saxon period had become the main market place. The first religious house at Much Wenlock was founded in 680 by Merewald, King of Mercia, who installed his daughter Milburga as abbess. After the Norman Conquest in 1066, Roger de Montgomery was given vast estates in Shropshire and Wales. At Wenlock in about 1080 he refounded the Church of St Milburga, as it was then called, as a Benedictine monastery under the direction of Abbey of Cluny in France. The priory grew rapidly. Shortly after 1100 it also became a place of pilgrimage, following the alleged discovery of the bones of St Milburga. In the 13th century Prior Humbert began the building of a new church, with gifts of timber from the royal forests granted by Henry III.During the Hundred Years War (1337-1453), French monasteries in England faced severerestrictions, loss of land holdings and high taxation. In 1376 Wenlock’s first English priorwas appointed and eventually in 1395 a charter was obtained declaring the Priory English. Wenlock Priory was dissolved by King Henry VIII in 1540 and stripped of all its valuables, including the lead on the roof. The buildings were not destroyed, but were left open to the wind and rain. As the years went by, the stonework was pillaged by local farmers as buildings for miles around contain stones which were once part of the great church. The infirmary and prior’s lodge were converted into a private residence and remain so to this day.

ORIGIN AND THE HISTORY OF MUCH WENLOCK
Much Wenlock grew next to and was greatly influenced by the priory, founded in the 7th century, which was the sole landlord and controlled the town’s economy, law and order until its dissolution in 1540. In the year 1227 the St. Jones Hospital was created and the market was mentioned for the first time. About 1468 in the sovereign time of Lord Wenlock Much Wenlock achieved the state of a township with all its rights and duties. Until the 16th century the inhabitants of Much Wenlock - like small farmers, businessmen and landowners - lived in wealth, because flowering trade was developed in this region. Besides Much Wenlock was the location of an ironsmithyworks, in spite of the agriculture went on doing dominate. Although there was an influence of the industrial revolution at the life of the town, it was not as big as in other towns (e.g. Ironbridge). In this time, Much Wenlock played an important part in the life of the region. All villages within a ten miles radius, in the south and west, relieched of this town. In the year 1851 three wheelwrights and four farriers lived in Much Wenlock. More houses had stables than now have garages. Many of these stables survived until today. Every Monday markets were held under the Guildhall. After the arrival of the railway the ”Smithfield” was built and fortnightly auctions were held.

1.2. HISTORICAL SIGHTS

THE GUILDHALL
Following the dissolution of the Priory a free standing Court House was built in 1540. A Council Chamber was ” reared ” at northern end in 1577 over the stone medieval prison. The small extension over the churchyard passage was added in 1868. The Hall was used until recently as a Courtroom, and Town Council still meets here once a month.

THE HIGH STREET
Formerly known as Spittle Street or Hospital Street, after the Hospital of St John which was thought to have stood on the site of the present Corn Exchange. The buildings at the bottom of the High Street were dismantled 1874 and were replaced by the Metropolitan Bank (now the Midland Bank) and the market Hall (now the Museum).

THE SQUARE
This square was created in the mid 19th century, the new complex of shops being developed in the 1980’s to replace buildings which had fallen into disrepair. The clock and drinking foundation were donated by Alderman Thomas Cooke (twice Mayor of Wenlock) to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee.

W.P. BROOKES´S HOUSE
Formerly the home of  William Penny Brookes ( 1809 – 1895 ) local doctor for nearly 60 years. He masterminded many improvements in Wenlock and had lifelong interest in physical education. The Wenlock Olympian Games started in 1850 and still held every year, are result of his initiative. Later the building was used as Lloyds Bank. Today it is in private property.

THE CORN EXCHANGE
Built by public subscription, on land given by Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, and opened in 1854, the building also housed the library of the Wenlock Agricultural  Reading Society established by William Penny Brookes in 1841. Part of the building is still used as a library. Today there is an archive and the town council.

THE MUSEUM
Built in 1878 as an open Market Hall, it was converted into a Memorial Hall after the first world war and later became a cinema. Today it houses the Much Wenlock Museum andTourist Information Centre.

OLD POLICE STATION
The old Police Station, built in 1864, is a good example of the use of local blue building brick. Before this, the police officer was stationed under the Guildhall.

BROOK HOUSE FARM
There were farmhouses on all the main streets until the end of the last war. Brook Houseremains a working farm with a timber-framed medieval hall later cased with limestone rubble. The brick building facing Sheinton Street is an 18th Century addition.

ST. MILBURGA`S WELL
Water from this well is reputed to have cured eye diseases. In Victorian times celebrations would have been held around the well when maidens threw crooked pins into the water whilst wishing for a sweetheart.

HOLY TRINITY CHURCH
The Parish Church and mother of ten churches in villages around Wenlock. The nave and chancelare Norman, the tower Transitional and the porch 13th century. The Parish Registers date from 1558.

PRIORY HALL
Built in 1848 as National School with money raised by public subscription on land provided by Sir Watkin Williams Wynn of Wynnstay, the Lord of the Manor. The school closed in 1952 and the building reopened in 1981 as a meeting-place for the people of Much Wenlock.

IMPRESSIONS

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