Cheshire 7406 225834800 2008-07-15T16:49:39Z Dr Greg 847224 [[WP:UNDO|Undid]] revision 225665875 by [[Special:Contributions/ARBAY|ARBAY]] ([[User talk:ARBAY|talk]]) this section is not about [[Education in Congleton Borough]] {{dablink|For other uses, see [[{{{1|Cheshire (disambiguation)}}}]].}} {{Infobox England county | name = Cheshire | image = | motto = | map = [[Image:EnglandCheshire.png]] | status = [[Ceremonial counties of England|Ceremonial]] & (smaller) [[Metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties of England|Non-metropolitan]] county | origin = [[Historic counties of England|Historic]] | region = [[North West England]] | arearank = [[List of Ceremonial counties of England by Area|Ranked 25th]] | area_km2 = 2343 | adminarearank = [[List of Administrative shire counties of England by Area|Ranked 25th]] | adminarea_km2 = 2083 | adminhq = [[Chester]] | iso = GB-CHS | ons = 13 | nuts3 = UKD22 | poprank = [[List of ceremonial counties of England by population|Ranked {{English cerem counties|RNK=Cheshire}}]] | popestdate = {{English statistics year}} | pop = {{English cerem counties|POP=Cheshire}} | density_km2 = {{English cerem counties|DEN=Cheshire}} | adminpoprank = [[List of non-metropolitan counties of England by population|Ranked {{English admin counties|RNK=Cheshire}}]] | adminpop = {{English admin counties|POP=Cheshire}} | ethnicity = 98.3% White, 1.7% Other. | council = <!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:arms-cheshire.jpg|110px]] --><br />[[Cheshire County Council]]<br />http://www.cheshire.gov.uk/ | mps = *[[Mike Hall (politician)|Mike Hall]] [[Labour Party (UK)|(L)]] *[[Helen Jones]] [[Labour Party (UK)|(L)]] *[[Andrew Miller (politician)|Andrew Miller]] [[Labour Party (UK)|(L)]] *[[Stephen O'Brien]] [[Conservative Party (UK)|(C)]] *[[George Osborne]] [[Conservative Party (UK)|(C)]] *[[Christine Russell]] [[Labour Party (UK)|(L)]] *[[Helen Southworth]] [[Labour Party (UK)|(L)]] *[[Derek Twigg]] [[Labour Party (UK)|(L)]] *[[Ann Winterton]] [[Conservative Party (UK)|(C)]] *[[Nicholas Winterton]] [[Conservative Party (UK)|(C)]] | subdivmap = [[Image:Cheshire Ceremonial Numbered.png]] | subdivs = #[[Ellesmere Port and Neston]] #[[Chester (district)|Chester]] #[[Crewe and Nantwich]] #[[Congleton (borough)|Congleton]] #[[Macclesfield (borough)|Macclesfield]] #[[Vale Royal]] #[[Halton (borough)|Halton]] (Unitary) #[[Warrington]] (Unitary) }} '''Cheshire''' (or, archaically, the '''County of Chester''')<ref>{{cite web | title = Relationships / unit history of Cheshire | work = A Vision of Britain through Time website | url = http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10193850 | accessdate = 2007-03-05}}</ref> is a [[Counties of England|county]] in [[North West England|North West]] [[England]]. The [[county town]], and the location of the [[county council]], is the [[City status in the United Kingdom|city]] of [[Chester]],<ref>{{cite web | title = Cheshire County Council | work = Cheshire County Council website | url = http://www.cheshire.gov.uk/ | accessdate = 2007-03-05}}</ref> although Cheshire's largest town in terms of area and population is [[Warrington]]. Other major towns include [[Congleton]], [[Crewe]], [[Ellesmere Port]], [[Widnes]], [[Runcorn]], [[Macclesfield]], [[Northwich]], and [[Wilmslow]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Cheshire County Council Map | work = Cheshire County Council | url = http://www.cheshire.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/947210D0-96BD-429E-898D-3E952A4C8925/0/CheshireCountyMapforWeb.pdf | accessdate = 2007-03-05}}</ref> The county is bordered by [[Merseyside]] and [[Greater Manchester]] to the north, [[Derbyshire]] to the east, [[Staffordshire]] and [[Shropshire]] to the south, [[Flintshire]] and [[Wrexham (county borough)|Wrexham]] in [[Wales]] to the west. The [[Ceremonial counties of England|ceremonial county]] has an overall area of {{convert|2344|km2|sqmi|0}} and has a population of about 993,200. The county is mostly rural with a number of small towns and villages that support an agricultural industry. It is historically famous for the production of [[Cheshire cheese]],<ref>{{cite book | last=Ingham | first = A. | title = Cheshire: Its Traditions and History | date = 1920}}</ref> salt, bulk chemicals and the weaving of silk. ==History== {{main|History of Cheshire}} ===Toponymy=== Cheshire's name was originally derived from an early name for Chester and first occurred as ''Legeceasterscir'' in the [[Anglo-Saxon Chronicles]].<ref name=vch-vol1-p237> Harris, B. E. and Thacker, A. T. (1987). page 237.</ref> Its name meant ''the shire of the city of legions''.<ref name=crosby-p31>Crosby, A. (1996). page 31.</ref> It was first recorded in 980CE, but it is thought that the county was created by [[Edward the Elder]] around 920CE.<ref name=crosby-p31 /> In the [[Domesday Book]], Chester was recorded as having the name ''Cestrescir'', (Chestershire) which was also derived from the name for Chester in use at the time.<ref name=vch-vol1-p237 /> A series of changes that occurred as English itself changed, together with some simplifications, resulted in the name Cheshire, as it occurs today. Because of the historical close links with the land bordering Cheshire to the west, which became [[Wales]], there is a history of interaction between Cheshire and Wales. The Domesday Book records Cheshire as having two complete [[Hundreds of Cheshire|Hundreds]] (Atiscross and Exestan) which later became entirely part of Wales. Additionally, another large portion of the Duddestan Hundred later became known as [[Maelor Saesneg]] when it was transferred to Wales.