Leigh, Staffordshire

Last updated

Leigh
All Saints church and Church Leigh village.jpg
The village of Church Leigh
Staffordshire UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Leigh
Location within Staffordshire
Population906 
OS grid reference SK020350
  London 148 mi (238 km)
Civil parish
  • Leigh
District
Shire county
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town STOKE-ON-TRENT
Postcode district ST10
Dialling code 01889
Police Staffordshire
Fire Staffordshire
Ambulance West Midlands
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Staffordshire
52°55′12″N1°57′57″W / 52.919978°N 1.965834°W / 52.919978; -1.965834

Leigh is a civil parish in the English county of Staffordshire. The parish includes the village of Church Leigh, together with the settlements of Withington, Upper Leigh, Lower Leigh, Morrilow Heath, Middleton Green, Dodsley, Godstone, Nobut and Field.

Contents

Church Leigh is 6.2 miles (10.0 km) WNW of the town of Uttoxeter, 14.3 miles (23.0 km) north east of Stafford and 148 miles (238 km) north west of London. The other settlements are within 3 miles (4.8 km) of Church Leigh. The population of Leigh is stable at around 900. [1]

Transport

Roads

Church Leigh lies 0.8 miles south of the A50 that runs from Warrington to Leicester and is dualled on this section (between Stoke-on-Trent and the M1 motorway). [2] Leigh has 17 miles (27 km) of roads throughout the parish. [1]

Rail

The nearest railway station is at Uttoxeter for the Crewe to Derby line on the national network.

Leigh railway station was opened by the North Staffordshire Railway in 1848 and was closed in 1966 as part of the Beeching Cuts. [1]

Other

The nearest airport is East Midlands Airport between Derby, Loughborough and Nottingham.

History

Church Leigh has an entry in the Domesday Book of 1086. [3] In the great book Church Leigh is recorded by the name Lege. The earliest mentioned event occurred in 1002 during Æthelred the Unready's rule of England and the Danish rule of Mercia. Following the appropriation of the chapelry 'Legh' by Wulfric Spot, Ealdorman of Mercia, the Benedictine Abbey of St. Mary was endowed with 70 manors. The Domesday Book documents the presence of Burton Abbey in Staffordshire as the owners of Legh, with the tenants consisting of one free man and 10 other holdings under villeinage. These holdings employed a total of 5 ploughs. Leigh is listed among the manors recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. [1]

The monks cultivated the monastic lands in Leigh until 1178, when the ecclesiastical tie ended. At that time, the Abbot sold Leigh Church to Robert Fitz Ulviet for 5 marks, marking Fitz Ulviet as the first non-monastic lord of the manor. In the following years, the lords of the manor included Reginald de Legh in 1268, Philip de Legh in 1341, and Hugh de Legh in 1366. Through the marriage of Sir Thomas Aston to Elizabeth, co-heiress to Reginald de Legh, Leigh manor came under the ownership of the Aston family from Tixall, Staffordshire. The Astons resided in the old mansion, known as Park Hall, situated in Church Leigh. The senior branch held the Scots title Lord Aston of Forfar. [1]

During the reign of King Henry V, a branch of the Bagots of Blithfield grew prominent in the region. Sir Hervey Bagot died in Field, Staffordshire in 1660 and was buried at Blithfield; his title being inherited by his eldest surviving son Edward. [4]

According to the 1848 Tithe Survey of Leigh, there is a plot of land that was previously designated as the parish workhouse. This particular site was located across from the "Star Inn" in Church Leigh, where a residential house is presently situated. [1]

Notable people

Localities

The civil parish of Leigh is centred on the clustered village of Church Leigh but has nine satellite hamlets, with Church Leigh being separated into Upper and Lower. [2] Separating the first two from the others is a field buffer including the River Blithe which flows south, via the Blithfield Reservoir lake 5 miles (8.0 km) south to feed the River Trent at Alrewas, Staffordshire.

Withington

Withington is a linear settlement on five lanes that is separated to the west from Church Leigh by fields covering 300 m; its oldest farmhouse is a listed building, very well known for its pub. [5] [6]

Nobut

Nobut is one of the smallest hamlets; with Upper Nobut farm and Withington farm making up the majority of Nobut. Nobut lies 160 m west of Withington, primarily upon Nobut Road.

Upper Leigh

Upper Leigh is a linear settlement on five or six lanes that is separated to the south-east from Lower Leigh by fields covering 100 m; it has three listed buildings: Moor Farm, Moor House Farm and Manor Farm. [6]

Lower Leigh

Lower Leigh is on a winding lane, separated from the village Primary School and recreation ground by less than 100 m, to its north-west. The middle of the parish's three bridges along the lanes over the River Blithe is close to the centre of Lower Leigh. Next to this bridge is the aptly-named Brook Farmhouse. [6] [7]

Morrilow Heath

This is the largest hamlet in area and population, and the most remote. To the south-west, it is on high ground and has a salient boundary as far as the source of the Sprink Brook.

