Northop

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Statistics
Northop
Population:	2983 (2001)
Ordnance Survey
OS grid reference:	Maps for SJ246681
Administration
Principal area:	Flintshire
Constituent country:	Wales
Sovereign state:	United Kingdom
Other
Police force:	North Wales Police
Ceremonial county:	Clwyd
Historic county:	Flintshire
Post office and telephone
Post town:	MOLD
Postal district:	CH7 6xx
Dialling code:	+44-1352
Politics
UK Parliament:	Delyn
European Parliament:	Wales

Northop (Welsh: Llaneurgain) is a small village seated in Flintshire, North Wales, approximately 12 miles west of the city of Chester, and mid-way between Mold and Flint. Its population is roughly 3000.

The village is home to two pubs, a cricket club, and a golf course. At the centre of the village stands the church of St Eurgain and St Peter, towering 98 feet above the village.

The village is also the home of the Welsh College of Horticulture, offering horticultural courses for students of all ages, in areas such as Animal Studies, floristry and agricultural machinery.

1 St Eurgain and St Peter's Church
2 Local facilities
3 External links
4 References

[edit] St Eurgain and St Peter's Church

There has been evidence of a church in Northop since the 6th century. It is said that Eurgain, a niece[1] of St Asaph, passed through Northop and founded the church here on a Celtic mound, upon which it still stands. The Welsh name for Northop, Llaneurgain translates as "The holy enclosure of Eurgain". Records indicate that there was a stone church erected here during the 12th century, with the tower being completed to its 98-foot height in 1571. The present building was extensively rebuilt during 1840, with further alterations being carried out in 1877.

The churchyard of St Eurgain and St Peter still houses the old grammar school for Northop, constructed during the 16th century.

St Eurgain and St Peter's church is the seat of the Parish of Northop, which is comprised of the districts of Northop, Northop Hall, Sychdyn, Halkyn, Rhosesmor, and Flint Mountain. Formerly it also included Connah's Quay. It is a member of the Diocese of St Asaph, Church in Wales.

St Eurgain and St Peter

[edit] Local facilities

Northop, like most other small villages, has its own local shop, providing foodstuffs, newspapers, and a variety of other items. The shop is situated on the High Street and also incorporates a one-counter Post Office.

The Red Lion and The Boot are the two pubs in Northop, situated at either end of the High Street. The Red Lion tends to be frequented by the 18-35 age range and has an adjoining restaurant serving food during the pub's normal opening hours. The Boot is at the other end of the High Street, and incorporates a dining area in traditional pub style. The Boot is the last remaining of the six original coaching inns present in Northop; from the 18th century, Northop was the first stop on the Chester-Holyhead stagecoach route. Unfortunately and illogically,the Inn(formerly hotel) sign shows a leather Wellington boot, whereas it should be the type of boot or trunk that is fixed to the rear of coaches to hold the passenger's goods.

There previously existed a Working Men's Club in the village, situated on the High Street almost opposite Northop Post Office, adjacent to Westminster House. Actually,the name of the club was The Westminster Working Men's Club and was where Westminster House is now. The back of the club was demolished in 2001 and the club's estate and car park was developed into a new housing development, Pilgrim's Court.

Northop also plays host to a bridal shop (Karen Lesley Bridal Emporium) where wedding dresses are hand-made on the premises, an antiques shop/furniture restorer (Nick Eastwood) and a hairdressers (Colettes). Northop has lost most of its craftsmen and typical shops needed to make a place self sufficient. The following places have gone:- Jimmy Roberts the butcher. Mr Griffiths, who travelled from Flint every day to man his cobblers and shoe shop. The smithy(opposite to the butchers. Lovelocks sweet shop , fish and chip shop and cycle/toy shop. Smith's grocery shop and sub-post office. Pierce's grocery shop. Wakely's garage on the A55 opposite to the old school for petrol,repairs and luxury coach travel. Jones's garage for repairs and petrol. Jones' grocery shop. Liversage's fish and greengrocery van. Nannerch Mills bread delivered by van still warm and heavenly.Additionally the village had builders,painters and decorators,undertakers and farms in the village where fresh milk could be bought . There was a Co#op which was the Soughton and district Co-op which moved from its old location across the High Street when the Welsh church was demolished. Milk was delivered to the door by the Co-Op. Newspapers,comics,magazines and so on were delivered early enough to be read before 8 AM. Remember pubs in Wales were then closed on a Sunday, which meant that people came from miles around,in those pre-breathalyser days, to drink, play bingo and generally breach the Sabbath at the Westminster working man's club(The Club). Where the post office is now was latterly the Co-Op and before that the Welsh Church,or that is what we called it anyway. For my part I would have a small bottle of Hall's pop(made in Holywell) and a packet of Smith's crisps in a greaseproof paper bag containing salt in blue paper twists as an occasional treat.

 When sugar came off the ration in 1953,we were thrilled to have a chewing gum machine fixed to the wall near to where the Bridal shop is now,further every fourth person recieved two packets of gum,which was ,as I remember,Beech Nut brand.