<ref>Harris, B.E. and Thacker, A.T. (1987). pages 340&mdash;341.</ref> For this and other reasons, the [[Welsh language|Welsh]] name for Cheshire (''Swydd Gaerlleon'')<ref>[http://www.geiriadur.net/atebion.php?PHPSESSID=6629e0a737dd330fd4fecaf52d21efd7&uni=y&prefLang=en&term=Swydd+Gaerlleon&direction=we&whichpart=exact&type=noun Welsh dictionary entry for Cheshire.] www.geriadur.net website (''Welsh-English / English-Welsh On-line Dictionary'' ). Department of Welsh, University of Wales, Lampeter. Retrieval Date: [[February 21]], [[2008]]</ref> is sometimes used within Wales and by Welsh speakers. ===Administrative history=== Cheshire in the Domesday Book was recorded as a larger county than it is today. It included two [[hundred (division)|hundred]]s which later became part of [[Wales]]: Atiscross and Exestan. At the time of the [[Domesday]] book, it also included as part of Duddestan Hundred the area of land later known as [[Maelor Saesneg]] (which used to be a detached part of [[Flintshire (historic)|Flintshire]]) in [[Wales]].<ref>{{cite book | last = Davies | first = R. | title = The Age of Conquest: Wales 1063-1415 | date= 2000}}</ref> The area in between the [[Mersey]] and [[River Ribble|Ribble]] (referred to in the Domesday Book as "Inter Ripam et Mersham") formed part of the returns for Cheshire.<ref>Morgan (1978). pp.269c&ndash;301c,d.</ref><ref name=sylvesterp14> Sylvester (1980). p. 14.</ref> Although this has been interpreted to mean that at that time south Lancashire was part of Cheshire,<ref name=sylvesterp14 /><ref>Roffe (2000)</ref> more exhaustive research indicates that the boundary between Cheshire and what was to become Lancashire remained the [[River Mersey]].<ref>Harris and Thacker (1987). write on page 252: {{quotation|Certainly there were links between Cheshire and south Lancashire before 1000, when Wulfric Spot held lands in both territories. Wulfric's estates remained grouped together after his death, when they were left to his brother Aelfhelm, and indeed there still seems to have been some kind of connexion in 1086, when south Lancashire was surveyed together with Cheshire by the Domesday commissioners. Nevertheless, the two territories do seem to have been distinguished from one another in some way and it is not certain that the shire-moot and the reeves referred to in the south Lancashire section of Domesday were the Cheshire ones.}}</ref><ref>Phillips and Phillips (2002). pp. 26&ndash;31.</ref><ref>Crosby, A. (1996). writes on page 31: {{quotation|The Domesday Survey (1086) included south Lancashire with Cheshire for convenience, but the Mersey, the name of which means 'boundary river' is known to have divided the kingdoms of Northumbria and Mercia and there is no doubt that this was the real boundary.}}</ref> With minor variations in spelling across sources, the complete list of [[hundreds of Cheshire]] at this time are: Atiscross, Bochelau, Chester, Dudestan, Exestan, Hamestan, Middlewich, Riseton, Roelau, Tunendune, Warmundestrou. and Wilaveston.<ref>Harris, B. E., and Thacker, A. T. (1987). pages 340&ndash;341.</ref> In 1182 the land north of the Mersey became administered as part of the new county of [[Lancashire]], thus resolving any uncertainty about the county in which the land "Inter Ripam et Mersham" was.<ref>{{cite book | last = George | first = D. | title = Lancashire | date = 1991}}</ref> Over the years, the ten hundreds consolidated and changed names to leave just seven&mdash;Broxton, Bucklow, Eddisbury, Macclesfield, Nantwich, Northwich, and Wirral]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Cheshire ancient divisions | work = Vision of Britain website | url = http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10193850 | accessdate = 2007-03-06}}</ref> Through the Local Government Act 1972 which came into effect in 1974, some areas in the north west became part of the metropolitan counties of [[Greater Manchester]] and [[Merseyside]].<ref>{{cite book | last = Jones | first= B. et al | title=Politics UK | date = 2004}}</ref> [[Stockport]] (previously a county borough), [[Hyde, Greater Manchester|Hyde]], [[Dukinfield]] and [[Stalybridge]] in the north-east became part of Greater Manchester. Much of the [[Wirral Peninsula]] in the north-west, including the county boroughs of Birkenhead and Wallasey, joined Merseyside. At the same time the [[Tintwistle Rural District]] was transferred to Derbyshire. The area of Lancashire south of the Merseyside/Greater Manchester area, including [[Widnes]] and the county borough of [[Warrington]] was added to the new non-metropolitan county of Cheshire.<ref name = "fipqxl">Local Government Act 1972</ref> [[Halton (borough)|Halton]] and [[Warrington]] became unitary authorities independent of Cheshire County Council on [[1 April]] [[1998]], but remain part of Cheshire for ceremonial purposes, as well as fire and policing.<ref>{{cite web | title = The Cheshire (Boroughs of Halton and Warrington) (Structural Change) Order 1996 | work = Office of Public Sector Information | url = http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1996/Uksi_19961863_en_1.htm | accessdate = 2007-03-06}}</ref> A referendum for a further local government reform connected with an elected [[regional assemblies in England|regional assembly]] was planned for 2004, but was abandoned - {{see also|Northern England referendum, 2004}}). As part of a 2002 marketing campaign, the plant conservation charity [[Plantlife]] chose the [[cuckooflower]] as the [[county flower]]. ===Buildings and structures=== [[Image:46 & 48 High Street, Nantwich.JPG|thumb|left|Black-and-white timbered buildings on Nantwich High Street]] Prehistoric burial grounds can be found at [[The Bridestones]], near [[Congleton]] ([[Neolithic]]) and Robin Hood's Tump, near [[Alpraham]] ([[Bronze Age]]).