Telford - Shropshire: One Of Britain's New Towns

Telford - Shropshire County is a New Town created during the 1960s and 1970s by the amalgamation of communities such as Dawley, Madeley, Oakengates and Wellington. The town charter was issued in 1963. The town is named after the civil engineer, Thomas Telford. Telford is the largest community in Shropshire and a contender for the fastest growing city in the UK. It is located on land that previously was mainly used for agriculture and residential purposes.

The planned community houses a modern shopping mall, a Town Park and the M54 motorway to facilitate connections to the West Midlands. The town charter was issued in 1963. Office complexes, entertainment venues and schools are all of recent construction and reflect state of the art methods and principles.

A major tourist attraction for the surrounding area is the Ironbridge Gorge. The gorge is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The gorge was originally known as Severn Gorge from the river that flows through the gorge. The Severn River meanders along the boundary on the southern edge of the city.

In 1779, the first arch bridge created of cast iron was erected across the Severn Gorge. The span made traffic between Coalbrookdale and Madeley much more simple and efficient. Coalbrookdale is known for its industrial importance and Madeley was a mining town known as Madeley. For the first time, cast iron was shown to be economically viable as a bridge building material.

The Telford area has other landmarks that are of interest to tourists. The Wrekin is a 1335 foot high hill popular with walkers in the Shropshire, Staffordshire and the Black Country. The entire area is designated as the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The Lilleshall Monument was erected to honor the 1st Duke of Sutherland. He was Ambassador to France in the late 1700s and reputed to be richest man of the 18th century. He was controversial for his role in the Highland Clearances. Sunnycroft is a significant Victorian estate with original fittings and fixtures. It was built in 1880 and held by the same family during its entire history. It currently belongs to the National Trust.

Telford - Shropshire is known for participation in various types of sports clubs, including amateur leagues, semi-professional and professional clubs. The AFC Telford United Football Club plays locally at New Bucks Head stadium. The city is also noted for teams playing ice hockey, rugby, American football and snookers.