Church Stretton is a market community in Shropshire, England, 13 miles (21 kilometres) 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 and also Edwardian duration for its landscape, as well as came to be a health resort. The neighborhood geology consists of a few of the oldest rocks in England and also a notable mistake is named after the town. Today, Church Stretton is an active market community in the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The mineral water removal and also bottling plant on Shrewsbury Road (known locally as the 'Pop Works'), has actually been operating given that 1883; since 2004 it has actually offered Princes with mineral water. It is a noteworthy regional employer as is the polymer laboratories off Essex Road, currently had by Agilent Technologies (till 2009 by Varian). There is a marked light enterprise zone in between the A49 and the train line, referred to as Crossways, with a variety of organisations, most of which remain in the car trade, including an independent petrol/diesel filling station. The town benefits from tourist, which is a development industry in the area, along with attracting regional trade. A recent survey revealed that the town has some 50 retail outlets, 44 of which are separately possessed, with a diverse series of store kinds. [48] These include 2 butchers, numerous outdoor tasks shops, a baker, a delicatessen, numerous clothes and shoe stores, three banks, and also two grocery stores (Co-op as well as Spar). There is a large antiques market, located in a former malthouse on the edge of Sandford Avenue as well as Easthope Road. There are 4 pubs, an in addition to a variety of coffee shops and small dining establishments. In June 2011 the town was formally stated to be a "Fairtrade Town" with 34 businesses selling fair trade products. There is a little art gallery in the previous hotel on the edge of Shrewsbury Road and also Sandford Avenue. The community also has a variety of expert services, such as lawyers, accountants and estate agents, verifying its standing as a neighborhood centre of company. The town continues to take advantage of its reputation as a health facility town, and a preferable area to live, especially in retirement. House costs are above the county average and also have actually seen comparable rises in recent times to other health spa communities in the UK.