Place:Cheshire, England

Watchers
NameCheshire
Alt namesChessource: postal abbreviation
Cheshsource: Curious Fox: UK Counties and Shires [online] (2002). accessed 16 Dec 2002
Chestersource: BHA, Authority file (2003-)
Chestershiresource: Curious Fox: UK Counties and Shires [online] (2002). accessed 16 Dec 2002
CHSsource: Chapman county code(GENUKI)
County of Chestersource: Wikipedia
Greater Manchestersource: Family History Library Catalog
TypeHistoric county, Administrative county, Modern county
Coordinates53°N 2.7°W
Located inEngland
See alsoGreater Manchester, Englandmetropolitan county with which various districts were transferred 1974
Merseyside, Englandmetropolitan county to which districts were transferred 1974
Contained Places
Area
Ashton upon Mersey
Civil parish
Mobberley
Estate
Woodhey
Former parish
Ashton upon Mersey
Inhabited place
Acton Bridge
Acton
Adlington
Alderley Edge
Aldford
Alsager
Altrincham
Alvanley
Anderton
Antrobus
Appleton
Arley
Ashley
Ashton
Aston
Backford
Barnston
Barnton
Barton
Bate Heath
Bebington ( - 1974 )
Beeston
Bewsey
Bickley
Bidston
Blackden Heath
Bollington
Bosley
Bostock Green
Bowdon
Bramhall
Bredbury
Bridge Trafford
Brinnington
Broadbottom
Broadheath
Broken Cross
Bromborough
Broxton
Bunbury
Burton
Byley
Caldy
Capenhurst
Carrington
Cheadle Hulme
Cheadle
Chelford
Chester
Childer Thornton
Cholmondeley
Christleton
Comber Mere
Comberbach
Compstall
Congleton
Cranage
Crewe
Croft
Crowton
Cuddington
Culcheth
Daresbury
Davenham
Dean Row
Delamere
Disley
Ditton
Dukinfield
Dunham Massey
Dunham-on-the-Hill
Dutton
Eastham
Eccleston ( - 1974 )
Egerton
Egremont
Ellesmere Port
Elton
Englesea-Brook
Farndon
Fearnhead
Foxwist Green
Frankby
Frodsham
Gatley
Gawsworth
Gayton
Gee Cross
Goostrey
Grange
Grappenhall
Greasby
Great Barrow
Great Budworth
Great Sankey
Great Sutton
Hale
Halebarns
Halton
Handforth
Hapsford
Hartford
Haslington
Hatchmere
Hattersley
Hatton
Hazel Grove
Heatley
Heaton Moor
Helsby
Henbury
Hermitage Green
Heswall
High Legh
Higher Walton
Higher Whitley
Hollingworth
Hollins Green
Holmes Chapel
Hooton
Houghton Green
Hurdsfield
Hyde
Ince
Irby
Kelsall
Kerridge
Kettleshulme
Kingsley
Kirkleyditch
Knolls Green
Knutsford
Lach Dennis
Langley
Latchford
Lawton
Ledsham
Little Budworth
Little Leigh
Little Stanney
Little Sutton
Lostock Gralam
Lower Peover
Lower Whitley
Lymm
Macclesfield
Malpas
Manley
Marple
Marston
Marthall
Martinscroft
Marton
Mellor
Mere
Mickle Trafford
Middlewich
Mobberley
Mollington
Monks Heath
Moore
Moreton
Morley Green
Mossley
Mottram in Longdendale
Mouldsworth
Moulton
Nantwich
Ness
Neston
Nether Alderley
New Brighton
New Ferry
Newton
No Man's Heath
Norley
Northwich
Norton
Oakgrove
Ollerton
Orford
Over
Oxton
Padgate
Parkgate
Partington
Pensby
Peover Heath
Pickmere
Picton
