Frodsham
Encyclopedia
Frodsham is a market town
and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester
and the ceremonial county of Cheshire
, England. Its population is 8,982. It is approximately 3 miles (5 km) south of Runcorn
, 16 miles (26 km) south of Liverpool
, and approximately 28 miles (45 km) south-west of Manchester
. The River Weaver
runs to its north east and on the west it overlooks the estuary
of the River Mersey
. The A56 road
and the Chester-Manchester railway line
pass through the town, and the M56 motorway
passes to the north west.
In medieval times Frodsham was an important borough and port belonging to the Earls of Chester Its parish church, St. Laurence's, still exhibits evidence of a building present in the 12th century in its nave
and is referenced in the Domesday Book
.
A market is held each Thursday, and Frodsham's viability as a trading centre is emphasised by the presence of the "big four" clearing banks
and several building societies
. Development in the town's shops and premises with alcohol licences is evident through the recent (post-2002) opening or modernisation of contemporary-style bar/restaurants, take-away food shops and public houses, and in the continued presence of small, specialised, businesses operating from town centre shops.
. Earlier spellings of the name have included Fradsham, Frandsham, Frodisham, Ffradsam and Ffradsham.
promontory fort
, the outline of which can still be seen.
The town is of Saxon
origin; its 11th-century church is mentioned in the Domesday Book
. Frodsham was an important manor of the medieval Earls of Chester and was created a borough in the early 13th century, probably by Earl Ranulf III. The mouth of the River Weaver, where it joins the Mersey, made Frodsham into a significant port for the coasting trade, particularly for the export of Cheshire salt
, brought down the river from Northwich
and Nantwich
. The site of the manor house
was in Castle Park; the building was of stone and was fortified. In an account of 1315 it is called 'castellum' (little castle), although 'manerium' (manor house) was the usual designation.
Rural District Council. In 1974 the district was split between Halton
Borough Council, Warrington
Borough Council and Vale Royal
District Council (latterly Vale Royal Borough Council). In the early 1990s Vale Royal Borough Council opened a new purpose-built headquarters in Winsford
. At the same time, its offices in Hartford
near Northwich (the former headquarters of Northwich Rural District Council) and at Castle Park in Frodsham (the former headquarters of Runcorn Rural District Council) became downgraded.
Castle Park House had a major refurbishment in 2005–06 and now operates as a "one-stop shop" for Cheshire West and Chester Council
providing a number of services for the community and for businesses.
dec2002.jpg)
In 1992 the parish council became Frodsham Town Council and Frodsham was no longer a village. The chair of the parish council became the mayor of Frodsham. The majority of powers were held by Cheshire County Council and Vale Royal Borough Council who were replaced by Cheshire West and Chester Council
on 1 April 2009.
Frodsham was home to Frodsham School
, a science and technology
college, which closed in July 2009 due to the falling birth rate and amalgamated with Helsby High School
. The site is to be redeveloped and will provide a new health centre for the town.
Frodsham, like the neighbouring village Helsby
, has a hill overlooking the Mersey Estuary
which is popular with dog walkers and naturalists.
Frodsham Hill, overlooking Frodsham and the Liverpool skyline
, is a large sandstone hill, home to many farms, prestige homes and the Mersey View nightclub
(commonly known as 'the View') and Forest Hills Hotel. Before the construction of the hotel and nightclub, famously hosting one of the Beatles
first appearances, the site was home to a very large helter skelter.
The Frodsham Caves are found in the sandstone foundations of Frodsham Hill.
Frodsham sits beneath the imposing wooded escarpment
of Beacon Hill, which is also known locally as Frodsham Hill or Overton Hill and whose top attains a height of just over 500 feet (152 m). The hill forms the northern end of the Mid-Cheshire Ridge, a range of sandstone
hills that extends southwards to Delamere Forest
and Tarporley
. The northern boundaries of the modern parish are defined by the River Weaver
(canalised in part as the Weaver Navigation) and the inner Mersey Estuary into which it flows. The Manchester Ship Canal
runs parallel to the Mersey along the northern edge of the low-lying ground of Frodsham Marsh and Lordship Marsh, which themselves extend south and east to the built-up area of Frodsham.
The town is centred on the junction of the A56
, the main thoroughfare between Chester
and Warrington
, with the B5152 road, which runs southeast to connect with Kingsley
, Northwich
and Tarporley
in the centre of the county. The Chester–Manchester railway line passes through the town whilst the M56 motorway
runs parallel to the road and railway along the southeastern edge of the marsh. The formerly separate settlements of Netherton and Overton
form the southern districts of the town whilst the easternmost section towards Frodsham Bridge is known as Newtown.
s, which date from the Triassic Period. They comprise (in ascending order) the Lower Triassic age Kinnerton Sandstone, Chester Pebble Beds and Wilmslow Sandstone Formations together with the upper Triassic age Helsby Sandstone, Tarporley Siltstone and Sidmouth Mudstone Formations. Those formations up to and including the Helsby Sandstone Formation are assigned to the Sherwood Sandstone Group. It is this formation whose relatively hard-wearing sandstone
s form the higher ground of Beacon Hill, Woodhouse Hill and Harrol Edge. The younger siltstone
s and mudstone
s are assigned to the Mercia Mudstone Group
. The sequence of sandstones is exposed in a railway cutting and two road cuttings, which are designated as an earth sciences Site of Special Scientific Interest
.
