Farndon, Cheshire
Encyclopedia
Farndon is a village
and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester
and the ceremonial county of Cheshire
, England
. It is located on the banks of the River Dee
, south of Chester
, and close to the border with Wales
. At the 2001 Census
, the village had a population of 1,517.
died in the ancient parish of Farndon
in AD 924, shortly after quelling a revolt of an alliance of Mercians and Welshmen. This involved Edward successfully taking Chester from the occupying Mercians and Welshmen, and then re-garrisoning it, and this happened shortly before his death. Up to the 14th century, Farndon also included the chapelry of Holt in Denbighshire
, Wales.
Some historians believe that Farndon was the location of the first ever competitive horse race
with riders, in a local field on the banks of the River Dee. Nearby Chester Racecourse
is said to be the oldest racecourse in Britain.
During the English Civil War
, Farndon was the scene of bitter fighting over the Bridge that was controlling access to Chester from Wales. There is also a fine memorial window in the parish church to the Civil War Royalists
.
The village was at one time renowned for its strawberries
, which were grown in the surrounding fields. This is no longer the case. The nearest fields are now in Holt.
name: Rhedynfre. The village was an important place historically and has been a site of conflict and cultural exchange since the Angles
settled the area in the 8th century. The border moved numerous times during the following centuries, placing Farndon alternately in Wales and England.
The English name is reported to mean "Fern Hill", and has been given as Fearndune, Farndune, Pharndoon, Ferentone, Ferendon, Faryngdon, and Ferneton, amongst other variations, since its first mention in 924AD.
Farndon Bridge
spans the Dee connecting Farndon to the nearby Welsh village of Holt on higher ground. The bridge, made of sandstone
and originally of Medieval
construction, is said to be haunted. Holt Castle is located on the opposite side of the river; it was constructed in the 13th and 14th centuries. The castle fell to the forces of Oliver Cromwell
in 1647.
Next to Farndon Bridge is a small picnic area beside the river. At the entrance to the picnic area are Farndon Cliffs. This area has been classed as a Site of Special Scientific Interest
(SSSI). The sandstone cliffs contain interesting rock formations.
St Chad's
is the old parish church in Farndon. It is thought that some portions of the church date back to Sir Patrick de Bartun, a knight of King Edward III, whose effigy lies in the nave. The Church was damaged during the English Civil War
and later repaired. The church contains a unique Civil War Memorial Window, and features an image thought to be that of William Lawes
, the famous court musician, who was slain at the battle of Rowton Heath. The church tower still shows signs of Civil War musket ball damage.
The village used to have four public houses: the 'Greyhound', the 'Nags Head', the 'Masons Arms' and the 'Farndon Arms' (formerly known as 'The Raven'). Two of these, the Farndon Arms and the Nags Head, closed in the summer of 2007 and the Farndon Arms has since reopened as 'The Farndon'; the Nags Head remains closed. The Masons Arms closed in 1928 and has been a private residence since that time. .
The restaurant called 'The Brasserie' closed late 2008. Since that time, the premises have reopened under the name of Little Churtons. This is managed by Mr James Churton who used to manage Churtons Wine Bar in Tarporley.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester
Cheshire West and Chester
Cheshire West and Chester is a unitary authority area with borough status, in the ceremonial county of Cheshire. It was established in April 2009 as part of the 2009 structural changes to local government in England, by virtue of an order under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health...
and the ceremonial county of Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is located on the banks of the River Dee
River Dee, Wales
The River Dee is a long river in the United Kingdom. It travels through Wales and England and also forms part of the border between the two countries....
, south of Chester
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
, and close to the border with Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. At the 2001 Census
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
, the village had a population of 1,517.
History
It is reported that Edward the ElderEdward the Elder
Edward the Elder was an English king. He became king in 899 upon the death of his father, Alfred the Great. His court was at Winchester, previously the capital of Wessex...
died in the ancient parish of Farndon
Ancient parishes of Cheshire
The Ancient Parishes of Cheshire refers to the group of parishes that existed in Cheshire, roughly within the period of 1200–1800. Initially, the ancient parishes had only an ecclesiastical function, but reforms initiated by King Henry VIII, developed by Queen Elizabeth I and expanded by...
in AD 924, shortly after quelling a revolt of an alliance of Mercians and Welshmen. This involved Edward successfully taking Chester from the occupying Mercians and Welshmen, and then re-garrisoning it, and this happened shortly before his death. Up to the 14th century, Farndon also included the chapelry of Holt in Denbighshire
Denbighshire
Denbighshire is a county in north-east Wales. It is named after the historic county of Denbighshire, but has substantially different borders. Denbighshire has the distinction of being the oldest inhabited part of Wales. Pontnewydd Palaeolithic site has remains of Neanderthals from 225,000 years...
, Wales.
Some historians believe that Farndon was the location of the first ever competitive horse race
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
with riders, in a local field on the banks of the River Dee. Nearby Chester Racecourse
Chester Racecourse
Chester Racecourse, known as the Roodee, is according to official records the oldest racecourse still in use in England. Horse racing at Chester dates back to the early sixteenth century. It is also thought to be the smallest racecourse of significance in England at 1 mile and 1 furlong ...
is said to be the oldest racecourse in Britain.