<ref>[http://www2.cheshire.gov.uk/Archaeology/RCP/PrehistoricSitesToVisit.htm Cheshire County Council: Revealing Cheshire's Past]</ref> The remains of Iron Age [[hill fort]]s are found on sandstone ridges at several locations in Cheshire. Examples include Maiden Castle on [[Bickerton Hill]], [[Helsby]] Hillfort and Woodhouse Hillfort at [[Frodsham]]. The Roman fortress and walls of [[Chester]], perhaps the earliest building works in Cheshire remaining above ground, are constructed from purple-grey sandstone.<ref name="IOE">[http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/ Images of England]</ref> The distinctive local red sandstone has been used for many monumental and ecclesiastical buildings throughout the county, for example, the medieval [[Beeston Castle]], [[Chester Cathedral]] and numerous parish churches. Occasional residential and industrial buildings, such as [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=436671 Helsby Station], [[Helsby]] (1849) are also in this sandstone. Many surviving buildings from the 15th to 17th centuries are timbered, particularly in the southern part of the county. Notable examples include the moated manor house [[Little Moreton Hall]], dating from around 1450, and many commercial and residential buildings in Chester, [[Nantwich]] and surrounding villages. Early brick buildings include [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=59111 Peover Hall], near [[Macclesfield]] (1585), [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=405179 Tattenhall Hall] (pre-1622) and [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=470351 Pied Bull Hotel] in Chester (17th C). From the 18th century, orange, red or brown brick became the predominant building material used in Cheshire, although earlier buildings are often faced or dressed with stone. Examples from the Victorian period onwards often employ distinctive brick detailing, such as brick patterning and ornate chimney stacks and gables. Notable examples include [[Arley Hall]], near [[Northwich]], [[Willington Hall]]<ref>http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=55781</ref>, near Chester (both by Nantwich architect [[George Latham (architect)|George Latham]]) and [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=469751 Overleigh Lodge], Chester. From the Victorian era, brick buildings often incorporate timberwork in a mock Tudor style, and this hybrid style has been used in some modern residential developments in the county. Industrial buildings, such as the Macclesfield silk mills (for example, [http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/search/details.aspx?pid=1&id=390900 Waters Green New Mill]), are also usually in brick. ==Physical geography== [[Image:Beeston walk (1).JPG|thumb|left|Panorama photo showing part of the Cheshire Plain looking towards the Mid-Cheshire Ridge. Beeston Castle left background and Peckforton Castle right background are visible]] [[Image:Beeston walk.JPG|thumb|Panorama photo showing part of the Cheshire Plain looking from the Mid-Cheshire Ridge.]] {{main|Geology of Cheshire}} Cheshire covers a boulder clay plain separating the hills of [[North Wales]] and the [[Peak District]] of [[Derbyshire]]. This was formed following the retreat of [[ice age]] glaciers which left the area dotted with [[kettle hole]]s, locally referred to as meres. The bedrock of this region is almost entirely [[Triassic]] [[sandstone]], outcrops of which have long been quarried, notably at [[Runcorn]], providing the distinctive red stone for [[Liverpool Cathedral]] and [[Chester Cathedral]]. The eastern half of the county is Upper Triassic Mercia mudstone laid down with large [[table salt|salt]] deposits which were mined for hundreds of years around [[Northwich]]. Separating this area from Lower Triassic Sherwood sandstone to the west is a prominent Sandstone Ridge. A {{convert|32|mi|km|0|sing=on}} footpath, the [[Sandstone Trail]], follows this ridge from [[Frodsham]] to [[Whitchurch, Shropshire|Whitchurch]] passing [[Delamere Forest]], [[Beeston Castle]] and earlier [[Iron Age]] forts. ==Demographics== ===Population=== Based on the Census of 2001, the overall population of Cheshire is 673,781, of which 51.3% of the population were male and 48.7% were female. Of those aged between 0-14 years, 51.5% were male and 48.4% were female; and of those aged over 75 years, 62.9% were female and 37.1% were male. The population density of Cheshire is 32 people per km², lower than the North West average of 42 people/km² and the England and Wales average of 38 people/km². Ellesmere Port and Neston has a greater urban density than the rest of the county with 92 people/km².<ref> {{cite web | title = Census 2001 - Population | work = Cheshire Census Consortium | url = http://www.cheshire.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/2BA86039-3905-4E03-B2CC-1A56FF239192/0/Population.pdf | accessdate = 2007-03-06}}</ref> The population for 2021 is forecast to be 708,000.<ref>{{cite web | title = CCC Long Term Population Forecasts | work = Cheshire County Council | url = http://www.cheshire.