Middleton Green

Middleton Green is small in population and less than 200 m north-east of Morrilow Heath and is 1 mile (1.6 km) south-west of Lower Leigh. Birchwood Park, an isolated farm, towards the Sprink Brook was historically a manor of sorts and is an architectural listed building, like the others in the parish which are non-ecclesiastical, at Grade II only. Big Wood, rises to the southern border here with extensive views over the rest of the village [8]

Dodsley

This traditionally agricultural cluster of buildings includes a chapel, and is 0.5 miles (0.80 km) south of Lower Leigh. [6]

Godstone

Just 300 m south of Dodsley, a traditional manor forms a linear settlement, the traces of which can be made out from the properties, The Orchard, Godstone House and Godstone Cottage, as well as Old Woodcutter, the main four buildings. [6]

Field

Six farms make up a cluster which forms Field; the Sprink Brook discharges to the River Blythe at a point in the south of the hamlet. [6]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abbots Bromley</span> Human settlement in England

Abbots Bromley is a village and civil parish in the East Staffordshire district of Staffordshire and lies approximately 9.8 miles (15.8 km) east of Stafford, England. According to the University of Nottingham English Place-names project, the settlement name Abbots Bromley could mean 'clearing/wood frequented by broom'. The prefix 'abbots' was added because the village was held by Burton Abbey. The population of the civil parish at the 2011 census was 1,779.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calverton, Buckinghamshire</span> Civil parish in the Borough of Milton Keynes, England

Calverton is a civil parish in the unitary authority area of the City of Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England and just outside the Milton Keynes urban area, situated roughly 1 mile (1.6 km) south of Stony Stratford, and 4 miles (6.4 km) west of Central Milton Keynes. The parish consists of one village, Lower Weald, and two hamlets, Upper Weald and Middle Weald. Lower Weald is the largest of the three settlements, and Manor Farm, the parish church and the former parochial school are within its boundaries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">High Legh</span> Human settlement in England

High Legh is a village, civil and ecclesiastical parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is Six miles (10 km) north west of Knutsford, seven miles (11 km) east of Warrington and twelve miles (19 km) south west of Manchester City Centre. The population of the entire civil parish was estimated at 1,705 in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Godstone</span> Human settlement in England

Godstone is a village and civil parish in the Tandridge District of Surrey, England. It is 6 miles (9.7 km) east of Reigate, 3 miles (4.8 km) west of Oxted, 22 miles (35 km) east of Guildford and 18 miles (29 km) south of London. Close to the North Downs and Blindley Heath. The Greensand Way and the North Downs Way both pass through Godstone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blithfield</span> Human settlement in England

Blithfield is a civil parish in the East Staffordshire district of Staffordshire, England. It includes the settlements of Admaston, Newton along with Blithfield Hall, home of the Bagot family since 1360. It is situated 7.5 miles (12.1 km) southwest of Uttoxeter and 5.3 miles (8.5 km) north of Rugeley. Blithfield and Admaston comprise 1,414 acres (572 ha) of land, with Newton occupying 1,744 acres (706 ha). The nearest railway stations are Rugeley Trent Valley 4.5 miles (7.2 km) and Rugeley Town 6.0 miles (9.7 km).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bigby, Lincolnshire</span> Village and civil parish in the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England

Bigby is a village and civil parish in the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blakenhall, Cheshire</span> Human settlement in England

Blakenhall is a small village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Doddington and District, in the unitary authority area of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England, about 7 miles (11 km) south-east of Nantwich. It lies on the county boundary with Staffordshire. The parish has an area of 654 hectares and also includes the small settlements of The Den and Gonsley Green, with a total population of 125 in 2001. Nearby villages include Wybunbury in Cheshire and Betley and Wrinehill in Staffordshire. Blakenhall was first recorded in the Domesday survey as Blachenhale, and the parish had one of Cheshire's early ironworks in the 17th and 18th centuries. The area is rural and predominantly agricultural, with small areas of ancient woodland and the nature reserve of Blakenhall Moss, a rejuvenating lowland raised bog. The Crewe-to-Stafford railway line runs through the parish and it is on the proposed route of HS2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hullavington</span> Human settlement in England

Hullavington is a village and civil parish in Wiltshire, England, just to the north of the M4 motorway. The village lies about 4 miles (6 km) southwest of Malmesbury and 5+12 miles (9 km) north of Chippenham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norbury, Cheshire</span> Human settlement in England

Norbury is a hamlet and former civil parish, now in the parish of Marbury and District, in the Cheshire East district, in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It included the small settlements of Gauntons Bank, Hurst Green, Swanwick Green, Norbury Common and Holtridge, with a total population of 194 people in 2011. The hamlet of Norbury lies around 5 miles (8 km) north of Whitchurch, Shropshire. Nearby villages include No Man's Heath, Marbury and Wrenbury.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bouldon</span> Human settlement in England

