Cuddington is a
civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a type of administrative parish used for local government. It is a territorial designation which is the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties, or their combined form, the unitary authority ...
and rural village in the unitary authority of
Cheshire West and Chester
Cheshire West and Chester is a Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority with Borough status in the United Kingdom, borough status in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It was established on 1 April 2009 as part of the 2009 str ...
and the ceremonial county of
Cheshire
Cheshire ( ) is a ceremonial and historic county in North West England, bordered by Wales to the west, Merseyside and Greater Manchester to the north, Derbyshire to the east, and Staffordshire and Shropshire to the south. Cheshire's county t ...
, England, about 4 miles west of
Northwich
{{Infobox UK place
, static_image_name = Northwich - Town Bridge.jpg
, static_image_caption = Town Bridge, the River Weaver and the spire of Holy Trinity Church
, official_name = Northwich
, country ...
and 13 miles east of
Chester
Chester is a cathedral city and the county town of Cheshire, England. It is located on the River Dee, close to the English–Welsh border. With a population of 79,645 in 2011,"2011 Census results: People and Population Profile: Chester Loca ...
.
Within the civil parish of Cuddington are two villages: Cuddington and
Sandiway
Sandiway is a village in the civil parish of Cuddington, Vale Royal, Cuddington, Cheshire, England. It lies to the southeast of and is contiguous with the village of Cuddington.
Sandiway was the birthplace of John Douglas (English architect), ...
. Sandiway was transferred from
Weaverham
Weaverham is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. Just off the A49, it is just to the west of Northwich and south of the River Weaver, and has a population of ...
civil parish in 1936.
Origins
The name Cuddington is Anglo Saxon and derives from the 'Tun of Cuda' which translates to the 'People of Cuda'. Cuddington was designated as a township in the 7th century when the then
Archbishop of Canterbury
The archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and a principal leader of the Church of England, the ceremonial head of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. The current archbishop is Justi ...
(Theodore) introduced the parochial system within the Parish of
Weaverham
Weaverham is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. Just off the A49, it is just to the west of Northwich and south of the River Weaver, and has a population of ...
. Cuddington's church was first set up as a chapel of ease. In ancient times the village was famed for its medicinal spring that has since been lost.
Cuddington and
Sandiway
Sandiway is a village in the civil parish of Cuddington, Vale Royal, Cuddington, Cheshire, England. It lies to the southeast of and is contiguous with the village of Cuddington.
Sandiway was the birthplace of John Douglas (English architect), ...
have been villages since Delamere forest covered an area from the southern bounday of
Frodsham
Frodsham is a market town, civil parish, and electoral ward in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. Its population was 8,982 in 2001, increasing to 9,077 at the 2011 Census. It is s ...
and the
Mersey
The River Mersey () is in North West England. Its name derives from Old English and means "boundary river", possibly referring to its having been a border between the ancient kingdoms of Mercia and Northumbria. For centuries it has formed part ...
all the way towards Tarporley. There is a Bronze Age burial ground in
Norley
Norley is a village and civil parishes in England, civil parish in Cheshire, England, north of Delamere Forest, near the village of Cuddington, Vale Royal, Cuddington. The population at the United Kingdom Census 2011, 2011 census was 1,169. Its ...
another local village and Iron Age hill forts at
Eddisbury and
Oakmere
Oakmere is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Delamere and Oakmere, in the Cheshire West and Chester district, in the county of Cheshire, England. The population of the civil parish taken at the 2011 census was 589. The civi ...
, the ancient highway of Peytefinsty, linking
Weaverham
Weaverham is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. Just off the A49, it is just to the west of Northwich and south of the River Weaver, and has a population of ...
with
Tarporley
Tarporley is a large village and civil parish in Cheshire, England. The civil parish also contains the village of Rhuddall Heath. Tarporley is bypassed by the A49 and A51 roads.
At the 2011 census, the population was 2,614.
History
Tarporle ...
and many other local Roman roads confirm the age of the village.
Prior to 1935 the centre of Cuddington was on top of the high ground near to what is now Delamere Park but in that year it merged with Bryn (meaning 'hill' which was between Cuddington and Sandiway), Sandiway and parts of Gorstage becoming the ecclesiastical and civil parish, Cuddington and Sandiway.
Vale Royal Abbey
![Vale royal abbey](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/75/Vale_royal_abbey.jpg)
The early history of Cuddington and
Sandiway
Sandiway is a village in the civil parish of Cuddington, Vale Royal, Cuddington, Cheshire, England. It lies to the southeast of and is contiguous with the village of Cuddington.
Sandiway was the birthplace of John Douglas (English architect), ...
is also closely associated with
Vale Royal Abbey
Vale Royal Abbey is a former medieval abbey and later country house in Whitegate England. The precise location and boundaries of the abbey are difficult to determine in today's landscape. The original building was founded c. 1270 by the Lord ...
