Craven Arms facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Craven Arms |
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 Corvedale Road |
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 Craven Arms
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| Population | 2,289 |
| OS grid reference | SO432828 |
| Civil parish |
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| Unitary authority |
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| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | CRAVEN ARMS |
| Postcode district | SY7 |
| Dialling code | 01588 |
| Police | West Mercia |
| Fire | Shropshire |
| Ambulance | West Midlands |
| EU Parliament | West Midlands |
| UK Parliament |
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| Website | https://visitcravenarms.co.uk/ |
Craven Arms is a busy market town in Shropshire, England. It sits right on the A49 road and the Welsh Marches railway line. These important routes connect it to bigger towns like Shrewsbury in the north and Ludlow in the south.
The town is surrounded by beautiful nature. To the north, you'll find the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a special area of stunning landscapes. To the south is Stokesay Castle, an old, strong manor house that looks like a castle. Craven Arms is a central spot for the countryside around it. It has many shops, a supermarket, and various businesses. It's also a great place for visitors, with several attractions nearby. The town proudly calls itself the Gateway to the Marches.
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How Craven Arms Began
Craven Arms is quite a new town compared to many others in Shropshire. On a map from 1695, it was just a tiny village called Newton. The town really started to grow when the railway station opened in the mid-1800s. This made it a "railway town," meaning its growth was linked to the trains.
The southeastern part of the town is still known as Newton or Newtown. The northern part used to be called Newington or New Inn, which was another small village before the town grew. The town got its name from the Craven Arms Hotel. This hotel was located where the A49 road meets the B4368 road. The hotel itself was named after the Lords Craven, who owned the nearby Stokesay Castle.
In 1987, the area of Craven Arms became an official civil parish. This happened when two older parishes, Stokesay and Halford, joined together.
Where is Craven Arms?
Craven Arms is located in a lovely part of Shropshire. Nearby towns include Bishop's Castle, Clun, Church Stretton, and Ludlow. Ludlow is the largest of these, with about 10,000 people.
The River Onny flows just to the east of the town. On the other side of the river is the small village of Halford. To the south, you'll find the village of Stokesay, and to the north is the village of Wistanstow. A famous ridge called Wenlock Edge is located to the northeast of the town. It stretches towards Much Wenlock.
Getting Around Craven Arms
The Craven Arms railway station is an important transport hub. It's where the Welsh Marches Line and the Heart of Wales Line meet. The station is about 32 kilometers (20 miles) south of Shrewsbury. All passenger trains that stop here are run by Transport for Wales, who also manage the station.
Most trains travel between places like Carmarthen, Cardiff Central, Hereford, Shrewsbury, Crewe, and Manchester Piccadilly. There are also some trains that go north to Holyhead and southwest to Llandrindod. If you prefer buses, Minsterley Motors operates two bus routes. These routes connect Craven Arms with Ludlow, Church Stretton, Shrewsbury, and Pontesbury.
Fun Places to Visit
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There are three main attractions in the Craven Arms area that visitors enjoy.
- Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre: Located right in town, this center has exciting exhibits about the geography and nature of Shropshire. It's a great place to learn about the local area.
- Stella Mitchell's Land of Lost Content Museum: This unique museum is also in town. It's filled with a huge collection of items from the 20th century, bringing back memories for older visitors and showing younger ones what life was like in the past.
- Stokesay Castle: Just south of the town, this is a fortified manor house. It's a very old and well-preserved building that gives you a glimpse into medieval times.
Churches and Religious Sites
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Craven Arms has several places of worship. The main Anglican church is St Thomas. It's a beautiful, historic building located just outside the town in the village of Halford. Another important church is the Church of St John the Baptist, Stokesay, which is south of the town near Stokesay Castle.
In the town center, you'll find St Andrews Community Church, which is a non-denominational Christian church. There is also a Methodist church and a Jehovah's Witnesses Kingdom Hall. A small Islamic center is located on Newton Street in the town. This is the only mosque in the immediate Shropshire Hills area.
New Developments in Town
Craven Arms has been growing and changing a lot recently. The local council had plans for the town to become the second main market town in the area (after Ludlow) by 2026.
Much of the new homes have been built on the west side of town. New businesses and shops are appearing more on the northern end. Building to the east is limited because of the River Onny's floodplain. To the south, new buildings are restricted because of the important historical site of Stokesay Castle.
The town center itself has also seen some updates. New commercial buildings have been built on Dale Street, near the A49 road. Also, the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, which opened in 2001, is just south of the town center, along with some new houses.
Famous People from Craven Arms
- Brian Farley (1927–1962) was a professional footballer born in Craven Arms. He played for teams like Chelmsford City and Tottenham Hotspur.
Craven Arms in Books and Movies
- The famous writer Bruce Chatwin wrote his book On the Black Hill while staying near Craven Arms at Cwm Hall.
- Part of the movie Atonement was filmed at Stokesay Court, which is about three miles south of Craven Arms.
Images for kids
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The entire town as viewed from the east.
See also
In Spanish: Craven Arms para niños
