Crudgington

Crudgington
Church of St. Mary, Crudgington
Crudgington  Crudgington shown within Shropshire
OS grid reference	SJ6318
Shire county	Shropshire
Region	West Midlands
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Telford
Dialling code	01952
Police	West Mercia
Fire	Shropshire
Ambulance	West Midlands
EU Parliament	West Midlands
UK Parliament	The Wrekin
List of places UK England Shropshire

Crudgington is a village in the borough of Telford and Wrekin and ceremonial county of Shropshire, England. It is situated in the civil parish of Waters Upton, a village to the north, and is 7 miles north-west of Telford. Nearby is the confluence of the rivers Tern and Strine; the village lies at an elevation of 55 metres (180 ft).

History

Crudgington is mentioned in the Domesday Book, where it is called Crugetone. Its lord was Robert Butler, under Earl Roger, who had 1½ hides of land under cultivation, one plough and three serfs. Also living there were nine villagers, two smallholders and a freeman with three ploughs. There were four fisheries here and it provided a payment of £4 and 1000 eels.^[1][2]

By 1269, the village had passed into the hands of Shrewsbury Abbey. In 1285, it is recorded as part of the manor of Slepe.^[3]

After the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the village became part of the Lilleshall estate and their landlords, who later became the Dukes of Sutherland were responsible for building several of the houses in the village, including Leasowes Farm (dated 1817) and Tern Farm.^[1][4]

Transport

On 16 October 1867, the Wellington and Market Drayton Railway line from Wellington to Market Drayton was opened, which included a station at Crudgington. However, lack of use forced the line to close to passenger traffic on 9 September 1963, and to freight four years later.^[5]

The A442 road from Telford to Whitchurch and B5062 road from Newport to Shrewsbury cross at Crudgington. As well as private and commercial traffic, they are used by local bus services 341, 342, 519, 820, WR2 and WR3.^[6]

Landmarks

The Dairy Crest Creamery at Crudgington

There is a large dairy factory and creamery in Crudgington. It was originally formed as a co-operative in the 1920s, then taken over in 1935 by the Milk Marketing Board and now operates under the Dairy Crest name, producing butter and Clover and Willow spreads. There is also a research and development department. The factory employs about 300 people.^[1]

Also notable is the small local church, built in 1863 by J. L. Randal and dedicated to St. Mary. It is a member of the Church of England and a daughter church of the parish of High Ercall, usually holding services twice per month. It has a wooden bell chamber and spirelet.^[7][4]

Crudgington Primary School

There is a primary school, with 116 students (2008 figure) ranging in age from 3 to 11. It is a non-denominational, mixed-sex school.^[8]

In popular culture

In Bill Tidy's long-running cartoon published in the monthly Campaign for Real Ale newsletter, a fictional Crudgington Brewery is a regular feature, as the beer of choice ("Crudgington's") of the strip's main character. It is a regional family brewery, with a similar presentation as the non-fictional Bodington's brand.^[10]

Notes

Confluence of the rivers Strine (foreground) and Tern near Crudgington

References

• Raven, Michael (2005), A Guide to Shropshire 
• Oppitz, Leslie (2006), Lost Railways of Shropshire 
• Eyton, Robert W. (1854), Antiquities of Shropshire 
• Leonard, John (2004), Churches of Shropshire and their Treasures 
• Thorn, Frank & Caroline (editors) (1986), Domesday Book (Shropshire) 
• Newman, John; Pevsner, Nikolaus (2006), The Buildings of England: Shropshire 

External links

Media related to Crudgington at Wikimedia Commons