- Prestbury, Cheshire
Infobox UK place
official_name = Prestbury
latitude = 53.292842
longitude = -2.145181
population = 3,324
civil_parish =Prestbury
shire_district = Macclesfield
shire_county =Cheshire
region = North West England
country = England
constituency_westminster = Macclesfield
post_town = MACCLESFIELD
postcode_district = SK10
postcode_area = SK
dial_code = 01625
os_grid_reference = SJ904773
static_
static_image_caption=
london_distance=Prestbury is a
village ,civil parish andecclesiastical parish inCheshire ,England . The village is about 1.5 miles (3 km) north ofMacclesfield . At the time of the 2001 census, the civil parish had a population of 3,324. [http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=792659&c=Prestbury&d=16&e=15&g=429231&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779 Official census figures] Retrieval Date: 10 June, 2007] The ecclesiastical parish [ [http://www.chester.anglican.org] Chester Diocese Website. Retrieval Date: 20 August, 2007] is almost the same as the Prestbury local government ward which consisted of the civil parishes of Prestbury, Adlington, andMottram St. Andrew . The population in 2001 was 5,034. [ [http://www.macclesfield.gov.uk/standardpage.asp?pageid=10283 Ward Population Figures.] Macclesfield Borough Website. Retrieval date: 20 August, 2007]Prestbury is a frequent winner of Best Kept Village/Community Pride Competitions [http://www.cheshirecc.org.uk Cheshire Community Council] , accessed
15 April 2008 ] and a popular destination for sightseers. [http://www.bootsandpaws.co.uk/prestbury.html Photos at Boots and Paws] , accessed24 October 2007 ]History and geography
Prestbury lies between Macclesfield and
Wilmslow , for the most part on elevated ground above the flood-proneRiver Bollin . The ancient Forest of Macclesfield is to the east.There is no evidence of a settlement before Saxon times, although a cemetery nearby which had been excavated in 1808 contained pottery cremation urns and signs of sacrifice and was presumably pre-Christian.
Prestbury was founded by priests. Its name comes from Preôsta burh, which is sometimes thought to mean priests' town, but more correctly means a priests' fortified enclosure. For their enclosure, the priests chose a defensible spot on the River Bollin where there was relatively high ground close to the river on both sides so that crossing was easy. From there they could travel to all parts of a parish which was extensive, though thinly populated, in part because the countryside was wild and barren and in part because the forest was reserved for hunting.
The parish
At the time of the Conquest, the parish consisted of thirty-five townships:
* Adlington
* Alderley
* Birtles
*Bollington
*Bosley
* Butley
* Capesthorne
*Chelford
* Fallibroome
*Gawsworth
* Henbury
* Hurdsfield
*Kettleshulme
* Lower Withington
*Lyme Handley
*Macclesfield
* Macclesfield Forest
* Marton
* Mottram St.Andrew
* Newton
*North Rode
* Old Withington
*Pott Shrigley
*Poynton
* Prestbury
*Rainow
* Siddington
* Sutton
* Taxal
* Tytherington
* Upton
*Wildboarclough
*Wincle
* Woodford
* WorthPrestbury township was not mentioned in the
Domesday Book , perhaps because information was not supplied or because Prestbury was only a church, not a manor.Twelve of the other townships are mentioned. Butley was valued at 2
Shilling s at the time of the Domesday Survey, compared with 30 Shillings at the time ofEdward the Confessor , Adlington and Macclesfield were both worth 20 Shillings andSiddington 5 Shillings. The other eight townships were valued "Waste".The church administered the civil as well as ecclesiastical affairs of the parish until the
Local Government Act 1894 created rural districts and civil parishes. Three of the townships, Butley, Fallibroome and Prestbury, constitute fhe present civil parish of Prestbury.The village
The school, smithies, the mill, inns and the
stocks centre on a village street called "The Village", which is broad enough for cattle fairs and the like. Until the nineteenth century the village street was connected to Pearl Street, the main street of Butley, by a ford.In about 1825, a bridge of two arches was built, linking the village street to a new road ("New Road") passing behind the cottages and the Admiral Rodney pub [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=58362 English Heritage: Images of England] , accessed
27 October 2007 ] on the southeast side of Pearl Street. In 1855 the bridge was replaced by the present bridge with one arch. [http://www.prestburycheshire.com/prestburybridge.html Prestbury Cheshire Website] , accessed20 October 2007 ]During the nineteenth century Prestbury became involved in the silk industry. Swanwick's factory operated and cottages were built for the workers ("Factory Cottages" or "Irish Row"). Weavers cottages were built on both New Road and the Village [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=413830 English Heritage: Images of England] , accessed
25 October 2007 ] with upper storeys for weaving.In the twentieth century, improved communications made it possible for Prestbury to develop into a residential community.
Prestbury Mill [http://www.prestburycheshire.com/cornmill.htm Prestbury Cheshire Website] , accessed
17 October 2007 ] was destroyed by fire in 1940.Conservation Area
] and its garden.
] being regarded as "Focal Buildings". Other buildings are considered to be of townscape merit. Trees and even some hedges are important landscape features.
