Much Wenlock, a picturesque medieval town in Shropshire, is most famous as the birthplace of the modern Olympic Games revival. Dr. William Penny Brookes founded the Wenlock Olympian Games here in 1850, which inspired Baron Pierre de Coubertin to launch the international Olympic movement.
Much Wenlock is famous as the inspiration for the modern Olympic Games, thanks to Dr. William Penny Brookes who founded the Wenlock Olympian Games in 1850, leading to the 2012 Olympic mascot "Wenlock" being named after the town, plus its stunning medieval architecture, Wenlock Priory ruins, charming traditional shops, and location in the beautiful Shropshire Hills.
Charles Darwin is Shrewsbury's most famous son and recently voted as one of the greatest Britons. Born in Shrewsbury, Shropshire on the 12th February 1809 at Mount House, he was the son of Robert, a well respected doctor, and Susannah a member of the Wedgwood family.
What does Much Wenlock have to do with the Olympics?
Much Wenlock is the birthplace of Dr William Penny Brookes, the inspiration for the modern Olympic Movement and founder of the Wenlock Olympian Society. It was in 1850 that the first ever Wenlock Olympian Games were held here in Much Wenlock.
Whilst British athletes don't receive any prize money for finishing on the podium at Olympic Games, those from other countries such as the United States can receive huge rewards. “Different countries have different ways of paying for medals,” Brownlee explained.
9 Facts About Much Wenlock Historic Shropshire Abbey Priory Olympics and Tony Robinson
What do Wenlock and Mandeville represent?
Wenlock and Mandeville were the mascots for the London 2012 Olympics, named after locations significant to the games' history: Wenlock from Much Wenlock, which inspired the modern Olympics, and Mandeville from Stoke Mandeville Hospital, the birthplace of the Paralympics, with their designs based on steel droplets from the Olympic Stadium. They represent the Olympic (Wenlock) and Paralympic (Mandeville) spirit, featuring camera eyes and taxi lights, symbolizing technology, diversity, and the spirit of competition and inclusion.
Perhaps more thought of as a Welsh surname, there are more Jones' in Shropshire than anyone else, with 14,432 recorded incidences of the name. That was more than double to the next two most common surnames, Davies and Williams, with 7,558 and 6,750 incidences.
Whitchurch is not only one of Shropshire's busiest and most beautiful market towns, but also one of the most history-packed towns in the Midlands. It's also the oldest continually inhabited town in Shropshire.
Cheese. Shropshire is home to many cheeses with distinctive characteristics and centuries-old traditions. ...
Bread. Ottolive, a bakery located in Shrewsbury, has been delighting customers with their selection of classic breads, sourdough, and Viennoiserie pastries since 2016. ...
Clun (Welsh: Colunwy) is the smallest town in Shropshire with a population of less than 1000. It is on the bank of River Clun. It is usually quite quiet, except for when the Green Man Festival is held in May and the Clun Carnival is held in August.
Notable historic attractions in the town are Wenlock Priory, Wenlock Edge, Holy Trinity Church and the Guildhall. The Wenlock Olympian Games, established by William Penny Brookes in 1850, are centred in the town.
Much Wenlock was named as the happiest place to live in Shropshire, according to the survey. Whitchurch was closely followed by Ludlow, Market Drayton, and Oswestry.
Ludlow. Famously described by John Betjeman as “the loveliest town in England”, and with over 500 listed buildings, mainly Georgian or half-timbered, Ludlow is a feast for the eyes.
Salop is an old name for Shropshire, historically used as an abbreviated form for post or telegrams; it is thought to derive from the Anglo-French "Salopesberia". It is nowadays normally replaced by Shrops, although Shropshire residents are still referred to as Salopians.
The National Trust were unable to find an endowment for the house, which was on sale for £1.8 million, and as such the house was auctioned and sold to a buyer who bought it for the stable block and left the house shuttered.
Much Wenlock is home to the Wenlock Olympian Games. These famous games and Dr. William Penny Brookes, the founder, are thought to have inspired the modern Olympic Games that began in 1896, only 6 years after Baron Pierre de Coubertin (the founder of the International Olympic Committee) visited the Games.
The “Ho” of Hodori comes from the Korean word meaning “tiger”, while “Dori” is a common masculine diminutive. The name was chosen from 2,295 competition entries submitted by the general public.
The Phryges are based on the Phrygian cap, which became a symbol of the freedom, or “Liberté”, that French revolutionaries fought for between 1787 and 1799. Marianne, the national personification of France, is often depicted wearing the small red hat. You may also recognize the cap as a wardrobe staple of the Smurfs.
