Church Stretton es una ciudad comercial en Shropshire, Inglaterra, a 21 km al sur de Shrewsbury y a 24 km al norte de Ludlow . La población en 2011 era de 4.671. [1]
Church Stretton Stretton | |
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Church Stretton visto desde el Ragleth | |
Church Stretton Ubicación dentro de Shropshire | |
Población | 4.671 |
Referencia de la cuadrícula del sistema operativo | SO453937 |
• Londres | 158 millas (254 km) |
Parroquia civil |
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Autoridad unitaria | |
Condado ceremonial | |
Región | |
País | Inglaterra |
Estado soberano | Reino Unido |
Ciudad de postes | IGLESIA STRETTON |
Distrito de código postal | SY6 |
Código telefónico | 01694 |
Policía | West Mercia |
Fuego | Shropshire |
Ambulancia | West Midlands |
Parlamento del Reino Unido | |
Sitio web | churchstretton.co.uk |
La ciudad fue apodada la Pequeña Suiza a finales del período victoriano y eduardiano por su paisaje, y se convirtió en un balneario. [2] La geología local incluye algunas de las rocas más antiguas de Inglaterra y una falla notable lleva el nombre de la ciudad. [3]
En la actualidad, Church Stretton es una concurrida ciudad comercial en el área de Shropshire Hills de excepcional belleza natural .
Historia
La gente ha vivido en Stretton Gap (o Dale) durante miles de años; un castro de la Edad de Hierro en Caer Caradoc [4] domina la ciudad. El nombre "Stretton" se deriva de las palabras del inglés antiguo stræt que significa "camino romano" y tun que significa "asentamiento"; [5] una calzada romana , Watling Street atraviesa Stretton Gap, aunque la ciudad (y los asentamientos adyacentes) no estaban históricamente ubicados en esta carretera; durante la " Edad Oscura ", los asentamientos crecieron a poca distancia de la antigua vía, por fines defensivos. Hoy en día, la moderna carretera A49 , que se construyó en su alineación actual a través de Stretton Gap a finales de la década de 1930, sigue un curso similar a la Roman Road. La calzada romana se conocía históricamente como Botte Street. [6]
Los asentamientos de Little Stretton, Church Stretton y All Stretton (hasta finales del siglo XIX considerados como municipios separados) formaron la mansión de Stretton o Stretton-en-le-Dale. [6] El Libro de Domesday de 1086 registró 35 hogares y un molino en la mansión. [7] Church Stretton se convirtió en el más grande de los asentamientos, con la iglesia parroquial y el mercado de la mansión ubicados allí, y siendo donde Bristol Road tenía un cruce con la carretera a Much Wenlock y Burway, una ruta sobre Long Mynd. En el momento del Libro de Domesday, la mansión estaba bajo el centenar de Culvestan , un centenar sajón que se fusionó durante el reinado de Enrique I ; los Stretton entraron entonces en la división superior del centenar de Munslow . [8]
El rey Juan concedió a la ciudad por primera vez una carta de mercado en 1214, para un mercado semanal los miércoles, pero en 1253 el día del mercado había cambiado a los martes. En 1337, Eduardo III otorgó una nueva carta que autorizó la celebración de un mercado semanal los jueves. [9] El mercado todavía se celebra todos los jueves, en la plaza de High Street, que ha sido el mercado de la ciudad desde el siglo XIII. [9] Gran parte de la ciudad fue destruida por un incendio en 1593 [10] y muchos de los actuales edificios con entramado de madera en el centro de la ciudad datan de la época de la reconstrucción. [10]
High Street fue durante muchos siglos conocida como Bristol Road, siendo la carretera de Shrewsbury a Bristol . Alguna vez fue una calle mucho más ancha dentro de la ciudad, con el cementerio de St Laurence bordeando directamente la calle. Con el tiempo, se erigieron edificios en la calle, de manera similar a otras ciudades con mercados ingleses, como en Ludlow. High Street, que es una calle estrecha, es efectivamente solo el lado este de la vía original de Bristol Road que atraviesa la ciudad. Se hizo más abierto cuando se demolió el antiguo mercado para formar la actual plaza del pueblo. [11]
siglo 18
Carding Mill Valley
Históricamente, la ciudad era conocida por sus textiles, utilizando la abundante lana local , y una ubicación notable para esta industria era Carding Mill Valley ( referencia de cuadrícula SO442945 ). El molino de cardado se construyó en el siglo XVIII y recibió el nombre de una etapa en la fabricación de telas, las tres etapas son el cardado , el hilado y el tejido . El cardado lo habrían hecho los niños e implicaba el uso de una tarjeta de mano que eliminaba y desenredaba las fibras cortas de la masa de materia prima. Las tarjetas eran bloques de madera con asas y cubiertos con púas de metal, que estaban en ángulo (para que fuera más fácil de desenredar) y engastadas en cuero. Una vez desenredado, el material se hilaría y luego se tejería en el producto final.
