Church Stretton is a market community 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, as well as ended up being a health resort. The neighborhood geology includes some of the earliest rocks in England and also a remarkable mistake is called after the community. Today, Church Stretton is a busy market town in the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The mineral water removal and bottling plant on Shrewsbury Road (recognized locally as the 'Pop Works'), has been operating considering that 1883; given that 2004 it has actually supplied Princes with mineral water. It is a noteworthy neighborhood employer as is the polymer labs off Essex Road, presently had by Agilent Technologies (until 2009 by Varian). There is a designated light enterprise zone between the A49 as well as the railway line, called Crossways, with a variety of companies, a lot of which remain in the motoring trade, including an independent petrol/diesel filling station. The community take advantage of tourism, which is a development industry in the location, as well as bring in neighborhood trade. A recent survey showed that the town has some 50 retail electrical outlets, 44 of which are independently had, with a varied variety of shop types. [48] These consist of 2 butchers, a number of exterior tasks shops, a baker, a delicatessen, a number of garments and also footwear shops, three banks, and also two supermarkets (Co-op as well as Spar). There is a huge vintages market, located in a former malthouse on the corner of Sandford Avenue as well as Easthope Road. There are 4 bars, an along with a variety of cafes as well as small restaurants. In June 2011 the town was formally stated to be a "Fairtrade Town" with 34 organisations marketing fair trade items. There is a small art gallery in the former hotel on the edge of Shrewsbury Road and Sandford Avenue. The town also has a variety of expert solutions, such as solicitors, accountants as well as estate representatives, verifying its condition as a regional centre of business. The community remains to take advantage of its reputation as a health club community, as well as a desirable area to live, especially in retired life. House prices are above the region standard as well as have actually seen comparable boosts in current times to various other medical spa communities in the UK.