Church Stretton is a market town in Shropshire, England, 13 miles (21 km) south of Shrewsbury and also 15 miles (24 kilometres) north of Ludlow. The population in 2011 was 4,671. The community was nicknamed Little Switzerland in the late Victorian as well as Edwardian duration for its landscape, and also ended up being a health spa. The neighborhood geology includes a few of the oldest rocks in England and a remarkable mistake is called after the town. Today, Church Stretton is an active market town in the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The mineral water extraction and also bottling plant on Shrewsbury Road (recognized in your area as the 'Pop Works'), has actually been running because 1883; because 2004 it has supplied Princes with mineral water. It is a remarkable local employer as is the polymer laboratories off Essex Road, currently had by Agilent Technologies (till 2009 by Varian). There is a designated light industrial area between the A49 as well as the train line, referred to as Crossways, with a number of businesses, much of which are in the car trade, including an independent petrol/diesel filling up terminal. The town gain from tourist, which is a growth industry in the location, in addition to attracting regional profession. A current study revealed that the town has some 50 retail electrical outlets, 44 of which are separately owned, with a varied variety of shop types. [48] These include two butchers, several exterior activities stores, a baker, a delicatessen, numerous garments and also footwear stores, three financial institutions, and also 2 grocery stores (Co-op and Spar). There is a huge vintages market, situated in a former malthouse on the edge of Sandford Avenue and Easthope Road. There are 4 bars, an along with a variety of coffee shops and small dining establishments. In June 2011 the town was officially proclaimed to be a "Fairtrade Town" with 34 services selling fair trade products. There is a tiny art gallery in the former hotel on the corner of Shrewsbury Road and also Sandford Avenue. The community additionally has a variety of professional services, such as solicitors, accounting professionals as well as estate representatives, validating its condition as a local centre of company. The community continues to take advantage of its online reputation as a medical spa town, and also a preferable location to live, particularly in retirement. House prices are above the area average and have actually seen comparable increases in current times to various other health facility communities in the UK.