Lapley, Stretton and Wheaton Aston Parish Council
General Information
|
Population |
| Total Population |
2,529 (2004 Estimate) |
| No. Over 60 |
19.5% |
| No. Under 18 |
23.3% |
| No. BME |
Below 2.4% |
| Indices of Deprivation |
|
| Area KM2 |
5,463 |
| Population Density KM2 |
0.462 |
| Financial
Information |
| Annual Budget |
£43,200 |
| Annual Precept |
£33,000.00 |
| Grants Received |
|
| Spending per Resident |
|
| Average Council Tax Brand |
£33.64 |
Lapley, Stretton & Wheaton Aston As It Is Now
The Parish of Lapley, Stretton & Wheaton Aston is situated
to the north of South Staffordshire with the A5 as its southern
boundary. Of the three villages Wheaton Aston is the largest
with approximately 800 houses, having been developed from the mid
sixties.
The village has a few shops, post office, restaurants and
pubs, doctors surgery, first school, children’s play area and
village hall. Local organisations including brownies, guides,
sea scouts, and youth clubs exist for younger members of the
community along with WI, Wives groups, keep fit and yoga classes,
and many sports groups.
St Mary’s Church is a grade II* listed building in the village
conservation area. The Shropshire Union canal passes to the
north of the village.
Lapley is a compact village of around 80 houses. It is a
pretty village mostly covered by a conservation area centred around
the village green. All Saints Church is a grade I listed
building. Lapley has an active residents group who organise
local events. The village has been a winner in South
Staffordshire in the Best Kept Village competition on many
occasions.
Stretton has changed very little over the past 50 years.
Stretton Hall is a grade II* listed building and its grounds are
designated as Historic Parkland. Vernon Lodge Preparatory
School and Kindergarten now occupies the site of the old village
school.
Brief History Of Lapley, Stretton & Wheaton Aston
Lapley is mentioned in the Domesday Book. One of the
earliest events was the foundation of Lapley Priory in about
1162. During the English Civil War there was a skirmish when
Lapley House, which was garrisoned by the Parliamentarians, was
seized by Royalists from nearby Chillington. This event was
commemorated in 1993 to celebrate the 350th anniversary
with a re-enactment staged by members of the Sealed Knot
Society.
Stretton has Roman remains and is thought to be the site of
the roman settlement Pennocrucium. Remains of a roman fort
are to be found at Stretton Mill. Thomas Telford’s Shropshire
Union Canal was opened in 1835 and the aquaduct dated 1832 crosses
the A5 (Watling Street) in Stretton. Stretton Hall is the
seat of the Monckton family, who bought it in the latter
18th century.
Mrs Anne Monckton built the village school in 1860 to house 40
children. In 1885 it was enlarged to take 70. The
population of Stretton fell following the First World War when many
local lives were lost and the way of life changed.
In 1777 there was a major fire in Wheaton Aston in which 19
thatched houses were consumed, from that time on there has never
been another thatched house in the village. Wheaton Aston was
famous for the quality of its hay, and is also the most northerly
site where the Snakes Head Fritillary, locally known as the
Folfalarum, grows.
The earliest record of Lapley Parish Council, which included
Wheaton Aston, is the signing of the declaration of office by the
first six Councillors on 20 December 1894. Stretton had its
own parish council established in 1945, but in 1986 was merged with
Lapley to from Lapley and Stretton; Wheaton Aston was added to the
title in 1990. The Parish was twinned with Wheaton, Illinois
in March 1990.
Links
External Link: Lapley, Stretton and Wheaton
Aston Parish Council
Contact Details
for the Parish Chairmen & Clerk