Much Wenlock - the inspiration for the Olympics
Situated in the centre of Shropshire, Much Wenlock is a charming and quintessentially English town, as well as the birthplace of Dr Williams Penny, founder of the Wenlock Olympian Society and the inspiration for the modern Olympic Games. Today, it's a quaint cluster of traditional shops, pubs, and restaurants, many of them set in medieval and Georgian buildings.
Seeing Stourbridge
Though Britain is steeped in history, Stourbridge has a potent link to its history that stands out among many other towns and cities. It was the home of a prosperous glass industry, and Stourbridge Lion Locomotive, which was the first steam engine to run in the USA in the early 19th century. In the heart of the �Black Country�, Stourbridge is surrounded by bucolic northern countryside, with the lovely villages of Belbroughton, Clent, Kinver and Churchill just a stone's throw away.
Step back in time at Wenlock Priory
On the outskirts of Much Wenlock, Wenlock Priory is one of Britain's great monastic ruins. A monastery was founded on the site in about 680 AD by the Saxon king Merewalh of Mercia, whose daughter became the abbess of the priory and was later canonised. Its impressively preserved ruins, with a chapter house, cloister garden, and intriguing medieval tilework, is one of the north's proudest heritage attractions.
Planning a trip to Much Wenlock? Travelodge Shrewsbury Baston Hill Hotel is a 20-minute drive away, and Travelodge Shrewsbury Battlefield Hotel can be reached in half an hour.