Helsby
This article needs additional citations for verification. (April 2008) |
Helsby | |
---|---|
Helsby from Helsby Hill | |
Location within Cheshire | |
Population | 4,972 (2011 census) |
OS grid reference | SJ491755 |
Civil parish |
|
Unitary authority | |
Ceremonial county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | FRODSHAM |
Postcode district | WA6 |
Dialling code | 01928 |
Police | Cheshire |
Fire | Cheshire |
Ambulance | North West |
UK Parliament | |
Helsby is a village,
In the
Geography
The village is situated on the
History
On Helsby Hill, the remains of a promontory hillfort, 1.9ha in area, have been excavated. A buried soil was found under the hillfort containing fossilised pollen dating to the late Mesolithic to early Neolithic, between 7000 and 3001BC.[4] Further evidence suggests a burning episode dating to the early Neolithic occupation or woodland clearance dating to 4000BC to 2351 BC.[5]
The bivallate hillfort is protected on the south and east by two parallel ramparts and an unusual type of inturned entrance 11 yards (10 m) wide. There were three phases of hillfort construction at Helsby. The first stone rampart was constructed in the middle to late Bronze Age (1250-1050 cal BC) and consisted of a bank with a well-dressed outer face of sandstone blocks and an irregular inner face, which was built on a slight batter; it was approximately 4 yards (3.5m) wide. A socketed bronze axe was found at Helsby in 1925.[6] This was followed by a series of colluvial deposits against the internal face of the stone rampart that formed the second phase of activity. The third and final phase was the re-building of the rampart in the post-Roman period, dating as late as 530 AD suggesting early Saxon re-occupation of the hillfort.[7]
Helsby was located on the strategically important
The first known settlers of Helsby were the Vikings in the 10th century[citation needed]. In fact, the name 'Helsby' is likely to be derived from the Viking name Hjallr-by, meaning "the village on the edge" (placenames with the suffix "by" often denote Viking/Danish origins, e.g. Derby, Grimsby, Whitby, etc.). However, Old Norse suggests that Hjalli means edge and Hjallr means constructed platform or scaffold.[11]
The village was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 under the Norman name of Hellesbe.[12] The Manor of Helsby was owned by a series of aristocratic landowners, most recently the Marquess of Cholmondeley.
In the 13th century Helsby was deemed a demesne manor under the lordship of Dunham-on-the-Hill, by a family called Hellesby. Later it passed to Thornton and then to Frodsham. The earliest mention of the original, timber Old Hall, was in a contract for the construction of additional work in stone in the mid 15th century. The wooden part of the hall perished in a fire in the 16th century when it was leased to one of the Hatons of Helsby. The later hall probably derived its name from its proximity to the older site. It was built of brick at the end of the 18th century and was used as a farmhouse.[13]
Helsby Hill was the location of a rare public execution when William Henry Clarke was hung in chains on 21 April 1791 after being convicted of robbing the Warrington Mail.[14]
Community
A Methodist church was established in 1800, seventy years before the
The village was once home to many
Two other pubs, the Robin Hood and the Horse & Jockey, were acquired by developers for conversion to residential properties. On 23 September 2011, the Robin Hood pub caught fire, causing roads to be closed throughout the village for some hours, and subsequently the building(s) were demolished. The Horse & Jockey was demolished in 2019 and a housing development has been built. The pub sign is to be displayed in the local community centre.
On the western edge of the village is the Horns Mill (formerly the Helsby Arms and before that the Brown Cow), a pub and restaurant that has changed hands on several occasions during recent years, and also closed down briefly, but reopened in January 2014.
The village has been in the press for its hugely successful community Christmas event, Ho Ho Helsby, which was held for the second time on 2 December 2017. There was an estimated attendance of 2,500 people enjoying artisan stalls, ice skating, reindeer, live music from local musicians on stage all day and a twilight procession of floats featuring local schools, community groups and businesses. The village is known for its community spirit[citation needed], epitomised in the fund raising efforts for Ho Ho Helsby which is entirely voluntary, as well as knitted angels which are hidden around the village in the run up to Christmas Day. The village also has its own craft beer, Ho Ho Helsbeer, brewed in a brewery less than two miles away.
Behind the Railway Inn is the Courtyard, Helsby, a development of holiday cottages in period
Transport
Railway services
The railway came to Helsby in 1850, with the construction of the line between Chester and
There is also a minimal (
Bus services
There are frequent bus links: X30 (Warrington to Chester), and X2 (Runcorn to Ellesmere Port). All these run Monday to Saturday only.