Bouldon is a hamlet in Shropshire, England. It lies in the civil parish of Diddlebury.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hatherton, Cheshire</span> Hamlet and civil parish, Cheshire, England, UK

Hatherton is a hamlet and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The hamlet is on the B5071 at SJ687474, 2+34 miles (4.4 km) to the north east of Audlem and 3+34 miles (6.0 km) to the south east of Nantwich. The civil parish has an area of 673 hectares and also includes the small settlements of Birchall Moss, Broomlands and part of Artlebrook, with a total population of 360 in 2011. Nearby villages include Hankelow, Stapeley, Walgherton, Wybunbury, Blakenhall and Buerton. The A529 runs through the parish and the River Weaver forms the western boundary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Wraxall</span> Human settlement in England

South Wraxall is a village and a civil parish in Wiltshire, England, 2.5 miles (4.0 km) north of Bradford on Avon. The village is to the east of the B3109 road from Bradford on Avon to Corsham.

Middle Aston is a hamlet and civil parish in the English county of Oxfordshire, about 7 miles (11 km) northwest of Bicester. It used to have a country house, Middle Aston House, but this was demolished early in the 19th century. The house was replaced in the 1890s by extending the manor farmhouse. The building is now a conference center.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leigh, Wiltshire</span> Human settlement in England

Leigh is a village and civil parish in north Wiltshire, England, 1.5 miles (2.4 km) southeast of Ashton Keynes and 2.5 miles (4 km) west of Cricklade. It is on the edge of the Cotswold Water Park and near to the county border with Gloucestershire. The parish includes the hamlet of Waterhay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hilderstone</span> Human settlement in England

Hilderstone is a village and a civil parish in the English county of Staffordshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Casthorpe</span> Hamlet in the civil parish of Barrowby and the South Kesteven District of Lincolnshire, England

Casthorpe is hamlet in the civil parish of Barrowby and the South Kesteven District of Lincolnshire, England. It is 23 miles (40 km) south-southwest from the city and county town of Lincoln, 3 miles (5 km) west from Grantham town centre, and 1 mile (1.6 km) west from Barrowby village.

Blithfield is a civil parish in the district of East Staffordshire, Staffordshire, England. It contains 27 listed buildings that are recorded in the National Heritage List for England. Of these, two are listed at Grade I, the highest of the three grades, three are at Grade II*, the middle grade, and the others are at Grade II, the lowest grade. The most important buildings in the parish are St Leonard's Church and Blithfield Hall, which are both listed at Grade I. Most of the other listed buildings in the parish are associated with these buildings, and include items in the churchyard. and around or in the grounds of the hall. The parish includes the village of Admaston, and is otherwise rural. The other listed buildings are houses, farmhouses and farm buildings, and a former school.

Leigh is a civil parish in the district of East Staffordshire, Staffordshire, England. It contains 20 buildings that are recorded in the National Heritage List for England. Of these, two are listed at Grade II*, the middle grade, and the others are at Grade II, the lowest grade. The parish contains the villages of Church Leigh, Lower Leigh, Upper Leigh, and Withington and smaller settlements, and is otherwise rural. Most of the listed buildings in the parish are houses, cottages, and farmhouses, and the others include a church, memorials in the churchyard, a school, and three mileposts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sookholme</span> Human settlement in England

Sookholme is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Warsop in the Mansfield district of western Nottinghamshire, England. It is 120 miles (190 km) north west of London, 16+34 miles (27.0 km) north of the county town and city of Nottingham, and 3+12 miles (5.6 km) north of the town of Mansfield. It retains an agricultural character, having been largely unaffected by the Industrial Revolution, which had a transformative impact on the settlement pattern and built form of numerous other settlements situated within the North Midlands coalfields. Whilst relatively close to the built up areas of Mansfield and Shirebrook, Sookholme is remote and rural. In 1931 the parish had a population of 210.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "History of Leigh". www.leighstaffs.co.uk. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  2. 1 2 A to Z East Midlands Road Map, ISBN   1-84348-283-5
  3. The Domesday Book, Englands Heritage, Then and Now, Editor: Thomas Hinde, Shropshire, Leigh, page 248, ISBN   1-85833-440-3
  4. "Baronetage". 21 October 2019. Archived from the original on 21 October 2019. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  5. Listed Old Farmhouse in Withington hamlet Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1190246)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 14 October 2013.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 OS Explorer Map 259, Derby, Ashbourne & Cheadle. ISBN   0-319-21895-3
  7. Brook Farmhouse Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1190226)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 14 October 2013.
  8. Birchwood Park Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1038371)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 14 October 2013.

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Leigh at Wikimedia Commons