Goostrey
Goostrey | |
---|---|
Goostrey | |
Location within Cheshire | |
Population | 2,179 |
OS grid reference | SJ775705 |
Civil parish |
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Unitary authority | |
Ceremonial county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | Crewe |
Postcode district | CW4 |
Dialling code | 01477 |
Police | Cheshire |
Fire | Cheshire |
Ambulance | North West |
UK Parliament | |
Goostrey is a village and
History
Goostrey may have been a meeting place or even a settlement during the 1st millennium BC, as stone and bronze axe heads and
Goostrey first appears in recorded history in the
The Parish of Goostrey-cum-Barnshaw remained ecclesiastical property until the 14th century, leased out at first and then managed by the abbey directly. Abbey records mostly relate to maintenance of ditches, mills and fish ponds and give a picture of a scatter of small farms set amongst woods and heath supplying wood, flour and fish to the great Chester Abbey, some later gifted to the new foundation of Vale Royal Abbey.
After the
The
Though the new residents were initially seen as "incomers", many soon became active members of village clubs and societies. In 1976, the village's residents and activities were captured by a series of five one-hour ITV programmes titled Goostrey – A Village, which received a mixed welcome from the inhabitants themselves.
Community spirit has grown along with the village. A sports field (originally planned in the 1920s) finally became a reality in the 1990s, and both "old" and "new" residents were involved in planning the village's millennium celebrations. Recent community ventures include a sports pavilion, and a new children's play area in Boothbed Lane (completed in 2005).
Geography
The village of Goostrey sprawls east–west along a single main road, stretching about three miles (5 km). There are two main concentrations of houses, one in the west of the village containing a local shop and a small sports venue, and the other in the centre of the village. The east end of the village is marked by Goostrey railway station, which is on the Crewe–Manchester line.
Goostrey has a
The wooded valley of Red Lion Brook on the northern side of the village is known as "The Bongs" and features in Alan Garner's play Holly from the Bongs, which was performed by the children of the village in the 1970s for the BBC. Alan Garner lives in the village in the late 16th-century house known as Toad Hall and set his popular novel The Weirdstone of Brisingamen in nearby Alderley Edge.
Goostrey is near Holmes Chapel; most of the village children attend Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School after leaving Goostrey Primary School. Goostrey is also near Knutsford, Wilmslow, Alderley Edge and Sandbach.
Community and culture
Goostrey Rose Day is the annual summer village fête which is held on the last Saturday of June. The village children, organisations and the young at hearts dress in fancy-dress costumes and parade through the village. To mark the centenary, Goostrey held a scarecrow competition for the whole village to participate in, which has now become an annual event in the village. Photos of past Goostrey Rose Days can be seen in the Crown Inn.
There is a very popular local tradition of gooseberry growing, and an annual Goostrey Gooseberry Show. A plaque in the Crown Inn lists all of the show's past winners.
Goostrey is a thriving village with a close knit community and has many clubs and organisations for all ages. The village has a village hall as well as a park and children's play area. The village also has its own sports pavilion and facilities which are available to village residents and include a bowling green, football pitch and tennis courts.
An active footpaths group keeps the many public footpaths around the village in good order. More Goostrey Walks & Strolls details nine walks around the village and is available via the group's website (see External Links). It has photos, maps needed for the walks and is a mine of historical and ecological information about Goostrey.
In 2006, Goostrey became one of the first villages in the United Kingdom to have its own profile on the social networking website MySpace.
2007 saw the introduction of the Goostrey Arts Festival. Also known as "Goosfest", the week-long showcase comprises a wide variety of events promoting the cultural life of the village, consisting of amateur and professional practitioners (many of whom are local) across a wide range of the arts, including stand-up comedy, classical, folk and contemporary music, pottery, photography and paintings. The majority of the events take place in the village hall, the Crown Inn and St Luke's Church.
The Lovell Telescope sits within Goostrey Parish. This has resulted in a number of housing development submissions being refused, due to the adverse effect that they would have on the work of the dish. The world HQ of the SKA (Square Kilometre Array Observatory) is also in Goostrey Parish.
See also
References
- ISBN 0198691033.
- ^ "Houses of Benedictine monks: The abbey of Chester". A History of the County of Chester. Vol. 3. London: Victoria County History. 1980. pp. 132–146. Retrieved 27 April 2024 – via British History Online.
- ISBN 0906899664.
- OCLC 612226077.
- ^ Bourne, Dianne (30 July 2022). "Villagers fuming at 'ridiculous' new name for historic Cheshire pub". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
External links
Facebook media group: Country Post and County News and Signpost