El molino de cardado cerró y fue demolido a principios del siglo XX, aunque el edificio de la fábrica adyacente permanece en el valle hoy. [ cuando? ] El valle en el que se encuentra tomó el nombre de "Carding Mill Valley", y ahora es una atracción turística y un lugar de inicio muy conocido para los caminantes (en el corazón de la cordillera Long Mynd ). Aquellos que siguen el valle hasta su cima son recibidos por la vista de la cascada de luz. El valle es propiedad (junto con toda la cordillera) del National Trust , que tiene un centro de visitantes allí. El propio edificio del molino se ha convertido en apartamentos y existen otras casas particulares cerca de él y del centro de visitantes, formando un pequeño asentamiento en el valle. Los vehículos (y por lo tanto la mayoría de los visitantes) tienen que conducir desde la ciudad, desde Shrewsbury Road, para acceder al valle.
Los coches pueden llegar hasta el aparcamiento situado a una milla arriba del valle. Este aparcamiento fue una vez una piscina al aire libre. Un cartel que indica la profundidad del agua sigue en su posición original.
Época victoriana y eduardiana
Church Stretton fue apodada " Pequeña Suiza " a finales de la época victoriana y eduardiana, debido a sus alrededores y la forma en que muchas casas abrazan la ladera. [2]
La estación de tren de Church Stretton se inauguró el 20 de abril de 1852 como parte del recién creado Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway . Originalmente estaba al norte de (lo que ahora se conoce como) Sandford Avenue y el antiguo edificio de la estación aún permanece, pero ya no se usa por ferrocarril. Sandford Avenue se había llamado durante siglos Lake Lane y se convirtió en Station Road con la llegada del ferrocarril a la ciudad, antes de convertirse en Sandford Avenue en 1884. [11]
En 1914, la estación de tren se trasladó justo al sur del puente vial de Sandford Avenue, donde continúa hasta la actualidad. Se construyeron nuevos edificios de la estación de tren, pero fueron demolidos en 1970, ya que la estación quedó sin personal en 1967. [11]
El promotor inmobiliario local Ralph Beaumont Benson (1862-1911), que vivía en Lutwyche Hall en las cercanías de Easthope , es responsable del nombre de Easthope Road, Essex Road (en honor a su esposa), Beaumont Road y Lutwyche Road, todas en el centro de la ciudad y parte de la expansión de la ciudad a principios del siglo XX. [12]
Hotel Long Mynd
El hotel Long Mynd en Cunnery Road abrió sus puertas en 1901, originalmente como "The Hydropathic Hotel" (o "el Hydro"), [13] en un momento en que la ciudad era popular como spa. Hoy continúa como hotel y tiene una serie de características y actividades en sus terrenos boscosos; [14] también es un lugar para bodas y conferencias. [ cita requerida ] En 2012 fue vendido por la familia Chapman local (que lo dirigió desde 1977) a 'HF Holidays', una empresa nacional. [15]
Mediados del siglo XX
Durante y justo después de la Segunda Guerra Mundial , de 1940 a 1946, St Dunstan's (ahora Blind Veterans UK) se basó en la ciudad. El servicio de caridad (para el personal ciego de las fuerzas armadas) se trasladó de Sussex ya que se pensaba que Church Stretton era un lugar seguro. Unas 700 personas fueron capacitadas durante este período en Church Stretton [16] en un centro de capacitación industrial establecido en una maltería en Sandford Avenue. [17] El hotel Long Mynd, el hotel Denehurst, el Brockhurst Estate y el Tiger Hall fueron los edificios más notables asumidos por St Dunstan en la ciudad. [18] Un callejón sin salida residencial se llama St Dunstan's Close en reconocimiento al lugar de la organización benéfica en la historia de la ciudad. Long Mynd se consideraba un lugar de aterrizaje potencial para los paracaidistas alemanes, aunque Church Stretton evitó el bombardeo aéreo de la guerra; [19] la única muerte registrada en el distrito por la Commonwealth War Graves Commission [20] de una víctima de guerra civil fue la de un Firewatcher de Manchester que murió mientras era tratado en el Hospital de St Dunstan. [21]
Finales del siglo XX
Un pequeño mercado se encontraba en High Street, pero fue demolido en julio de 1963 y el sitio se ha convertido en una plaza de la ciudad , y todavía se utiliza para albergar mercados. El primer mercado, una construcción con entramado de madera, se construyó en 1617; este fue reemplazado por el segundo mercado (llamado Ayuntamiento) en 1839, que era una construcción de piedra y ladrillo rojo. [22] En la actualidad, el Instituto Silvester Horne (ampliado y reformado en 2011) [23] es el principal lugar de encuentro de la ciudad para sociedades, votaciones , reuniones públicas y exposiciones. Además, está el Mayfair Community Center en Easthope Road y el St Laurence's Parish Hall en Church Street.
En los últimos años, los miembros voluntarios del Grupo Comunitario han transformado Church Stretton en la Ciudad de las Banderas: gracias a las subvenciones locales han comprado más de 120 banderas (inglesas, sindicales y extranjeras) que se ondean regularmente en el centro de la ciudad en ocasiones especiales en todo año.