Several faults run roughly northwest–southeast through the area, notably the Overton Fault, which roughly parallels the B5439 and B5152 roads, and the Frodsham Fault, which runs north from the vicinity of Crowmere to the mouth of the River Weaver. Both of these faults and others in the area downthrow to the east. Movement on them is thought to have taken place in the Tertiary
period. The uplift resulted in trapping the water table at an elevation of around 200 feet (61 m) at which level springs
developed.
Overlying the bedrock
are a variety of superficial deposits (otherwise known as drift
). These comprise a thin and patchy cover of glacial till (or 'boulder clay'), largely a legacy of the last ice age, together with spreads of glacio-fluvial sand and gravel, a product of the eventual deglaciation of the area. Recent alluvium
fills the deeply incised valley of the Weaver and also extends across the Marsh to the Mersey Estuary.
, the climate is generally temperate
with few extremes of temperature or weather. The mean average temperature in the years 1971 to 2000 was 9.4 to 9.7°C, slightly above the average for the United Kingdom as was the average amount of annual sunshine at 1391 to 1470 hours. The average annual rainfall was 741 to 870 mm, slightly below the average for the UK. The average number of days in the year when snow is on the ground is 0 to 6, which is low for the United Kingdom. The average number of days of air frost is 2 to 39, which is also low.
which is managed by Arriva Trains Wales
. Arriva Trains Wales run an hourly service through the station between Manchester Piccadilly
and Llandudno
via Chester
. There are also infrequent services by Northern Rail
between Ellesmere Port
and Liverpool Lime Street
via Warrington Bank Quay
. Bus services are available to Chester, Runcorn, Ellesmere Port
, Hatchmere
(adjacent to Delamere Forest
) and to Northwich
. Frodsham is 8 miles (13 km) from Liverpool John Lennon Airport
and 21 miles (34 km) from Manchester Airport.
in the town, Frodsham School
, a science and technology college, has now closed and is due to be converted into a health clinic and leisure centre.
church in Frodsham, St Laurence's
in Church Road, Overton. Frodsham Methodist
Church is on Kingsley Road, also just outside the centre of Frodsham in the Five Crosses area of the town. The town has, in the past, had a number of Methodist churches. Most recent to close were Trinity Wesleyan Chapel and Bourne Primitive Chapel. The Roman Catholic
church is St. Luke's in High Street. There are two Evangelical
chapels, Main Street Chapel and King's Church on Chester Road.
Council. Two councillors are elected from the Frodsham ward to serve on that Council. The Frodsham ward has the same boundaries as the Town's own parish boundaries. The current Councillors are Cllr Andrew Dawson and Cllr Lynn Riley, both Conservatives
, who were both elected to serve a four-year term of office in May 2011.
Frodsham Town Council is the local council or parish council for Frodsham. This council is made up of sixteen councillors, one of whom serves as Town Mayor each year. These councillors are elected from one of four parish wards conveniently called Frodsham North, Frodsham South, Frodsham East and Frodsham West. Four Councillors are elected from both the North and South wards, five from East and three from the West ward. These Town Councillors are elected to serve four year terms of office, the most recent elections being in May 2011. If any vacancy occurs during the four-year term 10 local parishioners from the relevant ward can require a by-election to be held, otherwise the other Town Councillors can co-opt an eligible person to be a Councillor. The last by-election occurred in August 2011 in South ward. The last co-option occurred in September 2011 in North ward. All sixteen places are currently filled, primarily by councillors who are not members of any political party but who campaigned together with the common manifesto of putting 'Frodsham First'. The Councillors are: for Frodsham North; Deputy Mayor Cllr Rita Shearn (Frod First), Cllr Frank Pennington (Frod First), Cllr Pammi Taylor (Ind), Cllr Alan Welles (Ind); for Frodsham South; Cllr Lynn Riley (Con), Cllr Sara Wakefield (Con), Cllr Fran Sutton (Frod First), Cllr Carol Davis (Con); for Frodsham East; Town Mayor Cllr Andrew Dawson (Con), Cllr Linda Brown (Frod First, Cllr Mark Warren (Frod First), Cllr Ruth Redhead (Frod First), Cllr Graham Bondi (Ind); for Frodsham West; Cllr Darren Kelly (Frod First), Cllr Kyle McGregor (Lab
), Cllr John Nield (Frod First).
from the Annual Council in May.