Industry and economy
The factory site at the western end of the village has been for many years the main source of employment in the village. Originally built in 1884 by the Telegraph Manufacturing Company as the Britannia Telegraph Works, it manufactured telegraph and telephone cables. Early advertisements for cable hands specified that he "must be a good cricketer"! The company was taken over by the
North west of Helsby, near the village of Ince, landowners The Peel Group are developing a 54 hectares (130 acres) industrial site on marshland. In 2009 a public inquiry gave permission to build a biomass power station,[17] which opened in 2018[18] as part of the Protos "energy and resource hub".[19] The site also houses a timber recycling plant and designated "nature areas".[20] The construction of a facility to recover energy from non-recyclable waste began in 2020.[21]
Landmarks
Helsby Hill
The village sits at the foot of a wooded
- Access to hill
Numerous footpaths, running from the public roads encircling the hill, give ready access for walkers. One such path, known as Hill Road, runs through a large sandstone cutting, which was the route of a railway in the Second World War. The hilltop offers views of the Welsh hills and, on exceptionally clear days,
- Rock climbing
The craggy face of the hill provides many routes for rock climbers at a range of grades from easy climbs suitable for beginners (some of which do not require ropes), to challenging climbs up to a grade 6c. The cliff is also split into two lateral sections. The main face is easily accessible from the ground. At the top is a large grassy area, followed by an easily accessible 10-foot (or thereabouts) cliff to the summit, which is excellent for bouldering. Despite its often slimy appearance, the cliff's sandstone composition means it dries out quickly after rain, and, after several accidents, several large metal spikes were placed at the top of the main cliff for top-rope climbing that offer extra safety for climbers worried about the sandstone's crumbly nature.[citation needed] Two quarries in Harmers Wood, southwest of Helsby Hill, feature over sixty climbs of varying difficulty.[22]
Mountskill Quarry
Notable people
- J. Slater Lewis MICE FRSE (1852 in Rake House, Helsby – 1901) a British engineer, inventor, business manager and early author on management and accounting, known for his pioneering work on cost accounting.
- Ted Oldfield (1918 in Helsby – 2006) an English footballer who played at right-half for Port Vale
- Heathcote Williams (1941 in Helsby – 2017) an English poet, actor, political activist and dramatist [23]
See also
References
- ^ UK Census (2001). "Local Area Report – Helsby Parish (13UH020)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
- Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
- ^ "Ward/community population 2011". Retrieved 28 May 2015.
- ^ http://rcplive.cheshire.gov.uk/SingleResult.aspx?uid=MCH8237 Revealing Cheshire's Past HER number 1007/2
- ^ http://rcplive.cheshire.gov.uk/SingleResult.aspx?uid=MCH22371 Revealing Cheshire's Past HER number 1007/1
- ^ http://rcplive.cheshire.gov.uk/SingleResult.aspx?uid=MCH8042 Revealing Cheshire's Past HER number 1004
- ^ http://rcplive.cheshire.gov.uk/SingleResult.aspx?uid=MCH8237 Reveal Cheshire's Past HER number 1007/2
- ^ http://potsherd.net/atlas/Ware/WPMO Potsherd – Atlas of Roman Pottery
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Helsby Hill and Woodhouse Hillfort 2010 - ^ http://rcplive.cheshire.gov.uk/SingleResult.aspx?uid=MCH7695 Revealing Cheshire's Past HER number 1008
- ^ "Hjalli". Nordic names. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
- ^ "Cheshire A-K: Helsby". Domesday Book Online. Retrieved 4 February 2009.
- ^ http://rcplive.cheshire.gov.uk/SingleResult.aspx?uid=MCH7697 Revealing Cheshire's Past HER number 1012/1
- ^ "William Henry Clarke". British Executions. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
- ^ "All schools and colleges in Cheshire West and Chester". Find and compare schools in England. GOV.UK. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
- ^ Robertson, J. H. (1947). The Story of the Telephone: A History of the Telecommunications Industry of Britain. London: Pitman. pp. 96–98.
- ^ "Waste power plant plan approved". BBC News. 12 August 2009. Retrieved 12 August 2009.
- ^ "First 'waste' energy generated at Protos in Cheshire". letsrecycle.com. 2 May 2018. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- ^ "Protos: Destination". Peel L&P. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
- ^ "Protos: Site availability". Peel L&P. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
- ^ "Biffa, Covanta & GIG in financial close on Protos EfW". letsrecycle.com. 1 December 2020. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
- ^ "Harmer's Wood". Ukclimbing.com. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
- ^ "Heathcote Williams". IMDb Database. Retrieved 8 July 2018.