We visit medieval Shropshire village home to the 'Westminster Abbey of the Midlands'

Hidden away in the Shropshire countryside, just off the M54 between Telford and Wolverhampton, lies the small village of Tong.

At first glance, Tong may appear to be little more than a quiet rural settlement. But behind its peaceful appearance lies a remarkable history involving medieval families, grand tombs, Charles Dickens and even a fictional grave.

At the heart of the village stands St Bartholomew’s Church, an extraordinary building that has been described by historians as the “Westminster Abbey of the West Midlands.”

The church we see today dates mainly from the 15th century, although religious buildings have stood on the site for much longer. With its distinctive Gothic architecture, ancient stonework and remarkable collection of monuments, St Bartholomew’s feels far grander than you might expect from such a small village.

Historic medieval tombs dating back to the early 1400s have been restored for future generations in recent years.

The Grade I listed church has had three of its six alabaster tombs preserved using charitable funds from the parish’s local landowner, Bradford Estates.

Inside, the church is almost like a museum of medieval and Tudor memorial art. There are carved screens, historic brasses, medieval details and beautifully decorated stonework. But what makes the church particularly famous is its collection of tombs.

Read more: Historic medieval tombs restored at 'Westminster Abbey of the Midlands'

Throughout the building are a number of ornate alabaster tombs commemorating important local families, including the Pembrokes and the Vernons. Some of the effigies still show traces of their original decoration, providing a reminder that medieval churches were not always the plain, stone-coloured spaces we might imagine today.

Many would originally have been painted in bright colours and highlighted with gold.

Among the most striking monuments are the figures of Sir Fulk and Dame Isabel of Pembroke, who lie together inside the church.

There are also impressive memorials to the Vernon family, including Sir Henry Vernon, an advisor to Henry the Seventh. The church, which draws visitors from far and wide, is famed for being the burial place of many important people linked to Tong which also includes Sir Richard Vernon — Speaker of the House of Commons, Treasurer of Calais and Knight Constable of England.

It is this remarkable concentration of monuments that has helped earn St Bartholomew’s its comparison with Westminster Abbey. The comparison is not simply because of the church’s architecture, but because of the number and quality of the monuments gathered inside one relatively small building.

Yet Tong’s history does not end inside the church.

Just outside the churchyard is one of the village’s most unusual attractions: the reputed grave of Little Nell.

Little Nell is the tragic young character from Charles Dickens’ novel The Old Curiosity Shop. She is entirely fictional, but generations of visitors have come to Tong believing that the village could have inspired the story’s ending.

Dickens had connections with the area. His grandmother is said to have worked at the nearby Tong Castle, adding another intriguing connection between the famous Victorian author and the village.

But the grave itself is not genuine.

Around the 20th century, the church’s verger and postmaster, George Bowden, created a false entry into the parish register and arranged a grave marked with a small plaque reading “The Reputed Grave of Little Nell.”

So, while Little Nell was never actually buried at Tong, the story has become part of the village’s character — a curious blend of literature, local tradition and a little bit of theatrical invention.

Back in the village, there are smaller details that make Tong especially charming.

You can still find a traditional red telephone box standing as a reminder of a different era, as well as the tiny Shoemaker’s Cottage, a wonderfully small historic building that offers a glimpse into the village’s working past.

Together, these details make Tong more than simply a place to visit for its church.

It is a village where medieval history, family memorials, Victorian literature and everyday heritage all come together in one remarkably small place.

From the grand alabaster tombs of the Pembrokes and Vernons to the traces of medieval colour that survive on the effigies, St Bartholomew’s Church provides an extraordinary window into the past.

Outside, the reputed grave of a fictional Dickens character adds an altogether different chapter to the story, while the red telephone box and tiny Shoemaker’s Cottage provide reminders of more recent village life.

Tong may be small, but its history is anything but.

It is a place where centuries of stories have been brought together - from medieval families and Tudor memorials to Victorian literature and local folklore.

And at the heart of it all stands St Bartholomew’s Church, the remarkable “Westminster of the West Midlands.”