View source for Telford

{{Short description|Town in Shropshire, England}}
{{About|the town in Shropshire|its namesake, the engineer|Thomas Telford|other uses|}}
{{More citations needed|date=May 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country = England
| coordinates = {{Coord|52.6766|-2.4469|type:city()_region:GB-SHR|display=inline,title}}
| official_name = Telford
| population = 155,570
| population_ref = (2021 Census)<ref name="bua2011">{{cite web |title=Telford |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/uk/cities/?cityid=7285 |website=City population |access-date=25 October 2022}}</ref>
| unitary_england = [[Telford and Wrekin]]
| lieutenancy_england = [[Shropshire]]
| region = West Midlands
| constituency_westminster = [[Telford (UK Parliament constituency)|Telford]]
| constituency_westminster1 = [[The Wrekin (UK Parliament constituency)|The Wrekin]]
| post_town = TELFORD
| postcode_district = TF1–5, TF7
| postcode_area = TF
| dial_code = 01952
| os_grid_reference = SJ698088
| london_distance = {{convert|140|mi|km|abbr=on}}&nbsp;[[Boxing the compass|SE]]
| static_image_name = {{multiple images
|perrow=1 2 2 1|total_width=250px|align=center|border=infobox
| image1 = Telford Townscape 2 - geograph.org.uk - 1230065.jpg
| image2 = Southwater Lake (geograph 4551580).jpg
| image3 = Town Park Fish.JPG
| image4 = Telford Centre 2019.jpg
| image5 = Lawn Central, Telford - geograph.org.uk - 3321767.jpg
| image6 = Thomas Telford sculpture - geograph.org.uk - 288733.jpg
}} 
| static_image_caption = From top, left to right: Telford centre's skyline, Southwater, Town Park, [[Telford Shopping Centre|Telford Centre]], Lawn Central and [[Thomas Telford]] Sculpture
 | parts_type               = Areas of the town
 | p1                       = [[Brookside, Telford|Brookside]]
 | p2                       = [[Central Park (Telford)|Central Park]]
 | p3                       = [[Dawley Bank]] (Part)
 | p4                       = Hollinswood
 | p5                       = Holmer Lake
 | p6                       = Lawley Bank
 | p7                       = [[Lawley Furnaces]]
 | p8                       = [[Lawley, Shropshire|Lawley]] (Village)
 | p9                       = [[Malinslee]] (Part)
 | p10                     = Naird Lane
 | p11                      = [[Newdale, Shropshire|Newdale]] (Village) 
 | p12                      = [[Old Park, Shropshire|Old Park]]
 | p13                      = [[Overdale, Telford|Overdale]]
 | p14                      = Stafford Park
 | p15                      = [[Stirchley, Shropshire|Stirchley]] (Village)
 | p16                      = [[Telford Shopping Centre|Telford Central]]
 | p17                      = [[Telford Town Park|Town Park]]
 | p18                      = [[The Rock, Shropshire|The Rock]]
}}
'''Telford''' ({{IPAc-en|audio=En-uk-Telford-rev-2.ogg|ˈ|t|ɛ|l|f|ər|d}}) is a town in the [[Telford and Wrekin]] [[borough status in the United Kingdom|borough]] in [[Shropshire]], England. The wider borough covers the town, its suburbs and surrounding towns and villages. The town is close to the county's eastern boundary, and near the [[River Severn]]. The notable hill near the town called [[The Wrekin]] is part of the [[Shropshire Hills]], an [[Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty]]. To the south of the town is the [[Ironbridge Gorge]], a [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]]. Places around the Ironbridge Gorge area, which were developed into the town itself, are internationally recognised as being "The Birthplace of Industry" being to a large extent constructed during the [[Industrial Revolution]] on the Shropshire Coalfield.{{citation needed|date=June 2025}} The town is the main administrative centre for [[Telford and Wrekin Council]].

The [[M54 motorway]] was completed in 1983, improving the town's road links with the [[West Midlands conurbation]], [[Wolverhampton]] is {{convert|19|mi|km}} south east and [[Birmingham]] is {{convert|28|mi}} in the same direction. In the 2011 census, the town had a population of 142,723<ref>Telford and Wrekin population estimates, 2011 {{URL|https://www.telford.gov.uk/downloads/file/3825/telford_and_wrekin_population_estimates_and_projections_2011}}</ref> while in 2017, the wider borough had an estimated population of 175,271.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.telford.gov.uk/downloads/file/7198/telford_and_wrekin_key_facts_-_december_2016|title=Telford & Wrekin Council download – Key facts sheets About my council {{!}} Facts and figures|last=Council|first=Telford & Wrekin|website=telford.gov.uk|language=en|access-date=2019-02-25}}</ref> It is the most populous settlement in Shropshire and is nearly twice the size of Shropshire's historic county town, [[Shrewsbury]], {{convert|15|mi|km}} to the west. It is near [[Staffordshire]]: [[Stafford]] is {{convert|21|mi|km}} to the east and [[Stoke-on-Trent]] is {{convert|25|mi|km}} north east from the town.

The town is polycentric, having been designated under the [[New Towns Acts]] in 1963 and 1968 and [[New towns in the United Kingdom#England|developed between the 1960s to the 1970s]]. Centred on [[Telford Shopping Centre|a shopping centre]] and [[Telford Town Park|a public park]], the new town is named after [[Thomas Telford]], a [[civil engineer]] on many road, canal and rail projects in the county.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Poulton-Smith|first1=Anthony|title=Shropshire Place Names|date=2009|publisher=The History Press|location=Stroud|isbn=978-0-7524-4889-3|page=137}}</ref> It was originally designated under the name'Dawley New Town. As well as multiple villages and Dawley, the other constituent towns are [[Coalbrookdale]], [[Dawley]], [[Madeley, Shropshire|Madeley]], [[Newport, Shropshire|Newport]], [[Oakengates]] and [[Wellington, Shropshire|Wellington]].

==History==

===Early history===
[[File: SunnycroftWellington.jpg|thumb|right|[[Sunnycroft]] near Wellington]]
Early settlement in the area was thought to be on the land that sloped up from the [[Weald Moors]] (an area north of the town centre) towards the line along which the Roman [[Watling Street]] was built. Farmland surrounded three large estates in the 10th century, namely [[Wellington, Shropshire|Wellington]], [[Wrockwardine]] and [[Lilleshall]].<ref name="hist" />

From the 13th century there was urban development in Wellington and [[Madeley, Shropshire|Madeley]], where [[Wenlock Priory]] founded a new town. Six monastic houses, founded in the 11th and 12th centuries, had large interests in the area's economic growth. They collectively acquired almost half of the area and profited from coal and ironstone mines and iron smithies on their estates.<ref name="hist">{{cite web|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=18062|title=History of Telford|work=British History Online|access-date=21 March 2008}}</ref>

The area was the site of the 1821 [[Cinderloo Uprising]], which saw 3,000 people protest against the lowering of wages for those working in the local coal industry. The protests resulted in the deaths of three striking colliers.<ref>{{cite news |title=Disturbances near Wellington |work=Salopian Journal |date=7 February 1821}}</ref>

===Modern history===
[[File:Telford Centre.jpg|thumb|Telford Town Centre looking towards Southwater]]
[[File: Telford Town Centre .jpg|thumb|Northfield Street Telford Centre]]
[[File: TelfordPlaza.JPG|thumb|right|Telford Plaza in Telford Town Centre]]

The New Town was first designated on 16 January 1963 by the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] administration as Dawley New Town, covering {{convert|9100|acre|km2}} of [[Dawley]], [[Much Wenlock|Wenlock]], [[Oakengates]], [[Wellington Rural District (Shropshire)|Wellington Rural District]] and [[Shifnal Rural District]].<ref>'' London Gazette''. 18 January 1963.</ref> Development started, guided by the Dawley New Town Development Corporation, with the first homes on the new Sutton Hill housing estate being occupied in 1967. Initial planning and design concepts for Dawley New Town were produced by the Birmingham-based [[John Madin Design Group]].

