We visited a historic Shropshire mining town with enthusiastic locals and its own quirky dialect

In the heart of Telford, Dawley doesn't boast the rolling hills, gourmet cafés or quirky boutiques of many of the other Shropshire towns and villages we've visited in this series.

It's got glitzier neighbours too, with the stunning Ironbridge Gorge to the south and Telford town centre's retail and food offerings to the north.

But it has a soul all of its own - one rooted in industry, hardship, and local pride.

Dawley is one of the oldest settlements in Shropshire, having been recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. 

In the 18th and 19th centuries, Dawley was at the heart of the East Shropshire coalfield, with key players like the Darby family (Coalbrookdale Company) and the Botfields (Old Park Ironworks) establishing the town as a powerhouse of iron production. 

But by the late 19th century, coal and iron industries had collapsed, leaving Dawley impoverished, scarred by pits, slag heaps, derelict buildings and unemployment.

Hardship hung over the town for decades - until an ambitious regeneration project aimed to drag the town and its derelict industrial landscape out of the pits and help support overspill population from Birmingham. 

The transition from old to new was met with much resistance in the traditional town during the development of Dawley New Town (soon renamed Telford - a battle also fiercely fought and lost by locals). 

And visiting in 2025, it was hard not to feel like Telford did Dawley a little dirty and the critics weren't wrong to be sceptical.

Because if Dawley were anywhere else, it would be a beautiful town beloved by tourists.

Walking up the quiet High Street, I kept pointing out to the few lingering locals that I thought the street could be described as 'picturesque' - and was mostly met with smirks and scoffs.

But looking back at the photographs now, I stand by it. The town is packed with historic buildings calling out for the boutiques, cafés and bookshops found in many of its historic Shropshire town siblings.

While I'm sure the town is simply struggling against the changing tide of people's shopping patterns like many other market towns, it's hard not to wonder if it's suffered disproportionately for having the Telford Centre shopping complex on its doorstep.

Paul Wolfe, now 76, moved to the town from Cambridge around 45 years ago.

"The market used to stretch from the Elephant & Castle down to the old Lord Hill pub. There would have been 25 or 30 stalls; we're lucky if we get six now," he said.

"I think one of the main difficulties that Dawley has is the lack of variety of shops in the high street. When we moved here there was a far greater variety of shops, a little bookshop, travel agents - but it's hairdressers and takeaways now. 

"That's not unlike other disadvantaged communities up and down this country." 

I can't think of another place in the county that I've seen so many blue plaques denoting historic names and dates - it's a town that is clearly proud of its history. 

At one end of the high street is the Grade II-listed monument to Captain Webb, a locally born swimmer and stuntman who became the first person to swim the English Channel without the use of artificial aids in 1875.

"You should be taking photographs of that!" said one local, Stephen Cunningham, 48, pointing to yet another large sign teaching passersby about the history of the town. 

"I love everything about Dawley. It's got a great history, it's a really tight-knit community and it's got its own slang - 'ow bist jockey' and all that," he added. 

Like other regional dialects, the Dawley dialect is on its way out - but efforts are being made to preserve it and beloved words like "bostin'" and "bistna" can still be heard bandied about the town and nearby areas.

There's hope for this pretty Telford town yet - especially with the encouraging recent refurbishment of the Grade II-listed Elephant & Castle at the top of High Street. 

Since the pub reopened last year, it's become a favourite among locals and seen visitors flock in from all over Telford to try the local cask ales and tasty food.

"We had someone come over from Shifnal the other day, just for the pub," said bar supervisor Paige Cadman. 

Paige has been working at the pub since it reopened in September last year, but has lived in the town her entire life. 

"Everyone's so friendly, you can walk down the high street and say hello to anyone and they'll say hello back." 

While Paige didn't quite agree with me on the picturesque high street front, she did admit a lot of improvements had been made in recent years. 

Now, as a Wellington girl myself, I've watched a down-at-heel Telford town blossom due to the love and passion of its local community (and quite a bit of investment). 

So maybe, when the council's done with Oakengates, Dawley might get the love it deserves too.