Plumley
Poole
Port Sunlight
Pott Shrigley
Poynton
Prenton
Prestbury
Preston on the Hill
Puddington
Raby
Rainow
Risley
Rock Ferry
Rode Heath
Romiley
Rostherne
Runcorn
Sale
Sandbach
Sandiway
Saughall
Seacombe
Shavington
Shotwick
Siddington
Stalybridge
Stanlow
Stockport ( - 1974 )
Stockton Heath
Storeton
Stretton
Styal
Sutton Lane Ends
Sutton Weaver
Sworton Heath
Tarporley
Tarvin
Tattenhall
Thelwall
Thornton Hough
Thornton-le-Moors
Thurstaston
Tilston
Timperley
Tranmere
Twiss Green
Tytherington
Upton Hall
Upton
Wallasey
Warburton
Wardle
Warren
Waverton
Weaverham
Wervin
West Kirby
Weston
Wharton
Wheelock
Whitby
Widnes
Wildboarclough
Willaston
Wilmslow
Wincham
Winnington
Winsford
Winwick
Withington Green
Woodford
Woolston
Wybunbury
Parish
Alderley
Audlem
Uninhabited place
Barrow
Unknown
Acton-Grange
Agden (near Altrincham)
Agden (near Whitchurch)
Aldersey
Allostock
Alpraham
Alvaston
Arclid
Arrow
Astbury
Aston-Grange
Aston-by-Budworth
Aston-by-Sutton
Aston-juxta-Mondrum
Austerson
Bache
Baddiley
Baddington
Baguley
Barthomley
Bartington
Basford
Batherton
Betchton
Bexton
Bickerton
Birches
Birkenhead
Birtles
Blackden
Blacon-cum-Crabhall
Blakenhall
Bollin-Fee
Bollington (near Macclesfield)
Bollington Cross
Bradley
Bradwall
Brereton-cum-Smethwick
Bridgemere
Brimstage
Brindley
Broomhall
Bruen-Stapleford
Bruera
Bucklow
Buerton
Buglawton
Bulkeley
Burland
Burley-Dam
Burton-by-Tarvin
Burwardsley
Butley
Byley-with-Yatehouse
Caldecott
Calveley
Capesthorne
Carden
Castle Hall
Castle-Northwich
Caughall
Cheadle-Bulkeley
Cheadle-Moseley
Checkley-cum-Wrinehill
Chidlow
Cholmondestone
Chorley (near Macclesfield)
Chorley (near Nantwich)
Chorlton (near Malpas)
Chorlton (near Nantwich)
Chorlton-by-Backford
Chowley
Church Minshull
Church-Lawton
Churton-by-Aldford
Churton-by-Farndon
Claughton-cum-Grange
Clifton
Clive
Clotton-Hoofield
Clutton
Coddington
Cogshall
Cool-Pilate
Coppenhall
Cotton
Cotton-Abbotts
Cotton-Edmunds
Croughton
Crowley
Croxton
Dane-Bridge
Darnhall
Davenport
Dodcot-cum-Wilkesley
Dodcott-cum-Wilkesley
Doddington
Doddleston
Duckington
Dudden
Duddon
Eaton (near Chester)
Eaton (near Congleton)
Eaton (near Northwich)
Eaton (near Tarporley)
Eddisbury
Edge
Edgeley
Edgerley
Edleston
Elworth
Etchells
Faddiley
Fallybroom
Foulk-Stapleford
Frandley
Frith
Frodsham Lordship
Fulshaw
Gloverstone
Godley
Golbourn Bellow
Golbourn-David
Goostrey-cum-Barnshaw
Grafton
Great Boughton
Great Meols
Great Mollington
Great Neston
Great Saughall
Great Stanney
Great Warford
Greavefold
Guilden-Sutton
Hampton
Handforth-with-Bosden
Handley
Hankelow
Hargrave
Harthill
Hassall Green
Hassall
Hatherlow
Hatherton
Hatton (near Tarporley)
Haughton
Henhull
Hockenhull
Hoole
Hoose
Horton
Horton-cum-Peel
Hough
Hulme Walfield
Hulme
Hulse
Hunsterson
Huntington
Hurleston
