Much Wenlock Museum

About the museum

Much Wenlock Museum is run by Shropshire Museums and occupies the Memorial Hall on The Square, a building that once served as a cinema. The museum shares the premises with the town’s Visitor Information Centre, and the building is rented from the town council.

In 2011 a grant of more than £500,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund paid for a refurbishment and new displays, during which the museum was closed to visitors. The cinema past of the hall became one of the themes of the new exhibition.

The displays follow the story of the town and its surroundings. They include the geology of Wenlock Edge, a limestone ridge that gave its name to a period of the Silurian, and the archive of Dr William Penny Brookes, who founded the Wenlock Olympian Society and held the first Wenlock Olympian Games in 1850. His work is linked to the later founding of the modern Olympic movement.

Highlights

• Archive and displays on Dr William Penny Brookes and the Wenlock Olympian Games
• Geology of Wenlock Edge, including fossil collections
• Local history of Much Wenlock and its surroundings
• Exhibits with audio clips, touchable elements and interactive features
• Free entry with a Visitor Information Centre in the same building

Permanent exhibitions

• Wenlock Olympian Games and Dr William Penny Brookes – Displays and archive material on the Wenlock Olympian Games and the doctor who founded them in 1850, linking the town to the modern Olympic movement.
• Geology of Wenlock Edge – Fossils and rock displays explaining the limestone ridge of Wenlock Edge and its place in the Silurian period.

Founded

1975

Operated by

Shropshire Museums (Shropshire Council)

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Entry is free. Donations are welcome and support the care and display of the collection; the museum gives £10 as a typical donation.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Entry is by a ramp from pavement level, and the reception and exhibition spaces have hard, level flooring on one floor. Seating is provided throughout and circulation areas are well lit. Exhibits include audio clips, touchable elements and interactive features, and a mobile trolley with display information and handling objects is available on request. A virtual tour is available online.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

Regular story time sessions for pre-school children; exhibits include touchable and interactive features.

Getting there & parking

The museum is on The Square in the historic centre of Much Wenlock and can be reached on foot through the town following the signs.

Amenities & dining

• Café: not available
• Museum shop

There is a shop and a Visitor Information Centre in the building but no cafe; food and drink are available at nearby cafes and restaurants.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit