Wistaston

infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Wistaston
map_type= Cheshire
latitude= 53.0821
longitude= -2.4747
population= 5,003 (2001 Census)
shire_district= Crewe and Nantwich
region= North West England
shire_county = Cheshire
constituency_westminster= Crewe and Nantwich
post_town= CREWE
postcode_district = CW2
postcode_area= CW
dial_code= 01270
os_grid_reference= SJ682539

Wistaston is a civil parish and village in the Borough of Crewe and Nantwich, Cheshire, in north-west England. It is approximately two miles west of Crewe town centre and three miles east of Nantwich town centre.

History

In the "Domesday Survey of 1086", the area was called Wistanestune and was a going concern having a population of 25 to 30 people, valuable woodland and arable land, and deer roaming about. It had been worth 30 shillings, but after William the Conqueror’s devastation of Cheshire, it was worth just ten shillings in 1086. It was one of several local villages with the suffix ‘tune’ or ‘ton’ - meaning a ‘farmstead’.

A walk along Broughton Lane and Church Lane - an historical trail

At the Crewe Road end of Broughton Lane stood Toll Gate Cottage where the keeper of the toll gate lived. He ensured that travellers paid their dues to contribute to the maintenance of the highways. In January 1870, the "Crewe Chronicle" reported that the toll gate keeper, James Lovatt, shot at James Lockitt, a Nantwich shoemaker, for shouting insults at him (toll keepers were unpopular). The cottage was demolished in 1924.

Yew Tree Farm and Yew Tree Villa stood on opposite sides of Broughton Lane, near Yew Tree Road. Yew trees are still in evidence there.

Milton Drive leads into the "Poets’ Estate", named after its association with John Milton, author of the epic poem "Paradise Lost". His third wife Elizabeth Minshull (sometimes spelt 'Mynshull'), daughter of a yeoman, lived at Wells (Welds) Green (demolished April 2006), and was 24 years old when they married in London on 24 February 1663. He was 31 years older, blind and had three daughters from a previous marriage, but they were married for over 11 years until he died on 8 November 1674.

:"A genteel person, a peaceful and agreeable woman," says Aubrey, who knew her, ... She was pretty, and had golden hair, which one connects pleasantly with the late sunshine she brought into Milton's life. She sang to his accompaniment on the organ and bass-viol, but is not recorded to have read or written for him; the only direct testimony we have of her care of him is his verbal acknowledgment of her attention to his creature comforts. Yet Aubrey's memoranda show that she could talk with her husband about Hobbes, and she treasured the letters he had received from distinguished foreigners. At the time of their marriage Milton was living in Jewin Street, Aldersgate, from which he soon afterwards removed to Artillery Walk, Bunhill Fields, his last residence."Richard Garnett (1890) "Life of Milton" [http://www.gutenberg.org/files/16757/16757-h/16757-h.htm#Page_128 Project Gutenberg text] ]

As a widow, Elizabeth later returned to Cheshire no later than 1681, living until 1727:

:After residing some years in London she retired to Nantwich in her native county, where divers glimpses reveal her as leading the decent existence of a poor but comfortable gentlewoman as late as August or September, 1727. The inventory of her effects, amounting to £38 8s. 4d., is preserved, and includes: "Mr. Milton's pictures and coat of arms, valued at ten guineas;" and "two Books of Paradise," valued at ten shillings.

The area known as Joey the Swan was a fish pool or ‘stew’ dug out in about 1870. The soil was thrown up in front of the hall and a ‘clinker’ wall built to retain it. The swan called ‘Joey’ was a local ‘character’.

Wistaston Hall has been a home, a country club, a hunting lodge and a school. It is now St Therese’s Retreat run by the Oblate Brothers who purchased it in 1943. Several local streets are named after people who lived in Wistaston Hall, including Broughton Lane, Stewart Street, Hammond Street and Walthall Street. Alton Street, which formed the northern boundary of the estate, was named after the family seat in Derbyshire.

The Bowling Club was opened on 4 April 1959 by Walter Holmes. The single membership fee then was 15 shillings.

The Wistaston Jubilee Tennis Club’s two courts were opened on 16 June 1979 by the Mayor of the Borough, Councillor Cyril Peake and by the Chairman of the Wistaston Parish Council, Councillor Peter Walker.

The building next to the Memorial Hall is called Wistaston Villa and can be traced back to 1675. On the left side of this house was the ‘Rents Office’ where money was paid quarterly to the estate - the entrance door has been ‘bricked up’.

The original all-age Wistaston National School was opened in 1874.

The present St Mary’s Church was consecrated by the Bishop of Chester on 22 July 1828. The cost of building it was about £1,600.

At the end of Church Lane, on opposite sides of the road, stand two houses of historical interest:
*Hunts Bank Cottage was once the Walthall Family Dower House, where the widow of the lord of the manor lived.
*Kings Lyn which was once a Maternity home. Many Wistonians were born there.

World War II Memorial

The Wistaston Memorial Hall was opened by Lady Barlow, Chairman of the Cheshire Rural Community Council on Saturday 26 March 1949. Above the main door is a plaque commemorating the 16 Wistaston men who gave their lives in the Second World War:

*Lieutenant Richard Alexander Joseph BOLTON. 6th Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment, who died on Thursday 9th September 1943, aged 35. Buried in the Ranchi War Cemetery, India.

*Telegraphist Arthur CORNALL. HMS Egret, Royal Navy, who died on Friday 27th August 1943, aged 33. Named on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.

*Corporal Reginald Alexander DUDLEY. Royal Engineers, who died on Tuesday 19th January 1943, aged 24. Buried at the Basra War Cemetery, Iraq.

*Lieutenant-Commander Roy Berryman EDWARDS DSO. HMS Watchful, Royal Navy, who died on Thursday 11th June 1942, aged 39. Named on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.

*Second Radio Officer Derek Aubrey GRESTY. SS Fort Athabaska (London) - Merchant Navy, who died on Thursday 2nd December 1943, aged 23. Named on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.

*Fusilier Stanley HASSALL. 2nd Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, who died on Wednesday 3rd May 1944, aged 24. Buried at the Beach Head War Cemetery, Anzio, Italy.

*Driver Robert Walker HILTON. Royal Corps of Signals, who died on Monday 8th September 1941, aged 25. Buried in Crewe (Coppenhall) Cemetery.

*Sergeant George Alfred HINTON. 53rd Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who died on Tuesday 26th November 1940, aged 28. Named on the Runnymede Memorial, Surrey.

*Lieutenant Ronald Arthur HULSE. 91st Regiment, Royal Artillery, who died on Saturday 17th June 1944, aged 29. Buried in the Tel El Kebir War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt.

*Private John William LOWE. 11th Battalion, Parachute Regiment, Army Air Corps, who died on Saturday 26th February 1944, aged 23. Buried in St Mary’s Churchyard, Wistaston.

*Leading Seaman Thomas Henry Kenneth PARSONAGE. HMS Firedrake, Royal Navy, who died on Thursday 17th December 1942, aged 31. Named on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.

*Lance Sergeant George POWELL. Royal Corps of Signals, who died on Monday 27th May 1940, aged 21. Buried in the Hazebrouck Communal Cemetery, Nord, France.

*Acting Sub Lieutenant Thomas Eric RICHARDS. HMS Grebe, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, who died on Monday 15th December 1941, aged 20. Named on the Lee-on-Solent Memorial, Hampshire.

*Sub-Lieutenant Frank Judson TOMKINSON. Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, who died on Tuesday 27th July 1943, aged 20 Buried at St Mary's Churchyard, Acton, near Nantwich.

*Captain Reginald Frederick TUCKER. Royal Engineers, who died on Monday 25th September 1939, aged 35. Buried in the Brest (Kerfautras) Cemetery, Finistere, France.

*Flight Lieutenant Maurice Norman WAUGH. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who died on Sunday 14th February 1943, aged 31. Buried at the Ibadan Military Cemetery, Nigeria.

*The names of these sixteen brave men are recorded on the permanently-lit plaque above the main door to Wistaston Memorial Hall. “Sons of this place, let this of you be said, That you who live are worthy of your dead. These gave their lives that you who live may reap, A richer harvest ere you fall asleep”.

*“Thank you for giving up your life and letting us live a good life” Hannah Carroll, November 1998, aged 7, Wistaston Westfield Infant School.

Awards

The village has won the following awards, Cheshire Community Council ‘Best Kept Village Competition’ (1984, 1988, 1998, 1999, 2000), Civic Pride Award (1993, 1994, 1995), and Cheshire Community Council ‘Community Pride’ (2005).

Parish Council

The Wistaston Parish Council comprises 15 elected councillors, five from each of the three wards of Wistaston (Wistaston Green, St Mary’s, and Wells Green). The current Chairman of the Parish Council is Councillor John Moore. The Annual Parish Council Meeting, to which all local Wistonians are invited, is held in April each year in the Wistaston Memorial Hall.

Local Schools

* The Berkeley Primary School
* Wistaston Church Lane Primary School
* Wistaston Green Primary School

Events

There are many events in the village each year including:-

* Village Fete (includes crowning of the Rose Queen, as well as Wistonian of the Year) - held every year at St Mary’s Church Rectory in mid-June.
* Flower and Vegetable Show - held every year at St Mary’s Church Hall in August.
* Duck Race and Children’s Model Boat Race - held every year at Wistaston Brook - Joey the Swan site - in early September.
* Swan Fayre - held every year at Wistaston Memorial Hall in October.
* Fireworks Display - held every year at The Brittles Sports Field in November.
* Amateur Dramatics - The Wistaston Players are an amateur dramatic group who perform in the Church Hall. Formed in 1993 they generally produce two plays a year.

Many of these events are organised by the Wistaston Village Community Council which contains over 30 members associated with the various organisations within the village of Wistaston.

Sports

There are a variety of sports teams including (but not limited to):
archery, badminton, cricket, soccer (football), tennis and bowls.

Further reading

"Roundabout"

The village magazine, "Roundabout", is circulated to over 4,000 homes within Wistaston four times a year. It is distributed ‘round about’ Wistaston, hence its title. The 100th issue of "Roundabout" was published in Spring 2006 - its 25th anniversary. The first editor of Roundabout was Malcolm Bellis; the current editor is Eileen Bamber.

Books

*BELLIS, MA. "Historic Buildings in Wistaston". Compiled by Wistaston Conservation Group. First Edition 2007. Published by Roundabout Magazine quarterly Journal of Wistaston Community Council.

*DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT. "List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest". District of Crewe and Nantwich. DOE, 1986 Wistaston is covered on p 6 - 8. Gives approximate date, architect where known, and features of merit.

*DODGSON, J McN. "The Place-Names of Cheshire. Part III: Nantwich Hundred and Eddisbury Hundred". Cambridge University Press, 1981 Wistaston is covered on p 45 - 48. Useful for origins of names of places, streets, fields, etc. For a more detailed study, needs to be used in conjunction with Part 1 (abbreviations etc used), and Part V (place-name elements).

*PEVSNER, Nikolaus & Hubbard, Edward "The Buildings of England: Cheshire". Penguin Books, 1971 Wistaston is covered on p 390.

Pamphlet

*SEDGWICK, Norman. "Wistaston: A History of the Parish and Church". np, 1987 Covers the church and clergy, local government, poor relief, population growth, roads, mills and schools.

Periodicals

*ANON. "The Rev Humphrey Whittingham, of Wistaston". Cheshire Sheaf, 3rd series, Volume X 1913, p 6 Briefly deals with complaints against Whittingham by three parishioners in 1650.

*ANON. "A Discreditable Rector of Wistaston in 1650". Cheshire Sheaf, 3rd series. Volume V 1903, p 38 extract from the Royal Composition Papers relating to Humphrey Whittingham.

*BURTON, Muriel. "The Mynshulls of Wells Green". Cheshire Life, Volume 23 Number I, January 1957, p 29 A brief history of some of the Mynshull family, one of whom, Elizabeth, married John Milton.

*DODD, J Phillip. "South Cheshire in the 1820s". Cheshire History, Autumn 1982, No 10, p 18 - 27 Includes mention of Wistaston Town Book.

*HOWSON, J S. "The Associations of Milton with the River Dee and Cheshire". Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society (JCAS). 1st series. Volume 3, 1885, p 409 - 418 Outlines Milton's relations with residents of Cheshire and the fact that his third wife was the daughter of Randulp Minshull of Wistaston.

References

ee also

*Church of St Mary the Virgin, Wistaston

External links

Wistaston based

* [http://www.blazingboots.com/ Blazing Boots Line Dancing Club]

* [http://www.crewecine-videoclub.org.uk Crewe Cine & Video Club]

* [http://www.creweandnantwich-u3a.org.uk Crewe & Nantwich U3A]

* [http://www.scotsoc.org.uk/nantwich04.htm Nantwich & District Scottish Society]

* [http://users.powernet.co.uk/lampost/Meetings.html South Cheshire George Formby Ukulele Society]

* [http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-global/w-localtoyou/w-northwest/w-northwest-member_groups/w-northwest-member_groups-southcheshire.htm South Cheshire Association of the National Trust]

* [http://www.oblateretreatcentre.org.uk/ Oblate Retreat Centre]

* [http://www.stmaryswistaston.org.uk/ St Mary's Church]

* [http://www.crewemethodists.org/wellsgreen.htm Wells Green Methodist Church]

* [http://www.wistastonscoutgroup.org.uk/ Wistaston 35th Scout Group]

* [http://www.ctguild.org.uk/members/members_data/wistaston_community_players%201.htm Wistaston Community Players]

* [http://wjtc.intheteam.com Wistaston Jubilee Tennis Club]

* [http://www.wistastonjunior.school.cheshire.org.uk/ Wistaston Junior School]

* [http://www.wmhbc.homecall.co.uk/ Wistaston Memorial Hall Bowling Club]

* [http://wistastonvillage.play-cricket.com Wistaston Village Cricket Club]

* [http://www.wistastonwestfield.school.cheshire.org.uk/ Wistaston Westfield Infant School]

Others

* [http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk The Sentinel newspaper]

* [http://www.crewe-nantwich.gov.uk/ Crewe & Nantwich Borough Council]

* [http://www.cheshire.gov.uk/ Cheshire County Council]

* [http://www.fhsc.org.uk/genuki/chs/index.html Cheshire Genealogy ]

* [http://www.cheshirehistory.org.uk/ Cheshire Local History Association]