Albrighton, Bridgnorth

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude= 52.6344
longitude= -2.2770
official_name= Albrighton
population = 4,157
shire_district= Bridgnorth
shire_county = Shropshire
region= West Midlands
constituency_westminster= The Wrekin
post_town= Wolverhampton
postcode_district = WV7
postcode_area= WV
dial_code= 01902
os_grid_reference= SJ812041

Albrighton is a large village (population 4157 in the 2001 census) in the Bridgnorth district of Shropshire, England. It is located to the northwest of Wolverhampton and is best described as a dormitory village for the city.

The village has a railway station, which is on the Shrewsbury to Wolverhampton Line. Very close by is RAF Cosford.The village is the most easterly settlement in Shropshire.

History

Mentioned in the Domesday book as "Albricston" or the home/farm of Albric, it received its charter in 1303, which was renewed in 1662 for rather unusual reasons. The charter declared that "because Albrighton (then) adjoined Staffordshire on the east, south and west sides, felons and other malefactors fled Staffordshire to escape prosecution because there was no resident justice of the peace in that part of Shropshire".

The parish church, dedicated to Mary Magdalene was completed in around 1181, and some rebuilding work was done in 1853. It is built of red sandstone in the Norman style. The church contains an Alabaster monument to Sir Craig Wilson, as well as the Albrighton Mace donated to the village in 1663, by Lady Mary Talbot. The east window of the church dates from the 14th century.

Trivia

In the summer of 2006, Albrighton hit the headlines when a storm broke out and the village was flooded badly. Some residents had to leave their homes until the houses could be repaired.

In a recent poll by Axm-mag and Divamag magazines Albrighton was polled to have had, per head, one of the highest rates of homosexuality and the biggest underground gay scene in Shropshire.

Whilst writing the book 'The Old Curiosity Shop', it is rumoured that Charles Dickens wrote about Tong Church whilst staying at the Public House now known as The Harp

In 1992 (09/10/1992) Anneka Rice and the Challenge Anneka series came to Albrighton and created a Disabled fishing pool.

Education

The village has a surprisingly large (for its size) selection of schools, as per the following list:

*Albrighton and Donington Nursery,
*St Mary's Church of England Primary School, (Web site:) [http://www.st-mary-albrighton.shropshire.sch.uk]
*St. Mary's Nursery,
*The Old School House Nursery
*Albrighton Primary School (Formally Albrighton Infant and Junior School)

Amenities

The village also has several pubs, including:

*The Old Bush, Albrighton
*The Shrewsbury Arms (Currently Closed)
*The Crown
*The Harp

and various social clubs including

*Albrighton Sports and Social Club
*Albrighton Royal British Legion

External links

* [http://www.albrighton.org.uk Albrighton Community Portal & Albrighton Email Service ]