Frank Pennington 1992–3;
Brian Lloyd 1993–4; 2010–11;
Margaret Blythe 1994–5;
Christine Lloyd 1995–6;
Mike Pusey 1996–7;
Graham Bondi 1997–8; 2003–4;
Barry Honeyford 1998–9;
Dave Thompson 1999–2000;
Nigel Griffiths 2000–1; 2005–6;
Maureen Turner 2001–2; 2004–5;
Dennis Taylor 2002–3: 2006–7;
John Maddock 2007–8;
Pammi Taylor 2008–9;
Geoff Bath 2009–10;
Andrew Dawson 2011–present.
Market town
Market town or market right is a legal term, originating in the medieval period, for a European settlement that has the right to host markets, distinguishing it from a village and city...
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. Its population is 8,982. It is approximately 3 miles (5 km) south of Runcorn
Runcorn
Runcorn is an industrial town and cargo port within the borough of Halton in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. In 2009, its population was estimated to be 61,500. The town is on the southern bank of the River Mersey where the estuary narrows to form Runcorn Gap. Directly to the north...
, 16 miles (26 km) south of Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, and approximately 28 miles (45 km) south-west of Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
. The River Weaver
River Weaver
The River Weaver is a river, navigable in its lower reaches, running in a curving route anti-clockwise across west Cheshire, northern England. Improvements to the river to make it navigable were authorised in 1720 and the work, which included eleven locks, was completed in 1732...
runs to its north east and on the west it overlooks the estuary
Estuary
An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea....
of the River Mersey
River Mersey
The River Mersey is a river in North West England. It is around long, stretching from Stockport, Greater Manchester, and ending at Liverpool Bay, Merseyside. For centuries, it formed part of the ancient county divide between Lancashire and Cheshire....
. The A56 road
A56 road
The A56 is a road in England which extends between the city of Chester in Cheshire and the village of Broughton in North Yorkshire. The road contains a mixture of single and dual carriageway sections, and traverses environments as diverse as the dense urban sprawl of inner city Manchester and the...
and the Chester-Manchester railway line
Chester to Manchester Line
There are two Chester to Manchester Lines between the cities of Chester and Manchester in North West England.-Description:Both routes to Manchester share the Chester to Crewe line for a short distance to Brook Lane Junction where the Manchester lines diverge to Mickle Trafford at which point the...
pass through the town, and the M56 motorway
M56 motorway
The M56 Motorway, also known as the North Cheshire motorway, is in Cheshire and Greater Manchester, England. It runs from Junction 4 of the M60 to Dunkirk, Cheshire and is in length. It is often busy with long-distance commuter traffic towards North Wales...
passes to the north west.
In medieval times Frodsham was an important borough and port belonging to the Earls of Chester Its parish church, St. Laurence's, still exhibits evidence of a building present in the 12th century in its nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
and is referenced in the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
.
A market is held each Thursday, and Frodsham's viability as a trading centre is emphasised by the presence of the "big four" clearing banks
Banks of the United Kingdom
-Independent British retail banks:The table shows the main independent British retail banks, in order of market capitalization. The list is quite short as British banking has been highly consolidated since the early 20th century. Unlike some other major economies, the UK does not have a major...
and several building societies
Building society
A building society is a financial institution owned by its members as a mutual organization. Building societies offer banking and related financial services, especially mortgage lending. These institutions are found in the United Kingdom and several other countries.The term "building society"...
. Development in the town's shops and premises with alcohol licences is evident through the recent (post-2002) opening or modernisation of contemporary-style bar/restaurants, take-away food shops and public houses, and in the continued presence of small, specialised, businesses operating from town centre shops.
Etymology
The etymology of Frodsham's name is not entirely clear. A literal translation of the Old English would give personal name of Frod or an old spelling of Ford, and ham which means a village or homestead; hence Frod's village or the Village on the Ford (Ford-ham). However, an alternative, more obscure etymology exists which suggests the name means "promontory into marsh", which would make sense considering that Frodsham had a promontory castle very close to marshland. Frodsham is unique as the name of a settlement in the British IslesBritish Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
. Earlier spellings of the name have included Fradsham, Frandsham, Frodisham, Ffradsam and Ffradsham.
Early history
Frodsham Hill is the location of an Iron AgeIron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
promontory fort
Promontory fort
A promontory fort is a defensive structure located above a steep cliff, often only connected to the mainland by a small neck of land, thus utilizing the topography to reduce the ramparts needed. Although their dating is problematic, most seem to date to the Iron Age...
, the outline of which can still be seen.
The town is of Saxon
Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
origin; its 11th-century church is mentioned in the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
. Frodsham was an important manor of the medieval Earls of Chester and was created a borough in the early 13th century, probably by Earl Ranulf III. The mouth of the River Weaver, where it joins the Mersey, made Frodsham into a significant port for the coasting trade, particularly for the export of Cheshire salt
Salt in Cheshire
Cheshire is a county in North West England. Rock salt was laid down in this region some 220 million years ago, during the Triassic period. Seawater moved inland from an open sea, creating a chain of shallow salt marshes across what is today the Cheshire basin...
, brought down the river from Northwich
Northwich
Northwich is a town and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It lies in the heart of the Cheshire Plain, at the confluence of the rivers Weaver and Dane...
and Nantwich
Nantwich
Nantwich is a market town and civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The town gives its name to the parliamentary constituency of Crewe and Nantwich...
