Trail hails Telford

A new trail has been created that celebrates Telford, both the man and the town. The Thomas Telford Trail highlights 24 bridges, roads, canals and buildings in which Telford was involved during his time as county engineer.

The route includes famous and lesser known features and is the brainchild of members of the Shrewsbury and Newport Canals Trust. It is partly funded by Telford and Wrekin Council as part of the Telford 50 celebrations and is being supported by leaflets that allow people to take the journey for themselves. It features 13 landmarks including Wappenshall Junction, Hadley Park Locks, and St Leonard’s Church in Malinslee, which was the last of three churches Telford built in the area. Other locations include Shrewsbury Prison, Bridgnorth Bridge, Montford Bridge and Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.

SNCT chair Bernie Jones says, “To be able to do this in Telford’s 50th anniversary year pays tribute to his accomplishments but also sheds some light on some of his lesser known projects.”

Councillor Rae Evans adds, “We hope many people will want to use this trail to discover the beautiful landscapes in and around our borough and its rich industrial history – and to understand the influence Thomas Telford had here.”

Find the trail at telford50.co.uk/legacy/thomastelfordtrail or pick up a leaflet at Southwater or Wellington Libraries or Oakengates Theatre.