Whitchurch
Whitchurch is a town in the West Midlands region of England. It is part of the county of Shropshire and is considered to be the oldest town in the county that has been continually inhabited over the centuries. Part of the Llangollen Canal runs close to the town.
The name of Whitchurch is held to come from Norman times where it was used in reference to a white church that stood in the town. The town was originally called Mediolanum (the place in the middle of a plain) by Roman settlers. The Romans settled here because the town was located on a Roman road that connected Chester and Wroxeter. At some periods of history the town was also often referred to as Westune.
In the early 1400s Sir Henry Percy (the famous Hotspur of Shakespeare’s plays) was killed at the Battle of Shrewsbury which took place close to the town. His body was buried for a period of time at St Alkmund’s church in Whitchurch. The town was also badly damaged at around this period by Welsh invaders.
In terms of industry and commerce Whitchurch is perhaps best known for its associations with the JB Joyce company. This company makes tower clocks and was first started in the late 1600s - it is considered to be one of (if not the) oldest tower clock making concern of its kind in the world. The company, for example, played a part in the building of Big Ben in London.
A visit to the Whitchurch Heritage Centre is a good way to learn more about the town and its history. The centre, for example, has some local Roman artefacts on display. The church of St Alkmund is also worth a visit. This church was built in the 1700s but is thought to stand on the site of the original Norman church of the town. The town also holds an annual festival in St Alkmund’s church to commemorate the composer, Sir Edward German, who was born in Whitchurch. German is perhaps best known for his composition Merrie England.
Walkers often also enjoy a visit to Whitchurch. The town’s Jubilee Park is used as a base for five long distance local walks including the well known Shropshire Way. This is one of the best ways to see the stretch of the Llangollen Canal close to the town. The Grindley Brook staircase locks are also a little farther afield on this route. The town also organises a series of Town Trails which may be of interest to visitors.
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