With the creation of the new town of The Dawley New Town in 1963, as an overflow town for the West Midlands conurbation of Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Dudley and Walsall, and its 1968 expansion and renaming as Telford, Wellington was subsumed.
Opinion is divided as to whether this was good for Wellington. The creation of the new town initially brought a wealth of employment opportunities but over time the town centre of Wellington has struggled to match that of the nearby 25 acre Telford Shopping Centre.
Nevertheless, Wellington Market is still popular and opens four days a week, complimented by a monthly farmer’s market. Wellington also holds its own
Literary Festival, which is held every year in October and in past years has featured well known personalities from Germaine Greer to Henry Blofield.
Wellington is situated within only a few miles of a host of wonderful attractions. For the energetic there is a 1300 feet summit walk on the Wrekin Hill, surrounded by Ercall Woods, with the very best in dramatic scenery and superb views of the Shropshire countryside.
The World Heritage site of lronbridge Gorge is a major attraction, with several museums reflecting its place as the birthplace of industry during the industrial revolution. One such museum at Blists Hill can provide the visitor with both the experience and the atmosphere of the way of life in a Victorian working community. Attractions include a 19th century pithead, gigantic steam engines, a squatters cottage, many Victorian shops, a schoolhouse and a bank.
Cosford Aerospace Museum and Acton Scott Historic Working Farm are two major attractions within a short drive of Wellington and within a 30 minute drive the visitor can experience the splendour of South Shropshire with its towns of Ludlow, Bridgnorth, and the mediaeval town of Shrewsbury, and their diverse attractions.
Wellington Early History
The Friendly market town of Wellington is much older than it might first appear, having been founded by the Anglo-Saxons in the 6th century as a religious centre prior to the arrival of Christianity. By Domesday (1086) there was a village with a priest; Earl Roger Montgomery had taken over as Lord of the Manor from the Mercian Earl Edwin.
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 later history
In 1642 King Charles I was staying in Wellington 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.
