Willaston, Cheshire East

Willaston

The Nags Head public house, Willaston
Willaston
Willaston shown within Cheshire
Population 3,104 (2011)
OS grid reference SJ682539
Unitary authority
Shire county
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town Nantwich
Postcode district CW5
Dialling code 01270
Police Cheshire
Fire Cheshire
Ambulance North West
EU Parliament North West England
UK Parliament

Willaston is a civil parish and village in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, in north-west England. It has a population of 2,277[1] people according to the 2001 census, increasing to 3,104 at the 2011 Census.[2]


It is approximately three miles west of Crewe town centre and two miles east of Nantwich town centre.

Governance

From 1974 to 2009 the Borough Council was Crewe and Nantwich. Since this was abolished on 1 April 2009, the civil parish has been administered by the new unitary authority of Cheshire East.[3] Willaston Parish Council was established in 1894 and is responsible for the management of the Lettie Spencer Playing Field, the village allotments, the Spinny and Mike Heywood Green. The Council is made up of 12 members from two wards.[4] Willaston falls in the parliamentary constituency of Crewe and Nantwich,[5] which has been represented by Edward Timpson since a by-election in 2008.

Local amenities

The village centre of Willaston has three public houses (The Horseshoe, The Lamb, and The Nag's Head) and a social club, while an off-licence provides local produce and day to day goods. Another pub, The Peacock, is situated to the north-west of the village centre, on Crewe Road (the A534).

The social club offers many social events ranging from a monthly kids disco to various tribute bands and acts. The club has two pool teams, a snooker team, two 7-a-side football teams, a darts and dominoes team and a ladies darts team. In summer 2013 the function room (available for hire) was refurbished.

The village also has a fish and chip shop, and hairdressing salons. There are local businesses within the village providing employment (Scanlans, SJB Steel). At the edge of the village is a farm shop, Cheerbrook,[6] on the Newcastle Road.

Willaston Primary School[7] is the only education establishment in the village. For children of pre-school age, there is an Ofsted registered playgroup in the village.

Local events

The World Worm Charming Championships have been held in Willaston since 1980.

One of the major events in Willaston is the World Worm Charming Championships. It was started in 1980 by John Bailey. The event attracts many competitors from around the world, from the U.S. to Australia. The original event in 1980 was won with a total of 511 worms by Tom Shufflebotham - a record that stood until 2009. Celebrities that have taken part in the championships include Ben Fogle and Bob Carolgees. In 2008 celebrity contestants were Paddy McGuinness and Rory McGrath who were filming a slot for their series "Rory & Paddy's Great British Adventure".[8]

The 2008 championship was won by Mr Mike and Claire Gaukroger with a total of 125 worms, the trophy for the heaviest worm went to Ray O'Grady and Steve Plant. (4.6g)[9]

In 2009, due to particularly good conditions, 3 teams broke the previous world record of 511, with Sophie Smith and Matt Smith of Willaston claiming the title with a total of 567 worms in 30 minutes.[10]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Neighbourhood Statistics. "Check Browser Settings". Neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
  2. ↑ "Civil Parish population 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  3. ↑ Cheshire (Structural Changes) Order 2008
  4. ↑ .
  5. ↑ Cheshire County Council: Interactive Mapping: Crewe and Nantwich . Retrieved 27 January 2009.
  6. ↑ Cheerbrook Farm's Official Website . Retrieved 31 January 2009.
  7. ↑ Willaston Primary School Website . Retrieved May 18th 2010.
  8. ↑ "Demand Five | watch Rory & Paddy's Great British Adventure, Series 1 - episode 3, Episode 3". Demand.five.tv. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
  9. ↑ Nicola King on behalf of I.F.C.W.A.P. "The World Worm Charming Championships". Wormcharming.com. Retrieved 2009-06-30.
  10. ↑ Langley, William (28 June 2009). "The charms of worm charming". The Daily Telegraph. London.

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