. The site of the manor house
Manor house
A manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
was in Castle Park; the building was of stone and was fortified. In an account of 1315 it is called 'castellum' (little castle), although 'manerium' (manor house) was the usual designation.
Recent history
Frodsham was the headquarters of RuncornRuncorn
Runcorn is an industrial town and cargo port within the borough of Halton in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. In 2009, its population was estimated to be 61,500. The town is on the southern bank of the River Mersey where the estuary narrows to form Runcorn Gap. Directly to the north...
Rural District Council. In 1974 the district was split between Halton
Halton (borough)
Halton is a local government district in North West England, with borough status and administered by a unitary authority. It was created in 1974 as a district of Cheshire, and became a unitary authority area on 1 April 1998. It consists of the towns of Widnes and Runcorn and the civil parishes of...
Borough Council, Warrington
Warrington
Warrington is a town, borough and unitary authority area of Cheshire, England. It stands on the banks of the River Mersey, which is tidal to the west of the weir at Howley. It lies 16 miles east of Liverpool, 19 miles west of Manchester and 8 miles south of St Helens...
Borough Council and Vale Royal
Vale Royal
Vale Royal was, from 1974 to 2009, a local government district with borough status in Cheshire, England. It contained the towns of Northwich, Winsford and Frodsham.-Creation:...
District Council (latterly Vale Royal Borough Council). In the early 1990s Vale Royal Borough Council opened a new purpose-built headquarters in Winsford
Winsford
Winsford is a town and civil parish within the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It lies on the River Weaver south of Northwich and west of Middlewich, and grew around the salt mining industry after the river was canalised in the...
. At the same time, its offices in Hartford
Hartford, Cheshire
Hartford is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It lies at the intersection of the A559 road and the West Coast Mainline and is less than south west of the town of Northwich...
near Northwich (the former headquarters of Northwich Rural District Council) and at Castle Park in Frodsham (the former headquarters of Runcorn Rural District Council) became downgraded.
Castle Park House had a major refurbishment in 2005–06 and now operates as a "one-stop shop" for Cheshire West and Chester Council
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...
providing a number of services for the community and for businesses.
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...
on 1 April 2009.
Frodsham was home to Frodsham School
Frodsham School
Frodsham School, a Science and Technology College, was a designated Specialist College in the town of Frodsham, Cheshire, North West England. The School closed in the summer of 2009 due to declining enrollment because of lower birth rates in recent years; most of the school's intake came from the...
, a science and technology
Science and technology
Science and technology is a term of art used to encompass the relationship between science and technology. It frequently appears within titles of academic disciplines and government offices.-See also:...
college, which closed in July 2009 due to the falling birth rate and amalgamated with Helsby High School
Helsby High School
Helsby High School is a State-maintained Secondary School on Chester Road in Helsby, north-west Cheshire, UK, for pupils aged between 11 and 18. The school performs to a very high standard, with well above-average attainment at both GCSE and A-level. Its A-level results are in the top ten percent...
. The site is to be redeveloped and will provide a new health centre for the town.
Frodsham, like the neighbouring village Helsby
Helsby
Helsby is a large village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. At the 2001 Census, Helsby had a population of 4,701.-Geography:...
, has a hill overlooking the Mersey Estuary
Mersey
Mersey may refer to:* River Mersey, in northwest England* Mersea Island, off the coast of Essex in England * Mersey River in the Australian state* Electoral division of Mersey in the state of Tasmania, Australian...
which is popular with dog walkers and naturalists.
Frodsham Hill, overlooking Frodsham and the Liverpool skyline
Skyline
A skyline is the overall or partial view of a city's tall buildings and structures consisting of many skyscrapers in front of the sky in the background. It can also be described as the artificial horizon that a city's overall structure creates. Skylines serve as a kind of fingerprint of a city, as...
, is a large sandstone hill, home to many farms, prestige homes and the Mersey View nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
(commonly known as 'the View') and Forest Hills Hotel. Before the construction of the hotel and nightclub, famously hosting one of the Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
first appearances, the site was home to a very large helter skelter.
The Frodsham Caves are found in the sandstone foundations of Frodsham Hill.
Geography
Escarpment
An escarpment is a steep slope or long cliff that occurs from erosion or faulting and separates two relatively level areas of differing elevations.-Description and variants:...
of Beacon Hill, which is also known locally as Frodsham Hill or Overton Hill and whose top attains a height of just over 500 feet (152 m). The hill forms the northern end of the Mid-Cheshire Ridge, a range 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,...
hills that extends southwards to Delamere Forest
Delamere Forest
Delamere Forest or Delamere Forest Park is a wood in the Cheshire West and Chester area of Cheshire, England, near the town of Frodsham. It includes of mixed deciduous and evergreen woodland, centred at around , making it the largest area of woodland in Cheshire...
and Tarporley
Tarporley
Tarporley is a large village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England....
