Church Stretton is a market community in Shropshire, England, 13 miles (21 km) south of Shrewsbury as well as 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, as well as came to be a health resort. The neighborhood geology consists of several of the earliest rocks in England as well as a significant mistake is called after the town. Today, Church Stretton is a hectic market community in the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The mineral water extraction and bottling plant on Shrewsbury Road (understood in your area as the 'Pop Works'), has actually been running since 1883; because 2004 it has given Princes with mineral water. It is a significant local employer as is the polymer labs off Essex Road, currently possessed by Agilent Technologies (up until 2009 by Varian). There is an assigned light industrial park in between the A49 as well as the train line, known as Crossways, with a number of services, a number of which are in the motoring profession, consisting of an independent petrol/diesel filling terminal. The community take advantage of tourist, which is a development sector in the location, along with drawing in neighborhood profession. A recent survey revealed that the town has some 50 retail electrical outlets, 44 of which are independently had, with a varied series of store types. [48] These consist of 2 butchers, several outside activities stores, a baker, a deli, several clothes and also shoe stores, three banks, and also 2 grocery stores (Co-op as well as Spar). There is a huge antiques market, positioned in a former malthouse on the corner of Sandford Avenue and Easthope Road. There are 4 clubs, an along with a number of cafes and little dining establishments. In June 2011 the community was formally declared to be a "Fairtrade Town" with 34 companies marketing fair trade products. There is a small art gallery in the previous resort on the edge of Shrewsbury Road and Sandford Avenue. The community additionally has a number of expert solutions, such as lawyers, accountants and estate representatives, confirming its standing as a local centre of company. The town remains to take advantage of its online reputation as a day spa community, and also a preferable place to live, specifically in retirement. Home costs are above the county standard and have actually seen similar increases in recent times to other medical spa communities in the UK.