Wellington, Shropshire
Encyclopedia
Wellington is a town in the unitary authority of Telford and Wrekin
and ceremonial county
of Shropshire
, England
and now forms part of the new town
of Telford
. The population of the parish
of Wellington was recorded as 20,430 in the 2001 census, making it the third largest town in Shropshire if counted independently from Telford. The poet Philip Larkin famously described Wellington as a 'hole of toad's turds', suggested that it should be bombed, and stated that his job as town librarian was to 'hand out tripey novels to morons'.
, a Roman road
that linked London
with the town of Viroconium Cornoviorum (of which Wroxeter
is believed to be a small village set within its boundaries), seems to be unlikely, due to several factors, including the earliest written names of the town. Evidence suggests that the site of the sacred Druid grove and temple was on the site of All Saints Parish Church on a raised area in the centre of the town. A church has been on that site for almost 1000 years and the priest was mentioned in the Domesday Book. The original churchyard still remains. A new church, designed by George Steuart, was built in 1789.
Wellington's first market charter is dated 1244 (See citation in external links) and the market still exists today. The market had an open-sided market hall by 1680 but this was dimantled in 1805 (See Citation in external links). This was replaced in the 19th century by a town hall (with the butter market held under it) built in 1848 by a company (formed in 1841) which purchased the market rights from Lord Forester in 1856.
In 1642 King Charles I
was staying in Wellington (in a building that stood in what is now Crown Street, next to the former Crown Inn, which is now the premises of Wellington News), shortly before the first pitched battle of the English Civil War
, when he said in his Wellington Declaration
that he would uphold the Protestant Religion, the Laws of England, and the Liberty of Parliament.
The second Shropshire Olympian Games were held in Wellington in May 1861.
The town is twinned with Chatenay-Malabry
in France
. A twinning website exists, the link of which can be seen at the bottom of the page under 'External links'.
To the north-east of the town is the site of Apley Castle, originally a fourteenth century fortified manor house, the remains of which were converted into a stable block with the building of a grand Georgian house, which was itself demolished in the 1950s. The surviving stable block has been converted into apartments and retains some medieval features.
in 1969, and its large Edwardian library is increasingly ignored as Telford Library has become the headquarters for the Telford and Wrekin library service.
Local politics left it in conflict with Telford & Wrekin Council for many years with claims and counter claims of neglect etc. Recently the Council has started making heavy investment to make improvements to the town. Critics feel this it is not about new Bus Stations and Libraries but a need for more commercial and viable shopping stunted mainly by high rents and rising Business Rate Bills, enforced by central government and not benefitting the local community.
The creation of the new town did, however, bring a wealth of employment to the area. Although ignored by most of the larger high street stores, many independent businesses have remained in Wellington and it is often viewed nowadays as complementing the larger Telford town centre. Recent economic downturns have left it struggling like many small towns with empty shops and an increasing number of Charity shops, not viewed by everyone as good for business. Unlike other small Shropshire towns Wellington has been unable to attract high street names, unlike Newport
(Waitrose, Mackays -now M&Co,) and Oswestry
(Marks & Spencer, Argos,) etc.
However, national chain BonMarche have recently opened a branch in New Street, Wellington.
Wellington Market continues to be a popular attraction of the town, and is open four days a week. There is also a monthly farmers' market held in the Square. The town centre is the largest shopping centre in Telford outside the new, central Telford Shopping Centre.
The town is also a stronghold for supporters of Wolverhampton Wanderers with a bus travelling to all Wolves away games picking up near Wellington, see telfordwolves.com
The New Buck's Head football stadium, home to AFC Telford United, is located in Wellington. Other sporting clubs include the Wellington Cricket Club, currently in the Birmingham League Premier Division. The Wrekin
, a hill on the border of Wellington, has a height of 1335 feet and is popular with walkers and families. It plays host to the annual Great Wrekin Barrel Race.
Wellington is also home to the Belfrey Theatre an amateur venue run by the Wellington Theatre Company which puts on an annual season of plays and other shows.
The Princess Royal Hospital is located nearby at Apley, to the north.
The Wetherspoon chain of real ale eateries has opened a new pub in New Street, Wellington, The William Withering, named for Dr William Withering who was born in the town and who discovered Digitalis, the heart medicine.
, New College Telford
and Telford College of Arts and Technology
(TCAT) are located in the town, along with primary and secondary schools.