Huxley
Iddenshall
Iddinshall
Inferior Peover
Kekewick
Kermincham
Kinderton-with-Hulme
Kingsmarsh
Kingswood
Lache-with-Saltney
Landican
Larkton
Lea (near Chester)
Lea (near Nantwich)
Lea-Newbold
Leese
Leftwich
Leighton (near Crewe)
Leighton (near Great Neston)
Lindow
Liscard
Little Meols
Little Mollington
Little Neston
Little Saughall
Little Warford
Littleton
Low Oulton
Lower Kinnerton
Lower Walton
Lower Withington
Lyme Handley
Macclesfield Forest
Macefen
Marbury (near Crewe)
Marbury (near Northwich)
Marlston-cum-Leach
Marton (near Northwich)
Matley
Micklehurst
Millbrook
Millington
Minshull Vernon
Mooresbarrow-with-Parme
Moreton-cum-Alcumlow
Morley
Moston (near Chester)
Moston (near Sandbach)
Mottram
Mottram-St. Andrew
Nether Peover
Nether Pool
Nether Tabley
Newbold-Astbury
Newhall (near Nantwich)
Newhall (near Northwich)
Newton (near Macclesfield)
Newton (near Middlewich)
Newton-Flowery Field
Newton-by-Chester
Newton-by-Daresbury
Newton-by-Frodsham
Newton-by-Tattenhall
Newton-cum-Larton
Newton-juxta-Malpas
Noctorum
Norbury (near Nantwich)
Norbury (near Stockport)
North Rode
Northen Etchells
Northen
Oakmere
Occleston
Occlestone
Odd Rode
Offerton
Old Withington
Oldcastle
Oldfield
Onston
Oscroft
Oughtrington
Outwood
Over Pool
Over Tabley
Over-Peover
Overton
Peckforton
Pexhall
Pickton
Plemonstall
Plumbley
Portwood
Poulton
Poulton-cum-Seacombe
Poulton-cum-Spittle
Pownall-Fee
Preston-on-the-Hill
Priors-Hay
Pulford
Quoisley
Radnor
Ravenscroft
Ridley
Ringway
Romily
Rope
Rowton
Rudheath
Rushton
Saighton
Saltersford
Sandbach Heath
Saniway
Saughall-Massey
Sevenoaks
Shavington-cum-Gresty
Shipbrook
Shocklach
Shotwick Park
Shurlach
Smallwood
Snelson
Somerford Booths
Somerford
Sound
Spital Boughton
Sproston
Spurstow
St. Oswald
Staley
Stanthorne
Stapeley
Stockham
Stockton
Stoke (near Chester)
Stoke (near Nantwich)
Stretton (near Warrington)
Stublach
Superior Peover
Sutton (near Frodsham)
Sutton (near Macclesfield)
Sutton (near Middlewich)
Swettenham
Tatton
Taxall
Tetton
Thingwell
Threapwood
Tilston-Fearnall
Tilstone Fearnall
Tintwistle
Tittenley
Tiverton
Toft
Torkington
Tushingham-cum-Grindley
Twemlow
Upton (near Birkenhead)
Upton (near Chester)
Upton (near Macclesfield)
Utkinton
Walgherton
Wallerscote
Wardsend
Warmingham
Warrington
Weaver
Werneth
Weston (near Runcorn)
Weston-Point
Wettenhall
Whaley Bridge
Whaley-cum-Yeardsley
Whatcroft
Whitegate
Whitley-Inferior
Whitley-Superior
Wichaugh
Wigland
Willaston (near Nantwich)
Willington
Wimbolds Trafford
Wimboldsley
Wincle
Wirral ( - 1974 )
Wirswall
Wistaston
Witton-cum-Twambrooks
Woodbank
Woodchurch
Woodcott
Woodhead
Woodley
Woolstanwood
Worleston
Worth
Wrenbury
Wythenshawe
source: Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names
source: Family History Library Catalog