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/F648E8B3-E5AF-4832-9AB5-619CACFA87B1/0/PopF1.pdf | accessdate = 2007-03-06}}</ref> ===Ethnicity=== Ethnic white groups accounted for 98% (662,794) of the population with 10,994 (2%) in ethnic groups other than white. Of the 2% in non-white ethnic groups: *3,717 (34%) belonged to mixed ethnic groups *3,336 (30%) were Asian or Asian British *1,076 (10%) were Black or Black British *1,826 (17%) were of Chinese ethnic groups *1,039 (9%) were of other ethnic groups.<ref name = "ahhcpy">{{cite web | title = Key Statistics Interim Profile | work = Cheshire County Council | url = http://www.cheshire.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/71754661-E7D9-4ECD-B71C-6163FD3574D1/0/PopC4.pdf | accessdate = 2007-03-06}}</ref> ==Politics and administration== [[Image:New Cheshire Ceremonial Numbered.png|thumb|right|The ceremonial county and unitary authorities from 2009 as currently proposed]] The area under the control of the county council, or [[shire county]], is divided into a number of local government districts. They are [[Ellesmere Port and Neston]], [[Chester (district)|Chester]], [[Crewe and Nantwich]], [[Congleton (borough)|Congleton]], [[Macclesfield (borough)|Macclesfield]] and [[Vale Royal]].<ref>[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10032957 Vision of Britain] - Divisions of Cheshire</ref><ref>[http://www.cheshire.gov.uk/Council/districtcouncils.htm Cheshire County Council] - Map of Cheshire districts</ref> On [[25 July]][[2007]], the Secretary of State [[Hazel Blears]] announced she was 'minded' to split Cheshire into two new unitary authorities, [[Cheshire West and Chester]], and [[Cheshire East]]. She confirmed she had not changed her mind on [[19 December]] [[2007]] and therefore the proposal to split two-tier Cheshire into two would proceed. Cheshire County Council leader Paul Findlow, who attempted High Court legal action against the proposal, claimed that splitting Cheshire would only disrupt excellent services while increasing living costs for all. A widespread sentiment that this decision was taken by the [[European Union]] long ago has often been portrayed via angered letters from Cheshire residents to local papers. On January 31st 2008 ''the standard, Cheshire & district'' newspaper announced that the legal action had been dropped. Members against the proposal were advised that they may be unable to persuade the court that the decision of Hazel Blears was "manifestly absurd". The Cheshire West and Chester unitary authority will cover the area currently occupied by the boroughs of Ellesmere Port and Neston, Vale Royal and the City of Chester; Cheshire East will cover the area currently occupied by the boroughs of Congleton, Crewe and Nantwich, and Macclesfield. The changes are planned to be implemented no later than [[1 April]] [[2009]], subject to a financial assessment of the proposal.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/staffordshire/6916055.stm BBC News, 25 July 2007 - County split into two authorities]</ref> [[Congleton|Congleton Borough Council]] are currently waiting to hear the result of their appeal against the Judicial Review they lost in October 2007. A decision either for or against the appeal should be announced before Easter 2008.<ref>[http://www.localgov.co.uk/index.cfm?method=news.detail&ID=63307&&keywords=unitary LocalGov.co.uk - Your authority on UK Local Government > LocalGov.co.uk - Your authority on UK Local Government > Cheshire drops bid to halt unitaries<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> [[Halton (borough)|Halton]] (which includes the towns of [[Runcorn]] and [[Widnes]]) and [[Warrington]] are [[unitary authority|unitary authorities]] which form part of the county for various functions such as [[Lord Lieutenant]] and [[High Sheriff of Cheshire|High Sheriff]], but do not come under county council control.<ref>{{cite web | title = The Cheshire (Boroughs of Halton and Warrington) (Structural Change) Order 1996 | work = Office of Public Sector Information | url = http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1996/Uksi_19961863_en_1.htm | accessdate = 2007-03-06}}</ref><ref> {{ cite web | title = The Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire | work =Cheshire County Council | url = http://www.cheshire.gov.uk/aboutcheshire/lord.htm | accessdate = 2007-03-06}}</ref> The [[Ceremonial counties of England|ceremonial county]], which includes the unitary authorities, borders [[Merseyside]], [[Greater Manchester]], [[Derbyshire]], [[Staffordshire]] and [[Shropshire]] in England along with [[Flintshire]] and [[Wrexham]] in [[Wales]], arranged by compass directions as shown in the table. below. Cheshire also forms part of the [[North West England]] [[Regions of England|region]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Local Authorities | work = Government Offices of the North West | url = http://www.gonw.gov.uk/gonw/OurRegion/LocalAuthorities/ Government Office for the North West | accessdate = 2007-03-06}}</ref> {| align="center" |+'''Neighbouring Authorities to the Ceremonial County''' | {{compass-table|place=CHESHIRE |N=[[Greater Manchester]] |NE= [[Derbyshire]] |E=[[Derbyshire]], [[Staffordshire]] |SE=[[Staffordshire]] |S=[[Shropshire]] |SW=[[Wrexham]] |W=[[Wrexham]], [[Flintshire]] |NW=[[Merseyside]] }} |} ==Religion== {{main|Religion of Cheshire}} [[Image:Wilmslow Church.jpg|thumb|right|Wilmslow Church]] In the 2001 Census, 81% of the population (542,413) identified themselves as Christian; 124,677 (19%) did not identify with any religion or did not answer the question; 5,665 (1%) as belonging to other major world religions; and 1,033 belonging to other religions.