. The northern boundaries of the modern parish are defined by the River Weaver
River Weaver
The River Weaver is a river, navigable in its lower reaches, running in a curving route anti-clockwise across west Cheshire, northern England. Improvements to the river to make it navigable were authorised in 1720 and the work, which included eleven locks, was completed in 1732...
(canalised in part as the Weaver Navigation) and the inner Mersey Estuary into which it flows. The Manchester Ship Canal
Manchester Ship Canal
The Manchester Ship Canal is a river navigation 36 miles long in the North West of England. Starting at the Mersey Estuary near Liverpool, it generally follows the original routes of the rivers Mersey and Irwell through the historic counties of Cheshire and Lancashire. Several sets of locks lift...
runs parallel to the Mersey along the northern edge of the low-lying ground of Frodsham Marsh and Lordship Marsh, which themselves extend south and east to the built-up area of Frodsham.
The town is centred on the junction of the A56
A56 road
The A56 is a road in England which extends between the city of Chester in Cheshire and the village of Broughton in North Yorkshire. The road contains a mixture of single and dual carriageway sections, and traverses environments as diverse as the dense urban sprawl of inner city Manchester and the...
, the main thoroughfare between 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 Warrington
Warrington
Warrington is a town, borough and unitary authority area of Cheshire, England. It stands on the banks of the River Mersey, which is tidal to the west of the weir at Howley. It lies 16 miles east of Liverpool, 19 miles west of Manchester and 8 miles south of St Helens...
, with the B5152 road, which runs southeast to connect with Kingsley
Kingsley, Cheshire
Kingsley is a civil parish and a village in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is approximately 5 miles south east of the town of Frodsham....
, Northwich
Northwich
Northwich is a town and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It lies in the heart of the Cheshire Plain, at the confluence of the rivers Weaver and Dane...
and Tarporley
Tarporley
Tarporley is a large village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England....
in the centre of the county. The Chester–Manchester railway line passes through the town whilst the M56 motorway
M56 motorway
The M56 Motorway, also known as the North Cheshire motorway, is in Cheshire and Greater Manchester, England. It runs from Junction 4 of the M60 to Dunkirk, Cheshire and is in length. It is often busy with long-distance commuter traffic towards North Wales...
runs parallel to the road and railway along the southeastern edge of the marsh. The formerly separate settlements of Netherton and Overton
Overton, Cheshire
Overton is a civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. It has a population of 68. It is the site of a deserted village, a Scheduled Ancient Monument, the sole remains of which are earthworks....
form the southern districts of the town whilst the easternmost section towards Frodsham Bridge is known as Newtown.
Geology
The parish, like most in Cheshire, is underlain by a suite of sedimentary rockSedimentary rock
Sedimentary rock are types of rock that are formed by the deposition of material at the Earth's surface and within bodies of water. Sedimentation is the collective name for processes that cause mineral and/or organic particles to settle and accumulate or minerals to precipitate from a solution....
s, which date from the Triassic Period. They comprise (in ascending order) the Lower Triassic age Kinnerton Sandstone, Chester Pebble Beds and Wilmslow Sandstone Formations together with the upper Triassic age Helsby Sandstone, Tarporley Siltstone and Sidmouth Mudstone Formations. Those formations up to and including the Helsby Sandstone Formation are assigned to the Sherwood Sandstone Group. It is this formation whose relatively hard-wearing 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,...
s form the higher ground of Beacon Hill, Woodhouse Hill and Harrol Edge. The younger siltstone
Siltstone
Siltstone is a sedimentary rock which has a grain size in the silt range, finer than sandstone and coarser than claystones.- Description :As its name implies, it is primarily composed of silt sized particles, defined as grains 1/16 - 1/256 mm or 4 to 8 on the Krumbein phi scale...
s and mudstone
Mudstone
Mudstone is a fine grained sedimentary rock whose original constituents were clays or muds. Grain size is up to 0.0625 mm with individual grains too small to be distinguished without a microscope. With increased pressure over time the platey clay minerals may become aligned, with the...
s are assigned to the Mercia Mudstone Group
Mercia Mudstone Group
The Mercia Mudstone Group is a sequence of sedimentary rocks which occurs widely in the United Kingdom, consisting of beds of various mudstones, siltstones and sandstones....
. The sequence of sandstones is exposed in a railway cutting and two road cuttings, which are designated as an earth sciences 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...
.
Several faults run roughly northwest–southeast through the area, notably the Overton Fault, which roughly parallels the B5439 and B5152 roads, and the Frodsham Fault, which runs north from the vicinity of Crowmere to the mouth of the River Weaver. Both of these faults and others in the area downthrow to the east. Movement on them is thought to have taken place in the Tertiary
Tertiary
The Tertiary is a deprecated term for a geologic period 65 million to 2.6 million years ago. The Tertiary covered the time span between the superseded Secondary period and the Quaternary...
period. The uplift resulted in trapping the water table at an elevation of around 200 feet (61 m) at which level springs
Spring (hydrosphere)
A spring—also known as a rising or resurgence—is a component of the hydrosphere. Specifically, it is any natural situation where water flows to the surface of the earth from underground...
developed.