the text in this section is copied from an article in Wikipedia

Cheshire ( or ; also known as the County Palatine of Chester, and archaically, as the County of Chester; abbreviated Ches.) is a ceremonial county in England, sitting between the West Midlands and the North West. The western edge of the county forms England's border with Wales. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although the largest town since county boundary changes in 1974 is Warrington (moved from Lancashire for administrative purposes in 1974). Other major towns include Widnes (also moved from Lancashire in 1974), Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow. Historically the county contained the Wirral, Stockport, Altrincham and other towns. The county is bordered by Merseyside and Greater Manchester to the north, Derbyshire to the east, Staffordshire and Shropshire to the south, and Flintshire and Wrexham in Wales to the west. The county is a part of the Welsh Marches.

Cheshire's area is and its population is around 700,000. Apart from the large towns along the River Mersey and the historic city of Chester, it is mostly rural, with a number of small towns and villages that support an agricultural industry. It is historically famous as a former principality and for the production of Cheshire cheese, salt, bulk chemicals, and woven silk.

Contents

History

the text in this section is copied from an article in Wikipedia

Toponymy

Cheshire's name was originally derived from an early name for Chester, and was first recorded as Legeceasterscir in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles, meaning the shire of the city of legions. Although the name first appears in 980, it is thought that the county was created by Edward the Elder around 920.[1] In the Domesday Book, Chester was recorded as having the name Cestrescir (Chestershire), derived from the name for Chester at the time.[2] A series of changes that occurred as English itself changed, together with some simplifications and elision, resulted in the name Cheshire, as it occurs today.

Because of the historically close links with the land bordering Cheshire to the west, which became Wales, there is a history of interaction between Cheshire and Wales. The Domesday Book records Cheshire as having two complete Hundreds (Atiscross and Exestan) that later became entirely part of Wales. Additionally, another large portion of the Duddestan Hundred later became known as Maelor Saesneg when it was transferred to Wales. For this and other reasons, the Welsh name for Cheshire (Swydd Gaerlleon) is sometimes used within Wales and by Welsh speakers.

Administrative history

After the Norman conquest of 1066 by William I, dissent and resistance continued for many years after the invasion. In Cheshire in 1069 local resistance was finally overcome, and draconian measures were taken to impress the native Saxons with the futility of future resistance. Earl Edwin of Mercia along with other major landowners were made examples of, their properties confiscated and redistributed amongst Norman barons. King William created one of his barons, Hugh d'Avranches (nicknamed Hugh Lupus, or 'wolf') as Earl of Chester, ruling virtually autonomously in William's name and with his full authority, and Cheshire was thereby declared a County Palatine.

Palatine hundreds

Cheshire in the Domesday Book (1086) was recorded as a larger county than it is today. It included two hundreds, Atiscross and Exestan, that later became part of Wales. At the time of the Domesday Book, it also included as part of Duddestan Hundred the area of land later known as Maelor Saesneg (which used to be a detached part of Flintshire) in Wales. The area between the Mersey and Ribble (referred to in the Domesday Book as "Inter Ripam et Mersam") formed part of the returns for Cheshire. Although this has been interpreted to mean that at that time south Lancashire was part of Cheshire,[3] more exhaustive research indicates that the boundary between Cheshire and what was to become Lancashire remained the River Mersey. With minor variations in spelling across sources, the complete list of hundreds of Cheshire at this time are: Atiscross, Bochelau, Chester, Dudestan, Exestan, Hamestan, Middlewich, Riseton, Roelau, Tunendune, Warmundestrou and Wilaveston.

Palatine feudal baronies

Feudal baronies or baronies by tenure were granted by the Earl as forms of feudal land tenure within the palatinate in a similar way to which the king granted English feudal baronies within England proper. An example is the barony of Halton. One of Hugh d'Avranche's barons has been identified as Robert Nicholls, Baron of Halton and Montebourg.

