Bulkeley

Bulkeley is a village and civil parish in the Crewe and Nantwich district of Cheshire, England. The village is situated at gbmappingsmall|SJ530545 on the A534 about 9 miles west of Nantwich. The civil parish also includes the small settlement of Bulkelehay (also Bulkeleyhay or Bulkeley Hey) at gbmappingsmall|SJ532534, with a total population just below 250. [http://www.ukbmd.org.uk/genuki/chs/bulkeley.html Genuki: Bulkeley] (accessed 13 February 2008)] Bulkeley Hill falls within the civil parish.

Geography and economy

Bulkeley Hill (gbmappingsmall|SJ525552) forms the southern end of the Peckforton Hills.Ordnance Survey Explorer 257: Crewe & Nantwich; Whitchurch & Tattenhall] It is owned by the National Trust, and its wooded slopes include 12 acres (5 hectares) of semi-natural ancient woodland. ["The National Trust Handbook for Members and Visitors 2008", p.265] The hill has been designated a county site of biological importance for its woodland and grassland habitats. [ [http://crewe-nantwich.leadpartners.co.uk/document.aspx?display=chapter&document=3&chapter=129 Borough of Crewe & Nantwich: Nature Conservation Sites] (accessed 14 February 2008)] A wider area covering the northern part of the civil parish has also been designated an Area of Special County Value. [ [http://maps.cheshire.gov.uk/cheshirecc.interactivemapping.web.internet/Default.aspx?e=353215&n=354260&mpp=5&layers=BOU.PLA.PLO.PAR.ASCV&hLayer=&hField=&hValue= Cheshire County Council: Interactive Mapping: Areas of Special County Value: Beeston/Peckforton/Bolesworth/Bickerton Hills] (accessed 28 May 2008)] Another unnamed elevation of around 135 metres is located south west of Bulkeley village at gbmappingsmall|SJ525540, and an unnamed brook runs east–west along the valley between it and Bulkeley Hill.

Two covered reservoirs are located on Bulkeley Hill (at gbmappingsmall|SJ525550 and gbmappingsmall|SJ528552), with a pumping station at the base (gbmappingsmall|SJ529553); a disused inclined plane runs westwards from the pumping station. [ [http://maps.cheshire.gov.uk/cheshirecc.interactivemapping.web.internet/Default.aspx?e=352895.28&n=355280.19&mpp=0.635&layers=BOU.PLA.PLO.PAR&hLayer=&hField=&hValue= Cheshire County Council: Interactive Mapping] (accessed 1 March 2008)] Formerly owned by Staffordshire Potteries Water Board, the facility is now operated by Severn Trent Water. A small wooded area of access land containing two ponds is located at gbmappingsmall|SJ532545, immediately east of Bulkeley village and north of the A534, and there are several other meres and ponds scattered across the farmland.

The land use is predominantly agricultural, with cattle pasture, horse paddocks and some arable land.

Demography

According to the 2001 census the civil parish had a population of 240 in 106 households. [ [http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=792565&c=bulkeley&d=16&e=15&g=428284&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&r=1&s=1202943165468&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779 Neighbourhood Statistics: Bulkeley CP] (accessed 28 May 2008)] This represents an increase from the 1951 population; the historical population figures were 184 (1801), 197 (1851), 168 (1901) and 146 (1951).

Places of worship

Bulkeley Methodist Church is a red-brick chapel in Bulkeley village. Dating from 1861, it was formerly the Jubilee Primitive Methodist Chapel and is listed at grade II. [ [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/details/default.aspx?id=56847 Images of England: Bulkeley Methodist Church] (accessed 13 February 2008)]

Other landmarks

Bulkeley Hall (gbmappingsmall|SJ523537) is a three-storey mansion in brown brick which dates from the mid-18th century; it is grade II* listed. [ [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/details/default.aspx?id=56840 Images of England: Bulkeley Hall] (accessed 13 February 2008)] Springfield Cottage (gbmappingsmall|SJ528541) is a timber-framed cottage dating from the late 17th century. [ [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/details/default.aspx?id=56846 Images of England: Springfield Cottage] (accessed 13 February 2008)] A former corn mill stands on Mill Lane (gbmappingsmall|SJ530549) to the north of Bulkeley village. [ [http://crewe-nantwich.leadpartners.co.uk/document.aspx?display=chapter&document=3&chapter=132 Borough of Crewe & Nantwich: List of Locally Important Buildings] (accessed 14 February 2008)]

Bulkeley Grange (gbmappingsmall|SJ534541) is a grade-II-listed Victorian red-brick mansion in Jacobean style; [ [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/details/default.aspx?id=56844 Images of England: Bulkeley Grange] (accessed 13 February 2008)] the house was rebuilt by railway builder, Thomas Brassey, in 1843. [http://www.sandstonenews.org.uk/Newsletters/Issue9/May2007.pdf Hastings I, Dixon M. The Thomas Brassey Tribute Stones Project. The Sandstone News, 9: 1–3] (accessed 26 May 2008)] A monument consisting of four inscribed sandstone pillars connected by iron straps was erected around an oak tree near The Grange in 1845, to commemorate Brassey's fortieth birthday. In 2007, it was moved to a location just to the east of Bulkeley village, adjacent to the A534 (gbmappingsmall|SJ532544); the site has an interpretative sign.

Transport

The A534 (Wrexham Road) between Nantwich and Wrexham runs east–west across the civil parish. Other through routes include Stone House Lane, which runs from the A534 to Peckforton. Mill Lane connects Stone House Lane with the A534 and Cholmondeley Lane runs south to Bulkelehay. The Sandstone Trail long-distance footpath runs over Bulkeley Hill. [http://maps.cheshire.gov.uk/cheshirecc.interactivemapping.web.internet/Default.aspx?e=353215&n=354260&mpp=5&layers=BOU.PLA.PLO.PAR&hLayer=PAR&hField=OBJECTID&hValue=99 Cheshire County Council: Interactive Mapping: Bulkeley CP] (accessed 28 May 2008)]

Education

Bulkeley civil parish falls within the catchment areas of Bickerton Holy Trinity CE Primary School in Bickerton and Bishop Heber High School in Malpas. [ [http://maps.cheshire.gov.uk/cheshirecc.interactivemapping.web.internet/Default.aspx?e=353980&n=353065&mpp=25&layers=BOU.PLA.PLO.PAR.PSCA&hLayer=PSCA&hField=OBJECTID&hValue=596 Cheshire County Council: Interactive Mapping: Bickerton Holy Trinity CE Primary School] (accessed 25 May 2008)] [ [http://maps.cheshire.gov.uk/cheshirecc.interactivemapping.web.internet/Default.aspx?e=351180&n=353295&mpp=10&layers=BOU.PLA.PLO.PAR.SSCA&hLayer=SSCA&hField=OBJECTID&hValue=96 Cheshire County Council: Interactive Mapping: Bishop Heber High School] (accessed 25 May 2008)]

References

External links

* [http://vision.edina.ac.uk/unit_page.jsp?u_id=10006363 A Vision of Britain Through Time: Bulkeley Tn/CP]