Overlying the bedrock
Bedrock
In stratigraphy, bedrock is the native consolidated rock underlying the surface of a terrestrial planet, usually the Earth. Above the bedrock is usually an area of broken and weathered unconsolidated rock in the basal subsoil...
are a variety of superficial deposits (otherwise known as drift
Drift (geology)
In geology, drift is the name for all material of glacial origin found anywhere on land or at sea , including sediment and large rocks...
). These comprise a thin and patchy cover of glacial till (or 'boulder clay'), largely a legacy of the last ice age, together with spreads of glacio-fluvial sand and gravel, a product of the eventual deglaciation of the area. Recent alluvium
Alluvium
Alluvium is loose, unconsolidated soil or sediments, eroded, deposited, and reshaped by water in some form in a non-marine setting. Alluvium is typically made up of a variety of materials, including fine particles of silt and clay and larger particles of sand and gravel...
fills the deeply incised valley of the Weaver and also extends across the Marsh to the Mersey Estuary.
Climate
Being close to the west coast and the Irish SeaIrish Sea
The Irish Sea separates the islands of Ireland and Great Britain. It is connected to the Celtic Sea in the south by St George's Channel, and to the Atlantic Ocean in the north by the North Channel. Anglesey is the largest island within the Irish Sea, followed by the Isle of Man...
, the climate is generally temperate
Temperate
In geography, temperate or tepid latitudes of the globe lie between the tropics and the polar circles. The changes in these regions between summer and winter are generally relatively moderate, rather than extreme hot or cold...
with few extremes of temperature or weather. The mean average temperature in the years 1971 to 2000 was 9.4 to 9.7°C, slightly above the average for the United Kingdom as was the average amount of annual sunshine at 1391 to 1470 hours. The average annual rainfall was 741 to 870 mm, slightly below the average for the UK. The average number of days in the year when snow is on the ground is 0 to 6, which is low for the United Kingdom. The average number of days of air frost is 2 to 39, which is also low.
Transport
There is a railway station in FrodshamFrodsham railway station
Frodsham railway station serves the town of Frodsham, Cheshire, England. The station is managed by Arriva Trains Wales. The station building has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II listed building....
which is managed by Arriva Trains Wales
Arriva Trains Wales
Arriva Trains Wales is a train operating company, owned by Arriva, that operates urban and inter urban passenger services in Wales and the Welsh Marches...
. Arriva Trains Wales run an hourly service through the station between Manchester Piccadilly
Manchester Piccadilly station
Manchester Piccadilly is the principal railway station in Manchester, England. It serves intercity routes to London Euston, Birmingham New Street, South Wales, the south coast of England, Edinburgh and Glasgow Central, and routes throughout northern England...
and Llandudno
Llandudno railway station
Llandudno railway station serves the town of Llandudno and is the terminus of a branch line from Llandudno Junction on the Crewe to Holyhead North Wales Coast Line. It is managed by Arriva Trains Wales....
via Chester
Chester railway station
Chester railway station is a railway station in Newtown in the city of Chester, England. It is currently operated by Arriva Trains Wales, although Merseyrail, Northern Rail and Virgin Trains also run services from the station. It is situated to the north-east of the city centre...
. There are also infrequent services by Northern Rail
Northern Rail
Northern Rail is a British train operating company that has operated local passenger services in Northern England since 2004. Northern Rail's owner, Serco-Abellio, is a consortium formed of Abellio and Serco, an international operator of public transport systems...
between Ellesmere Port
Ellesmere Port railway station
Ellesmere Port railway station is located in the town of Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, England. It is the terminal station of two lines on separate rail networks.* One of the termini of the Wirral Line of the Merseyrail network....
and Liverpool Lime Street
Liverpool Lime Street railway station
Liverpool Lime Street is a railway station serving the city centre of Liverpool, England. The station lies on a branch of the West Coast Main Line from London Euston, and on the Wirral Line of the Merseyrail network...
via Warrington Bank Quay
Warrington Bank Quay railway station
Warrington Bank Quay railway station is a mainline railway station serving the UK town of Warrington. The town centre has two stations on opposite sides of the main shopping area, Warrington Central operating a more frequent service to the neighbouring cities Liverpool and Manchester...
. Bus services are available to Chester, Runcorn, Ellesmere Port
Ellesmere Port
Ellesmere Port is a large industrial town and port in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is situated on the south border of the Wirral Peninsula on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal, which in turn gives access to the River...
, Hatchmere
Hatchmere
thumb|Swimmers in Hatchmerethumb|Swimmers in HatchmereHatchmere is a small lake in Cheshire, adjacent to Delamere Forest. It is also the name of a hamlet near to the village of Norley. Hatchmere is notable for several campaigns to maintain public access to the lake after it was boughtby the...
(adjacent to Delamere Forest
Delamere Forest
Delamere Forest or Delamere Forest Park is a wood in the Cheshire West and Chester area of Cheshire, England, near the town of Frodsham. It includes of mixed deciduous and evergreen woodland, centred at around , making it the largest area of woodland in Cheshire...