The Minister proposed an extension of {{convert|12000|acre|ha}} in 1968 (taking in the historic area of [[Ironbridge Gorge]]). The ''Dawley New Town (Designation) Amendment (Telford) Order'' was made on 29 November 1968, extending the New Town area by {{convert|10143|acre|ha}} of "land lying within the urban districts of Oakengates and Wellington and the rural districts of Shifnal and Wellington".<ref>''London Gazette''.  13 December 1963.</ref> The Order also renamed the new town Telford, after the Scottish-born civil engineer [[Thomas Telford]], who in 1787 became Surveyor of Public Works for Shropshire. Other suggested names at the time were Dawelloak and Wrekin Forest City.

Most of the infrastructure was constructed from the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s, with the major housing and commercial development occurring over three decades up to the early 1990s when the Development Corporation was wound up to be replaced by the [[Commission for New Towns]], later English Partnerships, and most of the property was handed over to the then Wrekin District Council. Telford was now 25 years old and was firmly established as one of the most important towns in the region. There is a Retail Park called [[Wrekin Retail Park]] in Wellington.

In 1983, after fierce opposition and three public enquiries,<ref>{{cite news|title=30 years on – how opening of M54 brought new dawn for Shropshire|url=http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2013/11/25/30-years-on/|access-date=29 April 2016|work=Shropshire Star|date=25 November 2013}}</ref> the [[M54 motorway]] was completed, connecting the town to the [[M6 motorway|M6]] and thence the rest of the UK's motorway network. Other major roads are the [[A5 road (Great Britain)|A5]], [[A518 road|A518]] and [[A442 road|A442]], which is commonly known as the Eastern Primary or ''EP'', and is officially branded ''Queensway''.

Many of the new town's residents were originally from the [[West Midlands (region)|West Midlands]] [[conurbation]], which includes [[Wolverhampton]], Birmingham, [[Dudley]] and [[Walsall]]. A majority of the [[Council housing|council house]] tenants in Telford were rehoused from inner-city Birmingham. The rehousing affected existing communities, who were sometimes resentful of the changes.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Archaeology, Community and Identity in an English New Town|journal=Historic Environment: Policy and Practice|year=2011|doi=10.1179/175675011X12943261434602|last1=Belford|first1=Paul|volume=2|pages=49–67}}</ref> As a result some individuals still refuse to put Telford in their address, instead using the original local name (such as Wellington or Dawley) and often citing the existence of Town Councils as support for the argument "you can't live in a town in a town", e.g. Wellington (Town) Telford (Town). The new town's residents who arrived in the 1960s and 1970s earned the unwanted nickname 'overspill' from people living in the existing towns and villages.

In 2007, a £250 million regeneration plan for the town centre was announced, which includes the pedestrianisation of the road surrounding the shopping centre and the creation of new cafés, bars and shops which would lead to 1,750 new jobs.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/shropshire/7053156.stm|title=BBC Shropshire – Redevelopment scheme unveiled|access-date=19 October 2007 | date=19 October 2007|publisher=BBC News}}</ref> The reason for the expansion is that the original 'centre' was only ever a shopping place with no real heart. As the 'centre' closed early in the evening there was no nightlife at all in the area, the only major local entertainment areas being in Oakengates and Wellington.

The first phase of the town-centre development, named Southwater, was completed in 2014.<ref name=shropshirestar-20140313>{{cite news |url=http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2014/03/13/telfords-southwater-opening-schedule-is-unveiled/ |title=Telford's Southwater opening schedule is unveiled |newspaper=Shropshire Star |date=13 March 2014 |access-date=14 December 2015}}</ref> The official opening ceremony, on 18 October 2014, included live music and fireworks. The area includes a refurbished library, various chain restaurants, [[Cineworld]] IMAX Cinema, a bowling alley/arcade and a new multi-storey car park.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.telfordshopping.co.uk/events/southwater-grand-opening |title=Southwater Grand Opening |publisher=Telford Shopping Centre |year=2014 |access-date=14 December 2015}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:TheWrekin.jpg|thumb|[[The Wrekin]] overlooks the town.]]

Telford town centre lies about {{convert|16|mi|km}} [[Boxing the compass|east/south-east]] of [[Shrewsbury]] and {{convert|20|mi|km}} [[Boxing the compass|north-west]] of [[Wolverhampton]]. The town covers 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. North and north-west Telford lie beyond the coalfield's boundary fault on [[Bunter (geology)|sandstone beds]] which, along with other [[Triassic]] formations, prevail over much of the [[North Shropshire]] plain. The town centre stands on a [[drainage divide|watershed]], with land to the south draining towards the [[River Severn]] and to the north sloping gently down towards the Weald Moors. The town is dominated by the [[Wrekin]], a large hill of 407&nbsp;m (1335&nbsp;ft),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.d1210.org/wrekin.html |title=Rotary Club of The Wrekin |publisher=D1210.org |date=31 March 2008 |access-date=28 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091106215654/http://www.d1210.org/wrekin.html |archive-date=6 November 2009 }}</ref> south-west of Wellington, straddling the border with the unitary [[Shropshire Council]] (before the latter's creation in 2009 the borough of [[Shrewsbury and Atcham]]).<ref name="hist" />

==Governance==
[[File:TelfordParishes.png|thumb|Ward map; Telford urban area highlighted in orange, within the [[Telford and Wrekin]] borough]]
{{further|List of civil parishes in Shropshire#Telford and Wrekin}}
Within the borough of [[Telford & Wrekin]], the town is entirely [[civil parish|parished]]. Telford has no single town council because of this. The town is also divided into Wards, within the [[Telford and Wrekin]] borough. These are used for electoral purposes and demographic surveys. Telford was created politically – but its attempts to make a cohesive town from the fusion of other independent towns: [[Wellington, Shropshire|Wellington]], [[Madeley, Shropshire|Madeley]], [[Hadley, Shropshire|Hadley]], [[Oakengates]], [[Dawley]], [[Ironbridge]] and [[Donnington, Telford|Donnington]] have largely been successful. Despite this, the town has much clearer divisions than in other older towns, such as nearby Shrewsbury, which have developed into one consolidated urban area over time. Some small settlements to the south such as a part of [[Ironbridge]] and [[Broseley]], while part of the Telford Urban Area, are administered by [[Shropshire Council]].

Telford is the only settlement within the [[Telford (UK Parliament constituency)|Telford parliamentary constituency]], which was held by [[Labour Party UK|Labour]] from its creation in 1997 until the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 general election]]. It was then held by [[Lucy Allan (politician)|Lucy Allen]] who stood down ahead of the [[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024 general election]] after defecting to the [[Reform UK]] party. The current MP since the election is [[Shaun Davies (politician)|Shaun Davies]] (Labour). Some suburbs, such as Wellington, are located in [[The Wrekin (UK Parliament constituency)|The Wrekin]], which also has varying support between the [[Conservative Party UK|Conservatives]] and Labour. Conservative [[Mark Pritchard (politician)|Mark Pritchard]] was reelected as the latter seat's MP in 2024, and has now held the seat continuously since 2005. Telford is administratively part of the [[West Midlands (region)|West Midlands region]].