Wellington railway station
was built in 1849 and has three platforms, served by Arriva Trains Wales
and London Midland
, providing northbound trains towards Shrewsbury
and Wales
, and southbound trains to the West Midlands
. One of the platforms is a bay platform, which sees little use at present. Additionally, from 2008 - 2011 the town had a through train service to London Marylebone, the first for almost 40 years.
In 1867, a branch line was opened to connect the town with Market Drayton
. The Wellington and Market Drayton Railway operated for just under one hundred years before closure under the Beeching reforms in 1963. The line remained open for goods only services until 1967, when this service was also withdrawn. The track was lifted in the early 1970s.
There were also railway links to Much Wenlock and Stafford, both closed in the late 1960s.
A goods only link to a rail head at Donnington, on part of the former Wellington to Stafford line, has been re-opened. The concept of re-establishing the railway line through Newport and on to Stafford has been raised.
Wellington is located at the western terminus of the M54 motorway
and has good bus services making it one of the most accessible towns in Shropshire.
(1832–1911), and the first job of poet Philip Larkin
was as librarian of Wellington Library from 1943 to circa 1945. The Rev Patrick Brontë
lived in the town for year while serving a curacy before moving to Yorkshire and meeting his future wife there, Maria Branwell
. The abolitionist Dr William Withering
was born in the town in 1741; he also investigated digitalis
, used in the treatment of heart disease
. S. Parkes Cadman
, who became a prominent clergyman in the United States
, was born there in 1864. Several members of the pop group T'Pau
(including vocalist Carol Decker and keyboardist Michael Chetwood) were from Wellington.
A pathway at the side of Wellington Library was named Larkin Way in honour of Philip Larkin, but this pathway was lost during re-development work on the library and the Borough Council is considering re-naming the new, slightly different pathway, with the help of the public. This is not without controversy.
Other notable residents include:
Telford and Wrekin
Telford and Wrekin is a unitary district with borough status in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. The district was created in 1974 as The...
and ceremonial county
Ceremonial counties of England
The ceremonial counties are areas of England to which are appointed a Lord Lieutenant, and are defined by the government as counties and areas for the purposes of the Lieutenancies Act 1997 with reference to the metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties of England and Lieutenancies Act 1997...
of Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and now forms part of the new town
New town
A new town is a specific type of a planned community, or planned city, that was carefully planned from its inception and is typically constructed in a previously undeveloped area. This contrasts with settlements that evolve in a more ad hoc fashion. Land use conflicts are uncommon in new...
of Telford
Telford
Telford is a large new town in the borough of Telford and Wrekin and ceremonial county of Shropshire, England, approximately east of Shrewsbury, and west of Birmingham...
. The population of the parish
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
of Wellington was recorded as 20,430 in the 2001 census, making it the third largest town in Shropshire if counted independently from Telford. The poet Philip Larkin famously described Wellington as a 'hole of toad's turds', suggested that it should be bombed, and stated that his job as town librarian was to 'hand out tripey novels to morons'.
History
Its name was originally Weoleahington, meaning 'The settlement by the temple', or 'by the sacred grove'. An alternative suggestion that the name derives from 'Watling Town', because it lies on Watling StreetWatling Street
Watling Street is the name given to an ancient trackway in England and Wales that was first used by the Britons mainly between the modern cities of Canterbury and St Albans. The Romans later paved the route, part of which is identified on the Antonine Itinerary as Iter III: "Item a Londinio ad...
, a Roman road
Roman road
The Roman roads were a vital part of the development of the Roman state, from about 500 BC through the expansion during the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. Roman roads enabled the Romans to move armies and trade goods and to communicate. The Roman road system spanned more than 400,000 km...
that linked London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
with the town of Viroconium Cornoviorum (of which Wroxeter
Wroxeter
Wroxeter is a village in Shropshire, England. It forms part of the civil parish of Wroxeter and Uppington and is located in the Severn Valley about south-east of Shrewsbury.-History:...
is believed to be a small village set within its boundaries), seems to be unlikely, due to several factors, including the earliest written names of the town. Evidence suggests that the site of the sacred Druid grove and temple was on the site of All Saints Parish Church on a raised area in the centre of the town. A church has been on that site for almost 1000 years and the priest was mentioned in the Domesday Book. The original churchyard still remains. A new church, designed by George Steuart, was built in 1789.