Conservación
La mayor parte del centro de la ciudad y gran parte de la ciudad, tanto al este como al oeste de la A49, incluido Carding Mill Valley, está cubierto por el Área de Conservación Church Stretton . [24] El Área de Conservación contiene todos los edificios listados de la ciudad y estructuras más pequeñas, aproximadamente 40 en total. La iglesia de St Laurence está en la lista de Grado I. [25]
Población
En el censo de 2011 , la población de la parroquia era 4.671. [1] La población de la parroquia de Church Stretton (incluidos All Stretton, Little Stretton y Minton) se registró en los censos oficiales del Reino Unido como: [26]
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La población se mantuvo estable entre 1841 y 1901, pero luego experimentó un auge en las dos primeras décadas del siglo XX cuando la ciudad se convirtió en un refugio rural deseable. Otra racha de crecimiento se produjo en el período 1931-1951. Desde entonces ha habido un crecimiento sin complicaciones, con cierta expansión en los años setenta y ochenta y, más recientemente, en la década de 2000.
Geografía
Church Stretton se encuentra aproximadamente a 13 millas (21 km) al sur de la ciudad del condado de Shropshire, Shrewsbury . [27] La ciudad está dominada por las colinas circundantes, incluido el enorme macizo Long Mynd al oeste, y Caer Caradoc y las colinas adyacentes (Hazler, Ragleth, et al. ) Al este.
Church Stretton se encuentra efectivamente en un punto de silla : la estación de tren se encuentra aproximadamente en esta posición, que está a 614 pies (187 m) sobre el nivel del mar . High Street a través del centro de la ciudad corre a una altura de 636 pies. [27] Debido a su posición en un punto de silla, el agua sale de la ciudad en dos direcciones: hacia el norte (hacia el Cound y luego hacia el Severn ) y hacia el sur (hacia el Onny y luego el Teme ), aproximadamente en Sandford. La avenida en el centro de la ciudad forma la línea divisoria de aguas . Partes de la ciudad están sujetas a inundaciones después de fuertes lluvias y en 2000 graves inundaciones cerraron la línea ferroviaria que atraviesa la ciudad.
Localidades
El núcleo histórico de la ciudad se encuentra alrededor de la iglesia parroquial y a lo largo de High Street. Con la construcción de la línea de ferrocarril y la estación en 1852, la ciudad comenzó a crecer hacia la nueva estación, a lo largo de lo que hoy es Sandford Avenue. Desde la primera mitad del siglo XX, las dos calles principales del centro de la ciudad son High Street y Sandford Avenue. En las últimas décadas del siglo XX, varias tiendas en el extremo sur de High Street cambiaron de uso a restaurantes o puramente residenciales, ya que Sandford Avenue se convirtió en la calle comercial más importante. [28] El B5477 toma el nombre de Shrewsbury Road al norte del centro de la ciudad, High Street dentro del centro de la ciudad y Ludlow Road al sur de allí.
Cunnery es una ladera y un conjunto de casas al oeste del centro de la ciudad e incluye el Long Mynd Hotel. World's End es donde Ludlow Road se curva alrededor del pie de la ladera hacia el sur del Long Mynd Hotel. Al norte del centro de la ciudad hay un área llamada Ashbrook; aquí el Carding Mill Valley se encuentra con la ciudad, con el arroyo (conocido como Ashbrook ya que atraviesa la ciudad) que corre entre los dos principales campos de recreación de la ciudad (llamados Russell's Meadow y Richard Robinson Field). Otras dos áreas notables de parques públicos son Rectory Field & Wood, situado al oeste del centro de la ciudad en Church Street, y el parque formal de la ciudad entre la A49 y la línea de ferrocarril, que es administrado por el ayuntamiento e incluye canchas de tenis y un campo de bolos.
En el lado este de la carretera A49 hay tres áreas con nombre: Battle Field, Snatchfield y Hazler. On Hazler Hill es un transmisor de radio local ( BBC Radio Shropshire transmite desde aquí en 90FM). El campo de batalla es el nombre de la leyenda de que Caer Caradoc fue el escenario de la última batalla de Caractaco contra los romanos legiones durante la conquista romana de Gran Bretaña, y que después de la batalla se escondió en la cueva cerca de su cima.
Todo Stretton y Little Stretton
Los pueblos de All Stretton y Little Stretton siguen siendo asentamientos separados de Church Stretton. La B5477 conecta los tres asentamientos, con Church Stretton aproximadamente a medio camino entre: All Stretton está a 1,6 km al norte del centro de Church Stretton, mientras que Little Stretton está a 2,1 km al sur. [27] Aunque hay un desarrollo de cinta a lo largo de la B5477, los tres asentamientos no están unidos, aunque el espacio entre los edificios más cercanos de All Stretton y Church Stretton es de apenas 170 metros (560 pies) [27] y las señales de tráfico ( en la B5477) que dan la bienvenida a las personas en esos dos asentamientos, una tras otra. La B5477 continúa como Shrewsbury Road cuando pasa por All Stretton y también continúa como Ludlow Road cuando pasa por Little Stretton. Los tres asentamientos a veces se conocen colectivamente como "los Strettons", un nombre que también se le da a la zona más amplia, incluidas las colinas circundantes.
