5. Church Walk
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Look to your right and you will see an Optician’s office and to the right a brick house with a brass plaque on it.
This is 4 Wilmore Street and was the birthplace and home of the Olympian Games founder Dr William Penny Brookes (now a private home).
The Guildhall is the stone and timber-frame building on your right. The stone part closest to you was the old jail. In the corner is a memorial stone (under the yew clipped windows) to author Mary Webb who resided at The Grange in Wenlock.
Mary Webb’s book GONE TO EARTH was made into a film. In 1949 the glitter and excitement of a big film production crew arrived in Wenlock to shoot some of the scenes. Produced by Powell & Pressburger, the film starred Jennifer Jones, David Farrar, Cyril Cusak, George Cole and many locals as extras. Locations in Wenlock included the Square, the Guildhall, the Talbot Inn and after-hour drinks at the George & Dragon Pub!
From the church archway follow the path straight ahead to the Church Walk sign.
On your right is the back of the Guildhall and to view it from the churchyard with its clipped yews encircling the windows reminds one of a chocolate box picture. Sometimes these black & white buildings were called “magpie buildings” and this one was constructed in 2 days on September 23, 24, 1577 and stands on solid oak pillars.
As you approach the Church Walk sign look to you right through the archway and you will see the High Street, the Town Square and the Memorial Clock. Have a look, but continue ahead for now!
Continue walking along Church Walk, the buildings on your right were once open market spaces, then semi-enclosed markets and finally made into individual units. Note their different building materials and widths.
Along the walk on your left is a lovely border garden, at the end a memorial garden and then you arrive at Church House, another black and white house with cobbles in the front, this was also part of the market area.