==Demography==
{{Telford area}}
In 1963 Dawley new town was intended to take 50,000 people from the [[West Midlands conurbation]]<ref>Dept. of Econ. Affairs, The W. Midlands: a regional study (1965), 3–4, 84.</ref> and so to grow to a town of 70,000 or more. By 1968 Telford was intended to take an additional 50,000 and grow to a town of 220,000 or more by 1991. By 1983, however, Telford's population was just under 108,000, and it was generally thought that it might not reach 120,000 by the late 1980s.<ref name="hist" />

The population of Telford's built-up area was 147,980 according to the [[2011 United Kingdom census|2011 census]].<ref name=BUA>{{NOMIS2011|id=E34004622|title=Telford BUA|access-date=26 October 2020}} (includes map of the area concerned)</ref> At the 2001 census, the urban area had 138,241 people.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/census-2001-key-statistics/urban-areas-in-england-and-wales/urban-areas-in-england-and-wales-part-1.pdf | title = Key Statistics for urban areas in England and Wales: Table KS01 | publisher = [[Office for National Statistics]] | date = 2004 | accessdate = 26 October 2020 | archive-date = 15 January 2016 | archive-url = http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20160115044330/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/census-2001-key-statistics/urban-areas-in-england-and-wales/urban-areas-in-england-and-wales-part-1.pdf | url-status =dead }}</ref> The built-up area includes [[Broseley]] which lies outside the Borough of [[Telford and Wrekin]] and also includes the towns of [[Dawley]], [[Oakengates]], [[Wellington, Shropshire|Wellington]] and [[Madeley, Shropshire|Madeley]].<ref name=BUA/>

Telford has a younger than average population, and a higher rate of teenage pregnancy than the national average, as well as relatively high levels of income deprivation with 15% of residents living in low income households. In addition the level of statutorily homeless households in 2004/05 was above average for England.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.communityhealthprofiles.info/profiles/hp2007/lo_res/00GF-HP2007.pdf |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20080609153757/http://www.communityhealthprofiles.info/profiles/hp2007/lo_res/00GF%2DHP2007.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 June 2008 |title=Association of Public Health Observatories – Health Profiles |publisher=Communityhealthprofiles.info |date=11 June 2008 |access-date=28 June 2009 }}</ref> The [[Telford and Wrekin]] area is a popular commuter zone, containing some relatively rural areas in the North and West of the borough. These are popular with commuters to the [[West Midlands conurbation]], due to the good transport links provided by the [[A5 road (Great Britain)|A5]]/[[M54 motorway|M54]].

In 2011, the town was 91.9% white (88.5% White British), 4.7% Asian, 1.2% Black, 1.9% Mixed race and 0.2% other.<ref name="citypopulation.de">{{cite web|url=https://www.citypopulation.de/php/uk-england-westmidlands.php?cityid=E35001307|title=Telford (Telford and Wrekin, West Midlands, United Kingdom) – Population Statistics, Charts, Map, Location, Weather and Web Information|website=citypopulation.de}}</ref> At the same census the population of the town was 142,723 and had an area of 46.2 kilometers with the population estimated to be 147,105 in 2016.

==Economy==
{| class="wikitable" style="float:left; margin-right:20px;"
|-
!colspan="4"|Population and Employment<ref>Telford Development Strategy: 1st Monitoring Rep.-7th Monitoring Rep. (T.D.C. 1978–84); (for no. of jobs on T.D.C. estates in 1978) T.D.C. Employment in Telford 1979 (1980), 20; no. of jobs on T.D.C. estates 1979–82 supplied or confirmed from T.D.C. bd. mtg. agenda 10 November 1983 (management accts. 1983-4, physical projections, p. 12).</ref>
|-
! Date
! Population
! No. of Jobs
! % of Jobs on<br /> Ind. Estates
|-
|1968
|74,750
|35,671
|1.4
|-
|1969
|76,200
|35,710
|2.4
|-
|1970
|78,200
|35,948
|5.1
|-
|1971
|80,800
|36,191
|7.2
|-
|1972
|84,200
|36,743
|9.3
|-
|1973
|87,100
|39,861
|11.4
|-
|1974
|89,000
|40,928
|13.2
|-
|1975
|90,000
|40,986
|12.3
|-
|1976
|93,980
|42,036
|14.9
|-
|1977
|97,900
|43,637
|15.4
|-
|1978
|100,300
|44,681
|16.8
|-
|1979
|102,000
|44,247
|18.2
|-
|1980
|104,200
|42,397
|18.3
|-
|1981
|104,200
|39,414
|16.8
|-
|1982
|106,600
|38,852
|18.2
|-
|1983
|107,700
|39,037
|19.9
|}

During the economic crisis of the late 1960s (with unemployment doubling nationally during the second half of the decade), unemployment in the then-new town was initially high.

However, in 1967 Halesfield Industrial Estate was founded on the south-eastern edge of the town – the first real answer to Telford's unemployment problems. Other large estates followed, in 1973 with Stafford Park just east of the [[Telford Town Centre|town centre]] and in 1979 with Hortonwood, to the north, helping ease the unemployment crisis in a decade which saw an almost unbroken rise in unemployment.

In total, half a million square metres of factory space were provided between 1968 and 1983, making Telford an attractive investment area.<ref>Private inf.; Thomas, 'Telford', 36-7; Fenter, 'Bldg. Development in Telford'; Reps. of Dev. Corporations 31 March 1969, H.C. 398, pp. 469–70 (1968–69), xliii; 31 March 1983, H.C. 81, p. 317 (1982–83); Town Planning Rev. xliii. 360 n. 52.</ref>

By 1976, Telford had begun to recruit industry from the US, 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.<ref>The Times, 24 November 1983 (p. 22).</ref> In contrast to industry in the [[Black Country]] at the time, these new companies focused on high-technology industries rather than the heavy and metal-finishing industries.<ref>Reps. of Dev. Corporations 31 March 1983, 309.</ref>

The new arrivals included the American company [[Unimation]] and three firms from Japan: [[Nikon]] UK Ltd., which opened a warehouse at Halesfield in 1983;<ref>T.D.C. Telford Ind. Dir. [c. 1979], 28.</ref> video-tape manufacturers [[Hitachi Maxell]] at Apley Castle in 1983;<ref>	 Shropshire Star, 12 November 1983 (p. 3).</ref> and office equipment manufacturers [[Ricoh]], who took a {{convert|22|acre|m2|adj=on}} site for a factory at [[Priorslee]] next to the [[M54 motorway|M54]], and formed the first in Telford's new enterprise zone.<ref>Shropshire Star, 24 October 1983 (pp. 1, 6)</ref><ref>Shropshire Star, 16 November 1982; 2 December 1983 (p. 16)</ref>

Consequently, from the later 1970s, Telford began to attract high-technology firms and to diversify its industry, and the promotion of the Service industry also began to prosper, in the [[Telford Town Centre]] area. However, a deepening national recession meant that, despite the creation of new jobs, there were net job losses from 1979. Unemployment grew from 3.4 per cent in 1969 to over 8 per cent in 1972 and 22.3 per cent (almost double the national average) in 1983; long-term unemployment rose even faster. Nevertheless, the rate of increase in unemployment was slowing down by 1983 and was making some progress against national and regional trends.<ref>N. Staffs. Jnl. Field Studies, xiii. 78; Telford Development Strategy: 6th Monitoring Rep. (T.D.C. 1983), 8–12, 22–8; B. Trinder, Hist. Salop. (1983), 121; Shropshire Star, 10 March 1982.</ref>

Unemployment in Telford was still around the 20% mark – nearly double the national average at the time – as late as 1986. The [[Lawson Boom]] of the next three years saw that figure fall dramatically by the end of the decade, only for it to rise to a similarly high figure again by 1992 as a result of the [[early 1990s recession]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://oneplace.audit-commission.gov.uk/infobyarea/region/area/areaassessment/pages/default.aspx?region=55&area=410 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101217175014/http://oneplace.audit-commission.gov.uk/infobyarea/region/area/areaassessment/pages/default.aspx?region=55&area=410 |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 December 2010 |title=Oneplace homepage |publisher=Oneplace.audit-commission.gov.uk |date=20 January 2013 |access-date=29 May 2013 }}</ref> In recent years the local economy has matured, the median gross weekly earnings for full-time workers who work in Telford and Wrekin was £563 in 2019 (West Midlands £552.50 and England £591.40).

