2009-02-27
A piece of Church Stretton’s history is saved for posterity

A rare piece of history has been found at a new affordable housing development in Church Stretton.

An Ordinance Survey flush bracket, which accurately measured height above sea level, and aided accurate mapping was fixed to the exterior wall of a building in Lutwyche Road. The bracket would have been used by early surveyors to calculate their exact location, aided by other visible markers called triangulation pillars. The bracket that is made of solid brass dates back to around the 1920s, and has its own unique serial number. Brackets like these would have, at one time been placed at one mile intervals.

The bracket was retrieved by S J Roberts Construction during the building of five affordable houses for South Shropshire Housing Association, and it is hoped that the bracket will one day form part of a display of artefacts from Church Stretton’s historic past. 

 
Darren Luter, Senior Development Officer for South Shropshire Housing Association said, “This is a very unique and rare find. We hope that this bracket is preserved for future generations.”

Image:  Receiving the bracket is Councillor Bob Welch, Mayor of Church Stretton(left), and Christine Harvey, Town Clerk for Church Stretton(right).Presenting the bracket is Russell Goodwin, Site Manager, S J Roberts Construction (centre).