Lands devolved to Lancashire

In 1182 the land north of the Mersey became administered as part of the new county of Lancashire, thus resolving any uncertainty about the county in which the land "Inter Ripam et Mersam" was. Over the years, the ten hundreds consolidated and changed names to leave just seven—Broxton, Bucklow, Eddisbury, Macclesfield, Nantwich, Northwich and Wirral.

Acquires Welsh-March lands

In 1397 the county had lands in the march of Wales added to its territory, and was promoted to the rank of principality. This was because of the support the men of the county had given to King Richard II, in particular by his standing armed force of about 500 men called the "Cheshire Guard". As a result the King's title was changed to "King of England and France, Lord of Ireland, and Prince of Chester". No other English county has been honoured in this way, although it lost the distinction on Richard's fall in 1399.

Lands devolved to Greater Manchester

Through the Local Government Act 1972, which came into effect on 1 April 1974, some areas in the north-west became part of the metropolitan counties of Greater Manchester and Merseyside. Stockport (previously a county borough), Altrincham, Hyde, Dukinfield and Stalybridge in the north-east became part of Greater Manchester. Much of the Wirral Peninsula in the north-west, including the county boroughs of Birkenhead and Wallasey, joined Merseyside. At the same time the Tintwistle Rural District was transferred to Derbyshire. The area of Lancashire south of the Merseyside/Greater Manchester area, including Widnes and the county borough of Warrington, was added to the new non-metropolitan county of Cheshire.

Unitary Authorities created

Halton and Warrington became unitary authorities independent of Cheshire County Council on 1 April 1998, but remain part of Cheshire for ceremonial purposes and also for fire and policing.

Regional Assemblies proposed

A referendum for a further local government reform connected with an elected regional assembly was planned for 2004, but was abandoned – see Northern England referendum, 2004.

Abolition of Cheshire County Council

As part of the local government restructuring in April 2009, Cheshire County Council and the Cheshire districts were abolished and replaced by two new unitary authorities, Cheshire East and Cheshire West and Chester. The existing unitary authorities of Halton and Warrington were not affected by the change.

Buildings and structures

Prehistoric burial grounds have been discovered at The Bridestones, near Congleton (Neolithic) and Robin Hood's Tump, near Alpraham (Bronze Age). The remains of Iron Age hill forts are found on sandstone ridges at several locations in Cheshire. Examples include Maiden Castle on Bickerton Hill, Helsby Hillfort and Woodhouse Hillfort at Frodsham. The Roman fortress and walls of Chester, perhaps the earliest building works in Cheshire remaining above ground, are constructed from purple-grey sandstone.

The distinctive local red sandstone has been used for many monumental and ecclesiastical buildings throughout the county: for example, the medieval Beeston Castle, Chester Cathedral and numerous parish churches. Occasional residential and industrial buildings, such as Helsby railway station (1849), are also in this sandstone.

Many surviving buildings from the 15th to 17th centuries are timbered, particularly in the southern part of the county. Notable examples include the moated manor house Little Moreton Hall, dating from around 1450, and many commercial and residential buildings in Chester, Nantwich and surrounding villages.

Early brick buildings include Peover Hall near Macclesfield (1585), Tattenhall Hall (pre-1622), and the Pied Bull Hotel in Chester (17th century). From the 18th century, orange, red or brown brick became the predominant building material used in Cheshire, although earlier buildings are often faced or dressed with stone. Examples from the Victorian period onwards often employ distinctive brick detailing, such as brick patterning and ornate chimney stacks and gables. Notable examples include Arley Hall near Northwich, Willington Hall near Chester (both by Nantwich architect George Latham) and Overleigh Lodge, Chester. From the Victorian era, brick buildings often incorporate timberwork in a mock Tudor style, and this hybrid style has been used in some modern residential developments in the county. Industrial buildings, such as the Macclesfield silk mills (for example, Waters Green New Mill), are also usually in brick.

Research Tips


This page uses content from the English Wikipedia. The original content was at Cheshire. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with WeRelate, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.