Church Stretton is a market town in Shropshire, England, 13 miles (21 km) south of Shrewsbury as well as 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 period for its landscape, and also ended up being a health resort. The neighborhood geology includes a few of the earliest rocks in England and a notable mistake is called after the town. Today, Church Stretton is a hectic market town in the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The mineral water extraction and bottling plant on Shrewsbury Road (understood in your area as the 'Pop Works'), has actually been running given that 1883; considering that 2004 it has actually offered Princes with mineral water. It is a significant local company as is the polymer research laboratories off Essex Road, currently possessed by Agilent Technologies (up until 2009 by Varian). There is an assigned light industrial park between the A49 and also the train line, referred to as Crossways, with a variety of services, a number of which remain in the motoring profession, including an independent petrol/diesel filling station. The community gain from tourism, which is a development industry in the location, along with drawing in neighborhood trade. A recent survey revealed that the community has some 50 retail outlets, 44 of which are separately possessed, with a varied variety of store types. [48] These include two butchers, numerous exterior activities shops, a baker, a deli, several clothes and also footwear shops, 3 financial institutions, and also two supermarkets (Co-op as well as Spar). There is a huge vintages market, located in a previous malthouse on the corner of Sandford Avenue and Easthope Road. There are 4 pubs, an along with a variety of cafes and small restaurants. In June 2011 the community was officially proclaimed to be a "Fairtrade Town" with 34 companies selling fair trade products. There is a little art gallery in the former hotel on the edge of Shrewsbury Road and Sandford Avenue. The town also has a variety of expert services, such as solicitors, accounting professionals and also estate representatives, validating its standing as a local centre of service. The community remains to take advantage of its reputation as a medspa community, as well as a desirable area to live, particularly in retirement. House costs are above the county standard and have actually seen comparable increases in recent times to other health spa communities in the UK.