, at nearby
Whitegate, once the largest Cistercian abbey church in Britain. Sandiway's most famous building is the "
Round Tower Lodge
The Round Tower Lodge, also known simply as the Round Tower, is situated in the central reservation of the A556 road in Sandiway, Cheshire, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed ...
" which was built in the early 19th century as the gatehouse to Vale Royal Abbey. The 18-foot high tower is said to have a concealed dungeon which was used as a hiding place by King Charles II. At that time it stood on a quiet country lane but the road became increasingly important and the tower is now a unique landmark in the central reservation of the A556. Now a listed building with a castellated top and bricked up gothic windows, it was a residence until the 1920s and had a single story extension to its east wall which has since been removed.
Blue Cap
Very near the round tower is the Blue Cap Inn which is named after a fox hound. The Cheshire Hounds' kennels were built in
Sandiway
Sandiway is a village in the civil parish of Cuddington, Vale Royal, Cuddington, Cheshire, England. It lies to the southeast of and is contiguous with the village of Cuddington.
Sandiway was the birthplace of John Douglas (English architect), ...
in 1798, to be replaced in 1834, on the same site, by a new establishment, the Cheshire Forest Kennels. Bluecap was a foxhound owned by John Smith-Barry and in 1762 took part in a famous race, at Newmarket, for a 500-guinea wager with
Hugo Meynell
Hugo Meynell (June 1735 – 14 December 1808) was an English country landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1762 and 1780. He is generally seen as the father of modern fox hunting, became Master of Fox Hounds for the Q ...
, the Master of the
Quorn Hunt
The Quorn Hunt, usually called the Quorn, established in 1696, is one of the world's oldest fox hunting packs and claims to be the United Kingdom's most famous hunt. Its country is mostly in Leicestershire, together with some smaller areas of ...
. Bluecap prevailed and became a local hero and a monument to him stands at the Cheshire Kennels.
Cuddington railway station and the Whitegate Way
![Cuddington Railway Station](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/50/Cuddington_Railway_Station.jpg)
The railway transformed the village linking it with
Manchester
Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The t ...
and
Chester
Chester is a cathedral city and the county town of Cheshire, England. It is located on the River Dee, close to the English–Welsh border. With a population of 79,645 in 2011,"2011 Census results: People and Population Profile: Chester Loca ...
as well as Winsford with the Whitegate way (now closed and used by walkers, cyclists and as a bridleway). The new railway opened to passengers in 1870 shops and businesses grew up around the station. Wealthy commuters, from Manchester, Chester and Northwich, moved to the village increasing the population and changing its location for the merging in 1935.
Grand houses and John Douglas
![Oakmere Hall 7a](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a2/Oakmere_Hall_7a.jpg)
The wealth of these commuters can be seen in the grand houses that were built in the area. Many of the village's fine houses were designed by
John Douglas who was born in
Sandiway
Sandiway is a village in the civil parish of Cuddington, Vale Royal, Cuddington, Cheshire, England. It lies to the southeast of and is contiguous with the village of Cuddington.
Sandiway was the birthplace of John Douglas (English architect), ...
, at Park Cottage. He is regarded as one of the outstanding architects of his generation and was an unrivalled master of church design.
St John's Church, Sandiway
St John the Evangelist's Church is in the village of Sandiway, Cheshire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church of Sandiway and Cuddington in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of Middlewich. The church ...
, is built on the site of which he donated to the village. He was also responsible for much of Victorian Chester including the design of the famous
Eastgate Clock
Eastgate, Chester is a permanently open gate through the Chester city walls, on the site of the original entrance to the Roman fortress of ''Deva Victrix'' in Chester, Cheshire, England. It is a prominent landmark in the city of Chester and the ...
. Other houses in the village include Hefferson Grange, Dalefords Manor, Gorstage Hall, Sandiway Lodge, Overdale, Nunsmere Hall, Sandiway Manor, Littlefold, Pettypool House and
Oakmere Hall
Oakmere Hall is a large house to the southwest of the villages of Cuddington and Sandiway, Cheshire, England, near the junction of the A49 and A556 roads. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II ...
(1867).
Present day
Today, Cuddington is a mainly residential village popular for its peaceful rural location and good transport links. The village is surrounded by fields and woodland with many public footpaths (like the Whitegate Way) and the nearby ancient
Delamere Forest
Delamere Forest is a large wood in the village of Delamere in Cheshire, England. The woodland, which is managed by Forestry England, covers an area of making it the largest area of woodland in the county. It contains a mixture of deciduous and ...
is popular with walkers and cyclists. With a
railway station
Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport that transfers passengers and goods on wheeled vehicles running on rails, which are incorporated in tracks. In contrast to road transport, where the vehicles run on a pre ...
on the line linking
Chester
Chester is a cathedral city and the county town of Cheshire, England. It is located on the River Dee, close to the English–Welsh border. With a population of 79,645 in 2011,"2011 Census results: People and Population Profile: Chester Loca ...
with
Manchester
Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The t ...
situated on the crossing of two main trunk roads, Cuddington is within easy reach of the nearby cities and the UK motorway network.
