Warburton, Greater Manchester

infobox UK place
country = England
map_type= Greater Manchester
official_name= Warburton
latitude= 53.403
longitude= -2.4558
population= 286 (2001 Census)
metropolitan_borough= Trafford
metropolitan_county= Greater Manchester
region= North West England
constituency_westminster= Altrincham and Sale West
post_town= LYMM
postcode_district= WA13
postcode_area= WA
dial_code= 0161
os_grid_reference= SJ697896
static_

static_image_caption=
london_distance=

Warburton is a village and civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford in Greater Manchester, England.cite web |url=http://www.gmcro.co.uk/guides/gazette/gazframe.htm |title=A select gazetteer of local government areas, Greater Manchester County |publisher=Greater Manchester County Records Office|accessdate=2008-06-17|date=2003-07-31] Historically a part of Cheshire, Warburton lies on the south bank of the River Mersey between the borough of Warrington and Greater Manchester. Today, the village remains predominantly rural. Altrincham is the nearest town. According to the 2001 census, the parish had a population of 286.cite web | title =Warburton civil parish Neighbourhood Statistics | publisher = Statistics.gov.uk | url =http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=790592&c=Warburton&d=16&e=15&g=356099&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779 | accessdate = 2007-08-31 ]

Warburton has a history of settlement stretching back to the 11th century, with the possibility of earlier habitation. There are 17 listed buildings in the village, [cite web |url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/resultlist.aspx?pid=1 |author= |title=Listed Buildings in Warburton |publisher=Images of England |accessdate=2007-09-11] including the timber framed Grade I Church of St Werburgh, which is at least 700 years old. Among the other listed buildings are examples of architect John Douglas’ work, including the second Church of St Werburgh, built in 1883. In 2006, Time Team excavated in the lands of Moss Brow Farm in Warburton, looking for a Roman fortlet.

History

, London. Registered Charity No. 258612 |isbn=] cite book |author=Norman Warburton |date=1970 |title=Warburton: The Village and the Family |publisher=Research Publishing Company |isbn=0705000079]

The first documented reference to Warburton occurs in the Domesday Book, where the two manors of Warburton were recorded; the manors were united by the late 12th century. Before the Norman conquest, the area was controlled by the Anglo-Saxon thegn Aelfward. Although the Domesday Book records no church in Warburton, it is possible that the church dedicated to Saint Werburgh is pre-Conquest. The omission of the church may not be significant, as not all pre-Conquest churches or chapels were recorded in the Domesday survey. The first documented evidence of a church in Warburton was in a deed of 1187, when it was a chapel of ease for the parish of Lymm. Warburton became a separate parish in the 13th century. The church is surrounded by a ditch and bank, probably dating to at least the 14th century. Warburton is also the site of a medieval priory, near the Church of St Werburgh; although the priory was only formed in the 13th century it was dissolved in 1270.

Warburton was predominantly a farming village during the medieval period. The north western corner of the township was used as a deer park. Warburton grew as an agricultural town during the medieval period, and it remained almost untouched by the Industrial Revolution; this is reflected in the population change between 1801 and 1901, dropping from 466 to 403, with little variation at a time when the rest of Trafford was expanding rapidly.

Warburton Toll-Bridge crosses the Manchester Ship Canal on the B5159 road, connecting the A57 with the A6144. The toll is not charged for crossing the canal, but for crossing the old stone bridge across the dried up bed of the diverted River Mersey. It is one of the few remaining pre-motorway toll bridges in the United Kingdom, and the only one in Greater Manchester. [Nicholls (2004), p. 90.]

