Discover Telford, Shropshire

Priorslee Hall, a heritage building within the campus of the University of Wolverhampton in Telford: Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Priorslee_Hall_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1187500.jpg
Author: Richard Law


Telford is a new town in the borough of Telford and Wrekin, in Shropshire, England. Located in the West Midlands region, it is now the largest town in Shropshire and one of the fastest growing in the country. As of 2012 estimate, it has a population approaching 170,000 people.

By British standards, Telford is quite a young town, having been founded as recently as the 1960s. It was named after the famous Scottish civil engineer Thomas Telford, and created by merging together a number of existing villages including Wellington, Oakengates, Madeley and Dawley.

Although Telford itself is fairly young, the area has been inhabited for hundreds of years, going back to at least the 13th century, while monastic houses have been established in this area as early as the 11th century.

The town of Telford was established on 16 January 1963 and was originally named Dawley New Town. In 1968, the town was expanded to include the historic area of the Ironbridge Gorge. At the same time, it was renamed after Thomas Telford, in recognition of his work in Shropshire.

Telford Central Railway Station: Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:London_midland_Class_170_at_Telford_Central.jpg
Author: Kyleol123


Most of the development in Telford took place in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. At the heart of town is the Telford Shopping Centre. To ease access, the M54 motorway was built in 1983. It connects the town to the M6 motorway and to the rest of the country. Being a relatively young town, it has limited number of attractions.

Visiting Telford

From London, take the M1 motorway, continuing on the M6 motorway and then the M54 motorway. Turn off the motorway at Junction 5 to reach Telford.

You can also take the train of the Wrexham & Shropshire Railways from London Marylebone. There are also trains from Birmingham, Birmingham Airport, Wolverhampton and Shrewbury.

Places of Interest in Telford

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