Wellington's first market charter is dated 1244 (See citation in external links) and the market still exists today. The market had an open-sided market hall by 1680 but this was dimantled in 1805 (See Citation in external links). This was replaced in the 19th century by a town hall (with the butter market held under it) built in 1848 by a company (formed in 1841) which purchased the market rights from Lord Forester in 1856.
In 1642 King Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
was staying in Wellington (in a building that stood in what is now Crown Street, next to the former Crown Inn, which is now the premises of Wellington News), shortly before the first pitched battle of the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
, when he said in his Wellington Declaration
Wellington Declaration
The "Wellington Declaration" was a manifesto by King Charles I near the start of the English Civil War...
that he would uphold the Protestant Religion, the Laws of England, and the Liberty of Parliament.
The second Shropshire Olympian Games were held in Wellington in May 1861.
The town is twinned with Chatenay-Malabry
Châtenay-Malabry
Châtenay-Malabry is a commune in the southwestern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located 10.8 km from the center of Paris.The commune includes the valley la vallée aux loups with green forests and pretty houses including the estate of French writer Chateaubriand. It also includes the Butte...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. A twinning website exists, the link of which can be seen at the bottom of the page under 'External links'.
To the north-east of the town is the site of Apley Castle, originally a fourteenth century fortified manor house, the remains of which were converted into a stable block with the building of a grand Georgian house, which was itself demolished in the 1950s. The surviving stable block has been converted into apartments and retains some medieval features.
Merger with Telford
Some of the townspeople do not think that the formation of Telford New Town has been a positive change for Wellington. Its economy has been damaged by Telford Town Centre formed in 1963, its football team's name was changed from Wellington Town to Telford UnitedTelford United F.C.
Telford United F.C. was an English football club based in Telford, Shropshire.The club existed under various names for a total of 132 years from its formation in 1872. The club was founder members of the Alliance Premier League in 1979 and played at this level for 25 years before being wound up in...
in 1969, and its large Edwardian library is increasingly ignored as Telford Library has become the headquarters for the Telford and Wrekin library service.
Local politics left it in conflict with Telford & Wrekin Council for many years with claims and counter claims of neglect etc. Recently the Council has started making heavy investment to make improvements to the town. Critics feel this it is not about new Bus Stations and Libraries but a need for more commercial and viable shopping stunted mainly by high rents and rising Business Rate Bills, enforced by central government and not benefitting the local community.
The creation of the new town did, however, bring a wealth of employment to the area. Although ignored by most of the larger high street stores, many independent businesses have remained in Wellington and it is often viewed nowadays as complementing the larger Telford town centre. Recent economic downturns have left it struggling like many small towns with empty shops and an increasing number of Charity shops, not viewed by everyone as good for business. Unlike other small Shropshire towns Wellington has been unable to attract high street names, unlike Newport
Newport, Shropshire
Newport is a market town in the borough of Telford and Wrekin and ceremonial county of Shropshire, England. It lies some north of Telford and some west of Stafford sitting on the Shropshire/Staffordshire border...
(Waitrose, Mackays -now M&Co,) and Oswestry
Oswestry
Oswestry is a town and civil parish in Shropshire, England, close to the Welsh border. It is at the junction of the A5, A483, and A495 roads....
(Marks & Spencer, Argos,) etc.
Amenities and attractions
Local magazine the Wellington News is published monthly. Artistic events in Wellington include Sounds in the Square, a season of open air music in the Market Square during the Summer, and the well-attended annual Wellington Literary Festival, a celebrated month of workshops, competitions and even audiences with famous poets and authors. The annual Midsummer Fayre and Lions day on wheels are two other popular events held during the summer months.Wellington Market continues to be a popular attraction of the town, and is open four days a week. There is also a monthly farmers' market held in the Square. The town centre is the largest shopping centre in Telford outside the new, central Telford Shopping Centre.
The town is also a stronghold for supporters of Wolverhampton Wanderers with a bus travelling to all Wolves away games picking up near Wellington, see telfordwolves.com
The New Buck's Head football stadium, home to AFC Telford United, is located in Wellington. Other sporting clubs include the Wellington Cricket Club, currently in the Birmingham League Premier Division. The Wrekin
The Wrekin
The Wrekin is a hill in east Shropshire, England. It is located some west of Telford, on the border between the unitary authorities of Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin. Rising to a height of above the Shropshire Plain, it is a prominent and well-known landmark, marking the entrance to Shropshire...