Governance

The civil parish parish of Warburton was created in 1894, under the Local Government Act 1894 and has its own parish council. [cite web |url=http://www.trafford.gov.uk/encompass/organisationinfo.asp?orgCode=685 |author= |title=Warburton Parish Council |publisher=Trafford MBC |accessdate=2007-09-03] Warburton became part of the Metropolitan Borough of Trafford in 1974 upon the borough's creation, but was previously in Bucklow Rural District. The village is part of the Bowdon electoral ward; [cite web |url=http://www.trafford.gov.uk/cme/live/dynamic/Download.asp?c=docman2&f=pdf&id=772A5ABC-3001-4915-A01D-01A4AD96C4A7 |author= |title=Bowdon ward profile |format=PDF |publisher=Trafford MBC |accessdate=2007-09-03] the councillors for the Bowdon ward are David Merrell, Paula Pearson, and Stephanie Poole, all Conservative. [cite web |url=http://www.trafford.gov.uk/cme/live/dynamic/DemServWard.asp?id=0&ward_id=9308DE56-AD2E-4F90-A584-F294247A75F9 |author= |title=Bowdon ward councillors |publisher=Trafford MBC |accessdate=2007-09-03] Warburton is also a part of the Altrincham and Sale West constituency, and is part of the North West England constituency of the European Parliament. Since the formation of the Altrincham and Sale West constituency in 1997 it had been represented in the House of Commons by the Conservative MP, Graham Brady. At the 2005 General Election, the Conservatives won a majority of 7,159 and 46.4% of the vote. Labour won 30.3% of the vote, Liberal Democrats 21.7% and the United Kingdom Independence Party 1.7%. [cite web | title = Altrincham and Sale West | publisher = Guardian.co.uk | url = http://politics.guardian.co.uk/hoc/constituency/0,,-671,00.html]

Geography

The village of Lymm lies to the south west of Warburton in the borough of Warrington, with the River Bollin forming the border between the two villages. The Bollin joins the River Mersey in the village; however the Mersey in Warburton has dried up, as it was diverted into the Manchester Ship Canal further upstream. To the east lie Dunham Town, Dunham Massey, Bowdon and Altrincham, with Little Bollington to the south, and Partington and Urmston to the north. The local geology is lower keuper marl, with a ridge of sand and gravel running from Warburton to Dunham.

The main roads running through Warburton are the A6144 and B5159. Two local bus services, 5 (operated by Warrington Borough Transport) and 38 (operated by Warrington Coachways) link Warburton with Warrington and Altrincham.

Demography

As of the 2001 UK census, Warburton had a total population of 286. For every 100 females, there were 121.7 males. The average household size was 2.44. Of those aged 16–74 in Warburton, 43.2% had no academic qualifications or one GCSE, similar to the figures for all of Trafford (40.8%) and in England (45.5%). [cite web |title=Trafford Metropolitan Borough key statistics |publisher=Statistics.gov.uk |url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=3&b=276784&c=Trafford&d=13&e=16&g=356269&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&r=1&s=1197508310453&enc=1 |accessdate=2007-12-13 ] According to the census, 1.40% were unemployed and 33.49% were economically inactive. [cite web |title=Warburton civil parish work and qualifications |publisher=Statistics.gov.uk |url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=790592&c=Warburton&d=16&e=9&g=356099&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&enc=1&dsFamilyId=783 |accessdate=2007-08-31 ] 16.43% of the population were under the age of 16 and 6.64% were aged 75 and over; the mean age of the people of Warburton was 43.03. 69.34% of residents described their health as 'good'. [cite web |title=Warburton civil parish census data |publisher=Statistics.gov.uk |url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=790592&c=Warburton&d=16&e=15&g=356099&i=1001x1003x1004&o=1&m=0&enc=1&dsFamilyId=781 |accessdate=2007-08-31 ]

Population change

Landmarks

Churches

Warburton has two churches of note. St Werburgh’s (gbmapping|SJ696895) is a timber framed church and a Grade I Listed Building, one of six in Trafford. [cite web | title=Planning and building control: listed buildings | publisher=Trafford MBC | url=http://www.trafford.gov.uk/cme/live/dynamic/Download.asp?c=docman2&f=pdf&id=5AD074D0-A2CF-4964-8188-E2333AA27652|format=PDF | accessdate=2007-12-14] Of the 29 timber framed churches that survive in England and Wales, St Werbugh’s is one of the oldest. The church dates to at least the 14th century,cite book |author=Mike Nevell and Ivan Hradil |date=2005 |title=St Lawrence’s Church and the archaeology of the Medieval Timber-framed Churches of England and Wales. |publisher=Tameside Metropolitan Borough and University of Manchester Archaeological Unit |pages=87-8 |isbn=1-871324-30-0] and may be built on the site of an earlier Saxon chapel. It is rarely used for worship but is accessible to visitors. The church features an early 17th century font, a Jacobean pulpit, and a 1645 altar. Nearby are the remains of the old village cross, complete with stocks whose wooden restraints are modern, though the supporting pillars are much older. The other church in Warburton, also dedicated to St Werburgh, was built in 1883 by John Douglas and is a Grade II Listed Building. The church is made of red sandstone with a clay tile roof.cite web |url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=212935 |author= |title=St Werburgh’s Church, 1883 |publisher=Images of England |accessdate=2007-09-03]