The Manor House [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=58374 English Heritage: Images of England] , accessed
25 October 2007 ] was shown as the vicarage on the 1831 map.Brooks Cottages, [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=58365 English Heritage: Images of England] , accessed
25 October 2007 ] marked with a plaque reading "Rodger Brooks and Ellen his wife Erected this house in the 24 years of his life Ano Dom 1686" are among the listed buildings on the Butley side of the Bollin.Other areas
Smithy Cottage, built on the site of a former smithy, is just outside the conservation area.
Butley Hall [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=58367 English Heritage: Images of England] , accessed
4 October 2007 ] is shown on the 1831 map but is outside the Conservation Area, as are the Butley Ash inn and Spittle House, which was probably built between 1300 and 1450 as a leper hospital.New estates were built during the twentieth century to accommodate commuters.
The defining characteristic of twenty-first century development has been the replacement of quite sizeable houses by large mansions, such as that built for
Wayne Rooney . [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/there-goes-the-neighbourhood-wayne-rooney-is-busy-and-ive-never-seen-him-454687.html The Independent] , accessed14 February 2008 ]Adlington Hall [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/details/default.aspx?pid=1&id=58181 English Heritage: Images of England] , accessed5 October 2007 ] with strong connections with Prestbury is nearby.Churches
St Peter's Church [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=413837 English Heritage: Images of England] , accessed
4 October 2007 ] which is one of the oldest Parish Churches in the country and houses a Saxon Cross in its churchyard. [ [http://www.stpetersprestbury.org.uk/ St. Peter's Church Official Website] , accessed20 August 2007 ] The parish's memorial to the dead of the twoWorld Wars is in the west porch.St John's Adlington, a daughter church of St Peter's [http://www.prestburycheshire.com/StJohn.htm Prestbury Cheshire website] , accessed
29 May 2008 ]Prestbury Methodist Church [http://www.prestburycheshire.com/Wesley.htm Prestbury Cheshire website] , accessed
20 October 2007 ]Education
Prestbury Church of England Primary School [http://www.school-portal.co.uk/Grouphomepage.asp?GroupId=135257 School Portal] , accessed
8 November 2007 ]porting Facilities
Badminton Club
Bowling Club
Cricket Club
Football Clubs
Golf Club [http://www.prestburygolfclub.com Prestbury Golf Club website] , accessed
2 December 2007 ]Macclesfield Rugby Club [http://www.macclesfieldrufc.com Macclesfield Rugby Club website] , accessed
2 December 2007 ]Riding School
Squash Rackets Club
Tennis Club [http://www.prestburytennis.org.uk Prestbury Tennis Club website] , accessed
2 December 2007 ]Transport
Because of the lie of the land, the village is a natural traffic hub. [http://www.prestburycheshire.com/traffic.htm Prestbury Cheshire website] , accessed
29 June 2008 ]The road from Macclesfield to
Altrincham (A538) carries traffic between Macclesfield andWilmslow through the centre of the village. The Macclesfield toHazel Grove road (A523), built in 1810, goes through the parish in a north–south direction, passing to the east of the village.Bus 19 and 19X, Prestbury to Macclesfield
Prestbury is served by the
Manchester to Macclesfield toStoke-on-Trent railway line. Prestbury Station was opened on 24 November 1845 and refurbished in 1986. The south entrance arch to Prestbury Railway Tunnel is grade II listed. [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=413849 English Heritage: Images of England] , accessed8 October 2007 ] The village centre is a few minutes walk from the station.Famous residents
Numerous stars of sport and entertainment have lived in Prestbury for various lengths of time, including:
*
Noddy Holder , professionalmusician andactor , best known as thevocalist ,guitarist and occasionalbass guitarist with 1970srock music groupSlade
*Stan Pearson , professional football player, later sub-postmaster in Prestbury
*Wayne Rooney , professional football player
*Carlos Tevez , professional football player
*Owen Hargreaves , professional football player
*Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff, professionalCricket Player and Vice-Captain of England.
*Robbie Savage , professional football playerNotes
References
* Frank Renaud "Contributions towards a history of the ancient Parish of Prestbury in Cheshire", The Chetham Society, 1876
* Gordon B.Hindle "St. Peter's Prestbury: a personal response", Church of St.Peter, Prestbury, Cheshire, 2001
* [http://www.macclesfield.gov.uk/pdfs/PrestburyCAAppraisal.pdf Prestbury Conservation Area Appraisal: Draft for Public Consultation: Macclesfield Borough Council, January 2006] , accessed28 October 2007
* A.J.S.Cartmell "The History of Prestbury", St.Peter's Church Prestbury, 2006
* Prestbury Community Directory, Prestbury Parish Council, 2008
* [http://www.macclesfield.gov.uk/pdfs/Prestbury%20Village%20Design%20Statement.pdf Prestbury Village Design Statement: Supplementary Planning Document, Borough of Macclesfield, June 2007] , accessed28 October 2007
* [http://www.prestburycheshire.com/design.pdf Village Design Statement for Prestbury Parish] , accessed15 April 2008 External links
* [http://www.prestburyparish.com Prestbury Parish Council] Official website
* [http://www.plan4prestbury.org.uk/ Plan for Prestbury]
* [http://www.oliver-wood.co.uk/prestbury_cheshire.htm Oliver Wood's photos] A collection of photos of Prestbury and the surrounding area.
* [http://www.travelintelligence.net/wsd/articles/art_1001210.html Travel article "The Wilmslow Boys" by A.A.Gill.] Prestbury slated as "Smug Central"
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.