|
 Home Page
Contact Us
About Us
Events Diary
Next Event
 Nantwich, Cheshire
Rheged, Cumbria
Feedback
Questions & Answers
Links Page
Event Archive
Newsletter
|
The Romans established a settlement at Nantwich, attracted by the salt here, Nantwich became a prosperous town on the salt industry. A trading point between England and Wales, a fire on a scale to compete with the Great Fire of London, a Parlimentarian Stronghold during the Civil War, a victim of slum clearance in the Late Victorian Age - this market town has had a long and varied history. |
The River Weaver and Welsh RowThe river has played a major part in the history of Nantwich, a vital route for salt transport, there was a Roman dock on the banks. Sheep were brought to market by Welsh drovers down "Welsh Row". On 10th December 1583 a fire broke out in a brewery on the Waterlode and the fire burned for 20 days destroying many of the tightly packed timber framed houses the fire started on the banks of the River Weaver in a brewery on the right hand side of this picture. |
An Elizabethan RebuildQueen Elizabeth I donated five hundred pounds and oak from the nearby Royal Forest of Delamere to help rebuild the town Some of the 1584 rebuild included the Crown Hotel (above). 
If you explore the back streets of Nantwich there are still little gems to be found. 
|
Family PrideOne of the few survivors of the Fire was Churche's Mansion, just 6 years old at the time of the fire, built buy Randolph Churche in 1577, this beautiful building has seen many uses over the centuries The Churche family lived in the Mansion until 1717 when it was rented out to tenants. By the mid 1970s in had fallen into disrepair and was almost transported to America, but a local couple bought and restored the house. A landmark in the town, it still has part of the original walled garden, with fruit and walnut trees. |
Parliamentarian NantwichDuring the Civil War Nantwich was a Parlimentarian Stronghold and the River Weaver played its part in the defence of the town The Royalists had set up camp, both sides of the Weaver, connected by a wooden platform across the river, when an early thaw in January 1644 caused high water which washed the platform away, the majority of Royalists were on the wrong side of the river, at that time there was no close crossing point and the Royalists had to walk miles to Minshull to be able to cross the river and back to aid their comrades on the Nantwich side. The Parliamentarians took advantage of the situation, attacking the separated sections of the army before they could regroup, and winning the battle of Nantwich, until recently it was customary for residents to wear springs of holly to commemorate the battle on 25th January, "Holly Holy Day". |
St Mary's Church Another survivor of the Great Fire, St Mary's Church is a stone's throw from the Civic Hall, stripped bare of all ornamentation St Mary's Church held prisoners during the Civil War, in the North wall there are musket shot holes from the excecution of Captain Steele, a parliamntarian, who had held a garrison at Beeston castle, but was found drinking beer with Royalists in the guard room of the castle, having surrendered the castle. On his return to Nantwich, Steele was tried by his superiors and shot for cowardice. |
A grateful Town A deep abiding gratitude is felt for a young US airman, Arthur L Brown who died at the controls of his Thunderbolt aircraft, on 14th January 1944, rather than let the damaged aircraft fall on the town, he lies at rest on the banks of the River Weaver, buried within the wreckage of his aeroplane. (The sand banks in the area meant that the aircraft was swallowed up on impact and the soft ground rendered it unsafe to retrieve the aircraft or the body). The grave is situated just off Shrewbridge Road close to the Railway Station. |
Modern Build Built as a Dance Hall, the Civic Hall has been a a social meeting place for Nantwich townsfolk since 1951, during 2006 and 2007 the buiding was upgraded with new ceilings and lighting, making it a perfect venue for JL Fairs events. Click Here for Panoramic views of Cheshire and England |
|
P O Box 435 - Crewe - Cheshire - CW1 9BT Office Working Hours: Weekdays: 9am - 12.30pm (GMT/BST) Saturday: 10am - 12 noon (GMT/BST) |
