Upton by Chester
| Upton by Chester | |
  Upton by Chester |
|
| Population | 7,800 (2001) |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | SJ405665 |
| Civil parish | Upton by Chester |
| Unitary authority | Cheshire West and Chester |
| Ceremonial county | Cheshire |
| Region | North West |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | CHESTER |
| Postcode district | CH2, CH3 |
| Dialling code | 01244 |
| Police | Cheshire |
| Fire | Cheshire |
| Ambulance | North West |
| EU Parliament | North West England |
| UK Parliament | City of Chester |
Coordinates: 53°12′50″N 2°53′02″W / 53.214°N 2.884°W
Upton by Chester is a civil parish and a large suburb on the outskirts of Chester, in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. It includes the villages of Upton and Upton Heath. At the 2001 Census the population was recorded as 7,800.[1]
History
Formerly a township in Broxton Hundred, it included the hamlet of Upton Heath. The population was 173 in 1801, 555 in 1851, 1,769 in 1901 and 6,343 in 1951.[2]An illustrated 300 page book on the history of Upton called 'Upton-by-Chester A Peoples History' was published in 2005.[3]
The origin of the settlement's name is a point of contention amongst historians, but a popular theory is that it comes from the Welsh 'up ton' which, translated directly into English means 'up wave'. This is due to large amounts of Welsh migrants who came to the village looking for work in nearby Chester in the 1700s, which was colloquially known as a 'wave' of migration. It is possible that the name Upton has somewhat racist undertones, a slang name for the settlement used out of distaste for the migration of Welsh people into the area, but over time this became the official name for the village. This has its roots in Chester's origins as a Roman fortress, constructed to protect England against the Welsh.[4]
Upton-by-Chester as we know it today started when the railway was built in the mid-1800s. Gentlemen's country houses were built and provided employment other than traditional rural jobs. Initially ribbon development but then housing estates were built as more people moved out of the overcrowded city. Following the post-WW2 building boom there is now little development land left.
A permanent military presence was established in the town with the completion of Dale Barracks in 1939.[5]
Religion
Upton has four churches; one Baptist, one United Reformed Church, one Catholic (St Columba's), and the Anglican Church of the Holy Ascension.
Landmarks
One building of particular interest is Upton Mill. Built in 1775 this was a full working flour mill with outhouses, yard and orchard. The wind sails were removed in the early 1920s when electricity was installed. The mill became closed in 1953 and remained uninhabited until 1979 when the mill was sold and converted as a private residence. Renovation was completed in 1988.
Education
The area has four primary schools - Upton Heath (formerly Upton Manor), Westlea, Acresfield and Mill View - and a secondary school, Upton-by-Chester High School.
Community
The area has a hospital, a Royal British Legion Club, a bowling green, a golf course and a zoo. There is an active village hall, with a wide range of activities for all ages and interests.[6]
Transport
Rail
The nearest railway station is on the Wirral Line at Bache less than a mile from Upton village centre.
Shopping and leisure
There are several shops including Bache, Upton-Heath, Weston Grove, and at least four pubs including the Bache, the Frog, the Game Keeper, The Wheatsheaf Inn and an Indian Restaurant called Plush Spice.
See also
References
- ↑ 2001 Census: Upton-by-Chester (Parish), Office for National Statistics, retrieved 15 April 2008
- ↑ Cheshire Towns & Parishes: Upton by Chester, GENUKI UK & Ireland Genealogy, retrieved 15 April 2008
- ↑ ISBN 0-9548854-0-6
- ↑ The City of Chester, BritishHistoryOnline, retrieved 20 May 2014
- ↑ "Moston Hall". History of Upton by Chester. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
- ↑ "Upton-by-Chester Village Hall". Retrieved 15 November 2014.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Upton by Chester. |
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