Saighton (/ˈseɪtən/; ⓘ) is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Aldford and Saighton, in the unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England, a few miles south of Chester. The 2011 Census recorded a population for the parish of 202.[1] Much of the surrounding land is owned by the Duke of Westminster.[2]
| Saighton | |
|---|---|
 Saighton Village | |
  Saighton Location within Cheshire | |
| OS grid reference | SJ 443 619 |
| Civil parish | |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Chester |
| Postcode district | CH3 |
| Police | Cheshire |
| Fire | Cheshire |
| Ambulance | North West |
History edit
The village is said to take its name from the Old English of salh and tun which translates into "the settlement where willow grows".[3] The settlement predates the Norman Conquest and is mentioned in the Domesday Book as Saltone.[4] Most of the land and buildings in Saighton are owned by the Duke of Westminster's Eaton Estate, which has been in the ownership of the Grosvenor family since the 1440s.
Saighton is described in 1870–72 in John Marius Wilson's Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales as having a population of 272, 59 houses and a post office.[5] In 1881 Saighton had a total population of 350, with most men working in farming, and most women who were employed working as servants.[6] Saighton was a township in St. Oswald's ancient parish until 1866 when it became a civil parish. The civil parish was abolished on 1 April 2015 to form "Aldford and Saighton".[7][8]
Six men from Saighton who lost their lives in World War I are commemorated on the village's war memorial.[9]
Places of interest edit
St Mary's Church is in the small settlement of Bruera, which lies between the villages of Saighton and Aldford, in Cheshire, England. It is designated by English Heritage as a Grade II* listed building. The church contains Norman elements, but it has been subjected to alterations and modifications, particularly in 1896.[10] Its benefice is combined with other churches St Peter, Waverton, and St John the Baptist, Aldford.[11]
Saighton Camp was a military installation used by the British Army.[12] It was used as a training centre for the Royal Army Medical Corps before its closure in around 1999.[13] The site is being redeveloped for residential use.[14] The streets on the new estate have names with military significance, such as Wellesley, Alanbrooke, Green Howards and Dragoon.
The village has a voluntary aided Church of England primary school, with older children travelling to nearby Christleton or Malpas for state secondary education. Abbey Gate College is an independent day school located on the outskirts of Saighton in the grounds of Saighton Grange. The village has a village hall which is used for local events. A number of former farm buildings in Saighton have been converted for business use.[15]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Saighton (Parish): Key Figures for 2011 Census: Key Statistics". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Archived from the original on 6 January 2009. Retrieved 22 March 2013.
- ^ "UK Genealogy Archives". Retrieved 1 May 2013.
- ^ "Saighton". Eaton estate. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
- ^ "Aldford & Saighton History & Parish Council". Aldford and Saighton Parish Council. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
- ^ "Saighton through time". Retrieved 22 March 2013.
- ^ "Vision Of Britain". Retrieved 1 May 2013.
- ^ "SAIGHTON". GENUKI. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
- ^ "Cheshire West and Chester Registration District". UKBMD. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
- ^ "Saighton". Eaton estate. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
- ^ Historic England. "Church of St Mary, Saighton (1136639)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 30 March 2012.
- ^ St Mary, Bruera, Church of England, retrieved 1 March 2013
- ^ "Saighton Camp". NAA Heritage consultants. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ "Saighton Camp". Hawksmoor. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ "Residential expansion at Saighton Camp". Place North West. 7 January 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2016.
- ^ "Saighton". Eaton estate. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
External links edit
Media related to Saighton at Wikimedia Commons