Whitchurch, Shropshire

Originally a settlement founded by the Romans around 70AD, 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]

The current name comes from White church, a common place name in England, which refers to an old church from Norman times made from white stone. The current church of Saint Alkmunds, built in 1712 using sandstone, stands on the site of the Norman church.

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. The Llangollen Canal can be found one mile from the town centre.

According to the 2001 Census the population of the town is 8067. ^[3]

[edit] 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^[4], 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. ^[5] 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. ^[6]

[edit] 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.

[edit] References

^ "Whitchurch town guide", BBC, 2005-04-14. Retrieved on 2006-07-13.
^ "Whitchurch Heritage Centre", Shropshire Tourism. Retrieved on 2006-07-13.
^ "2001 Census Population Information", Shropshire County Council. Retrieved on 2006-07-13.
^ "Warriors and Worthies", North Shropshire Tourism. Retrieved on 2006-07-13.
^ "Town Guides - Whitchurch", Shropshire Star, 2004-05-04. Retrieved on 2006-07-13.
^ "Novelists heading to town", Shropshire Star, 2006-05-27. Retrieved on 2006-07-13.

[edit] External links

Ceremonial county of Shropshire
Unitary authorities:	Telford and Wrekin
Boroughs/Districts:	Bridgnorth • North Shropshire • Oswestry • Shrewsbury and Atcham • South Shropshire
Cities/Towns:	Bishop's Castle • Bridgnorth • Broseley • Church Stretton • Cleobury Mortimer • Clun • Craven Arms • Dawley • Ellesmere • Ludlow • Madeley • Market Drayton • Much Wenlock • Newport • Oakengates • Oswestry • Shifnal • Shrewsbury • Telford • Wellington • Wem • Whitchurch See also: List of civil parishes in Shropshire