Discovering Wellington
About The Project
The Discovering Wellington’ project was a three-year scheme that ran between 2005 and 2008, highlighting the heritage attractions around the market town of Wellington, Shropshire. The venture was supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and designed to enable local people and visitors alike to discover the natural and historic environment on their doorstep. The project created a series of specially designed walking and cycling trails unlocking the secrets of the town and the surrounding area – from the dawn of life on Earth to the present day!
Wellington is a market town with a long and illustrious past dating back to Anglo-Saxon times. It received its first Royal Charter in 1244, was garrisoned during the Civil War and became a prosperous centre for Industry and Agriculture during the Victorian era. The town has long and well established links with The Wrekin, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and one of the Midlands most famous natural landmarks, which is only a mile from the town itself. Nearby, the Weald Moors and the Tern Valley are within easy reach and the project aimed to reveal the many diverse attractions of the whole area for Wellingtonians and people visiting the locality for the first time.
Victorian Wellington
The Victorian age represented the most important turning point in Wellington’s history since the town received its first market charter in 1244. This walking trail charts the story of an unparalleled era of development when Wellington grew from an overgrown village into a modern town.
Along The Moors
All Around The Wrekin
The Wrekin is one of the Midlands most famous natural landmarks and a source of pride and inspiration to generations of Salopians. Join us for a circular cycle tour of discovery encompassing the dawning of life on Earth, Roman Britain, Medieval monarchs, the Industrial Revolution and beyond.
Walking With The Ancestors
Throughout Wellington’s long and illustrious history many notable figures have traversed the streets of the ancient Shropshire market town. The Walking With The Ancestors heritage trail follows in their footsteps, uncovering various locations associated with an assortment of famous, forgotten and downright notorious characters who visited and lived in the area.
The Tern Valley Trail
A circular cycle tour through the gently rolling river valley of this quiet Shropshire tributary of the River Severn. The trail follows in the footsteps of the pioneering civil engineer Thomas Telford, charting the course of the Shrewsbury Canal and uncovering the rich heritage of the villages along its course.