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Wellington, Shropshire, England

1911 Encyclopedia Britannica

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Wellington, Somersetshire, England

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A market town in the Wellington (Mid) parliamentary division of Shropshire, England, 102 m. by rail E. of Shrewsbury. Pop. of urban district (1901), 6283. It is an important junction on the London & North-Western and Great Western railways, being 152 m. N.W. from London by the former line. The Shropshire Union canal connects it with the Severn. The neighbourhood is picturesque, the Wrekin, about IL m. from the town, rising to a height of 1335 ft. The church of All Saints dates from 1790. The manufacture of agricultural implements and nails, iron and brass founding and malting are carried on. The Roman Watling Street, running near the town, gives its name to a suburb of Wellington.

Before the Conquest Wellington (Weliton, Welintun ) belonged to Earl Edwin of Mercia, and after his forfeiture in 1071 was granted to Roger, earl of Shrewsbury. It came into the king's hands in 1102 through the attainder of Robert de Belesme. King John in 1212 granted Wellington to Thomas de Erdington "as a reward for services rendered in Rome at the time of the Interdict." Among the numerous subsequent lords of the manor were the families of Burnell and Lovell, the present owner being Colonel Sir Thomas Mayrick, Bart. Like many other towns in Shropshire, Wellington appears to have grown into importance as a border town, and possibly had some manner of corporate community in 1177, when it paid three marks to an aid, but its privileges seem to have disappeared after the annexation of Wales, and it was never incorporated. Markets are held on Thursday and Saturday under a charter of1691-1692to William Forester, but the Thursday market was first granted in 1244 to Giles de Erdington. Wellington has never been represented in parliament.