Whitchurch, Shropshire: Difference between revisions
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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*[http://www.gowhitchurch.co.uk Community and business portal for Whitchurch] |
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*[http://www.spiceheaven.co.uk] |
*[http://www.spiceheaven.co.uk] |
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*[http://www.webbaviation.co.uk/whitchurch/whitchurch.htm Aerial photographs of Whitchurch] |
*[http://www.webbaviation.co.uk/whitchurch/whitchurch.htm Aerial photographs of Whitchurch] |
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Revision as of 11:05, 24 May 2007
| Whitchurch | |
|---|---|
| Population | 8,907 |
| OS grid reference | SJ541415 |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | WHITCHURCH |
| Postcode district | SY13 |
| Dialling code | 01948 |
| Police | West Mercia |
| Fire | Shropshire |
| Ambulance | West Midlands |
| UK Parliament | |
Whitchurch is a market town in North Shropshire, England. It is the oldest continually inhabited town in Shropshire.[1] According to the 2001 Census the population of the town is 8,673. A more recent estimate puts the population of the town at 8,907 [1].
History
Roman times
Originally a settlement founded by the Romans around AD 52 or 70, it was called Mediolanum, meaning The place in the middle of the plain. The settlement was located on a major Roman route between Chester and Wroxeter and Roman artifacts can be seen at the Whitchurch Heritage Centre.[2]
Later times
The current name comes from White church, and refers to a church (from Norman times) made from white stone. As might be expected, there are other Whitchurch's in England. The current church of St Alkmund, built in 1712 using sandstone, stands on the site of the Norman church.
Transport
Whitchurch is a crossroads for roads from Nantwich, Chester and Shrewsbury with the A41/A49 bypass opening in 1992. Whitchurch railway station is on the line from Crewe down the English side of the Welsh border (the Welsh Marches Line) towards Cardiff. Whitchurch has its own short arm of the Llangollen Canal but is not a key stopping lace for boaters as the arm stops about a mile short of the town centre.
Residents
Whitchurch is the home of the JB Joyce tower clocks company, established in 1690, who are the oldest tower clock-making company in the world,[3] and have earned Whitchurch the reputation as the Home of tower clocks. Joyce's timepieces can be found as far as Singapore and Kabul, while they also helped to build Big Ben in London.
Famous residents include composer Sir Edward German, who was born in the town and is buried in the local cemetery. Sir Henry Percy - aka Sir Harry Hotspur, who was the inspiration in the naming of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club - was killed at the Battle of Shrewsbury and buried in Whitchurch only for his body to be later exhumed and quartered.
Sir John Talbot, a military commander who fought Joan of Arc, is buried under the porch of Saint Alkmunds church.[4] Talbot is a major character in William Shakespeare's Henry VI, Part I, and the local secondary school is named after him.
Victorian illustrator Randolph Caldecott lived in the town for several years and many of the town's buildings feature in his work. Bestselling author Kate Long also lives in Whitchurch.[5]
Whitchurch Alport Football Club
| File:Whitchurch Alport Crest.gif | |||
| Full name | Whitchurch Alport Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1948 | ||
| Ground | Yockings Park, Whitchurch | ||
| Chairman |  John Allman | ||
| Manager | Andy Allmark | ||
| League | Mid Cheshire Football League Division Two | ||
| 2005-06 | Division Two, | ||
|
| |||
The local football club based in Whitchurch. It is one of the founder members of the Mid Cheshire Football League and currently plays in Division Two of that league.
Alport's home colours are all red and its away colours are sky blue shirts and socks with navy blue shorts.
Miscellaneous
- Whitchurch is twinned with the French town of Neufchatel-en-Bray.
- The civil parish which constitutes the town is Whitchurch Urban - see also Whitchurch Rural.
whitchurch also has the finest indian restaurant called the Spice Heaven on Station Road serving the worlds largest naan breads, never seen anywhere else .
References
- ^ "Whitchurch town guide". BBC. 2005-04-14. Retrieved 2006-07-13.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Whitchurch Heritage Centre". Shropshire Tourism. Retrieved 2006-07-13.
- ^ "Warriors and Worthies". North Shropshire Tourism. Retrieved 2006-07-13.
- ^ "Town Guides - Whitchurch". Shropshire Star. 2004-05-04. Retrieved 2006-07-13.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Novelists heading to town". Shropshire Star. 2006-05-27. Retrieved 2006-07-13.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)