<ref name = "ahhcpy"/> The boundary of the [[Church of England]] [[Diocese of Chester]] follows most closely the pre-1974 county boundary of Cheshire, so it includes all of [[Wirral]], [[Stockport]], and the Cheshire panhandle, that included [[Tintwistle Rural District]] council area.<ref>[http://www.chester.anglican.org/diocese/ Chester Diocese (Church of England).] ''Official website''. Retrieval Date: 30 September, 2007.</ref> In terms of [[Roman Catholic]] church administration, the majority of Cheshire falls into the Roman Catholic [[Diocese of Shrewsbury]].<ref>[http://www.dioceseofshrewsbury.org/index.asp Diocese of Shrewsbury (Roman Catholic).] ''Official website''. Retrieval Date: 30 September, 2007.</ref> ==Economy and industry== {{main|Economy of Cheshire}} Cheshire has a diverse economy with significant sectors including agriculture, automotive, bio-technology, chemical, financial services, food and drink, ICT, and tourism. The county is famous for the production of [[Cheshire cheese]], salt and silk. [[Image:Cheshire Cattle.JPG|thumb|Cattle farming in the county]] Cheshire is a mainly rural county with a high concentration of villages. Agriculture is generally based around the dairy trade and cattle are the predominant livestock. Land use given to agriculture has fluctuated somewhat, and in 2005 totalled 1558 km² over 4,609 holdings.<ref>{{cite web | title = Agricultural Holdings - Land and Employment - Cheshire - 2002 to 2005| work = Cheshire County Council | url = http://www.cheshire.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/8AC07978-47FE-4BA6-8063-39F5AFB0978D/0/EcE3.pdf | accessdate = 2007-06-03}}</ref> Based on holdings by EC farm type in 2005, 8.51 km² was allocated to diary farming, with another 11.78 km² allocated to cattle and sheep. The chemical industry in Cheshire was founded in the [[Roman Britain|Roman]] times with the [[Salt in Cheshire|mining of salt]] in Middlewich and Northwich. Salt is still mined in this area by [[British Salt]]. The salt mining has led to a continued chemical industry around Northwich, with [[Brunner Mond]] based in the town. More chemical companies, including [[Ineos]] (formerly [[Imperial Chemical Industries|ICI]]) have plants at [[Runcorn]]. The [[Royal Dutch Shell|Shell]] [[Stanlow Refinery]] is at Ellesmere Port. The oil refinery has operated since 1924 and has a capacity of 12&nbsp;million tonnes per year. Crewe was once the centre of the [[Rail transport in Great Britain|British railway industry]], and remains a major railway junction. The [[Crewe Works|Crewe railway works]], built in 1840, employed 20,000 people at its peak, though this is now less than 1,000. Crewe is also the home of [[Bentley]] cars. Also within Cheshire are manufacturing plants for [[Jaguar (car)|Jaguar]] and [[Vauxhall Motors]] in Ellesmere Port. The county also has an aircraft industry, with the [[BAE Systems]] facility at [[Woodford Aerodrome]], part of BAE System's Military Air Solutions division. The facility designed and constructed [[Avro Lancaster]] and [[Avro Vulcan]] bombers and the [[Hawker-Siddeley Nimrod]]. On the Cheshire border with [[Flintshire]], Wales is the [[Broughton, Flintshire|Broughton]] aircraft factory, more recently associated with [[Airbus]]. Tourism in Cheshire from both within the UK and overseas continues to perform strongly. Over 8&nbsp;million nights of accommodation (both UK & overseas) and over 2.8&nbsp;million visits to Cheshire were recorded during 2003.<ref name = "ygcyzn">{{cite web | title = Cheshire Economy (page 64)| work = Cheshire County Council | url = http://www.cheshire.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/5F4B2042-1BCB-4F74-B53B-6EE65E28372E/0/CheshireEconomy.pdf | accessdate = 2007-03-06}}</ref> At the start of 2003, there were 22,020 VAT registered enterprises in Cheshire, an increase of 7% since 1998, many in the Business Services (31.9%) and Wholesale/ Retail (21.7%) sectors. Between 2002 and 2003 the number businesses grew in four sectors: Public Administration and Other Services (6.0%), Hotels & Restaurants (5.1%), Construction (1.7%) and Business Services (1.0%).<ref name = "ygcyzn"/> The county saw the largest proportional reduction between 2001 and 2002 in employment in the 'Energy and Water' sector and there was also a significant reduction in the Manufacturing sector. The largest growth during this period was in the 'Other Services' and 'Distribution, Hotels and Retail' sector.<ref name = "ygcyzn"/> ==Education== {{main|List of schools in Cheshire}} Cheshire [[Local Education Authority|LEA]] has a completely comprehensive state school system (as does Halton and Warrington) with 42 state schools, not including [[sixth form college]]s, and 15 independent schools. When [[Altrincham]], [[Sale, Greater Manchester|Sale]] and Wirral were moved from Cheshire to [[Metropolitan Borough of Trafford|Trafford]] in 1974, they took some former Cheshire selective schools. ==Culture, media and sport== Cheshire has several league [[football (soccer)|football]] teams, notably League One [[Crewe Alexandra F.C.|Crewe Alexandra]] and League Two [[Chester City F.C.|Chester City]] and [[Macclesfield Town F.C.