Gobernancia
Parroquia y Ayuntamiento
La ciudad está situada dentro de la parroquia civil de Church Stretton, y es administrado por un consejo parroquial llamada Church Stretton Ayuntamiento . La parroquia (y el ayuntamiento) también cubre los pueblos vecinos de All Stretton , Little Stretton y las aldeas de Minton y Hamperley , [29] y otros asentamientos periféricos como Botvyle y parte de Marshbrook . [27] La parroquia tiene un área de 3,132 hectáreas (7,740 acres) [1] y está dividida en cuatro distritos : Church Stretton North (representada por cuatro concejales en el ayuntamiento), Church Stretton South (representada por cinco concejales), Todos Stretton y Little Stretton (cada uno representado por dos concejales). [30] Entre 1966 y 2002, el cabildo parroquial no se denominó cabildo ni hubo alcalde, situación que fue subsanada por resolución del cabildo de mayo de 2001 [31].
Sometimes the parish is referred to as "Church Stretton and Little Stretton";[32] the present-day parish was formed by the addition of the former Little Stretton parish and part of All Stretton parish (the remainder still exists as a separate parish). This is effectively a return to the situation before 1899, when the old civil parish of Church Stretton was split into three, though the modern parish does not include that part of All Stretton parish that was not transferred in 1934.[6]
The Town Council have their offices at 60 High Street and hold their meetings at the nearby Silvester Horne Institute, also on High Street.[33]
Mayors
Below is a complete list of mayors of Church Stretton. Formally the mayor of a town council is a Town Mayor. One of the town councillors is elected by the council (at the 'Annual Meeting' in May) as jointly chairman and Town Mayor. Although Church Stretton's parish council became a town council in 2002, the title of Town Mayor was not bestowed upon the chairman until 2004.[34]
Term | Chairman and Town Mayor | Ward | Note |
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2003–2006 | Leslie McIntyre | All Stretton | The first Town Mayor, from 2004 |
2006–2007 | Beryl Smith | Church Stretton South | |
2007–2012 | Bob Welch | Church Stretton North | |
2012–2013 | Tom Beaumont | Church Stretton North | |
2013–2015 | Michael Braid | Church Stretton North | |
2015– | Michael Walker | Little Stretton |
Local government
From 1894 to 1966 the town was an urban district (a form of local government) in its own right, before becoming part of Ludlow Rural District (the separate Church Stretton Rural District had already been abolished in 1934) and the contemporary civil parish was then established. The Urban District Council was based at offices on Beaumont Road, where Beaumont Court now is.[35] In 1974 the system of urban and rural districts was replaced and the town came under South Shropshire non-metropolitan district and Shropshire non-metropolitan county. The most recent change in local government occurred in 2009 when Shropshire became a unitary area with Shropshire Council replacing South Shropshire District Council and Shropshire County Council.
Church Stretton is part of the Shropshire Council electoral division (or ward) of 'Church Stretton and Craven Arms'. The population of this ward at the 2011 Census was 8,936.[36] In the 2009 council elections the electorate of this ward returned two councillors, both Conservative.[37]
Member of Parliament
On a national level, Church Stretton is located within the Ludlow constituency, and the current Member of Parliament ("MP") for that constituency is Philip Dunne, a Conservative.[38]
Geología
The local geology is complex; the area lies astride the Church Stretton Fault[3] and atop some of the oldest rocks in England – formed over 560 million years ago. On 2 April 1990, another nearby fault – the Pontesford-Linley Fault – registered an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.1 on the Richter scale, known as the Bishop's Castle earthquake.[3] The area also plays a part in the history of geology; the three major subdivisions of the Lower Paleozoic are named from local celtic tribes: Cambrian, Ordovician and Silurian. Also, Comley Quarry is about 2.5 miles (4 km) from the town and the first site in the British Isles where trilobites were recorded.
Transporte
Road
The A49 (a primary route and trunk road) runs through the Stretton Gap, connecting Shrewsbury to the north with Ludlow and Hereford to the south. The B5477 runs through the villages of All Stretton and Little Stretton, as well as the historic core and town centre of Church Stretton. The B4371 starts at the B5477 in the town centre and heads east, having a crossroads junction with the A49, then up to Hazler and on towards Much Wenlock. The B4371 in the town (on both sides of the A49) is known as Sandford Avenue and is partially lined with lime trees.
The B5477 was, until renumbered in 2004, the northern section of the B4370. The renumbering to B5477 is anomalous in two ways: the number does not comply with the Great Britain road numbering scheme (it is "out-of-zone") and was already (and remains) in use in Wallasey.