[[File:Southwater Phase 1 - new developments at Telford Town Centre (geograph 4236071).jpg|thumb|The 2014 Southwater development just south of the shopping centre]]
Telford has attracted several large IT services companies, including [[Electronic Data Systems|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. Also [[Capgemini]] and [[Fujitsu]] employ a significant number of staff in the area, mainly supporting their [[British Government|governmental]] client, [[HM Revenue & Customs|HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)]]. The expansion in these job sectors provided a great asset to Telford's economic recovery after 1992. By August 2007, the success story of Telford's economy had seen unemployment shrink to 3.3% – a fraction of its peak 15 years earlier.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www3.shropshire-cc.gov.uk/roots/packages/tra/tra_y07.htm |title=Shropshire Routes to Roots &#124; Transport and communication &#124; From trackways to motorways |publisher=.shropshire-cc.gov.uk |date=1 August 2007 |access-date=29 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080925200430/http://www3.shropshire-cc.gov.uk/roots/packages/tra/tra_y07.htm |archive-date=25 September 2008 }}</ref>

However, the [[Late 2000s recession|subsequent recession]] meant that unemployment in the area had risen to 5% by February 2011, although this was still well below the national average.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10604117 | publisher=BBC News | title=Economy tracker | date=17 August 2011}}</ref>

The ''[[Shropshire Star]]'' evening newspaper was based in Ketley.<ref name=":0">{{cite news|title='We love Telford!' Town bites back at gipsies and pickpockets train remark|url=http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2014/03/18/we-love-telford-town-bites-back-at-gipsies-and-pickpockets-train-remark/|access-date=28 July 2016|work=Shropshire Star|date=28 July 2016}}</ref> There is a free local paper the ''Telford Journal'' which is also published by the Shropshire Star. However, the building was demolished in 2023, and moved to Telford Town Centre.

There have been job losses, with the movement of 500 [[Defence Logistics Organisation]] (DLO) jobs at the MoD base at [[Sapphire House]], Telford town centre, to [[Bristol]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2006/09/30/mps-fight-vow-on-dlo/|title=MP's fight vow on DLO|website=shropshirestar.com|language=en|access-date=2020-02-14}}</ref><!-- Spelling of "Sapphire House" is as per Borough of T&W website (www.telford.gov.uk), although a few sources give "Saphire House" – can any Telford residents confirm beyond doubt? --> The sugar beet factory at [[British Sugar#Change|Allscott]] closed in 2007.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/england/5145582.stm|title=Two sugar plants set to be closed|work=[[BBC News]]|date=4 July 2006|access-date=4 May 2012}}</ref>

In 2019 a joint venture called [[Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land]] installed itself in Telford, not far from [[Babcock DSG]]. Together they are responsible for the [[Challenger 2#Upgrades|Challenger 2 Life Extension Project]].<ref name="battles">{{cite news |title=RBSL AND WFEL GIVE UPBEAT BRIEFS ON BOXER AND CHALLENGER 2 LEP BY JULIAN NETTLEFOLD |url=https://battle-updates.com/rbsl-and-wfel-give-upbeat-briefs-on-boxer-and-challenger-2-lep-by-julian-nettlefold/ |publisher=BATTLESPACE Publications |date=23 October 2020}}</ref>

==Suburbs==
===South of M54 motorway===
[[Aqueduct, Shropshire|Aqueduct]], [[Brookside, Telford|Brookside]], [[Dawley Bank]], [[Doseley]], [[Hollinswood and Randlay|Hollinswood]], Heath Hill, [[Horsehay]], [[Lawley, Shropshire|Lawley]], Lawley Bank, [[Lightmoor]], [[Dawley Hamlets|Little Dawley]], [[Malinslee]], [[Newdale, Shropshire|Newdale]], Old Park, [[Overdale, Telford|Overdale]], [[Hollinswood and Randlay|Randlay]], [[Stirchley, Shropshire|Stirchley]], Sutton Hill, The Rock, Tweedale, [[Woodside, Telford|Woodside]].

===North of M54 motorway===
Arleston, [[Donnington, Telford|Donnington]], [[Donnington Wood]], [[Hadley, Shropshire|Hadley]], Hartshill, Haybridge, [[Ketley]], Ketley Bank, Ketleybrook, Ketleyhill, [[Leegomery]], [[Muxton]], [[Priorslee]], Red Lake, [[Snedshill]], [[St George's, Shropshire|St Georges]], [[Trench, Telford|Trench]], Trench Lock, [[Wombridge]], [[Wrockwardine Wood]].

===Surrounding subtowns and villages===
Surrounding subtowns and villages include [[Blists Hill]], [[Coalbrookdale]], [[Coalport]], [[Dawley]], [[Ironbridge]], [[Jackfield]], [[Madeley, Shropshire|Madeley]], [[Newport, Shropshire|Newport]], [[Oakengates]], [[Wellington, Shropshire|Wellington]], [[Admaston, Shropshire|Admaston]], [[Bratton, Shropshire|Bratton]], [[Dothill]] and [[Shawbirch]].

===Industrial areas===
Hadley Castle, Halesfield, Hortonwood, Stafford Park

==Landmarks==
[[File:ThomasTelfordstatue.jpg|thumb|[[Thomas Telford]] statue in the town centre, by the Law Courts]]

The commercial centre of the town is Telford Town Centre, located off Junction 5 of the [[M54 motorway]], completed in the 1980s. It is home to the administrative headquarters of Telford & Wrekin Council, which are now based at Addenbrook House on Ironmasters Way, after moving from the old Civic Offices (dating from the mid-1970s) in December 2012.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2013/05/20/bulldozers-reducing-telford-wrekin-council-offices-to-rubble/|title=Bulldozers reducing Telford & Wrekin Council offices to rubble|date=20 May 2013|newspaper=Shropshire Star|access-date=8 February 2021}}</ref> The large Telford Shopping Centre (and the accompanying [[Telford Town Park|Town Park]]), various office blocks, such as the blue office towers (''Telford Plaza''), and the ''Windsor Life'' building. ''The Forge'' retail park and a large [[Odeon Cinemas|Odeon Cinema]] are also located in the area. Telford also houses one of the Midlands' few ice skating rinks near the Telford International Centre (TIC). The TIC comprises a number of exhibition halls and event spaces. It holds parties, conferences, concerts and was formerly the venue of the UK Snooker Championship.<ref>[https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2011/04/26/telford-loses-uk-snooker-championship/] Telford Loses UK Snooker Championship</ref>

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. There is also the [[Lilleshall Monument]] erected on Lilleshall Hill to the north-east, to the [[George Leveson-Gower, 1st Duke of Sutherland|1st Duke of Sutherland]].

==Education==
{{See also|List of schools in Telford and Wrekin}}

Telford has a number of primary and secondary schools. These range from academies such as the [[The Telford Langley School|Telford Langley School]] to [[City Technology College]]s like the [[Thomas Telford School]]. {{convert|8|mi|km}} to the north are [[Adams' Grammar School]] and [[Newport Girls High School]] selective schools located in nearby [[Newport, Shropshire|Newport]].<ref>[http://www.adamsgs.org.uk/public/publicWrapper.php?t=5&p=directions_to_adams_grammar_school] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415190247/http://www.adamsgs.org.uk/public/publicWrapper.php?t=5&p=directions_to_adams_grammar_school|date=15 April 2009}}</ref><ref>[http://www.newporthigh.wrekin.sch.uk/newporthigh/directions.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915153634/http://www.newporthigh.wrekin.sch.uk/newporthigh/directions.html|date=15 September 2008}}</ref> [[Wrekin College]], an independent co-educational boarding and day school, is located in the Wellington area of Telford.

Further education was handled by [[Telford College of Arts and Technology]] (TCAT) and [[New College, Telford|Telford New College]], a sixth-form college located in [[Wellington, Shropshire|Wellington]]. In September 2017 the two colleges merged to form [[Telford College]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Growcott|first=Matthew|title=Telford College reveals new branding as merger gets closer|url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/education/2017/08/21/telford-college-reveals-new-branding-as-merger-gets-closer/|access-date=2021-05-04|website=shropshirestar.com|language=en}}</ref> There are four other [[sixth form]]s located at [[Haberdashers' Abraham Darby]], [[Holy Trinity Academy, Telford|Holy Trinity Academy]], [[Madeley Academy]] and [[Thomas Telford School]].

