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The square, between The Quad digital skills hub and the Telford 6^th sixth form centre, is almost complete as the transformation of Station Quarter in Telford Town Centre continues.

Now the Council, which has helped to fund the multi-million pound Station Quarter development, wants to remember Telford’s industrial past as well as look forward to the future with a new name for the square which sits adjacent to Ironmasters Way.

The Council is calling on residents to choose their favourite figure from a list of historically important women who played a key role in Telford during the industrial revolution so the space, which links this area of Station Quarter, can be named after them.

The names of the women are:

• Sarah Darby: Sarah along with her sister Mary Rathbone and their sisters-in-law Rebecca and Deborah ran the Coalbrookdale Company.
• Mary Rathbone: Mary, along with her sister Sarah Darby and their sisters-in-law Rebecca and Deborah ran the Coalbrookdale Company.
• Elizabeth Poole: Mother-in-law of William Anstice who ran the Madeley Wood Company. 
• Betty Harris: A ‘pit girl’ who worked in the mines. Her experiences have shaped how women balanced gruelling labour with motherhood during this period.
• Julie Salmon: A Coalport Pottery worker who progressed from a labourer to a pottery wheel turner.
• Sarah Guppy: A prolific inventor who patented a method for creating safe piling for bridges. She shared her designs with renowned civil engineer Thomas Telford, who used her innovations for the foundations of the Menai Bridge. 
• Abiah Darby: A prominent Quaker minister and community leader based in Coalbrookdale who helped shape the social and educational life of the industrial community that grew around the ironworks.

Telford & Wrekin Council is giving people the opportunity to vote online here as well as through its social media channels.

Once a name has been chosen an official naming and opening ceremony will take place at the site and a display featuring a biography and photographs of the character will also be created.

Telford 6^th is set to welcome students through its doors this September while The Quad has established itself as a hub for digital skills and enterprise, which is being well utilised by local businesses and start-ups, since its opening in 2024.

Councillor Lee Carter, Telford & Wrekin Council Leader, said:

“Station Quarter is very much about looking to the future with The Quad and Telford 6^th which will both equip our current and future generations with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed.

“But it’s important not to forget the past and the influential figures who played key roles during the industrial revolution and had the vital skills and knowledge which have helped to shape Telford and make it what it is today.

“So with that in mind, we propose to name the square after one of these influential characters to retain some of our heritage and provide a lasting legacy in this area of Station Quarter for years to come.”

You can find out more about the Station Quarter development here: Telford & Wrekin Council | Station Quarter