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The Parish of Minsterley
The village of Minsterley has a long history, having developed from early beginnings as a small hamlet and agricultural community, through the growth in population that accompanied the mining activities in the area to its present status as the major centre of employment in the Rea Valley area.

The village is situated in the wide Rea Valley close to Callow Hill and the Stiperstones and on the main A488 Shrewsbury to Knighton road; at one time the village was also a railhead. Minsterley brook fed from the Stiperstones, runs through the village centre.

Minsterley Hall is a Tudor country house of some note that has recently been restored. Outlying areas include Horsebridge, Etsell, Plox Green,Wagbeach and Waterwheel.

A substantial number of the local population work for the two firms which are the main employers in the village. These are the Minsterley Creamery of Eden Vale employing over 50 people and Rea Valley Foods; other significant employers are David Davies and Sons, egg producers, Hillcrest Manor Nursing Home and the Malthouse Veterinary Surgery. There are fewer shops than in times gone by however Minsterley and Pontesbury are is still better served than many rural communities.

There is a fire stat6ionn in the village with a retained crew; the area Police station is in Pontesbury where there is a Medical Centre and a Dental surgery.

Village amenities include a primary school, two public houses ('The Crown and Sceptre'- one of the oldest buildings in the village, and the 'Bridge Hotel'), a petrol station/supermarket, post office, florist, and fish and chip shop. The Parish Hall is one of the largest village halls in Shropshire and is the venue for the annual Eisteddfod which held its 47th anniversary in 2009.

The area adjacent to the 'Crown and Sceptre' public house was where the annual Hiring Fair was held in the late 19th Century. Young people, of work age, would be hired by local landowners for the year in return for an agreed sum of money to be paid at the following year's fair.

Minsterley's Heritage
Minsterley is a village with a long history;in spite of its recent growth and industrial sites, it retains some interesting historic buildings. The Tudor Minsterley Hall and the parish church are prime examples. The parish church of Holy Trinity is a most unusal building; dating from 1692, it was built by the Thynne family of Longleat and houses an internationally famous collection of 18th century 'maidens garlands'. The exterior of the west end of the church is notable for the stonework memento more, which include skull and cross bones and hour glasses.
Local Toll houses dated from the establishment and improvement of the turnpike network, the one in the centre of the village is of particular interest;in addition, there is a Victorian cast iron urinal in the village square.

The Minsterley branch line which was built as a joint GWR/LNWR line, opened on 14 February 1862. This railway line ran nine and a half miles from Shrewsbury via Cruckmeole Junction near Hanwood to the stations at Plealey Road, Pontesbury and finally the terminus at Minsterley. The creation of the line enabled milk to be transported by rail from the large creamery at Minsterley and lead ore to be transported from the nearby mines at Snailbeach. At one time the terminus in Minsterley boasted a milk wharf, goods shed, cattle and horse docks and numerous sidings; the line closed in May 1967.