Wellington street sign corrected after history group's fight
It's only a little thing, but that's not the point if you're out to preserve Wellington's heritage.
And now campaigners are quietly celebrating after successfully battling to restore the missing apostrophe to one of the town's street signs.
Princes Street has once again become Prince's Street after a protest was made. And, in another triumph Greenman Close has become Green Man Close.
Allan Frost, of Wellington History Group, took the matter up with town and borough councillor Angela McClements, who in turn took it up with Telford & Wrekin Council.
He said: "There has been a sad trend over the years for apostrophes to be omitted from street and road signs."
Mr Frost is calling for anyone who notices signs where apostrophes have been removed, or changes made for no sensible reason, to get in touch with their local councillor to try to get things put right.
He added: "Green Man Close is not the same as Greenman Close. Green Man relates to the pub of the name that once stood on Mill Bank where a small housing complex has since been built. Greenman, however, has absolutely no significance whatsoever, but may lead folk to the conclusion that someone with that surname played a significant part in the town's history.
"An omitted space is not only confusing, but also an insult to Wellington's heritage."
Mr Frost says the apostrophe omitted from Prince's Street was perhaps even more insulting, as it was given that name in 1861 as a memorial to Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's beloved husband, who had just died.
With the apostrophe removed, he said, the factual reasoning behind the name was completely lost, along with the respect implied in the correct name.
"It would be relatively easy to check with people who know and understand the implications of making a bad naming decision before wasting public money by having to correct avoidable errors," he said.
Mr Frost, who details the campaign in the latest edition of the history group's newsletter Wellingtonia, enlisted the help of Councillor McClements.
She said: "There were a couple of road signs in Prince's Street which had an apostrophe and two which had none.
"There was a mish-mash which needed correcting. It's important to get them right.
"These roads and buildings are part of our heritage. I contacted staff at Telford & Wrekin Council and spoke to them about it, and to be fair, they were happy to oblige. They recognised the value and importance of long historical associations."
