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Telford Leasing

Did You Know?

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. The most important landmark in the area is The Wrekin hill.

Telford was originally designated as Dawley, changing its name to Telford (with an increase in designated area) in 1968. As well as accommodating overspill from congested existing urban centres, it was intended to regenerate the waning East Shropshire coalfield area.

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.

Telford is an Old English place-name which derives from the elements "taelf", meaning "a plateau" and "forda", meaning "a shallow river crossing". There are several places named in the 1086 Domesday Book, the usual spelling being "Tejleford" of "Tevellsford" in Somerset, Warwickshire and Berkshire.

Consequently, from the later 1970s, Telford began to attract high-technology firms and to diversify its industry, and the promotion of the Service industry began to prosper, in the Town Centre area.

The 1969 hit film ‘The Italian Job’ features a legendary car chase that took place, partly, in Coventry. The iconic scene involves three patriotically coloured Minis driving through huge sewer pipes in an attempt to escape. These same pipes can be found at Stoke Aldermoor

A new town is formed in 1960s and 1970s by merging the smaller towns along with the agricultural and industrial lands. Towns of Wellington, Oakengates, Madeley and Dawley were included to create the new town of Telford along with other settlements.

Telford has attracted several large IT services companies, including EDS who support the MOD contract from the Euston Park site, as well as a vast array of clients across the world from the Plaza building.

The Queen became a familiar figure in Shropshire and Mid Wales in the 1980s, visiting the region on no fewer than four occasions. Indeed, she visited Telford twice in the space of just seven months as she acquainted herself with the fast-growing new town.