Wrenbury
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wrenbury is a village and civil parish (Wrenbury-cum-Frith) in the Crewe and Nantwich district of Cheshire, England. It is about 5 miles south-west of Nantwich, Cheshire and 5 miles north-east of Whitchurch, Shropshire. Nearby villages include Marbury, Aston and Audlem. According to a 1998 estimate, it had a population of 2030.
Wrenbury lies on the River Weaver and the Llangollen branch of the Shropshire Union Canal. It also has an unmanned station on the Welsh Marches Railway. The Cheshire Cycleway runs through the village and the South Cheshire Way long-distance path runs just south of it.
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[edit] Sights of interest
The red sandstone St Margaret's Church, overlooking the village green, dates from the early 16th century; notable features include a rare example of a dog whipper's pew and a memorial to Stapleton Cotton, 1st Viscount Combermere. Wrenbury Hall was the home of the Starkey family, prominent local landowners. The grade-II-listed red-brick village primary school dates from 1879 and features a bellcote and weathervane. Hawk Cottage, formerly the Hawk and Buckle inn, is a grade-II-listed cottage near the post office. There are also several black-and-white cottages in the village and nearby hamlets, some of which date from the 17th century.
The Shropshire Union Canal near the village has three rare single-span timber lift bridges by Thomas Telford dating from 1790; two are grade-II* listed, with Wrenbury Frith bridge being in particularly fine condition.
Around 2 miles south of the village, on top of a rise at the edge of Combermere Park, stands an obelisk commemorating Stapleton Cotton, 1st Viscount Combermere, dated 1890.
The village has recently become known for its summer scarecrow trail, which started in 2000.
[edit] Facilities
The village has a post office with shop, and two public houses by the canal which also serve food. A boat hire company operates from Wrenbury Mill, beside Wrenbury Bridge. A caravan site lies near the canal. Sports facilities include a pavilion, bowling green, tennis courts and football pitch. As of October 2006, the doctor's surgery is relocating to a larger site adjacent to the school.
[edit] History
The village is listed in the Domesday book as Wareneberie, and became Wrennebury in 1230. The name is said to mean 'old forest inhabited by wrens'.
[edit] Sources
- Cheshire Antiquities: Wrenbury, Cottons of Combermere Abbey
- Cheshire Life feature (2002)
- Combermere Park obelisk
- Images of England
[edit] External link
| Ceremonial county of Cheshire [[Image:|40px]] | ||
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| Unitary authorities: | Halton • Warrington | |
| Boroughs/Districts: | City of Chester • Congleton • Crewe and Nantwich • Ellesmere Port and Neston • Macclesfield • Vale Royal | |
| Cities/Towns: | Alderley Edge • Alsager • Bollington • Chester • Congleton • Crewe • Ellesmere Port • Frodsham • Knutsford • Lymm • Macclesfield • Middlewich • Nantwich • Neston • Northwich • Poynton • Runcorn • Sandbach • Warrington • Widnes • Wilmslow • Winsford See also: List of civil parishes in Cheshire |
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