The Burway
The Burway is an ancient route which leads up from the town to the plateau on the Long Mynd. It is Shropshire's highest public road, reaching 492 metres (1,614 ft) above sea level and passing close to the highest point of the Long Mynd, called Pole Bank (516 m).[27] Running along the plateau of the Long Mynd is another ancient route called the Portway, though not all of this is open to motor traffic. The Burway is a through route, allowing traffic (though not goods vehicles, caravans or similar) to cross over the Long Mynd westwards to Ratlinghope or Asterton (the route splits into two at Boiling Well). In winter, deep snow sometimes makes the Burway impassable. In 2015 "snow gates" were installed at various points of access onto the Long Mynd, to deter motorists from using the routes in wintry conditions.[39][40] The gliding club at the southern end of the Long Mynd can be accessed via the Burway from either Asterton or Church Stretton. The part of the road within the town is called Burway Road and begins at the crossroads in the town centre, where the B5477 and B4371 meet.
Rail
The Welsh Marches Line runs through the town[41] parallel to (and west of) the A49 road. The town's station is off Sandford Avenue just east of the town centre, near the junction of the A49 and B4371. The railway was originally built as the Shrewsbury and Hereford Railway in 1852. Trains on the Heart of Wales Line also call at the station. Today there are direct train services to Shrewsbury, Chester, Holyhead, Crewe, Manchester, Ludlow, Hereford, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea. The station has a large number of passengers using it considering the town's population: it is the eighth busiest station in Shropshire (2017-18 figures).
Bus
The town is served by the 435 bus route (Shrewsbury-Ludlow), run by Minsterley Motors, which runs Monday-Saturday.[42] This connects the town with All Stretton, Dorrington and Condover towards Shrewsbury, and Little Stretton, Craven Arms and Bromfield towards Ludlow.
In addition there are two Shropshire Hills Shuttles services that operate at weekends and on Bank Holidays during the spring and summer. One route runs over the Long Mynd to Ratlinghope and Bridges, Stiperstones, Habberley, Pulverbatch, Minsterley and Pontesbury. The other route, called the "Wenlock Wanderer", runs to Much Wenlock via Little Stretton, Marshbrook, Acton Scott, Ticklerton and then along the B4371 which runs along the top of the Wenlock Edge to the market town of Much Wenlock.[43]
All bus services call at Beaumont Road in the town centre. The Shuttles services also both call at Carding Mill Valley.
Cycling
Regional Cycle Route 32/33 runs through the town, on its way from Shrewsbury to Craven Arms. The route avoids cycling along the busy A49 main road, with the exception of a stretch north of Craven Arms. The area is popular with mountain bikers, due to the number of bridleways and country lanes in the hilly countryside.[44]
Economía
The mineral water extraction and bottling plant on Shrewsbury Road (known locally as the 'Pop Works'), has been operating since 1883; since 2004 it has provided Princes with mineral water.[45] It is a notable local employer[46] as is the polymer laboratories off Essex Road, currently owned by Agilent Technologies[47] (until 2009 by Varian). There is a designated light industrial area between the A49 and the railway line, known as Crossways, with a number of businesses, many of which are in the motoring trade, including an independent petrol/diesel filling station.
The town benefits from tourism, which is a growth industry in the area, as well as attracting local trade. A recent survey showed that the town has some 50 retail outlets, 44 of which are independently owned, with a diverse range of shop types.[48] These include two butchers, several outdoor activities shops, a baker, a delicatessen, several clothes and shoe shops, three banks, and two supermarkets (Co-op and Spar). There is a large antiques market, situated in a former malthouse on the corner of Sandford Avenue and Easthope Road. There are four pubs,a as well as a number of cafes and small restaurants. In June 2011 the town was officially declared to be a "Fairtrade Town" with 34 businesses selling fair trade products.[49] There is a small art gallery in the former hotel on the corner of Shrewsbury Road and Sandford Avenue. The town also has a number of professional services, such as solicitors, accountants and estate agents, confirming its status as a local centre of business.
The town continues to benefit from its reputation as a spa town, and a desirable place to live, especially in retirement. House prices are above the county average and have seen similar increases in recent times to other spa towns in the UK.[50]
The 2001 census recorded the parish's employment rate at 54.2%, whilst unemployment was at 1.9% (both are percentages of residents aged 16–74), and 18.7% of all residents were retired. The largest sector of employment was "wholesale and retail trade, and repair of motor vehicles" with 16.7% of all employment in that sector.[51]
Cultura y deporte
The novelist Henry Kingsley (1830–1876) wrote "Stretton" based around this area, and Oliver Sandys' book, "Quaint Place" is set in Church Stretton.[52] Mary Webb's works also made reference to the town, under the name "Shepwardine". The Lone Pine Club series of children's books by Malcolm Saville is also partly set in the area.