Grade II listed buildings

As well as the two churches dedicated to Saint Werburgh, there are 15 other Grade II listed buildings. The parish rooms and caretaker's house were built in 1889, and designed by John Douglas. [cite web |url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=212934 |author= |title=Church house |publisher=Images of England |accessdate=2007-09-03] Also built in the village by Douglas was the post office in 1893, [cite web |url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=212938 |author= |title=Post office house |publisher=Images of England |accessdate=2007-09-03] and the old school house in 1871; the school house was converted to a residence but still features crucks supporting the roof. [cite web |url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=212939 |author= |title=The school house |publisher=Images of England |accessdate=2007-09-03] Some farm buildings in Warburton are also listed, including the farmhouse on Moss Lane. The barn is 18th century but features crucks which may be 17th century or earlier. [cite web |url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=212940 |author= |title=Moss Lane farmhouse |publisher=Images of England |accessdate=2007-09-03] The timber framed farm building on Park Road is 17th century in origin; [cite web |url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=212945 |author= |title=Park farmyard |publisher=Images of England |accessdate=2007-09-03] the late 18th century farmhouse on Warburton Lane was made with Flemish bond brick and has a slate roof. [cite web |url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=212949 |author= |title=Warburton Lane farmhouse |publisher=Images of England |accessdate=2007-09-03] The barn on Paddock Lane dates from the 17th century. [cite web |url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=212941 |author= |title=Paddock Lane farmhouse |publisher=Images of England |accessdate=2007-09-03] Also on Paddock Lane are two farmhouses: one was built in 1717 by Thomas Egerton and features an inglenook fireplace; [cite web |url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=212942 |author= |title=Paddock Lane farmhouse |publisher=Images of England |accessdate=2007-09-03] the other is Wigsey farmhouse which was originally built in the 17th century with later additions including a 19th century porch. [cite web |url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=212944 |author= |title=Wigsy farmhouse |publisher=Images of England |accessdate=2007-09-03] The building on Warburton Lane near Villa Farmhouse was originally a timber framed building from the 16th or early 17th century. The house features late 16th or early 17th century frescos of a woman, possibly St Werburgh, with two geese and a rose. [cite web |url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=358731 |author= |title=Warburton Lane |publisher=Images of England |accessdate=2007-09-03]

There is the base of a stone cross on Townfield Lane, [cite web |url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=212946 |author= |title=Cross base |publisher=Images of England |accessdate=2007-09-03] and wooden stocks nearby, probably dating from the 17th century. [cite web |url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=212947 |author= |title=Stocks |publisher=Images of England |accessdate=2007-09-03] One of the more unusual listed structures in Warburton is the 25 m stretch of wall constructed from flagstones, probably built in the 18th or 19th century. [cite web |url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=212948 |author= |title=Stone flag wall |publisher=Images of England |accessdate=2007-09-03] There are two listed structures in the grounds of the old Church of St Werburgh: a lychgate from the late 19th century, and a sundial from 1765. [cite web |url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=212950 |author= |title=Lychgate |publisher=Images of England |accessdate=2007-09-03] [cite web |url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=212952 |author= |title=Sundial |publisher=Images of England |accessdate=2007-09-03]

Time Team in Warburton

farm in Warburton. [Brennand (2006), p. 77.] The presence of Roman finds was explained as rubbish, mixed in with manure to be spread on the crops.

References

Notes

Bibliography

*cite book |first=Mark (ed) |last=Brennand |date=2006 |title=The Archaeology of North West England |publisher=Council for Archaeology North West |isbn=0962-4201
*cite book |first=Robert |last=Nicholls |title=Curiosities of Greater Manchester |publisher=Sutton Publishing |year=2004 |isbn=0750936614

External links

* [http://www.warburtonvillage.co.uk/ Archaeological discoveries] The official James Balme website
* [http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=53.403&lon=-2.4558&scale=25000&icon=x Location map (Multimap)]
* [http://johnwarburton.net/wv/ Pictures of Warburton Village]
* [http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/T/timeteam/2007_warb.html Time Team in Warburton] (Discussions: [http://community.channel4.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/8896096411/m/7970021947 Time Team forum] , [http://ourpasthistory.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=816 TTF forum] )
* [http://www.carlscam.com/warmem/warburton.htm Warburton War Memorial]