Petty Pool
Many of the homes above have now become residential homes for the elderly. Petty Pool however has become an outdoor activity centre and college run by the Petty Pool Trust.
Blakemere Craft Centre
Situated in
Sandiway
Sandiway is a village in the civil parish of Cuddington, Vale Royal, Cuddington, Cheshire, England. It lies to the southeast of and is contiguous with the village of Cuddington.
Sandiway was the birthplace of John Douglas (English architect), ...
the craft centre was once a farm and, after converting to a craft centre, has attracted many visitors to the area with over 25 shops including two pet shops (one specifically for dogs); eclectic art, teddy bears, traditional toys and games, chess sets, carved and turned wood items and handmade cards to mention but a few. There is an aquatic and falconry centre and garden centre.
Notable people
John Douglas (1830–1911) who was the architect responsible for over 500 or so buildings in Cheshire, North Wales and the North West including many of Chester's black-and-white half-timbered buildings and the world-famous Eastgate Clock lived here. He also built the church in
Sandiway
Sandiway is a village in the civil parish of Cuddington, Vale Royal, Cuddington, Cheshire, England. It lies to the southeast of and is contiguous with the village of Cuddington.
Sandiway was the birthplace of John Douglas (English architect), ...
on land he gave to the village.
Olympic silver medallist
Shirley Strong
Shirley Elaine Strong (née Strong, born 18 November 1958) is a British former athlete who competed mainly in the 100 metres hurdles. In this event, she won a silver medal at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, a gold medal at the 1982 Comm ...
was born in Cuddington and lived in the village throughout her career.
Bob Carolgees
Bob Carolgees (born Robert Frederick Johnson; 12 May 1948) is a British comedy entertainer who appeared on the Saturday morning TV series ''Tiswas'' and then later in its adult versions '' O.T.T.'' and '' Saturday Stayback''. He is best known fo ...
of
Tiswas
''Tiswas'' (; an acronym of "Today Is Saturday: Watch And Smile") was a British children's television series that originally aired on Saturday mornings from 5 January 1974 to 3 April 1982, and was produced for the ITV network by ATV.
It was c ...
and Spit the Dog used to live on Kennel Lane in
Sandiway
Sandiway is a village in the civil parish of Cuddington, Vale Royal, Cuddington, Cheshire, England. It lies to the southeast of and is contiguous with the village of Cuddington.
Sandiway was the birthplace of John Douglas (English architect), ...
.
Gary Barlow
Gary Barlow (born 20 January 1971) is an English singer, songwriter, record producer, and television personality. He is the lead singer of the British pop group Take That.
Barlow is one of the United Kingdom's most successful songwriters, havi ...
of
Take That
Take That are an English pop group formed in Manchester in 1990. The group currently consists of Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen. The original line-up also featured Jason Orange and Robbie Williams. Barlow is the group's lead singe ...
once resided on the outskirts of Cuddington at Delamere Manor which was originally the home of the Wilbraham family. The Wilbraham family lived in the area in Delamere House from 1784 to 1939. Where this house once stood is now known as
Delamere Park
Delamere Park is an English housing estate with parkland situated in Cuddington, near Northwich, Cheshire.
General history
Delamere Park estate is situated on land which once was part of the Wilbraham family estate.
The Wilbraham family ow ...
which is a prominent housing estate.
See also
*
Listed buildings in Cuddington, Cheshire
Cuddington is a civil parish in Cheshire West and Chester, England. It contains 15 buildings that are recorded in the National Heritage List for England as designated listed buildings, all of which are listed at Grade II. This grade ...
References
External links
Official website of the village of Cuddington and Sandiway*
Cuddington railway station
Cuddington railway station serves the village of Cuddington in Cheshire, England. Opened in 1869 by the West Cheshire Railway, it is located north east of . It has won a number of awards for its gardens, which are maintained by local volunte ...
*
Sandiway
Sandiway is a village in the civil parish of Cuddington, Vale Royal, Cuddington, Cheshire, England. It lies to the southeast of and is contiguous with the village of Cuddington.
Sandiway was the birthplace of John Douglas (English architect), ...
*
The Round Tower Sandiway
*
Oakmere Hall
Oakmere Hall is a large house to the southwest of the villages of Cuddington and Sandiway, Cheshire, England, near the junction of the A49 and A556 roads. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II ...
*
Delamere Forest
Delamere Forest is a large wood in the village of Delamere in Cheshire, England. The woodland, which is managed by Forestry England, covers an area of making it the largest area of woodland in the county. It contains a mixture of deciduous and ...
*
John Douglas
*
St Johns Church Sandiway
{{authority control
Villages in Cheshire
Civil parishes in Cheshire