Cressage
Cressage | |
---|---|
![]() The "Lady Oak" at Cressage | |
![]() ![]() Cressage Location within Shropshire | |
Population | 707 (2011)[1] |
OS grid reference | SJ590041 |
Civil parish |
|
Unitary authority | |
Ceremonial county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | Shrewsbury |
Postcode district | SY5 |
Dialling code | 01952 |
Police | West Mercia |
Fire | Shropshire |
Ambulance | West Midlands |
UK Parliament | |
Cressage is a village and civil parish in Shropshire, England. It lies on the junction of the A458 and roads and the River Severn flows around its northern boundary. The Royal Mail postcode begins SY5.[2] The parish council is combined with the neighbouring parish of Sheinton.
History[]
The village is mentioned in the Domesday Book under the name Christesache. The meaning is "Christ's Oak", and this over time has been corrupted to form the word "Cressage".[3] The oak tree was part of a forest (which no longer exists), and a cutting from it was planted near the village in 1616. This was later relocated due to railway construction.[4]
In 584, Saint Augustine reputedly preached under the Cressage Oak.[4]
On 30 June 2012, the Olympic torch passed through the village on its way to London.
Geography[]
The Severn Valley Railway once ran through the village calling at Cressage railway station, before the section between Shrewsbury and Bridgnorth was dismantled.[5] The village lies on the intersection of the A458 and the , near to the River Severn. Cressage is 4 miles to the northwest of the nearest town Much Wenlock and is 8 miles southeast of Shrewsbury.
Cressage Bridge lies several hundred metres north of the village and carries the B4380 road over the River Severn. Designed by L.G. Mouchel and built in 1913, it has a hollow construction of reinforced concrete and a span of 170 feet (52 metres).[6] There are two hexagonal brick pill boxes, one on each side of the river, constructed during the Second World War to defend the bridge in the event of enemy invasion.
The parish's war memorial, in the form of a granite 'wheel' or Celtic cross, stands at the village's main road junction on the A458.[7]
Amenities[]
Cressage had a public house, "The Eagles" which was shut down early 2008, but reopened December 2009. It was once again shut down in early 2015 and sold at auction. It currently remains closed.
The Anglican church, "Christ Church" holds regular services.
There is a small village store and a health centre.
Notable people[]
Among the village's well-known inhabitants was Admiral Sir Herbert Annesley Packer, who was born in the village on 9 October 1894.[8]
See also[]
References[]
- ^ "Civil Parish population 2011".
- ^ "Information on Cressage". postcode-info.co.uk. Retrieved 4 May 2008.
- ^ Gelling, Margaret (1990). The place-names of Shropshire. English Place-Name Society. p. 103. ISBN 978-0-904889-14-7.
- ^ a b Raven, Michael (2005). A Guide to Shropshire. p. 64. ISBN 0-906114-34-9. Retrieved 4 May 2008.
- ^ "History". Severn Valley Railway. Archived from the original on 29 April 2008. Retrieved 4 May 2008.
- ^ "Shropshire Bridge".
- ^ Francis, Peter (2013). Shropshire War Memorials, Sites of Remembrance. YouCaxton. p. 129. ISBN 978-1-909644-11-3.
- ^ "Herbert Packer". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 4 May 2008.
External links[]
Media related to Cressage at Wikimedia Commons
- Populated places on the River Severn
- Villages in Shropshire
- Civil parishes in Shropshire
- Shropshire geography stubs