Telford is home to [[Harper Adams University]] digital skills hub, based at The Quad. Specialising in food, animal and sustainable education, the university's main campus is also located 9.5 miles to the northeast at [[Edgmond]], near Newport.

==Media==
Local news and television programmes are provided by [[BBC West Midlands]] and [[ITV Central]]. Television signals are received from the nearby [[The Wrekin transmitting station|Wrekin]] TV transmitter situated south east of Telford.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ukfree.tv/transmitters/tv/The_Wrekin|title=Full Freeview on the The[sic] Wrekin (Telford and Wrekin, England) transmitter|date=1 May 2004|website=UK Free TV|access-date=16 February 2024}}</ref> Local radio stations are [[BBC Radio Shropshire]], [[Hits Radio Black Country & Shropshire]], [[Greatest Hits Radio Black Country & Shropshire]] and [[Capital North West & Wales]]. The [[Shropshire Star]] is the town's local weekly newspaper.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/ |title=Shropshire Star |access-date=25 September 2023}}</ref>

==Transport==
[[File:M54Motorway1.jpg|thumb|The M54 shown here near Junction 5 for Telford Centre, which is visible in the background to the left]]

Telford is situated at the terminus of the [[M54 motorway]], a spur of the [[M6 motorway|M6]] linking the town with [[Wolverhampton]] and the [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]], and on the [[A5 road (Great Britain)|A5 road]] between [[Shrewsbury]] and [[Cannock]].

[[Telford Central railway station]] is situated on the [[Shrewsbury to Wolverhampton Line]]. The town also has [[Oakengates railway station]] and [[Wellington railway station (Shropshire)|Wellington railway station]] on the same line. All three stations are serviced by trains from [[Transport for Wales Rail]] and [[West Midlands Trains|West Midlands Railway]].

In May 1998, [[Virgin Trains West Coast]] introduced a service from [[Shrewsbury railway station|Shrewsbury]] to [[Euston railway station|London Euston]].<ref>New Virgin through services launched with fresh nameplate design ''[[The Railway Magazine]]'' issue 1168 August 1998 page 53</ref> It was withdrawn in 2000. A service to [[Walsall railway station|Walsall]] was introduced from Wellington via [[Wolverhampton railway station|Wolverhampton]] but proved to be unprofitable and was withdrawn by [[London Midland]] in December 2008. A new service from [[Wrexham General railway station|Wrexham General]] to [[Marylebone railway station|London Marylebone]] was launched by [[Wrexham & Shropshire]] in 2008. The venture however proved unprofitable and ceased to operate on 28 January 2011,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wrexhamandshropshire.co.uk/ |title=Thesis Vanilla &#124; Base Theme for Sites |publisher=Wrexhamandshropshire.co.uk |date=18 January 2012 |access-date=29 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110210163131/http://www.wrexhamandshropshire.co.uk/ |archive-date=10 February 2011 }}</ref> leaving Shropshire as the only English county without a direct train link to London. Virgin Trains re-launched a direct Shrewsbury to London Euston service in December 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/shropshire/content/articles/2006/02/02/new_rail_link_feature.shtml|title=New rail link between Shropshire and London|publisher=BBC}}</ref> In addition, there are three further stations isolated from the national network, Spring Village, Lawley and Horsehay & Dawley, at [[Telford Steam Railway]], situated at [[Horsehay]].

Telford's rapidly growing population still has a relatively low car ownership. In 2004 Telford & Wrekin council was awarded 'Beacon Status' for improving access to public transport.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dft.gov.uk/press/speechesstatements/speeches/betterlocalpublictransport |title=Department for Transport – Better local public transport |publisher=Dft.gov.uk |date=14 July 2004 |access-date=28 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081122084153/http://www.dft.gov.uk/press/speechesstatements/speeches/betterlocalpublictransport |archive-date=22 November 2008 }}</ref> Being a new town with a planned transport infrastructure, the town features relatively few traffic problems, in comparison to the urban areas of [[Birmingham]] or medieval streets of [[Shrewsbury]].<ref>{{cite web|author=<!--lead container name-->The road ahead |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/shropshire/content/articles/2007/07/04/paying_for_shropshire_roads_feature.shtml |title=Shropshire – Travel – The road ahead |publisher=BBC |access-date=28 June 2009}}</ref> The M54 reduces through-traffic on local roads, and the [[A442 road|A442]] Queensway acts as a north–south artery road.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=http://www.iht.org/motorway/m54telford.htm|title=M54, The Telford Motorway|work=The Motorway Archive|access-date=18 April 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081009035758/http://www.iht.org/motorway/m54telford.htm|archive-date=9 October 2008}}</ref>

The majority of bus services in the area are operated by [[Arriva Midlands]] from its garage at Stafford Park, which replaced the original Midland Red garage in Wellington. Banga Bus operate service 891 to [[Wolverhampton]] via [[Shifnal]] and [[Tettenhall]], replacing the original service operated by [[Midland Red]] which was latterly operated by [[Arriva Midlands]]. Between 1 June 2021 and January 2022, [[D&G Bus|Chaserider]] launched service X14 to Cannock and the [[McArthur Glen]]n [["West Midlands Designer Outlet"|West Midlands Designer Outlet.]]<ref>{{cite web|date=1 April 2021|title=Chaserider X14 Timetable beginning 1st June 2021|url=http://www.chaserider.co.uk/assets/ckx14_2021-06-01.pdf|website=Chaserider}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Plan Your Visit|url=https://www.mcarthurglen.com/en/outlets/uk/designer-outlet-west-midlands/plan-your-visit/|access-date=2021-07-06|website=mcarthurglen.com|language=en}}</ref> but was withdrawn due to low usage.

A number of council contract services operate under the 'Travel Telford' brand, including [[Arriva Midlands]] service 99, [[Chaserider]] services 100, 102, 103 and 104 and Select Bus service 101. These were introduced to link local employment opportunities, schools and villages previously without bus services. Notably the 100 (nicknamed 'Express 100') runs seven days a week and on evenings.