|Macclesfield Town]]. [[Cheshire County Cricket Club]] is one of the minor [[county cricket]] clubs. The county has also been home to many notable sportsmen and athletes, including footballers [[Dean Ashton]] ([[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham]]), [[Djibril Cissé]] ([[France national football team|France]] and [[Olympique de Marseille]]), [[Peter Crouch]] ([[England national football team|England]] and [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]), [[Seth Johnson]] ([[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]]) [[Michael Owen]] (England and [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]]) and [[Wayne Rooney]] (England and [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]). Other local athletes include cricketer [[Ian Botham]]; marathon runner [[Paula Radcliffe]]; Great Britain Olympic oarsman [[Matthew Langridge]]; [[Shirley Strong]]; and mountaineer [[George Mallory]], who died in 1924 on [[Mount Everest]]. The county has produced several notable musicians, including popular artists [[John Mayall]] ([[John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers]]),<ref>[http://www.johnmayall.com/bio.html John Mayall biographical details.] www.johnmayall.com website. Retrieval Date: [[February 21]], [[2008]].</ref> [[Ian Astbury]] ([[The Cult]]), [[Tim Burgess]] ([[Charlatans UK|Charlatans]]), [[Ian Curtis]] ([[Joy Division]]) and [[Kerry Katona]] ([[Atomic Kitten]]). Concert pianist [[Stephen Hough]], singer [[Thea Gilmore]] and her producer husband [[Nigel Stonier]] also reside in Cheshire. The county has also been home to several writers, including [[Hall Caine]] (1853-1931), popular romantic novelist and playwright; [[Alan Garner]]; Victorian novelist [[Elizabeth Gaskell]], whose novel ''[[Cranford (novel)|Cranford]]'' features her home town of [[Knutsford]]; and most famously [[Charles Lutwidge Dodgson|Lewis Carroll]], born and raised in [[Daresbury]], hence the [[Cheshire cat]]. Artists from the county include ceramic artist [[Emma Bossons]] and sculptor and photographer [[Andy Goldsworthy]]. Actors from Cheshire include [[Daniel Craig]], the 6th [[James Bond]]; [[Dame Wendy Hiller]]; and [[Lewis McGibbon]], best known for his role in [[Millions]]. [[Warrington Wolves]] are the premier [[Rugby League]] team in Cheshire and play in the [[Super League]]. [[Widnes Vikings]] are currently in [[National League One]]. Local radio stations in the county include [[Dee 106.3]], [[Marcher Sound]] and [[Classic Gold Marcher]] for Chester and West Cheshire, [[Silk FM]] for the east of the county, [[Signal 1]] for the south, [[Wire FM]] for Warrington, [[Wish FM]] which covers Widnes, and community station [[Cheshire FM]] which covers central Cheshire. The BBC covers the west with [[BBC Radio Merseyside]], the north and east with [[BBC Radio Manchester]] and the south with [[BBC Radio Stoke]]. There were plans to launch [[BBC Radio Cheshire]], but those were shelved in 2007 after a lower than expected BBC licence fee settlement. ==Notable residents== {{Col-begin}} {{Col-1-of-2}} *[[Gary Barlow]] (born 1971), solo artist, songwriter and frontman for [[Take That]] was born at [[Frodsham]] and formerly lived in Cheshire.<ref name=MEN>{{cite web |title = Bourne D. Gary Barlow takes £4m for his Cheshire mansion, ''Manchester Evening News'' (21 December 2005) |url = http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/homesearch/latest/s/192/192327_gary_barlow_takes_4m_for_his_cheshire_mansion.html |publisher= Greater Manchester Weekly Newspapers| accessdate = 2008-04-01}}</ref> *[[Chris Braide]] (born 1973), songwriter and lead singer with [[The Producers (2006 band)|The Producers]], was born in the county.{{Fact|date=April 2008}} * [[Thomas Brassey]] (1805–1870), civil engineering contractor, was born in [[Buerton, Chester|Buerton]]. * [[Sir John Brunner, 1st Baronet|Sir John Brunner]] (1842–1919) co-founded the chemical works of [[Brunner Mond|Brunner Mond & Company]] at Northwich and was MP for the Northwich constituency. * [[Sir John Chesshyre]] (1662–1738), lawyer, was born near Runcorn and is buried in Runcorn parish church. * [[Thomas Egerton, 1st Viscount Brackley]] is buried at Dodleston, Cheshire. * [[Gerald Grosvenor, 6th Duke of Westminster]], lives at [[Eaton Hall (Cheshire)|Eaton Hall]] near [[Chester]]. * [[Emma Hamilton]] (Lady Hamilton) was born in the county. {{Col-2-of-2}} * [[Thomas Hazlehurst (businessman)|Thomas Hazlehurst]] (1779–1842) established the soap and alkali manufacturing business of [[Hazlehurst & Sons]] in Runcorn. * [[Thomas Hazlehurst (chapel builder)|Thomas Hazlehurst]] (1816–1876), son of the above, paid for the building of twelve Methodist chapels and three schools in the Runcorn area. * [[Noddy Holder]] (born 1946), singer and frontman of [[Slade]] lives in [[Prestbury, Cheshire]].{{Fact|date=April 2008}} * [[Robert Spear Hudson (businessman)|Robert Spear Hudson]] (1812–1884), manufacturer of soap powder, lived in Bache Hall, Chester. *[[George Mallory]] (1886–1924), [[United Kingdom|British]] [[mountaineer]] who died attempting to climb [[Mount Everest]].{{Fact|date=April 2008}} * [[George Ormerod]] (1785–1873), historian, lived in Chorlton House near Chester while he wrote his ''History of Cheshire''. *[[Wayne Rooney]] (born 1985), [[Manchester United]] and [[England national football team|England]] footballer.