) and to Northwich
Northwich
Northwich is a town and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It lies in the heart of the Cheshire Plain, at the confluence of the rivers Weaver and Dane...
. Frodsham is 8 miles (13 km) from Liverpool John Lennon Airport
Liverpool John Lennon Airport
Liverpool John Lennon Airport is an international airport serving the city of Liverpool and the North West of England. Formerly known as Speke Airport, RAF Speke, and Liverpool Airport the airport is located within the City of Liverpool adjacent to the estuary of the River Mersey some southeast...
and 21 miles (34 km) from Manchester Airport.
Education
There are four primary schools in Frodsham, namely Frodsham Manor House Primary School, St Luke's Catholic Primary School, Frodsham Church of England Primary School and Frodsham Weaver Vale Primary School. The only secondary schoolSecondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
in the town, Frodsham School
Frodsham School
Frodsham School, a Science and Technology College, was a designated Specialist College in the town of Frodsham, Cheshire, North West England. The School closed in the summer of 2009 due to declining enrollment because of lower birth rates in recent years; most of the school's intake came from the...
, a science and technology college, has now closed and is due to be converted into a health clinic and leisure centre.
Religion
There is one AnglicanAnglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
church in Frodsham, St Laurence's
St Laurence's Church, Frodsham
St Laurence's Church, Frodsham is in Church Road, Frodsham, Cheshire, England. The church stands, not in the centre of the town, but in the elevated area of Overton overlooking the town. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building...
in Church Road, Overton. Frodsham Methodist
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
Church is on Kingsley Road, also just outside the centre of Frodsham in the Five Crosses area of the town. The town has, in the past, had a number of Methodist churches. Most recent to close were Trinity Wesleyan Chapel and Bourne Primitive Chapel. The Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
church is St. Luke's in High Street. There are two Evangelical
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
chapels, Main Street Chapel and King's Church on Chester Road.
Local government arrangements
Frodsham lies within the administrative area of the newly (1 April 2009) created Cheshire West and ChesterCheshire 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...
Council. Two councillors are elected from the Frodsham ward to serve on that Council. The Frodsham ward has the same boundaries as the Town's own parish boundaries. The current Councillors are Cllr Andrew Dawson and Cllr Lynn Riley, both Conservatives
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
, who were both elected to serve a four-year term of office in May 2011.
Frodsham Town Council is the local council or parish council for Frodsham. This council is made up of sixteen councillors, one of whom serves as Town Mayor each year. These councillors are elected from one of four parish wards conveniently called Frodsham North, Frodsham South, Frodsham East and Frodsham West. Four Councillors are elected from both the North and South wards, five from East and three from the West ward. These Town Councillors are elected to serve four year terms of office, the most recent elections being in May 2011. If any vacancy occurs during the four-year term 10 local parishioners from the relevant ward can require a by-election to be held, otherwise the other Town Councillors can co-opt an eligible person to be a Councillor. The last by-election occurred in August 2011 in South ward. The last co-option occurred in September 2011 in North ward. All sixteen places are currently filled, primarily by councillors who are not members of any political party but who campaigned together with the common manifesto of putting 'Frodsham First'. The Councillors are: for Frodsham North; Deputy Mayor Cllr Rita Shearn (Frod First), Cllr Frank Pennington (Frod First), Cllr Pammi Taylor (Ind), Cllr Alan Welles (Ind); for Frodsham South; Cllr Lynn Riley (Con), Cllr Sara Wakefield (Con), Cllr Fran Sutton (Frod First), Cllr Carol Davis (Con); for Frodsham East; Town Mayor Cllr Andrew Dawson (Con), Cllr Linda Brown (Frod First, Cllr Mark Warren (Frod First), Cllr Ruth Redhead (Frod First), Cllr Graham Bondi (Ind); for Frodsham West; Cllr Darren Kelly (Frod First), Cllr Kyle McGregor (Lab
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
), Cllr John Nield (Frod First).
from the Annual Council in May.
Frank Pennington 1992–3;
Brian Lloyd 1993–4; 2010–11;
Margaret Blythe 1994–5;
Christine Lloyd 1995–6;
Mike Pusey 1996–7;
Graham Bondi 1997–8; 2003–4;
Barry Honeyford 1998–9;
Dave Thompson 1999–2000;
Nigel Griffiths 2000–1; 2005–6;
Maureen Turner 2001–2; 2004–5;
Dennis Taylor 2002–3: 2006–7;
John Maddock 2007–8;
Pammi Taylor 2008–9;
Geoff Bath 2009–10;
Andrew Dawson 2011–present.
Notable people
- William Charles CottonWilliam Charles CottonRev William Charles Cotton MA was an Anglican priest, a missionary and an apiarist. After education at Eton College and Christ Church, Oxford he was ordained and travelled to New Zealand as chaplain to George Augustus Selwyn, its first bishop. He introduced the skills of beekeeping to North...