==Notable people==
=== Public service ===
[[File:William Ball.jpg|thumb|140px|A lithographic print of [[William Ball (Shropshire Giant)|William Ball]] ]]
[[File:Charles Allix Lavington Yate VC.jpg|thumb|140px|[[Charles Allix Lavington Yate]] VC, 1914]]
* [[William Forester (1655–1718)|William Forester]] (1655–1718), [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]] politician who accompanied [[William III of England|King William III]] to England at the beginning of the [[Glorious Revolution]]. Was born and lived in Wellington.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.histparl.ac.uk/volume/1690-1715/member/forester-sir-william-1655-1718|title=FORESTER, Sir William (1655-1718), of Dothill Park, nr. Wellington, Salop. {{!}} History of Parliament Online|website=histparl.ac.uk|access-date=2020-04-14}}</ref>
* [[Samuel Peploe (bishop)|Samuel Peploe]] (1667–1752), [[Bishop of Chester]] between 1726 and 1752, was baptized in Dawley.
* [[Sir George Downing, 3rd Baronet]] (1685–1749), [[Whigs (British political party)|Whig]] politician, founded [[Downing College, Cambridge]], was brought up at [[Dothill]].<ref>{{Cite book |editor-last=Mosley |editor-first=Charles |title=Burke's peerage, baronetage and knightage|date=2003|publisher=Burke's Peerage & Gentry|isbn=0-9711966-2-1|edition=107th|location=Stokesley|oclc=52621466}}</ref>
* [[Richard Padmore]] (1789 in Wellington – 1881), [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]] politician and industrialist
* [[William Ball (Shropshire Giant)|William Ball]] (1795 in Horsehay – 1852), an [[iron puddler]] believed to be the heaviest man in England while he was alive. Weighing approximately 40 stone, Ball was exhibited around the country as the "largest man in Britain".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dawleyheritage.co.uk/people/44/william-ball|title=William Ball|website=dawleyheritage.co.uk|access-date=2020-04-14}}</ref> 
* Major [[Charles Allix Lavington Yate]] (1872–1914), Army officer, recipient of the [[Victoria Cross]] for action in [[World War I|WW1]], grew up in Madeley
* Sir [[Joseph Simpson (police officer)|Joseph Simpson]] (1909 in Dawley – 1968), [[Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis]], from 1958 to 1968<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dawleyheritage.co.uk/unpublished-articles/352/biography-of-sir-joseph-simpson-kbe-kpm|title=Biography of Sir Joseph Simpson, KBE., KPM : Dawley Heritage|website=dawleyheritage.co.uk|access-date=2020-04-14}}</ref>
* [[Len Murray]] (1922 in Hadley – 2004), [[General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress]] 1973 to 1984.
* [[Jeremy Corbyn]] (born 1949), [[Leader of the Labour Party (UK)|Leader of the Labour Party]], 2015/2020, grew up at [[Pave Lane]] and educated at [[Haberdashers' Adams|Adams Grammar School]], 
* Professor [[Stephen Molyneux]] (born 1955), English educational technologist and Mayor of [[Oakengates]] between 2003 and 2007, resided in Telford between 1991 and 2018.<ref>{{cite news|title=Magistrate resigns in Twitter row|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/shropshire/8018471.stm|access-date=29 July 2016|publisher=BBC News|date=25 April 2009}}</ref>
* [[David Wright (politician)|David Wright]] (born 1966 in Oakengates), Member of Parliament for Telford between 2001 and 2015
* [[Kim Hughes (GC)|Kim Hughes]] (born 1979), a British Army bomb disposal expert, particularly in the Afghanistan conflict, went to [[Thomas Telford School]].

=== Acting & writing ===
[[File:Ellis Peters.jpg|thumb|140px|[[Edith Pargeter]] aka Ellis Peters, 1995]]
* [[Hesba Stretton]] (1832 in Wellington – 1911) an English writer of children's books<ref>{{Cite book|last=Dickins, Gordon.|title=An illustrated literary guide to Shropshire|date=1987|publisher=Shropshire Libraries|others=Dickins, Gordon.|isbn=0-903802-37-6|edition=2nd|location=Shrewsbury|oclc=60048879}}</ref>
*[[Wyke Bayliss]] (1835 in Madeley – 1906) a British poet, author, and painter
* [[S. Parkes Cadman|Samuel Parkes Cadman]] (1864 in Ketley – 1936), American clergyman, newspaper writer, and pioneer [[Christian radio]] broadcaster of the 1920s and 1930s based in [[New York City|New York]]
*[[Edith Pargeter]] (1913 in Horsehay – 1995 in Madeley) nom de plume ''Ellis Peters'', was an English author especially of history and historical fiction
* [[Norman Jones (actor)|Norman Jones]] (1932 in Donnington – 2013) an English actor,<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0428949/  IMDb Database] retrieved 7 July 2018</ref> primarily on TV.
* [[Stewart Lee]] (born 1968 in Wellington) an English stand-up comedian, writer and director<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hanning|first1=James|title=Stewart Lee: Beware – this man may be only joking|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/comedy/features/stewart-lee-beware-this-man-may-be-only-joking-9179085.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220526/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/comedy/features/stewart-lee-beware-this-man-may-be-only-joking-9179085.html |archive-date=26 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=29 July 2016|work=The Independent|date=9 March 2014}}</ref>
* [[Paul Blackthorne]] (born 1969 in Wellington) actor, plays Detective Lance in the DC TV series [[Arrow (TV series)|Arrow]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Paul Blackthorne Celebrity|url=http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/paul-blackthorne/169288/|website=TV Guide|access-date=29 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160729182622/https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/paul-blackthorne/169288/|archive-date=29 July 2016}}</ref>
*[[Anna Richardson]] (born 1970 in Wellington) is an English television presenter, writer and journalist.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/entertainment/2016/07/30/naked-attraction-shropshire-born-presenter-anna-richardson-defends-dating-show/|title=Naked Attraction: Shropshire-born presenter Anna Richardson defends controversial dating show|website=shropshirestar.com|language=en|access-date=2020-04-14}}</ref>
* [[Christian Brassington]] (born 1983 in Wellington) a film and television actor.<ref>{{cite web|title=Christian Barrington – Biography|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1982359/bio|publisher=IMDb|access-date=28 July 2016}}</ref>

=== Music ===
[[File:Henry J. Gauntlett.jpeg|thumb|140px|[[Henry Gauntlett]] ]]
* [[Henry Gauntlett]] (1805 in Wellington – 1876), an English organist and hymnwriter.<ref>{{cite DNB|wstitle=Gauntlett, Henry John|volume=21|pages=74-76|short=1}}</ref>
* [[Nigel Rogers]] (1935 in Wellington – 2022), an English opera singer, [[Multilingualism|multilingual]] [[tenor]] and [[Conducting|music conductor]]
* [[Raymond Froggatt]] (1941–2023), an English songwriter and singer, lived in Telford
* [[Steve Beresford]] (born 1950 in Wellington), an English musician
* [[Stephen Jones (Babybird)|Stephen Jones]] (born 1962), an English musician and novelist who fronted Indie Band ''[[Babybird]]''
* [[T'Pau (band)|T'Pau]] (formed 1986), a British pop group whose members are from Wellington and Shrewsbury.<ref>{{cite web|title=My Shropshire Life – Carol Decker|url=http://www.shropshirelifemagazine.co.uk/people/my_shropshire_life_carol_decker_1_1647966|website=Shropshire Life|access-date=28 July 2016|date=3 November 2011}}</ref> 
* [[Cancer (band)|Cancer]] (formed in 1988), a [[death metal]] band from [[Ironbridge]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Cancer Biography|url=http://www.tothegoryend.co.uk/biography|via=Wayback Machine|access-date=28 July 2016|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051108101728/http://www.tothegoryend.co.uk/biography|archive-date=8 November 2005}}</ref>
* [[The Sunshine Underground]] (years active 2000–2016), an alternative dance band, originally from Telford and Shrewsbury, formed while studying at [[New College Telford]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Interview: The Sunshine Underground|url=http://nativemonster.com/music/interview-the-sunshine-underground|website=The Native Monster|access-date=28 July 2016|date=9 May 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820233250/http://nativemonster.com/music/interview-the-sunshine-underground|archive-date=20 August 2016}}</ref>
* [[Boyinaband|David Brown]] (born 1987) is a British [[YouTuber]] and musician known as ''[[Boyinaband]]''

=== Science ===
* [[William Withering]] (1741 in Wellington – 1799), an English [[Botany|botanist]], [[geologist]], [[chemist]], [[physician]], first systematic investigator of the bioactivity of [[digitalis]], and member of the [[Lunar Society of Birmingham|Lunar Society]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jameslindlibrary.org/articles/william-withering-1741-1799-a-biographical-sketch-of-a-birmingham-lunatic/|title=William Withering (1741-1799), a biographical sketch of a Birmingham Lunatic.|website=The James Lind Library|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-04-13}}</ref>
*[[Thomas Campbell Eyton]] (1809–1880) English naturalist and friend of [[Charles Darwin]]. Was born in [[Eyton upon the Weald Moors|Eyton Hall]] near Wellington.<ref name="Venn">{{acad|id=ETN827TC|name=Eyton, Thomas Campbell}}</ref>
*Dr [[Jacob Noel-Storr]] (born 1976 in Telford) English [[astrophysics]] scientist

