18/06/2026
THEN vs NOW – THE ELEPHANT & CASTLE, DAWLEY HIGH STREET
This incredible photo is believed to date from the 1950s.
Take a moment and look closely.
Different cars. Different shop fronts. Different generations walking the High Street.
But right there in the middle of it all… stands the Elephant & Castle.
For over 200 years, this building has been part of Dawley’s story.
Long before modern Telford existed. Long before smartphones, supermarkets and life as we know it today — the Elephant & Castle was already here, welcoming people through its doors.
Imagine the conversations these walls have heard.
Miners and workers finishing shifts and meeting friends for a drink.
Families gathering after shopping in town.
Celebrations, birthdays, engagements and reunions.
People marking milestones, sharing good news and supporting each other through difficult times.
Generations of local families who have walked through the same doors that people still walk through today.
Back in the 1950s, pubs were the centre of communities. They weren’t just places to eat and drink — they were where people connected. News travelled. Friendships were formed. Stories were passed down.
The Elephant & Castle has lived through changing fashions, changing streets, changing businesses and changing times… yet it still stands proudly at the heart of Dawley.
Today, we’re proud to continue that story.
From breakfasts and coffees… to lunches, Sunday roasts, live music, bingo nights, celebrations, community events and creating new memories every week.
The faces change.
The street changes.
But the spirit of the Elephant & Castle remains the same.
History isn’t something that happened somewhere else.
It happened right here.
And we’re incredibly proud to still be writing the next chapter.
Do you remember the Elephant & Castle years ago? Have you got old photos or memories from the pub? Share them below — we’d love to see them 👇📸