(1813–79), who introduced beekeepingBeekeepingBeekeeping is the maintenance of honey bee colonies, commonly in hives, by humans. A beekeeper keeps bees in order to collect honey and other products of the hive , to pollinate crops, or to produce bees for sale to other beekeepers...
to New ZealandNew ZealandNew Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, was vicar of Frodsham from 1859 until his death. - Harriet Shaw WeaverHarriet Shaw WeaverHarriet Shaw Weaver was a political activist and a magazine editor. She also became the patron of James Joyce....
(1876–1961), feministFeminismFeminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
political activistActivismActivism consists of intentional efforts to bring about social, political, economic, or environmental change. Activism can take a wide range of forms from writing letters to newspapers or politicians, political campaigning, economic activism such as boycotts or preferentially patronizing...
and patron of James JoyceJames JoyceJames Augustine Aloysius Joyce was an Irish novelist and poet, considered to be one of the most influential writers in the modernist avant-garde of the early 20th century...
, was born in Frodsham. - Bob CarolgeesBob CarolgeesBob Carolgees is a comedy entertainer who appeared on the Saturday morning TV series Tiswas and then later in its adult versions O.T.T. and Saturday Stayback. He is best-known for appearing with a puppet named Spit the Dog.-Career:In the early 1970s Carolgees ran a DJ and modelling school at 11A...
(b. 1948), 1980s TV entertainer, owns a candle shop at the Lady Hayes Craft Centre, near Frodsham. - Patrick LarleyPatrick LarleyPatrick Larley is a British composer.- Biography :Born in Frodsham, Cheshire, England, though lived in Fearnhead in Warrington. Parents were Ian and Helen Larley and Patrick was the second youngest of four children. Patrick Larley studied organ and singing at the Royal Manchester College of Music...
(b. 1951), classical composer, conductor, organist and solo singer, was born in the town. - Caradog JonesCaradog JonesCaradog "Crag" Jones is a noted Welsh climber. Whilst he has achieved a number of firsts on peaks around the world, he is most well known for being the first Welshman to reach the summit of Mount Everest, a feat he achieved on 23 May 1995, at the age of 33. As such he was the 724th climber to...
(b. 1962), the first Welshman to reach the summit of Mount EverestMount EverestMount Everest is the world's highest mountain, with a peak at above sea level. It is located in the Mahalangur section of the Himalayas. The international boundary runs across the precise summit point...
, lives in Frodsham. - Paul MarsdenPaul MarsdenPaul William Barry Marsden is a British writer, businessman and former politician. He was the Member of Parliament for Shrewsbury and Atcham from 1997 until 2005...
(b. 1968), former Member of ParliamentMember of ParliamentA Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Shrewsbury and Atcham 1997 to 2005, was born in Frodsham. An anti-war rebel, he was the last MP to cross the floor of the House of Commons twice since Winston ChurchillWinston ChurchillSir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
. - Alice CooteAlice CooteAlice Coote is a British lyric mezzo-soprano.The daughter of the painter Mark Coote, she was educated at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London , the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and the National Opera Studio...
(b. 1968), mezzo soprano, was born in the town. - Gary BarlowGary BarlowGary Barlow is an English singer-songwriter, pianist and record producer. He is frontman and lead vocalist of pop group Take That and is currently the head judge on the eighth series of The X Factor. Barlow is one of Britain's most successful songwriters...
(b. 1971), singer, pianist, songwriter and producer, was born in Frodsham. - Djibril CisséDjibril CisséDjibril Aruun Cissé is a French international footballer who currently plays for Serie A club Lazio as a striker. He is noted particularly for his speed and acceleration. Since 2005, he has held the title of Lord of the Manor of Frodsham....
(b. 1981), ex-LiverpoolLiverpool F.C.Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
, SunderlandSunderland A.F.C.Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
and FranceFrance national football teamThe France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
footballer, lived in the town as Lord of the Manor of Frodsham. - Daniel CraigDaniel CraigDaniel Wroughton Craig is an English actor. His early film roles include Elizabeth, The Power of One, A Kid in King Arthur's Court and the television episodes Sharpe's Eagle, Zorro and The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles: Daredevils of the Desert...
(b. 1968), actor, lived in Frodsham from 1968–1972 at the Ring O'Bells pub where his father was landlord. He moved away when his parents divorced in 1972.
See also
- Bear's Paw Hotel, Frodsham
- Frodsham CastleFrodsham CastleFrodsham Castle was in the market town of Frodsham, Cheshire, England .Initially it served a military purpose, it then became a manor house and a gaol...
- Frodsham railway stationFrodsham railway stationFrodsham railway station serves the town of Frodsham, Cheshire, England. The station is managed by Arriva Trains Wales. The station building has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II listed building....
- Frodsham SchoolFrodsham SchoolFrodsham School, a Science and Technology College, was a designated Specialist College in the town of Frodsham, Cheshire, North West England. The School closed in the summer of 2009 due to declining enrollment because of lower birth rates in recent years; most of the school's intake came from the...
- Listed buildings in Frodsham
- St Laurence's Church, Frodsham