=== Sport ===
[[File:G Richards, jockey, cigarette card.jpg|thumb|140px|[[Gordon Richards (jockey)|Gordon Richards]], 1938]]
[[File:BillyWrightStatue.jpg|thumb|140px|[[Billy Wright (footballer, born 1924)|Billy Wright]], statue outside [[Molineux Stadium]]]]
[[File:Elliott Bennett 28 March 2009.jpg|thumb|140px|Elliott Bennett, 2009]]
* [[Enoch Tranter]] (1842 in Old Park – 1910 in Donnington Wood) an English cricketer and coal miner
* [[Matthew Webb]] (1848 in Dawley – 1883) the first recorded person to swim the [[English Channel]] unaided<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.shropshiremining.org.uk/captwebb.shtml|title=Captain Matthew Webb – The History of the first man to swim the English Channel|date=2013-05-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530120803/http://www.shropshiremining.org.uk/captwebb.shtml|access-date=2020-04-14|archive-date=30 May 2013}}</ref>
* [[William Dyas]] (1872-1940), first-class cricketer, local politician and businessman, lived lifelong in Madeley.
* [[William Foulke (footballer)|William Foulke]] (1874 in Dawley – 1916) football goalkeeper, played 355 games
* [[Will Osborne (rugby)|Will Osborne]] (1875-1942 in Oakengates) Welsh [[Rugby football|rugby]] international, settled in Oakengates on retirement<ref>{{cite news|date=27 March 1942|title=Former England(sic) International – Death of W.T. Osborne, of Oakengates|work=Shrewsbury Chronicle|page=5}}</ref>
* [[Joe Butler (footballer, born 1879)|Joe Butler]] (1879 in Dawley Bank – 1941) football goalkeeper who made 513 appearances
* Sir [[Gordon Richards (jockey)|Gordon Richards]] (1904 in Donnington Wood – 1986) won a record 26 champion jockey titles, and was the only flat jockey to be knighted
* [[Ernie Clements]] (1922 in Hadley – 2006) an English road racing cyclist, frame builder and cycle shop owner
* [[Billy Wright (footballer, born 1924)|Billy Wright]] (1924 in Ironbridge – 1994) professional English footballer who played 490 games for [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]], also the first footballer to earn 100 international caps.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://shropshirehistory.com/characters/wright.htm|title=Billy Wright|website=shropshirehistory.com|access-date=2020-04-14}}</ref> 
* [[John Elliott (Jamaican boxer)|Johnny Elliot]] (1931–2015), Jamaican Olympic boxer who lived in Telford.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ex-Olympic boxing star dies at 84|url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2015/04/13/ex-olympic-boxing-star-dies-at-84/|access-date=2021-03-21|website=shropshirestar.com|language=en}}</ref> 
* [[David Ottley]] (born 1955) retired javelin thrower, silver medallist at the [[1984 Summer Olympics]]; lived in Telford <ref>{{Cite book |last=Elderwick |first=David |year=1989 |title=50 Shropshire Celebrities, Past and Present |publisher=IMPRINT |location=Newtown, Wales |page=46}}</ref>
* [[John Pender (footballer)|John Pender]] (born 1963), footballer<ref>[http://www.soccerbase.com/players/home.sd?search=John+Pender&type=playerAll SoccerBase Database]. Retrieved 7 July 2018.</ref> played 496 games, mainly for Wolves and Burnley, lives in Telford.<ref>{{cite web |title=John Pender on his battle with MND: 'I can't play with my grandchildren – but that's life, I'm getting on with it' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3028969/2021/12/30/john-pender-on-his-battle-with-mnd-i-cant-play-with-my-grandchildren-but-thats-life-im-getting-on-with-it/ |website=The Athletic |access-date=27 March 2023 |date=30 December 2021}}</ref>
* [[Mark Elliott (boxer)|Mark Elliot]] (born 1966 in Wellington) Olympic welterweight boxer
* [[Ted Hankey]] (born 1968) professional darts player, resides in Telford<ref name=":0" /> 
* [[Richie Woodhall]] (born 1968) light-middleweight boxer bronze medallist at the [[1988 Summer Olympics]], former WBC super middleweight champion, grew up in [[Woodside, Telford]].<ref>{{cite news|title=The Richie Woodhall collection: My dad taught me to fight|url=http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2015/12/11/the-richie-woodhall-collection-my-dad-taught-me-to-fight/|access-date=29 July 2016|work=Shropshire Star|date=11 December 2015}}</ref> 
* [[Rob Edwards (footballer, born 1982)|Rob Edwards]] (born 1982) former footballer, played 213 games, and 15 for [[Wales national football team|Wales]].  
* [[Ricky Balshaw]] (born 1986) para equestrian rider, competed in the Beijing 2008 [[Paralympics]]; lives in Telford<ref>{{cite news|title=Paralympic star a driving force at dealership|work=Shropshire Star|date=16 September 2016|page=35}}</ref>
* [[Tom Carlon]] (born 1987 in Telford) an English professional ice hockey player
* [[Josh Crutchley]] (born 1987) a British professional basketball player, grew up in Telford
* [[Danny Guthrie]] (born 1987) professional footballer, played 322 games <ref>[http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=45194 SoccerBase Database] retrieved 7 July 2018</ref> attended [[Thomas Telford School]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Shropshire football star's father in road rage headbutt|url=http://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2013/11/28/shropshire-football-stars-father-in-road-rage-headbutt/|access-date=29 July 2016|work=Shropshire Star|date=28 November 2013}}</ref>
* [[Elliott Bennett]] (born 1988) footballer, played over 500 games <ref>[http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=47083 SoccerBase Database] retrieved 7 July 2018</ref> grew up in Telford, plays for [[Shrewsbury Town F.C.|Shrewsbury Town]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Blackburn sign winger Elliott Bennett from Norwich City|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/jan/05/blackburn-elliott-bennett-norwich|access-date=29 July 2016|work=The Guardian|date=6 January 2016}}</ref> 
* [[Lee Collins (footballer, born 1988)|Lee Collins]] (1988 in Telford – 2021) footballer, played 408 games 
* [[Kyle Bennett (footballer)|Kyle Bennett]] (born 1990) footballer, played over 400 games,<ref>[http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=55465 SoccerBase Database] retrieved 7 July 2018</ref> plays for [[Bristol Rovers F.C.|Bristol Rovers]].
* [[Mickey Bushell]] (born 1990) is a Paralympic gold medalist, lives in Telford<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/arenatelford/|title=The Arena|website=[[Facebook]]|access-date=20 February 2017}}</ref>
* [[Kelly Edwards]] (born 1990) a British judoka from Telford.
* [[Connor Goldson]] (born 1992) footballer, played over 340 games; attended [[Thomas Telford School]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Current Professional Players|url=http://www.sscfa.co.uk/about/20-about/shropshire-s-finest-players/269-current-professional-players|website=The Shropshire schools and colleges football association|access-date=29 July 2016|archive-date=16 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190916101014/http://www.sscfa.co.uk/about/20-about/shropshire-s-finest-players/269-current-professional-players|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Liam Davies (boxer)|Liam Davies]] (born 1996 in Donnington) WBC super bantamweight boxer.
* [[Ryan Giles]] (born 2000 in St Georges) footballer, played 170 games 
* [[Penny Healey]] (born 2005 in Telford), archer<ref>{{cite web |title=Penny Healey {{!}} Team GB |url=https://www.teamgb.com/athlete/penny-healey/7wElb0NdAFpx3hUk8JXdqq |website=teamgb.com |access-date=4 August 2024 |language=en-gb}}</ref>

==Sport==
Telford is home to a variety of established amateur, semi-pro and professional sports clubs.

