Civic Centre, High St, Whitchurch - 01948 665761 info@whitchurchcouncil.uk

Originally a settlement founded by the Romans around AD 52 or 70, it was called Mediolanum, meaning The place in the middle of the plain. The settlement was located on a major Roman route between Chester and Wroxeter and Roman artifacts can be seen at the Whitchurch Heritage Centre.

The current name comes from White Church which refers to a church from Norman times made from white stone. As might be expected, there are other towns of the same name Whitchurch in England. The current church of St Alkmund, built in 1712 using sandstone, stands on the site of the Norman church.

Whitchurch is the home of the JB Joyce tower clocks company, established in 1690, the oldest tower-clock making company in the world, earning Whitchurch the reputation as the Home of tower clocks. Joyce's timepieces can be found as far afield as Singapore and Kabul; and helped to build Big Ben in London.

Famous residents of the town include composer Sir Edward German, who was born in the town in what is now a pub - The Old Town Hall Vaults. He is buried in the local cemetery and commemorated in the naming of a local street. Locally a televised festival - the Sir Edward German Music Festival - is hosted by St Alkmund's and St John's churches is held at Sir John Talbot's Technology College. The first festival was held in 2006 and the second is believed to have been held in April 2009. Participants include local choirs alongside participants from local primary schools including Prees, Lower Heath and White House, as well as internationally acclaimed musicians and orchestras. Former NBA star Daniel Franey now resides in the town. He is well know with the locals for his eccentric hairstyles as well as his popular home made jam. Victorian illustrator Randolph Caldecott lived in the town for several years and many of the town buildings feature in his work. Best selling author Kate Long moved to Whitchurch in 1990.

Sir Henry Percy - aka Sir Harry Hotspur - the inspiration for the naming of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club - was killed at the Battle of Shrewsbury and buried in Whitchurch; only for his body to be later exhumed and quartered. Also buried in Whitchurch is Sir John Talbot, a military commander who fought Joan of Arc. His remains are buried under the porch of St Alkmund's church. Talbot is a major character in William Shakespeare's Henry VI, Part I, and the local secondary school " Sir John Talbot's" is named after him.

Whitchurch - In 1199, the chuch built on the site of the former Roman town Mediolanum (in the middle of a plain) was know as Album (white) Monasterium. This was because it had been built partly of local white limestone, one of the first in the country not constructed of wood.