Cressage
Cressage is a village and civil parish in Shropshire, England. It lies on the junction of the A458 and B4380 roads and the River Severn flows around its northern boundary. The Royal Mail postcode begins SY5. The parish council is combined with the neighbouring parish of Sheinton. The number of people on Census Day, 21 March 2021: 730. History
The village is mentioned in the Domesday Book under the name Christesache. The meaning is "Christ's Oak", and this over time has been corrupted to form the word "Cressage". The oak tree was part of a forest (which no longer exists), and a cutting from it was planted near the village in 1616. This was later relocated due to railway construction. In 584, Saint Augustine reputedly preached under the Cressage Oak. On 30 June 2012, the Olympic torch passed through the village on its way to London. Geography
The Severn Valley Railway once ran through the village calling at Cressage railway station, before the section between Shrewsbury and Bridgnorth was dismantled. The village lies on the intersection of the A458 and the B4380, near to the River Severn. Cressage is 4 miles to the northwest of the nearest town Much Wenlock and is 8 miles southeast of Shrewsbury. Cressage Bridge lies several hundred metres north of the village and carries the B4380 road over the River Severn. Designed by L.G. Mouchel and built in 1913, it has a hollow construction of reinforced concrete and a span of . There are two hexagonal brick pill boxes, one on each side of the river, constructed during the Second World War to defend the bridge in the event of enemy invasion. The parish's war memorial, in the form of a granite 'wheel' or Celtic cross, stands at the village's main road junction on the A458. Amenities
Cressage had a public house, "The Eagles" which was shut down early 2008, but reopened December 2009. It was once again shut down in early 2015 and sold at auction. It currently remains closed. The ancient church in Cressage was a chapelry of Cound and was dedicated to St Sampson. Its position close to the river made it liable to flooding and so in 1841 it was replaced by the present building sited somewhat farther from the water. The exact whereabouts of the original church are lost. Anglican church, "Christ Church" is on Harley Road, A458. It holds infrequent services, is normally locked, and is currently in the process of closure. However, burials continue in the graveyard. There is a primary school, village hall, village shop, social club, and a medical practice. Notable people
Among the village's well-known inhabitants was Admiral Sir Herbert Annesley Packer, who was born in the village on 9 October 1894. See also
Listed buildings in Cressage

References

External links

Populated places on the River Severn
Villages in Shropshire
Civil parishes in Shropshire