Oakengates is a town in the East of the county which is nowadays part of Telford. The name is said to have Celtic origins and is derived from the Brythonic Usc-con gata after the ancient name for the valley the town sits in. The town has Roman origins, Watling Street runs through it with a Roman fort being nearby.
By the medieval period Oakengates was host to a priory for St Leonard. The remains of the priory can still be seen in the churchyard of St Leonard's church in the Wombridge area of the parish.
The town grew in size due to mining and industry. Transport links including the Ketley Canal and the railways were built to serve the mines and industry. The current Oakengates station is on the Wolverhampton to Shrewsbury Line. Oakengates was incorporated into Telford New Town in the 1960s.