The town was represented by [[Telford United F.C.]] between 1969 and 2004.<ref>{{Cite web|title=History|url=https://www.telfordunited.com/the-club/history/|access-date=2021-05-25|website=AFC Telford United|language=en-US}}</ref> Following financial difficulties, the club folded in 2004 and was reformed in the same year as [[AFC Telford United]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=AFC Telford United: The club that lived on|url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2014/03/25/afc-telford-united-story-of-the-club-that-refused-to-die/|access-date=2021-05-25|website=shropshirestar.com|language=en}}</ref> Between 2004 and 2020, AFC Telford United's home ground, the [[New Bucks Head]], was used as the venue for home matches played by the under-23 team of [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-06-22|title=Club Statement: Wolverhampton Wanderers|url=https://www.telfordunited.com/news/club-statement-wolverhampton-wanderers/|access-date=2021-05-25|website=AFC Telford United|language=en-US}}</ref> AFC Telford United have won the [[Shropshire Senior Cup]] on three occasions in 2009, 2014, and 2017. They won promotion to [[Conference North]] in 2007, beating [[Witton Albion]] 3–1 in the play-offs. In 2009 they won the [[Conference League Cup|Setanta Shield Trophy]], beating [[Forest Green Rovers F.C.|Forest Green Rovers]] 3-0 on penalties.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2009-04-09|title=Setanta Shield results 2008/09|language=en-GB|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_conf/7629868.stm|access-date=2021-05-25}}</ref> AFC Telford United currently play in the national league north after winning the southern central division playoffs against Kettering townthe<ref>{{Cite news|title=AFC Telford United 1-1 Kidderminster Harriers|language=en-GB|publisher=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32097981|access-date=2021-05-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=IN PICTURES: AFC Telford relegated|url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/football/afc-telford-united/2015/04/04/breaking-news-afc-telford-relegated/|access-date=2021-05-25|website=shropshirestar.com|language=en}}</ref> Telford has a Supporters Club following Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C., organising travel to away games and hosting social functions.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Telford Wolves|url=https://worldwide.wolves.co.uk/club/telford-wolves/|access-date=2021-05-25|website=Wolverhampton Wanderers|language=en-US}}</ref> Other local non league football clubs have begun gaining local support with Shifnal Town, Allscott Heath and Telford Town all attracting significant investment in recent times.

[[Ice hockey]] in the town is represented by the [[Telford Tigers]], an [[English Premier Ice Hockey League]] (EPL or EPIHL) team originally formed in 1985.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Telford Tigers UK Ice Hockey Team based in Telford|url=https://www.telfordtigers.net/|access-date=2021-04-29|website=Telford Tigers|language=en-GB}}</ref> [[Telford Titans]], an [[English National Ice Hockey League|ENL]] Team, had represented development hockey in the town from 2008 however it folded in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Telford Titans ice hockey club forced to quit|url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2014/08/11/telford-titans-ice-hockey-club-forced-to-quit/|access-date=2021-04-29|website=shropshirestar.com|language=en}}</ref>

[[Ice racing]] first came to the Telford Ice Skating Rink in February 1986 with the Skoal Bandits Trophy being won by Hans Nielsen. In November of the same year Jan Andersson won the Ice International Trophy and retained the trophy at the next event in 1988. In 1989 the British Open Championship was held and continued every year until 2008. The competition returned in 2011 and 2012. After this time ice racing at Telford discontinued.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Telford Ice Speedway|url=https://www.telfordice.co.uk/|access-date=2021-09-13|website=telfordice.co.uk|language=en}}</ref>

[[American football]] teams in the town include [[Shropshire Revolution]], [[Wrekin Giants]] (1985–1989), [[Shropshire Giants]] (1989), and [[Cannock Chase Giants]] (1989-1993/4).

[[Telford Raiders]] are the town's [[Rugby league|Rugby League]] club, although there have been other Rugby League Clubs in Telford historically, such as the Telford All Blacks and Shropshire Scorpions.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Telford Raiders|url=http://www.telfordraiders.com/|access-date=2021-04-29|website=telfordraiders.com}}</ref> [[Telford Hornets]] represent the town at [[Rugby union|Rugby Union]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Telford Hornets RFC|url=https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/telfordhornets|access-date=2021-04-29|website=pitchero.com}}</ref>

[[Shropshire Warriors|Shropshire Warriors Basketball Club]] play at Telford College of Art and Technology (TCAT).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.shropshirewarriors.co.uk/copy-of-club-history-1|title=warriorsbasketball {{!}} INFO|website=warriorsbasketball|language=en|access-date=2019-02-25}}</ref>

The [[Telford International Centre]] hosted the [[UK Snooker Championship]] from 2007 to 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Telford to host UK Championship|url=https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/1460075.telford-to-host-uk-championship/|access-date=2021-04-29|website=York Press|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2009-06-22|title=Telford retains UK Championship|language=en-GB|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/8113462.stm|access-date=2021-04-29}}</ref> The championship moved from [[York]] in 2007 but returned to the refurbished [[York Barbican|Barbican Centre]] in York since 2011.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Telford loses UK Snooker Championship|url=https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2011/04/26/telford-loses-uk-snooker-championship/|access-date=2021-04-29|website=shropshirestar.com|language=en}}</ref>

Telford is home to four golf courses. The [[Shropshire Golf Centre]] is located near [[Muxton]], in the northeast of Telford.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Shropshire Golf Centre {{!}} Golf Club Membership {{!}} Golf Course Membership {{!}} Muxton, Shropshire {{!}} Telford|url=https://theshropshire.co.uk/|access-date=2021-05-25|website=The Shropshire}}</ref> Other courses in Telford include [[Horsehay Village Golf Club]], in Horsehay, [[The Wrekin Golf Club]], in Wellington, and [[Telford Golf and Country Club]], in Madeley.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Horsehay Village Golf Club|url=https://www.horsehayvillagegolfclub.co.uk/|access-date=2021-05-25|website=horsehayvillagegolfclub.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Home|url=https://www.wrekingolfclub.co.uk/|access-date=2021-05-25|website=Wrekin Golf|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Telford Golf Club|url=http://www.telfordgolfclub.co.uk/|access-date=2021-05-25|website=Telford Golf Club|language=en-GB}}</ref>

There are a number of cricket clubs within Telford competing in local leagues. Both [[Wellington Cricket Club]] and [[Madeley Cricket Club]] currently play in the Premier Division of the [[Shropshire County Cricket League]] whilst St. George's Cricket Club play in Division One of the Shropshire County Cricket League.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wellington Cricket Club (Shropshire)|url=https://www.wellingtoncc.co.uk/|access-date=2021-05-25|website=Wellington Cricket Club|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=First Team «|url=http://www.stgeorgescc.org.uk/teams/first-team/|access-date=2021-05-25}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Premier Division 2021|url=http://www.shropshirecricketleague.co.uk/premier-division-2021|access-date=2021-05-25|publisher=Shropshire Cricket League|language=english}}</ref> [[Shropshire County Cricket Club]] often play at [[Orleton Park]] in Wellington and [[St George's Cricket Ground]] in St. George's.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Telford}}
{{Wikivoyage}}
* [https://www.visittelford.co.uk/ Official Tourism Website for Telford & Wrekin]

{{Geographic Location
|title = Destinations from Telford
|Northwest = [[Shawbury]], [[Wem]], [[Oswestry]], [[Wellington, Shropshire|Wellington]]
|North     = [[Whitchurch, Shropshire|Whitchurch]], [[Market Drayton]]
|Northeast = [[Lilleshall]], [[Newport, Shropshire|Newport]], [[Stafford]]
|West      = [[Shrewsbury]], [[Welshpool]]
|Centre    = Telford
|East      = [[Shifnal]], [[Albrighton, Bridgnorth|Albrighton]], [[Cannock]]
|Southwest = [[Much Wenlock]], [[Church Stretton]], [[Ludlow]]
|South     = [[Broseley]], [[Bridgnorth]]
|Southeast = [[Wolverhampton]], [[Walsall]], [[Dudley]], [[West Bromwich]], [[Birmingham]]
}}
{{Shropshire}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Telford| ]]
[[Category:Planned communities established in the 1960s]]
[[Category:Planned communities in England]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1968]]
[[Category:Telford and Wrekin]]
[[Category:Towns in Shropshire]]