The improvements to the building's collections and facilities have already begun while the museum includes the archives of William Penny Brookes, who in 1850 founded the Wenlock Olympian Society and launched the town's Olympian Games, which are considered to have provided the inspiration for the Modern Olympic Games.

Anne Jenkins, head of the Heritage Lottery Fund for the West Midlands, said: "This is an incredibly exciting time for Much Wenlock Museum.

"With the Olympics just around the corner and such a fascinating historical connection to the Games, the whole town will benefit from the investment that this project brings to the area."

The project includes new exhibitions and heritage walks which will focus on the Olympic and geological heritage of the area.

It will be completed in December this year and feature installations on Wenlock Priory and the building's former history as a cinema.

In addition to the exhibitions, a local history resource pack will be created for residents, schools and community groups.

Keith Barrow, Shropshire County Council's Leader, said: "This is an important project for Shropshire which recognises the unique influence that William Penny Brookes and the town of Much Wenlock had on the development of the modern Olympic Movement.

"We look forward to welcoming visitors from the UK and abroad in 2012 to discover the story and to enjoy the stunning landscape which so inspired Brookes and his contemporaries."

Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the Modern Olympics, visited Wenlock Olympics as a guest of Brookes and subsequently founded the modern Olympics in 1896.

The contribution of Brookes though was not forgotten and in 1994, Juan Antonio Samaranch, then President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), visited Much Wenlock and laid a wreath at Brookes' grave to pay homage to him.

The London 2012 Olympic mascot Wenlock was also named in honour of Brookes' contribution to the Olympic Games.

Meanwhile earlier this month, it was announced that the Olympic Torch would visit the town despite Shropshire being one of six counties to miss out on an overnight stop on the torch's nationwide relay.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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