Almost all villages had a pound in days gone by and some date back to the medieval period. Above is a picture of the one in Much Wenlock. It was used for stray animals such as cattle, pigs, geese etc. Their owners were responsible for the cost of looking after them while they were in the pound until they had sufficient money to have them released. Animal owners would also be fined by a landowner if their animals had strayed onto their land and caused damaage. Unclaimed animals were sold at the nearest market if not claimed within three weeks and the keeper of the pound kept the proceeds.
Early pounds were surrounded by briar hedges although later ones were build in brick or stone and their size and shape varied.