The moat was slowly infilled over a period of about 300 years, as moats lost their symbolic prestige and the land was reclaimed for building purposes. The south leg of the moat was still completely intact and formed part of the ornamental gardens of the manor house in 1734. The southeast arm of the original moat is fortunately still visible today even though infilling has continued since the area was recorded on the 1967 Ordnance Survey large scale map.

So next time you are out walking with your dog along the tarmacked path beside the children’s park, maybe that little uncared for pool is worth a second glance and just ponder the thought that once it was probably full of beautiful golden carp.

Dothill Park, probably c.1900

Well, who would have thought there was a connection between the play area

at the end of Severn Drive and the Aldi supermarket site in Groom's Alley? Richard Groom (no, it's not a coincidence) was about the same age as Queen Victoria. While she was preparing to become monarch in 1837, Richard was working as a basket maker in New Street, Wellington. During 1849 the railway line between Birmingham and Shrewsbury was laid. This became an

important factor in the growth of Wellington at that time. Richard Groom became a timber merchant and acquired land next to the railway line - the current location for Aldi. In time, his company became one of the largest importers of timber in Britain. Consequently, he was eventually able to buy Dothill Park, which stood on the land previously occupied by the Medieval Dothill Manor and which is now where you will find the children's playground!