Church Stretton is a major centre for the sport of archery,[53] and there is also a gliding air field and station atop the Long Mynd, owned by the Midland Gliding Club. As well as gliding, the activities of paragliding, hang gliding and similar aerial pursuits take place from the Long Mynd. Church Stretton became a Walkers Are Welcome town in 2009, the first in the West Midlands, and its many well-maintained footpaths over the Long Mynd and the Stretton Hills help make it a major walking centre for Shropshire. In the town itself, sports facilities are provided adjacent to the schools, just off Shrewsbury Road, which include a swimming pool and a recently opened 4 court sports & leisure centre,[54] and the town council provide facilities (such as a BMX facility, crazy golf, hard tennis courts, a bowling green and a croquet pitch) at the town park (situated between the A49 and the railway).[55]
Summer festival
In recent times, on a June Saturday the town holds a summer festival ("Summerfest"), organised by volunteers and the town's chamber of trade. The town centre's streets and car parks are closed to traffic, as stalls, entertainment and activities take place throughout the town, including a classic car and steam rally. In the evening there is a concert in Rectory Field.[56]
Churches
The town has four churches. In the centre of the town is the historic parish church dedicated to Lawrence of Rome, situated on the corner of Churchway and Church Street, and with its own small graveyard surrounding it. (This graveyard was succeeded by a cemetery at the foot of Cunnery Road, which in turn has been replaced by one near Brockhurst.) It is the town's Church of England church and is one of three in the ecclesiastical parish of Church Stretton, along with the churches in All Stretton and Little Stretton (which were built around 1900).[57] The parish is part of the Diocese of Hereford. The church's name is written either as "Lawrence" or "Laurence", though the latter is used more for the church itself. St Laurence's Church has a remnant of its Anglo-Saxon origins: a stone carved fertility symbol called a Sheela na gig.[31]
The other three churches in the town are: the United Reformed Church on Ludlow Road; a Roman Catholic church dedicated to St Milburga (a local saint), situated on the corner of Sandford Avenue and Watling Street; and a Methodist church situated on the corner of Crossways and Watling Street.[58]
Golf course
There is an 18-hole golf course about a km from the town centre, the Church Stretton Golf Club. The course is 5,030 yards long and has a par of 66.[59] It is one of the highest golf courses in the country, being located on the side of the Long Mynd hill range (the course is situated on the slopes of Stanyeld Hill and Bodbury Hill). The clubhouse is at approximately 230 m (755 ft) above sea level and the hilly links course rises up to around 375m (1,230 ft). Apart from the clubhouse, putting green and first hole, the course is situated on common land owned by the National Trust (who own most of the Long Mynd upland area).
The town's golf course is the oldest 18-hole course in Shropshire, with the club starting in 1898 and the final holes being completed around 1904. The course was primarily designed by John (Jack) Morris and James Hepburn. James Braid and Harry Vardon later made changes to the course.[60]
Open Champions James Braid, Harry Vardon and J. H. Taylor (together referred to as the Great Triumvirate) all played at the course many times, albeit at different times, during the pre-World War I years of the club's existence.[60]
Football
Church Stretton Town F.C. (usually called simply "Stretton")[61] is a football team who currently play in the West Midlands Regional League Division 2.[62] Home games are played at Russell's Meadow, located near the centre of the town off Lutwyche Road (grid reference SO455939). The home kit is black and white (thick) vertical stripes.
There has been a football field at Russell's Meadow since the 1930s, though the pavilion moved (c. 1950s) from the other side of the Ashbrook to its present location near Lutwyche Road.[35] There is a community project on-going to raise funds and then build a new pavilion at Russell's Meadow.[63] In 2011 funding was secured from Sport England to improve the five existing football pitches and create two new training pitches, on both Russell's Meadow and neighbouring Robinson's Field.[64] Russell's Meadow is also home to a separate football club for under-16s – the Church Stretton Magpies[65] — and to Sunday league football. The home colours of both the Town and Magpies teams is black and white.
Cricket
During the summer, Russell's Meadow and its pavilion are used to play cricket. Church Stretton Cricket Club have a Saturday First XI playing in the Shropshire County Cricket League Division Five and a Friendly XI that play on Sundays against Shropshire teams and touring sides.[66]
Servicios públicos
Education
Church Stretton has two state-funded schools: Church Stretton School, a secondary school with 750 pupils[67] and a primary school (named "St Lawrence") with 210 pupils.[68] The two schools neighbour one other and are situated just off Shrewsbury Road, on the northern edge of Church Stretton. The Council also operates a public library, on Church Street, situated in former, Victorian school buildings, which is also the town's tourist information centre and information point for Shropshire Council services.[69]
Emergency services
At the junction of Sandford Avenue and Essex Road, in the centre of the town, is a police station (West Mercia Police) staffed Monday-Friday[70] and a fire station (Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service) with two engines and manned by retained firefighters.[71] The present fire station was built in the early 1970s – it was previously on Beaumont Road, where Beaumont Court now is – whilst the police station was built in the 1990s – it was on Shrewsbury Road where Longmynd Place now is.[35]
Health
There is a doctors' surgery and medical clinic on Easthope Road.[72] The nearest ambulance station is in Craven Arms and the nearest major hospital is the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.
Public conveniences
The town council operate the two public toilets in the town, on Lutwyche Road and on Easthope Road.[73]
Gente notable
Sir John Thynne (c.1515 in Church Stretton – 1580) was the steward to Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset (c. 1506 – 1552) and a member of parliament. He was the builder of Longleat House and his descendants became Marquesses of Bath.
Roger Maynwaring (c.1589/90 in Church Stretton - 1653) was Bishop of St David's 1636-49.
