Aston cum Aughton

Aston cum Aughton is a civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Rotherham in South Yorkshire, England, with a population of 33 according to the 2001 census.

It consists of Aston and Aughton, along with the Swallownest estate. To the west the parish borders the unparished area of Sheffield. Buildings of interest in the village include aston manor and an extensive 2nd century A.D church.

History

The villages of Aston and Aughton were recorded in the Domesday Book as "Estone" and "Hactone", and were at that time already well established, with a total combined value of £1 sterling. Swallownest is a much later settlement begun in the 1740s by farmer Swallow, after whom the village is named. Farmer Swallow's house, although in desperate need of repair, was left standing until 2006, when the land was bought by developers.

The approximate population of Aston cum Aughton (which includes Swallownest) currently stands at around 15,000. The parish has expanded rapidly since the turn of the 21st century with the addition of the Aston Manor executive housing estate, and due to improved links with both Sheffield and Rotherham, has become a desirable living location for local workers.

chools

There are 7 feeder Primary Schools to Aston Comprehensive, which, with almost 2000 pupils is the fourth largest 11-18 school in the country.

Churches

There are five churches in Aston cum Aughton, incorporating many different service styles. Work was begun on the Anglican Church in the 2nd century AD, and the most recent addition made in the 1200s.

In 1995, the six Methodist Chapels in the parish were united to form Central Methodist Church, which now has a thriving children's ministry and an attendance of roughly 150 at regular services.

Bethesda Church was planted in 1934 and belongs to the Assemblies of God, a Pentecostal umbrella group. This church aims to meet the needs of the community through ministries such as the large Youth Group and children's clubs. There are also plans to open up a cafe to the public in the summer of 2007.

Swallownest Baptist church has remained in the same beautiful building since 1908, when the fellowship was established.

The Catholic congregation in Swallownest now meets in a building belonging to the Anglican church.