Freehay

Freehay
St Chad's Church, Freehay
Freehay Location within Staffordshire
Civil parish	Cheadle
District	Staffordshire Moorlands
Shire county	Staffordshire
Region	West Midlands
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	CHEADLE
Postcode district	ST10
Police	Staffordshire
Fire	Staffordshire
Ambulance	West Midlands
UK Parliament	Staffordshire Moorlands
List of places UK England Staffordshire 52°58′11″N1°58′12″W / 52.969855°N 1.969873°W / 52.969855; -1.969873

Freehay is a village and former hamlet ^[1] in the Staffordshire Moorlands district in the county of Staffordshire, England. Brookhouses is located to the southeast of Cheadle and is part of the civil parish of Cheadle. ^[2]

History

Croxden Quarry, Freehay

Freehay dates back to the Domesday Book, where it was recorded under the name "Celle or Cedla". It was a part of Cheadle as a subordinate. ^[3]

The village did not see much expansion during the Industrial Revolution although two quarries were opened in the village.

One that is owned and operated by Tarmac called "Tarmac Croxden Sand & Gravel Quarry". ^[4]

There is also a viewing platform overlooking the quarry. ^[5] Another one is located close to the village centre, that is owned and operated by Heidelberg Materials. ^[6]

Amenities

Freehay has maintained a rural identity and includes a village hall, parish church (St Chad's Church) ^[7] and a pub named "The Queens at Freehay". ^[8]

Transport

Freehay is served by a community bus, operated by Ashbourne Community Transport. The bus number, route 411 runs from Uttoxeter to Ashbourne via Leigh, Freehay, Tean and Denstone. ^[9] This bus only runs once a week on Wednesdays only.

The nearest regular bus connections are in neighbouring Cheadle and Uttoxeter.

The nearest railway stations to the village are both Uttoxeter and Blythe Bridge.

References

1. "Freehay, Staffordshire (Hamlet)". gazetteer.org.uk. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
2. "History of Freehay in Staffordshire". visionofbritain.org.uk. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
3. "County Maps - Staffordshire County Council". www.staffordshire.gov.uk. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
4. "Croxden Sand & Gravel Quarry". Tarmac. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
5. "Archaeological Watching Brief at Croxden Quarry, Freehay, Staffordshire". archaeologydataservice.ac.uk. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
6. "Aggregates Cheadle (Freehay) Quarry | Heidelberg Materials UK". www.heidelbergmaterials.co.uk. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
7. "St Chad's Church, Freehay". www.achurchnearyou.com. Retrieved 8 August 2025.
8. "Queens at Freehay – Pub and Restaurant | 01538 722383" . Retrieved 8 August 2025.
9. "Freehay, adjacent to Village Hall – Bus Times". bustimes.org. Retrieved 8 August 2025.