During the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
, Farndon was the scene of bitter fighting over the Bridge that was controlling access to Chester from Wales. There is also a fine memorial window in the parish church to the Civil War Royalists
Cavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
.
The village was at one time renowned for its strawberries
Strawberry
Fragaria is a genus of flowering plants in the rose family, Rosaceae, commonly known as strawberries for their edible fruits. Although it is commonly thought that strawberries get their name from straw being used as a mulch in cultivating the plants, the etymology of the word is uncertain. There...
, which were grown in the surrounding fields. This is no longer the case. The nearest fields are now in Holt.
Origins of the name
Farndon is very close to the border between England and Wales (the actual border is on the bridge which crosses the river Dee and which separates Farndon and the village of Holt.) Consequently, Farndon has a WelshWelsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
name: Rhedynfre. The village was an important place historically and has been a site of conflict and cultural exchange since the Angles
Angles
The Angles is a modern English term for a Germanic people who took their name from the ancestral cultural region of Angeln, a district located in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany...
settled the area in the 8th century. The border moved numerous times during the following centuries, placing Farndon alternately in Wales and England.
The English name is reported to mean "Fern Hill", and has been given as Fearndune, Farndune, Pharndoon, Ferentone, Ferendon, Faryngdon, and Ferneton, amongst other variations, since its first mention in 924AD.
Landmarks
Farndon Bridge
Farndon Bridge crosses the River Dee and the England-Wales border between the villages of Farndon, Cheshire, England and Holt, Wales . It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building, and is a scheduled monument...
spans the Dee connecting Farndon to the nearby Welsh village of Holt on higher ground. The bridge, made of sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
and originally of Medieval
Medieval architecture
Medieval architecture is a term used to represent various forms of architecture common in Medieval Europe.-Characteristics:-Religious architecture:...
construction, is said to be haunted. Holt Castle is located on the opposite side of the river; it was constructed in the 13th and 14th centuries. The castle fell to the forces of Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
in 1647.
Next to Farndon Bridge is a small picnic area beside the river. At the entrance to the picnic area are Farndon Cliffs. This area has been classed as a Site of Special Scientific Interest
Site of Special Scientific Interest
A Site of Special Scientific Interest is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the United Kingdom. SSSIs are the basic building block of site-based nature conservation legislation and most other legal nature/geological conservation designations in Great Britain are based upon...
(SSSI). The sandstone cliffs contain interesting rock formations.
St Chad's
St Chad's Church, Farndon
St Chad's Church, Farndon, is in the village of Farndon, Cheshire, England. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II* listed building. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of Malpas...
is the old parish church in Farndon. It is thought that some portions of the church date back to Sir Patrick de Bartun, a knight of King Edward III, whose effigy lies in the nave. The Church was damaged during the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
and later repaired. The church contains a unique Civil War Memorial Window, and features an image thought to be that of William Lawes
William Lawes
William Lawes was an English composer and musician.-Life and career:Lawes was born in Salisbury, Wiltshire and was baptised on 1 May 1602...
, the famous court musician, who was slain at the battle of Rowton Heath. The church tower still shows signs of Civil War musket ball damage.
The village used to have four public houses: the 'Greyhound', the 'Nags Head', the 'Masons Arms' and the 'Farndon Arms' (formerly known as 'The Raven'). Two of these, the Farndon Arms and the Nags Head, closed in the summer of 2007 and the Farndon Arms has since reopened as 'The Farndon'; the Nags Head remains closed. The Masons Arms closed in 1928 and has been a private residence since that time. .
The restaurant called 'The Brasserie' closed late 2008. Since that time, the premises have reopened under the name of Little Churtons. This is managed by Mr James Churton who used to manage Churtons Wine Bar in Tarporley.
Notable residents
- Ricky TomlinsonRicky TomlinsonEric Tomlinson , known by his stage name Ricky Tomlinson, is an English actor and comedian, best known for his roles as Bobby Grant in Brookside, DCI Charlie Wise in Cracker and James "Jim" Royle in The Royle Family....
has a holiday chalet on the banks for the River Dee, on the outskirts of Farndon - Major Roger Barnston (1826–1857), served in the Crimean War and was killed in the Indian rebellion of 1857Indian Rebellion of 1857The Indian Rebellion of 1857 began as a mutiny of sepoys of the British East India Company's army on 10 May 1857, in the town of Meerut, and soon escalated into other mutinies and civilian rebellions largely in the upper Gangetic plain and central India, with the major hostilities confined to...
. - Paul BurrellPaul BurrellPaul Burrell, RVM is a former servant of the British Royal Household. He was a footman for Queen Elizabeth II and later butler to Diana, Princess of Wales...
, former butler to Diana, Princess of Wales, maintains a home in the village and has a shop bearing his name. - John SpeedJohn SpeedJohn Speed was an English historian and cartographer.-Life:He was born at Farndon, Cheshire, and went into his father's tailoring business where he worked until he was about 50...
(1542–1629), cartographer, was born in Farndon.