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Related Webpages
- Living on the Edge project
- Friends of Much Wenlock Museum
- Much Wenlock area
- Mucky Wenlock: An interactive history of the town farms of Much Wenlock
- The provision of Gas Supply to Much Wenlock
- The development of water supply and drainage utilities in Much Wenlock
- On Starter's Orders: The History of Much Wenlock Racecourse
- William Penny Brookes and the inns of Much Wenlock
- From Market hall to Museum: the changing uses of a building.
- Much Wenlock National School: The Early Years 1871-1902
- Shops of Wenlock interactive resource
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Much Wenlock in the 19th century
At the beginning of the 19th century Much Wenlock remained a small poor town full of insanitary cottages. Few local children attended school and one of the few pastimes, apart from the occasional horse race meeting, was the local alehouse.
By mid-century change was coming. The setting up of the National School in 1847 transformed educational opportunities. This development, like so much else in the town, was influenced by local doctor William Penny Brookes. He also helped to bring the railway to the town, and was involved in the provision of a gas supply. The building of the Corn Exchange and setting up of the Wenlock Agricultural Reading Society were also evidence of his ambition and energy. Most famously he revived the Olympic Games in the town which foreshadowed its international revival in 1896.
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