Church Stretton, Market town in Shropshire, England
Church Stretton is a market town nestled between the Long Mynd plateau and Caer Caradoc hill, where independent shops and traditional stone buildings line the main streets. The town sits within a narrow valley floor framed by wooded slopes on either side.
The settlement received a market charter from King John in 1214, establishing a weekly Thursday market that continues operating today. This early royal recognition helped the town grow as a trading hub for the surrounding region.
The woolen mills that once operated here shaped how local people worked and lived for generations. You can still explore these mills today and see how they connected the town to the wider textile trade across Britain.
The town is well served by train connections to Shrewsbury and Ludlow, while a National Trust visitor center in Carding Mill Valley offers information and refreshments. Most shops and attractions are walkable from the town center, and the surrounding hills offer numerous hiking trails.
The Stretton Gap displays the greatest variety of rock types found in any comparable area across the United Kingdom. Geologists and nature enthusiasts visit the surrounding hills to study these unusual stone formations and geological layers.
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