Hesba Stretton came to Church Stretton often before moving away from Shropshire, becoming an established author. There is a plaque to her memory in St. Laurence's Church together with a window depicting the figure of "Jessica" from her immensely popular story Jessica's First Prayer.[52] A sister owned a house, Caradoc Lodge in neighbouring All Stretton, the latter village (within Church Stretton parish) said to be the source of her pen-surname.[74]
Although he did not live there, artist Sir Frederic Leighton took his peerage title of Baron Leighton of Stretton in the County of Salop, created the day before his death in 1896, from this place. There is a window to his memory in St Laurence's Church.
The 'White House' nursing home on Sandford Avenue, demolished in 2006 to make way for a housing development, was previously the family home of Silvester Horne a Congregationalist minister, Liberal MP for Ipswich, and father of the BBC broadcaster Kenneth Horne. The town's Silvester Horne Institute, on the south end of High Street, commemorates his name. He is buried in the cemetery on Cunnery Road. Amateur footballer Frederick Green (1851–1928), winning side veteran of FA Cup Final of 1874 for Oxford University and of 1877 and 1878 for the Wanderers, who died at his last home in the town, The Uplands.[75]
Residents of the town did include Pete Postlethwaite, who used to live in Minton, near Little Stretton, which was the home of Oliver Sandys. Greg Hearle, the renowned clarinetist, is a local resident. Also, the Olympic bronze-medal archer, Alison Williamson lives in All Stretton and is a member of the town's archery club.[76] John Jones (born 1930 in Church Stretton) is a British rower who competed at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki with the men's coxless four where they came fourth. In the 1930s, E. M. Almedingen, the biographer and children's writer, lived in the town,[52] and, following retirement, the writer Kenneth Bird (also known by his pen name Fougasse) moved to Church Stretton.
Two Archdeacons of Ludlow were also resident Rectors of Church Stretton, Henry Dixon in 1923-36 and Herbert Whately from 1937 to his death in 1947. George Nickson, former Bishop of Bristol died in retirement at Church Stretton in 1949.[77]William Alonzo Parker, former Anglican Bishop of Shrewsbury, lived in retirement at Church Stretton before his death in 1982.[78]
Stephen Laurie, a notable amateur astronomer, lives in the area and has discovered a number of asteroids from observatories at Church Stretton and nearby Ragdon (the area not suffering from much light pollution). One of the asteroids discovered has been named after the town — 11626 Church Stretton.[79]
Former Jaguar chief test driver (and brand ambassador) Norman Dewis lived in the town after his retirement in 1986.[80]
Ver también
- Listed buildings in Church Stretton
Referencias
- ^ a b c National Statistics Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine Church Stretton 2011 population area and density
- ^ a b "Church Stretton: Walkers are Welcome in Church Stretton". Shropshire Tourism. Archived from the original on 27 August 2008.
- ^ a b c "Official Town site". Archived from the original on 6 January 2008. Retrieved 20 November 2007.
- ^ "Caer Caradoc (Church Stretton) – Hillfort". The Megalithic Portal and Megalith Map. 12 November 2004.
- ^ Mills, David (2011). A Dictionary of British Place Names. OUP Oxford. p. 442. ISBN 9780199609086.
- ^ a b c Baggs, A P; Baugh, G C; Cox, D C; McFall, Jessie; Stamper, P A (1998). "Church Stretton". In Baugh, G C (ed.). A History of the County of Shropshire: Volume 10, Munslow Hundred (Part), the Liberty and Borough of Wenlock. London. pp. 72–120 – via British History Online.
- ^ Open Domesday Archived 14 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine Place: (Church) Stretton
- ^ "Shropshire Hundreds (taken from Gregory's 1824 Gazetteer): THE HUNDRED OF MUNSLOW". GENUKI: UK & Ireland Genealogy.
- ^ a b Crowe, Tony; Raynor, Barrie (2011). Church Stretton through the ages. pp. 2–3. ISBN 978-0956801807.
- ^ a b Samuels, Barry. "Church Stretton area, Shropshire". BeenThere-DoneThat.
- ^ a b c Crowe and Raynor (2011) Church Stretton through the ages
- ^ Crowe and Raynor (2011) Church Stretton through the ages p 149
- ^ Crowe and Raynor (2011) Church Stretton through the ages p 110
- ^ "Shropshire Hills: Longmynd House". HF Holidays. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
- ^ "Longmynd Hotel sold in multi-million deal". Shropshire Star. 3 February 2012. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
- ^ "Timeline". Blind Veterans UK. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
- ^ Crowe, Raynour, Tony, Barrie (2011). Church Stretton through the ages. Greengates, Church Stretton. p. 190.
- ^ Shropshire's War (publication by Shropshire Archives) p 32
- ^ Shropshire's War (publication by Shropshire Archives) p 13
- ^ [1] CWGC Cemetery Record, Church Stretton Urban District.
- ^ [2] CWGC Casualty record.
