Village in country's top 20
A small Shropshire town has been ranked in the top 20 most sought after villages in England and Wales. A small Shropshire town has been ranked in the top 20 most sought after villages in England and Wales. Much Wenlock has been listed in the top 20 of the most sought after villages to live in the country in a poll reported by Timesonline and conducted by Savills. The report claims that as city life becomes ever more stressful, country life is an idyll more people want to experience. Shropshire was listed as being one of the more affordable rural village locations to buy a property. Read the full story in today's Shropshire Star
A small Shropshire town has been ranked in the top 20 most sought after villages in England and Wales.Much Wenlock has been listed in the top 20 of the most sought after villages to live in the country in a poll reported by Timesonline and conducted by Savills.
The report claims that as city life becomes ever more stressful, country life is an idyll more people want to experience.
New figures from Hamptons, a nationwide estate agency, revealed that the number of Londoners chasing village homes had almost tripled in three years.
The figures go from 13.4 per cent of all prospective buyers in 2005 to 35.7 per cent this month.
Savills estimated that a home in a top 20 village costs about 40 per cent more than the average for that region.
Shropshire was listed as being one of the more affordable rural village locations to buy a property.
Overall, the most sought-after villages have seen average price growth of 67 per cent in the past five years.
Kate Gordon, planning officer at the Campaign to Protect Rural England, said: "Unless we act now, in a generation rural communities will become places where only the rich are able to live - to the detriment of the health, vitality and economy of the countryside."
Much Wenlock councillor Dave Gibbon, said: "I'm extremely pleased to hear that Much Wenlock has been included in the report but I am certainly not surprised."
Much ado about Wenlock:
Within half-an-hour of two major hospitals, the Princess Royal at Telford and the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.
Easy access to major Shropshire towns - Telford, Shrewsbury and Bridgnorth.
Has all necessary facilities, including bars, restaurants, shops.
Population of about 2,700 with the possibility of expanding.
Secondary and primary schools in the town - William Brookes School and Much Wenlock Primary School.
The home of the man who inspired the modern day Olympics - Dr William Penny Brookes.
Has a bi-annual summer festival - Much Wenlock Festival.
Holy Trinity Church is in centre of the town.
Low crime rate.