<ref name=MEN /> * [[Harriet Shaw Weaver]] (1876–1961), political activist and patron of [[James Joyce]], was born in Frodsham. * [[Cristiano Ronaldo]] [[Manchester United]] and [[Portugal national football team]] footballer. {{Col-end}} ==Settlements and communications== ===Settlements=== {{main|List of places in Cheshire}} Some northern parts of the county are effectively [[suburb]]s of [[Manchester]] or [[Liverpool]], and many of those who work in these cities commute from other parts of the county. The county is home to some of the most affluent areas of [[England]], including [[Alderley Edge]], [[Wilmslow]], [[Prestbury, Cheshire|Prestbury]], [[Tarporley]] and [[Knutsford]], named in 2006 as the most expensive place to buy a house in the north of England. The former Cheshire town of [[Altrincham]] was in second place. The area is sometimes referred to as [[Golden Triangle (Cheshire)|The Golden Triangle]] on account of the area in and around the above mentioned towns and villages.<ref>{{cite web | title = Why Cheshire fat cats smile| work = Times Online| url = http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/property/buying_and_selling/article1087249.ece | accessdate = 2006-03-06}}</ref> The cities and towns in Cheshire are: <!---IF POPULATING THIS TABLE, PLEASE ARRANGE IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER. PLEASE BE MINDFUL THAT A DISTRICT OF A SETTLEMENT ALREADY MENTIONED IS NOT APPROPRIATE TO LINK HERE - THESE SHOULD BE WITHIN THEIR SETTLEMENT'S ARTICLE---> {| class="wikitable" ! Ceremonial county ! District ! Centre of administration ! Other Towns or Cities |- |rowspan=10| '''Cheshire''' | [[Chester (district)|Chester (city borough)]] | [[Chester]] | [[Malpas, Cheshire|Malpas]] |- | [[Congleton (borough)]] | [[Sandbach]] | [[Alsager]], [[Congleton]], [[Middlewich]] |- | [[Crewe and Nantwich|Crewe and Nantwich (borough)]] | [[Crewe]] | [[Nantwich]] |- | [[Ellesmere Port and Neston|Ellesmere Port and Neston (borough)]] | [[Ellesmere Port]] | [[Neston]] |- | [[Halton (borough)]] (unitary) | [[Widnes]] | [[Runcorn]] |- | [[Macclesfield (borough)]] | [[Macclesfield]] | [[Bollington]], [[Knutsford]], [[Wilmslow]] |- | [[Vale Royal|Vale Royal (borough)]] | [[Winsford]] | [[Frodsham]], [[Northwich]] |- | [[Warrington|Warrington (borough)]] (Unitary) | Warrington | (none) |- |} Some settlements which were historically part of the county now fall under the counties of [[Derbyshire]], [[Merseyside]] and [[Greater Manchester]]:<ref>{{cite book | last = Chandler | first = J. | title = Local Government Today | date = 2001}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Cheshire ancient county boundaries | work = Vision of Britain website | url = http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/bound_map_page.jsp?first=true&u_id=10193850&c_id=10001043 | accessdate = 2007-03-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Cheshire 1974 boundaries | work = Vision of Britain website | url = http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/bound_map_page.jsp?first=true&u_id=10032957&c_id=10001043 | accessdate = 2007-03-06}}</ref><ref name = "fipqxl"/> {| class="wikitable" style="width: auto; margin-left: 1.5em;" ! scope="row" | Derbyshire | [[Newtown, Derbyshire|Newtown]], [[Tintwistle]], [[Whaley Bridge]] (western part) |- ! scope="row" | Greater Manchester | [[Altrincham]], [[Bramhall]], [[Bredbury]], [[Cheadle, Greater Manchester|Cheadle]], [[Cheadle Hulme]], [[Dukinfield]], [[Gatley]], [[Hazel Grove]], [[Hyde, Greater Manchester|Hyde]], [[Marple, Greater Manchester|Marple]], [[Romiley]], [[Sale, Greater Manchester|Sale]], [[Stalybridge]], [[Stockport]], [[Wythenshawe]] |- ! scope="row" | Merseyside | [[Bebington]], [[Birkenhead]], [[Heswall]], [[Hoylake]], [[Wallasey]], [[West Kirby]] |} ===Transport=== ====Rail and Road==== The [[West Coast Main Line]] runs from south to north through the centre of the county, connecting [[Crewe railway station|Crewe]], [[Warrington Bank Quay railway station|Warrington Bank Quay]] and [[Wigan North Western railway station|Wigan North Western]] railway stations with [[London]], [[Preston]] and [[Glasgow]]. The [[Mid-Cheshire Line]] connects Chester to Stockport, crossing from south west to north east across the county. [[Manchester Airport]] straddles the boundary between Greater Manchester and Cheshire. Lines also connect Chester to Crewe, The north Wales coast, Shrewsburry, Birmingham, Cardiff, Liverpool and Manchester (via Warrington). Crewe Station (the largest in the county) is a major interchange station with trains to north and south Wales, Birmingham, Manchester, London, Liverpool, Scotland, The east/west midlands, and South coast. The Cheshire road system is made up of {{convert|3417|mi|km|0}}, which includes {{convert|214|mi|km|0}} of the [[M6 motorway|M6]], [[M62 motorway|M62]], [[M53 motorway|M53]] and [[M56 motorway|M56]] motorways, with 23 interchanges and four service areas. The M6 motorway across the [[Thelwall Viaduct]] carries 140,000 vehicles every 24 hours.<ref>{{cite web | title = Road policing | work = Cheshire Police website | url = http://www.cheshire.police.uk/showcontent.php?pageid=76 | accessdate = 2007-03-01}}</ref> ====Waterways==== [[Image:Cheshire Ring Schematic.png|thumb|right|250px|Schematic of the Cheshire Ring]] {{main|Canals in Cheshire}} [[Canals in Cheshire|The Cheshire canal system]] includes several [[canals]] originally used to transport the county's industrial products (mostly chemicals). Nowadays they are mainly used for [[tourism|tourist]] traffic. The ''Cheshire Ring'' is formed from The Rochdale, [[Ashton Canal|Ashton]], [[Peak Forest Canal|Peak Forest]], [[Macclesfield Canal|Macclesfield]], [[Trent and Mersey Canal|Trent and Mersey]] and [[Bridgewater Canal|Bridgewater]] canals. The [[Manchester Ship Canal]] is a wide, {{convert|36|mi|km|0|sing=on}} stretch of water opened in 1894. It consists of the rivers [[River