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Did You Know?

It was named after the legendary road builder, civil engineer and architect Thomas Telford. Contrary to popular belief, he was not responsible for the world-famous iron bridge, which gave its name to the World Heritage Site beside the River Severn. But he was appointed Shropshire's Surveyor of Public Works in 1787.

Most early settlement in the area was probably on the land that sloped up from the Weald Moors towards the line along which the Roman Watling Street was built. Extensive arable surrounded three large estates, which existed there by the 10th century: the royal estates at Wellington and Wrockwardine and the ecclesiastical estate at Lilleshall. 

Telford town centre lies about 21 kilometres from Shrewsbury and 24 kilometres from Wolverhampton. The town comprises 7,803 hectares (30.13 square miles) and its southern and eastern parts, between the Severn Gorge and Donnington Wood, include the East Shropshire coalfield.

Telford is the fastest growing town in the West Midlands with significant investment regeneration. The £41m investment in the town centre Southwater has given the town a vibrant beating heart, with lots of opportunity for everyone to enjoy.

It attracts big foreign business investors, creating many new jobs. There’s already been some major business achievements. There are 5,000 companies in Telford, employing 83,700 people.

A major Shropshire landmark, also now part of Telford, is The Iron Bridge, located in Ironbridge. It was the first bridge of its size in the world made out of cast iron. In the same area is the Ironbridge Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Richie Woodhall (born 1968) former WBC super middleweight champion boxer, grew up in Woodside.

By 1976, Telford had begun to recruit industry from the USA, Europe, and Japan. The foreign firms required larger factories, and they began to be built at Stafford Park. By 1983 over 2,000 jobs in Telford were provided by around 40 (mostly American) foreign companies.

Built in 1779 by a team of pioneering industrialists, the Iron Bridge was made possible through advances in iron smelting that took place in the century before. Casting such large parts was complicated and required skills developed over generations.

The man responsible for the design of the Iron Bridge was a Shrewsbury architect called Thomas Farnolls Pritchard. But Pritchard was an architect and stonemason by training and it is thought that the structure that we see today was influenced by Abraham Darby III who was experienced in working with iron.