, a hill on the border of Wellington, has a height of 1335 feet and is popular with walkers and families. It plays host to the annual Great Wrekin Barrel Race.
Wellington is also home to the Belfrey Theatre an amateur venue run by the Wellington Theatre Company which puts on an annual season of plays and other shows.
The Princess Royal Hospital is located nearby at Apley, to the north.
The Wetherspoon chain of real ale eateries has opened a new pub in New Street, Wellington, The William Withering, named for Dr William Withering who was born in the town and who discovered Digitalis, the heart medicine.
Education
Wrekin CollegeWrekin College
Wrekin College is a co-educational independent school located in Wellington, Shropshire, England. It was founded by Sir John Bayley in 1880 and was known as ‘The School in the Garden’ owing to its extensive gardens and playing fields...
, New College Telford
New College, Telford
New College Telford is a sixth form college situated in Wellington, an area within Telford, Shropshire, England. The college caters for 16 - 19 years olds, but also offers part time courses to the rest of the community, principally adults...
and Telford College of Arts and Technology
Telford College of Arts and Technology
Telford College of Arts and Technology is a further education college in Telford, Shropshire, England. It operates from one main site and many in-company training sites and community-based courses spread out across Shropshire and the whole of the United Kingdom...
(TCAT) are located in the town, along with primary and secondary schools.
Transport
Wellington (Shropshire) railway station
Wellington railway station serves the town of Wellington, Shropshire, England. It is situated on the Shrewsbury to Wolverhampton Line. Trains are operated by London Midland and Arriva Trains Wales.-History:...
was built in 1849 and has three platforms, served by Arriva Trains Wales
Arriva Trains Wales
Arriva Trains Wales is a train operating company, owned by Arriva, that operates urban and inter urban passenger services in Wales and the Welsh Marches...
and London Midland
London Midland
London Midland is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. Legally named London and Birmingham Railway Ltd, it is a subsidiary of Govia, and has operated the West Midlands franchise since 11 November 2007....
, providing northbound trains towards Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England. Lying on the River Severn, it is a civil parish home to some 70,000 inhabitants, and is the primary settlement and headquarters of Shropshire Council...
and Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, and southbound trains to the West Midlands
West Midlands (county)
The West Midlands is a metropolitan county in western central England with a 2009 estimated population of 2,638,700. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972, formed from parts of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. The...
. One of the platforms is a bay platform, which sees little use at present. Additionally, from 2008 - 2011 the town had a through train service to London Marylebone, the first for almost 40 years.
In 1867, a branch line was opened to connect the town with Market Drayton
Market Drayton
Market Drayton is a small market town in north Shropshire, England. It is on the River Tern, between Shrewsbury and Stoke-on-Trent, and was formerly known as "Drayton in Hales" and earlier simply as "Drayton" ....
. The Wellington and Market Drayton Railway operated for just under one hundred years before closure under the Beeching reforms in 1963. The line remained open for goods only services until 1967, when this service was also withdrawn. The track was lifted in the early 1970s.
There were also railway links to Much Wenlock and Stafford, both closed in the late 1960s.
A goods only link to a rail head at Donnington, on part of the former Wellington to Stafford line, has been re-opened. The concept of re-establishing the railway line through Newport and on to Stafford has been raised.
Wellington is located at the western terminus of the M54 motorway
M54 motorway
The M54 is a 23 mile east-west motorway in the English counties of Shropshire and Staffordshire. It is also referred to as the Telford Motorway, after the road's primary westbound destination, the new town of Telford...
and has good bus services making it one of the most accessible towns in Shropshire.
Notable people
The town's literary claims to fame include it being the birthplace of 19th century writer Hesba StrettonHesba Stretton
Hesba Stretton was the pen name of Sarah Smith , an English writer of children's books. She concocted the name from the initials of her five siblings and the name of a neighbouring village.-Early life:...
(1832–1911), and the first job of poet Philip Larkin
Philip Larkin
Philip Arthur Larkin, CH, CBE, FRSL is widely regarded as one of the great English poets of the latter half of the twentieth century...
was as librarian of Wellington Library from 1943 to circa 1945. The Rev Patrick Brontë
Patrick Brontë
The Reverend Patrick Brontë was an Irish Anglican curate and writer, who spent most of his adult life in England and was the father of the writers Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë, and of Branwell Brontë, his only son....
lived in the town for year while serving a curacy before moving to Yorkshire and meeting his future wife there, Maria Branwell
Maria Branwell
Maria Branwell was the mother of English writers Emily Brontë, Anne Brontë and Charlotte Brontë, and their brother, the poet and painter Branwell Brontë.-Early life:...
