The Wrekin is the name of a number of things in the East of Shropshire, England.
All are named after
The Wrekin, a prominent elevation capped by a hill fort almost 8
hectares (80,000 mē) in size, located in East Shropshire, on the border
between Shrewsbury and Atcham and Telford and Wrekin, some 4 miles west
of Telford. This hill fort is one of the few whose original name
(Uriconion) has been preserved, and later came to identify nearby
Wroxeter. The hill is popular with walkers and tourists and offers good
views of Shropshire. It can be seen well into Staffordshire and
transmits many radio and television stations, including Radio
Shropshire on 96.0 FM.
There is also a
beacon on the main mast on the top of the hill, which emits a red pulse
of light every few seconds at night, primarily to alert low flying
aircraft. It is known locally as the "Beacon on the Wrekin".
The Wrekin was
renamed as Mount Gilbert by the Normans after a local hermit who lived
on the hill, but in time the ancient name became used again. (Mount
Gilbert is also a volcano in Alaska.)
The name The Wrekin
is also used to refer more generally to the part of East Shropshire
around the towns of Telford and Wellington, within sight of the hill.
The area is rich in geology and is one of the birthplaces of industry:
Ironbridge Gorge is just to the south of The Wrekin hill. Woodland
covers much of the hill and the area around the hill and into the
Ironbridge Gorge area too.
The unitary
authority and borough of Telford and Wrekin, formally a district of
Shropshire, was once called simply The Wrekin. The Wrekin is the
highest point in the borough.
The Wrekin is also a
United Kingdom Parliament constituency, returning an MP to Parliament
at Westminster. It is currently held by the Conservative party since
the general election of May 2005. Towns in this constituency are
Wellington, Newport and Shifnal. Telford has its own constituency,
called simply Telford.
There is a local saying to refer to a long distance: "All around the Wrekin"
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
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