Oakengates
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Oakengates is a town in the borough of Telford and Wrekin and ceremonial county of Shropshire, England, and now forms part of the new town of Telford. The parish's population was recorded as 8,517 in the 2001 census.
The name has nothing to do with Oak or Gates but is derived from the Ancient Roman name for the valley which was Usc-con and from the medieval word 'gait' meaning boundary. So Usc-con gait is at the boundary of the vale of Usc-con. A history of Oakengates was written by local historian Reverend Cartlidge whose name is commemorated in the name of the retirement home Cartlidge House.
The Shrewsbury to Wolverhampton railway line runs past the town and there is a station and a tunnel (Oakengates Tunnel).
In the late 18th century the Ketley Canal was constructed to carry coal and ironstone from Oakengates to Ketley works. The canal has long since fallen into disuse and little trace of it can be found today.
Oakengates has Telford's main theatre. Nearby are the town council's headquarters and the United Reformed/Methodist church.
Before the formation of the District of The Wrekin (Telford) and later the Borough of Telford and The Wrekin, the Urban District of Oakengates comprised Oakengates, Wrockwardine Wood, St. George's, Priorslee, Snedshill, The Nabb, Wombridge & Trench, and always had a Labour council.
| Unitary authorities: | Telford and Wrekin |
| Boroughs/Districts: | Bridgnorth • North Shropshire • Oswestry • Shrewsbury and Atcham • South Shropshire |
| Cities/Towns: | Bishop's Castle • Bridgnorth • Broseley • Church Stretton • Cleobury Mortimer • Clun • Craven Arms • Dawley • Ellesmere • Ludlow • Madeley • Market Drayton • Much Wenlock • Newport • Oakengates • Oswestry • Shifnal • Shrewsbury • Telford • Wellington • Wem • Whitchurch See also: List of civil parishes in Shropshire |
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