Church Stretton is a market town in Shropshire, England, 13 miles (21 km) south of Shrewsbury and also 15 miles (24 km) north of Ludlow. The population in 2011 was 4,671. The town was nicknamed Little Switzerland in the late Victorian and Edwardian period for its landscape, and also became a health resort. The regional geology consists of some of the oldest rocks in England and also a remarkable fault 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 as well as bottling plant on Shrewsbury Road (recognized in your area as the 'Pop Works'), has actually been operating because 1883; considering that 2004 it has offered Princes with mineral water. It is a notable local company as is the polymer labs off Essex Road, currently possessed by Agilent Technologies (till 2009 by Varian). There is an assigned light industrial park between the A49 and the railway line, called Crossways, with a number of companies, much of which are in the motoring profession, consisting of an independent petrol/diesel filling terminal. The town take advantage of tourism, which is a development sector in the location, along with attracting regional profession. A current survey revealed that the town has some 50 retail outlets, 44 of which are independently owned, with a varied series of shop kinds. [48] These consist of two butchers, a number of outdoor tasks stores, a baker, a deli, several clothing as well as shoe stores, three financial institutions, and also 2 supermarkets (Co-op as well as Spar). There is a large antiques market, positioned in a former malthouse on the edge of Sandford Avenue and also Easthope Road. There are four clubs, an in addition to a number of cafes and also little restaurants. In June 2011 the community was officially declared to be a "Fairtrade Town" with 34 organisations selling fair trade items. There is a tiny art gallery in the previous hotel on the edge of Shrewsbury Road as well as Sandford Avenue. The community likewise has a variety of specialist solutions, such as lawyers, accountants and also estate representatives, validating its standing as a neighborhood centre of organisation. The town continues to benefit from its online reputation as a medical spa community, and also a preferable place to live, especially in retired life. Home rates are above the county average as well as have seen comparable boosts in recent times to other health spa towns in the UK.