Weston, Cheshire

Weston is a village (at gbmappingsmall|SJ730522) and civil parish in the Crewe and Nantwich district of Cheshire, England. The village lies 3 miles to the south east of Crewe. The parish also includes the small settlements of Carters Green, Gorsthill, Rose Hill, Snape, Stowford and part of Englesea Brook. [http://www.ukbmd.org.uk/genuki/chs/weston1.html Genuki: Weston] (accessed 1 May 2008)] Nearby villages include Basford, Hough and Shavington.

History

Geography and transport

Basford Brook runs north–south at the western edge of the parish, forming the boundary with the adjacent parishes of Basford and Chorlton in some places. Many small meres and ponds are scattered across the farmland. There are several small areas of woodland within the parish, including Meremoor Moss. [http://maps.cheshire.gov.uk/cheshirecc.interactivemapping.web.internet/Default.aspx?e=373642&n=351917&mpp=5&layers=BOU.PLA.PLO.PAR&hLayer=PSCA&hField=OBJECTID&hValue=622 Cheshire County Council: Interactive Mapping: Weston CP] (accessed 1 May 2008)]

The A500 dual carriageway runs east–west through the parish; additionally, the A5020 runs north–south and the A531 runs from the north east to the south west. The Crewe–Alsager railway line also runs east–west towards the north of the parish. The South Cheshire Way passes through the civil parish.

Demography

According to the 2001 census, the civil parish had a population of 969, in 399 households. [ [http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=792609&c=Weston&d=16&e=15&g=428198&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779 Neighbourhood Statistics: Weston CP] (accessed 1 May 2008)] The population has almost doubled since 1951; historical population figures are 348 (1801), 514 (1851), 474 (1901) and 544 (1951).

Places of worship

The Church of All Saints in Weston village was founded in 1838 and became a parish church in 1841; the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel on Englesea Brook Lane is also in the village. Both are listed at grade II. A cemetery, founded in 1902, is located on Cemetery Road.

Other landmarks

Weston Hall, off Main Road, is listed at grade II*.

The White Lion Inn in Weston village is listed at grade II.

Several buildings in Stowford and on Weston Road are listed at grade II. These include the Weston Road gatelodge to Crewe Hall, Stowford Lodge, The Smithy and Smithy Cottage, Elm, Beech, Walnut and Oak Tree Cottages, Firtree Cottage, and Stowford and Magnolia Cottages.

Education

Weston Village Primary School serves Weston and parts of the adjacent civil parishes of Basford and Chorlton. [ [http://maps.cheshire.gov.uk/cheshirecc.interactivemapping.web.internet/Default.aspx?e=373392&n=351937&mpp=10&layers=BOU.PLA.PLO.PAR.SCH.PSCA&hLayer=PSCA&hField=OBJECTID&hValue=622 Cheshire County Council: Interactive Mapping: Weston CP: Primary School Catchment Areas] (accessed 1 May 2008)] The parish falls within the catchment area of Shavington High School in Shavington. [ [http://maps.cheshire.gov.uk/cheshirecc.interactivemapping.web.internet/Default.aspx?e=373642&n=351917&mpp=5&layers=BOU.PLA.PLO.PAR.SSCA&hLayer=SSCA&hField=OBJECTID&hValue=91 Cheshire County Council: Interactive Mapping: Weston CP: Secondary School Catchment Areas] (accessed 1 May 2008)] ]

Notable people

Hugh Bourne (1772–1852), one of the founders of Primitive Methodism, is buried in the graveyard of Englesea Brook Chapel. [ [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/details/default.aspx?id=57129 Images of England: Monument to the venerable Hugh Bourne in Primitive Methodist Graveyard] (accessed 1 May 2008)]

References