. The abolitionist Dr William Withering
William Withering
William Withering was an English botanist, geologist, chemist, physician and the discoverer of digitalis.-Introduction:...
was born in the town in 1741; he also investigated digitalis
Digitalis
Digitalis is a genus of about 20 species of herbaceous perennials, shrubs, and biennials that are commonly called foxgloves. This genus was traditionally placed in the figwort family Scrophulariaceae, but recent reviews of phylogenetic research have placed it in the much enlarged family...
, used in the treatment of heart disease
Heart disease
Heart disease, cardiac disease or cardiopathy is an umbrella term for a variety of diseases affecting the heart. , it is the leading cause of death in the United States, England, Canada and Wales, accounting for 25.4% of the total deaths in the United States.-Types:-Coronary heart disease:Coronary...
. S. Parkes Cadman
S. Parkes Cadman
Samuel Parkes Cadman , better known as S. Parkes Cadman, was an American clergyman, newspaper writer, and pioneer Christian radio broadcaster of the 1920s and 1930s. He was an early advocate of ecumenism and an outspoken opponent of anti-Semitism and racial intolerance...
, who became a prominent clergyman in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, was born there in 1864. Several members of the pop group T'Pau
T'Pau (band)
T'Pau was a 1980s British Rock group led by singer Carol Decker. They had a string of Top 40 hits in the UK, and several hits in the United States and Europe...
(including vocalist Carol Decker and keyboardist Michael Chetwood) were from Wellington.
A pathway at the side of Wellington Library was named Larkin Way in honour of Philip Larkin, but this pathway was lost during re-development work on the library and the Borough Council is considering re-naming the new, slightly different pathway, with the help of the public. This is not without controversy.
Other notable residents include:
- Richard BaxterRichard BaxterRichard Baxter was an English Puritan church leader, poet, hymn-writer, theologian, and controversialist. Dean Stanley called him "the chief of English Protestant Schoolmen". After some false starts, he made his reputation by his ministry at Kidderminster, and at around the same time began a long...
(1615–1691), puritan church leader and scholar. - Jonathan CorbettJonathan CorbettJonathan Corbett is a TV food channel presenter, food commentator, and Buyer working for Tesco plc.Born and raised in Telford, Shropshire. Corbett was educated at the Charlton School, before training as a Chef at Radbrook Catering College, Shrewsbury...
, TV presenter. - George Downing (1684–1749), founder of Downing College, CambridgeDowning College, CambridgeDowning College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college was founded in 1800 and currently has around 650 students.- History :...
. - Thomas Campbell EytonThomas Campbell EytonThomas Campbell Eyton JP, DL was an English naturalist whose fields were cattle, fishes and birds. He was a friend and correspondent of Charles Darwin though he opposed his theories....
(1809–1911), naturalist. - Henry GauntlettHenry GauntlettHenry John Gauntlett was an English organist and songwriter known in British music circles for his authorship of a large number of hymns and other pieces for the organ....
(1805–1876), composer, organist and organ designer. - Cecil Lawson (1851–1882), landscape artist.
- Stewart LeeStewart LeeStewart Lee is an English stand-up comedian, writer and director known for being one half of the 1990s comedy duo Lee and Herring, and for co-writing and directing the critically acclaimed and controversial stage show Jerry Springer - The Opera...
, comedian. - Andrew PlimerAndrew PlimerAndrew Plimer was a British artist, born in Wellington, Shropshire in 1763 and died in Brighton in 1837.Plimer specialised in portrait miniatures. His work was exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1768 to 1810 and in 1819. His most famous painting is of the three daughters of Sir John Rushout...
(c. 1763–1837), miniature painter. - Kamran SheerazKamran SheerazKamran Pasha Sheeraz is a former English cricketer. Sheeraz was a right-handed batsman who bowled right-arm medium-fast. He was born in Wellington, Shropshire....
(1973-), cricketer
External links
- Wellington Under the Wrekin – local history, events, attractions and art photography of the surrounding area
- Wellington Town Council
- Wellington Chamber of Commerce
- AFC Telford United
- Wellington Cricket Club
- Wellington twinning site
- Wellington's Market Charter
- Market Hall demolition marked with plaques
- Belfrey Theatre (Wellington Theatre Company)