Church Stretton is a market community in Shropshire, England, 13 miles (21 km) south of Shrewsbury and 15 miles (24 km) north of Ludlow. The population in 2011 was 4,671. The community was nicknamed Little Switzerland in the late Victorian and Edwardian period for its landscape, and also ended up being a health spa. The regional geology consists of a few of the earliest rocks in England and a notable fault is called after the community. 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 been running considering that 1883; given that 2004 it has offered Princes with mineral water. It is a significant regional employer as is the polymer research laboratories off Essex Road, presently had by Agilent Technologies (up until 2009 by Varian). There is a designated light industrial area in between the A49 and also the railway line, known as Crossways, with a number of services, a lot of which are in the motoring profession, consisting of an independent petrol/diesel filling up terminal. The town benefits from tourist, which is a development market in the location, along with drawing in neighborhood profession. A current study revealed that the town has some 50 retail outlets, 44 of which are individually owned, with a diverse range of store types. [48] These consist of two butchers, several outdoor activities stores, a baker, a delicatessen, numerous clothing and footwear shops, three financial institutions, as well as two supermarkets (Co-op and also Spar). There is a huge vintages market, situated in a previous malthouse on the corner of Sandford Avenue as well as Easthope Road. There are four clubs, an along with a variety of coffee shops and also little restaurants. In June 2011 the community was officially proclaimed to be a "Fairtrade Town" with 34 businesses offering fair trade products. There is a small art gallery in the former resort on the edge of Shrewsbury Road and also Sandford Avenue. The community likewise has a number of specialist solutions, such as lawyers, accountants and estate agents, verifying its standing as a neighborhood centre of service. The town remains to benefit from its online reputation as a day spa community, as well as a preferable area to live, especially in retirement. House prices are above the county standard and also have seen similar rises in recent times to other health club communities in the UK.