Irwell|Irwell]] and [[River Mersey|Mersey]] made navigable to Manchester for sea-going ships leaving the Mersey Estuary. The canal passes through the north of the county via Runcorn and Warrington. {{clr}} ==See also== {{portalpar|Cheshire}} *[[Cheshire cat]] ==Notes and References== ===Notes=== {{reflist|2}} ===Bibliography=== {{refbegin}} *Beck, J. (1969). ''Tudor Cheshire. (Volume 7 of Cheshire Community Council Series: A History of Cheshire).'' Series Editor: J. J. Bagley. Chester, UK: Cheshire Community Council. *Bu'Lock, J. D. (1972). ''Pre-Conquest Cheshire 383-1066. (Volume 3 of Cheshire Community Council Series: A History of Cheshire).'' Series Editor: J. J. Bagley. Chester, UK: Cheshire Community Council. *Crosby, A. (1996). ''A History of Cheshire.'' ''(The Darwen County History Series.)'' Chichester, UK: Phillimore & co. Ltd. ISBN 0850339324. *Dore, R.N. (1966). ''The Civil Wars in Cheshire. (Volume 8 of Cheshire Community Council Series: A History of Cheshire).'' Series Editor: J. J. Bagley. Chester, UK: Cheshire Community Council. *Driver, J. T. (1971). ''Cheshire in the Later Middle Ages 1399-1540. (Volume 6 of Cheshire Community Council Series: A History of Cheshire).'' Series Editor: J. J. Bagley. Chester, UK: Cheshire Community Council. *Harris, B. E. (1979). '''The Victoria History of the County of Chester. (Volume 2).'' Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 019722749X. *Harris, B. E. (1980). '''The Victoria History of the County of Chester. (Volume 3).'' Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0197227546. *Harris, B. E., and Thacker, A. T. (1987). ''The Victoria History of the County of Chester. (Volume 1: Physique, Prehistory, Roman, Anglo-Saxon, and Domesday).'' Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0197227619. *Hewitt, H. J. (1967). ''Cheshire Under the Three Edwards. (Volume 5 of Cheshire Community Council Series: A History of Cheshire).'' Series Editor: J. J. Bagley. Chester, UK: Cheshire Community Council. *Higham, N. J. (1993). ''The Origins of Cheshire.'' Manchester, UK: Manchester University Press. ISBN 0719031605. *Hodson, J. H. (1978). ''Cheshire, 1660-1780: Restoration to Industrial Revolution. (Volume 9 of Cheshire Community Council Series: A History of Cheshire).'' Series Editor: J. J. Bagley. Chester, UK: Cheshire Community Council. ISBN 0903119110. *Husain, B. M. C. (1973). ''Cheshire Under the Norman Earls 1066-1237. (Volume 4 of Cheshire Community Council Series: A History of Cheshire).'' Series Editor: J. J. Bagley. Chester, UK: Cheshire Community Council. *Morgan, P. (Ed.) (1978). ''Domesday Book. Volume 26: Cheshire''. Chichester, Sussex: Phillmore and Company Limited. ISBN 0850331404. *Morgan, V., and Morgan, P. (2004). ''Prehistoric Cheshire.'' Ashbourne, Derbyshire:Landmark Publishing Company. ISBN 1843061406. *Phillips, A. D. M., and Phillips, C. B. (Eds.) (2002). ''A New Historical Atlas of Cheshire.'' Chester, UK: Cheshire County Council and Cheshire Community Council Publications Trust. ISBN 0904532461. *Scard, G. (1981). ''Squire and Tenant: Rural Life in Cheshire 1760-1900. (Volume 10 of Cheshire Community Council Series: A History of Cheshire).'' Series Editor: J. J. Bagley. Chester, UK: Cheshire Community Council. ISBN 0903119137. *Scholes, R. (2000). ''The Towns and Villages of Britain: Cheshire.'' Wilmslow, Cheshire: Sigma Press. ISBN 1850586373. *Sylvester, D. (1980). ''A History of Cheshire, (The Darwen County History Series.)'' (Second Edition, original publication date, 1971). London and Chichester, UK: Phillimore & Co. Ltd. ISBN 0850333849. *Sylvester. D., and Nulty, G. (1958). ''The Historical Atlas of Cheshire.'' (Third Edition) Chester, UK: Cheshire Community Council. *Thompson, F. H. (1965). ''Roman Cheshire. (Volume 2 of Cheshire Community Council Series: A History of Cheshire).'' Series Editor: J. J. Bagley. Chester, UK: Cheshire Community Council. *Tigwell, R. E. (1985). ''Cheshire in the Twentieth Century. (Volume 11 of Cheshire Community Council Series: A History of Cheshire).'' Series Editor: J. J. Bagley. Chester, UK: Cheshire Community Council. *Varley, W. J. (1964). ''Cheshire Before the Romans. (Volume 1 of Cheshire Community Council Series: A History of Cheshire).'' Series Editor: J. J. Bagley. Chester, UK: Cheshire Community Council. *Youngs, F. A. (1991). ''Guide to the Local Administrative Units of England. (Volume 1: Northern England).'' London: Royal Historical Society. ISBN 0861931270. {{refend}} ==External links== {{Wiktionary|Cheshire}} {{commonscat|Cheshire}} * [http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/bicentenary/pdfs/cheshire.pdf Office of National Statistics - 2001 Bicentenary - Cheshire] * [http://www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/cheshire Cheshire Wildlife Trust] * [http://www.hslc.org.uk/ The Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire] {{Cheshire}} {{NW_England}} {{England counties}} {{coor title dm|53|10|N|2|35|W|region:GB_type:adm1st_source:GNS-enwiki}} [[Category:Cheshire| ]] [[ang:Ceasterscīr]] [[br:Cheshire]] [[ca:Cheshire]] [[cy:Swydd Gaer]] [[da:Cheshire]] [[de:Cheshire]] [[es:Cheshire]] [[eo:Cheshire]] [[eu:Cheshire]] [[fr:Cheshire (comté)]] [[hi:चेशायर]] [[id:Cheshire]] [[is:Cheshire]] [[it:Cheshire]] [[kw:Cheshire]] [[lv:Češīra]] [[lb:Cheshire]] [[nl:Cheshire (graafschap)]] [[ja:チェシャー]] [[no:Cheshire]] [[pl:Cheshire (Anglia)]] [[pt:Cheshire]] [[ro:Cheshire]] [[ru:Чешир]] [[simple:Cheshire]] [[sk:Cheshire (grófstvo)]] [[fi:Cheshire]] [[sv:Cheshire]] [[vo:Cheshire]] [[zh:柴郡]]