a market-town, parliamentary and municipal borough of England, Shropshire, at the E. end of the Wenlock Edge Hills, 12 miles S.E. of Shrewsbury. The parliamentary and municipal borough comprises a much greater area than that of the town (which is called Much Wenlock to distinguish it from Little Wenlock in the vicinity); the former including eighteen, and the latter, which does not even contain the town, twelve parishes. The borough is governed by six aldermen and eighteen councillors, of whom one is mayor, and is represented in parliament by two members. Much Wenlock consists of two streets; and has a parish church, two chapels of ease, national schools, and several charities. The principal object of interest here is the ancient abbey in the vicinity, which was founded in the seventh century, and of which extensive and interesting ruins still remain. Pop. of the parish of Much Wenlock, 2398; of the municipal borough, 18,728; of the parliamentary borough, 20,588.