- ^ Crowe and Raynor (2011) Church Stretton through the ages pages 52–54
- ^ Shropshire Council Silvester Horne Institute relaunch (2 November 2011)
- ^ Shropshire Council Church Stretton Conservation Area: map
- ^ British Listed Buildings Church Stretton parish: map
- ^ Crowe and Raynor (2011) Church Stretton through the ages p 196
- ^ a b c d e f Ordnance Survey mapping
- ^ Crowe and Raynor (2011) Church Stretton through the ages p 77
- ^ "Church Stretton Town Council". Church Stretton Directory. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
- ^ "Statutory Instrument 2000 No. 1420". Office of Public Sector Information. Retrieved 4 July 2008.
- ^ a b Church Stretton Town Council History of Church Stretton
- ^ Shropshire Council Council tax (parish precepts) 2010/11
- ^ Town Council – meetings
- ^ Stretton Focus Archive
- ^ a b c Ordnance Survey historic maps
- ^ "Ward population 2011". Retrieved 24 November 2015.
- ^ Shropshire Council Church Stretton and Craven Arms election result (2009)
- ^ "Local Area". Up My Street. Archived from the original on 19 July 2008. Retrieved 2 July 2008.
- ^ BBC News Long Mynd snow gates are working (3 February 2015)
- ^ Evesham Journal "Regional: Snow gates installed at the Long Mynd" (23 January 2015)
- ^ "Ride the Marches line with Arriva Trains Wales". Arriva Trains Wales. Archived from the original on 24 June 2008. Retrieved 4 July 2008.
- ^ Minsterley Motors Archived 18 May 2015 at the Wayback Machine 435 timetable
- ^ Shropshire Hills AONB Shuttle bus service
- ^ "Church Stretton Cycle Rides". Shropshire's Great Outdoords. Retrieved 8 January 2018.
- ^ Geograph Stretton Hills Mineral Water Company
- ^ "Food Agency". Archived from the original on 9 June 2007. Retrieved 20 November 2007.
- ^ "Agilent". Retrieved 20 November 2010.
- ^ Church Stretton Town Council Archived 15 April 2011 at the Wayback Machine Church Stretton – voted a home town (April 2011)
- ^ Church Stretton Town Council Archived 19 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine Church Stretton – A Fairtrade Town! (June 2011)
- ^ Shropshire Star Spa towns tap in as house prices double (3 March 2012)
- ^ "2001 Census Profile". Shropshire County Council. Retrieved 2 July 2008.
- ^ a b c "County Council". Archived from the original on 8 October 2007. Retrieved 20 November 2007.
- ^ "Shrewsbury Council". Archived from the original on 27 September 2006. Retrieved 20 November 2007.
- ^ Teme Leisure Archived 8 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine Church Stretton
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- ^ Church Stretton Chamber of Trade Archived 13 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine — Events
- ^ Parish of Church Stretton
- ^ Church Stretton town website Archived 4 April 2011 at the Wayback Machine – Churches and services
- ^ Church Stretton Golf Club The Course
- ^ a b Church Stretton Golf Club Archived 5 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine History
- ^ Ludlow Advertiser 21 January 2012
- ^ Full-Time League Websites Archived 26 November 2015 at the Wayback Machine (The FA) The Mercian Regional Football League
- ^ Church Stretton Pavilion[permanent dead link]
- ^ Sports Solutions GB[permanent dead link] Press release 31 October 2011
- ^ "Church Stretton Magpies". Archived from the original on 17 March 2016. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
- ^ Church Stretton Cricket Club
- ^ "Church Stretton School". Retrieved 24 April 2011.
- ^ "St Lawrence School". Retrieved 24 April 2011.
- ^ Shropshire Council – Church Stretton library
- ^ West Mercia Police Archived 9 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine Shropshire Police Stations
- ^ Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service Archived 15 October 2011 at the UK Government Web Archive Church Stretton
- ^ Church Stretton Medical Practice
- ^ Church Stretton Town Council Budget report 2012/3
- ^ Dickins, Gordon (1987). An Illustrated Literary Guide to Shropshire. Shropshire Libraries. pp. 71, 87.
- ^ Warsop, Keith (2004). The Early F.A. Cup Finals and the Southern Amateurs. Tony Brown, Soccer Data. p. 81. ISBN 1-899468-78-1.
- ^ "BBC Sport". BBC News. 17 August 2004. Retrieved 20 November 2007.
- ^ "Nickson, George (NK884G)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
- ^ "Parker, William Alonzo". Who's Who. ukwhoswho.com. A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc. (subscription or UK public library membership required)
- ^ "JPL Small-Body Database Browser". NASA. Retrieved 24 May 2008.
- ^ https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/nostalgia/2018/01/12/normans-jag-to-fetch-11-million/
Notas al pie
- ^ King's Arms (High St), Buck's Head (High St), Housmans (High St), Old Coopers Malt House (Shrewsbury Rd)
Otras lecturas
- My Story of St Dunstan's (1961) by Lord Fraser of Lonsdale
enlaces externos
- Church Stretton – official Town Council website
- The Stretton Focus website
- Extract from A History of the County of Shropshire: Volume 10 (1998)
- Open Domesday (Church) Stretton
- Geograph – SO4593