Appleton Thorn (Cheshire)
Encyclopedia
Appleton Thorn is a village
within the borough
of Warrington
in Cheshire
, England
.
Each June, the village hosts the ceremony of "Bawming the Thorn". The current form of the ceremony dates from the Nineteenth century, when it was part of the village’s "walking day
". It involved children from Appleton Thorn Primary School walking through the village and holding sports and games at the school. This now takes place at the Village Hall. The ceremony stopped in the 1930s, but was later revived by the then headmaster, Mr. Bob Jones in 1967. "Bawming the Thorn" occurs on the Saturday nearest to Midsummer’s Day. Local schoolchildren dance around the tree.
"Bawming" means "decorating" - during the ceremony the thorn tree is decorated with ribbons and garlands. According to legend, the hawthorn at Appleton Thorn grew from a cutting of the Holy Thorn at Glastonbury
, which was itself said to have sprung from the staff of Joseph of Arimathea
, the man who arranged for Jesus's burial after the Crucifixion.
Appleton appeared in the Domesday survey
as "Epeltune" and means "the tun where the apples grew".
The Appleton Cross near Pepper Street, is a reminder of a Warrington friar, Richard de Apulton who was ordained as the sub-deacon at Colwich
in 1365.
Thorn Cross (HM Prison)
is in Appleton Thorn, on the site formerly occupied by Royal Naval Air Station HMS Blackcap, a wartime aircrew training and aircraft repair airfield.
There are a number of graves of aircrew who died at HMS Blackcap, mainly in flying accidents, in St Cross churchyard known locally as "the war graves"
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...
within the borough
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
of 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...
in 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...
.
Each June, the village hosts the ceremony of "Bawming the Thorn". The current form of the ceremony dates from the Nineteenth century, when it was part of the village’s "walking day
Walking day
A walking day is a type of church parade. Walking days are most common in the North West region of England, where they are an annual event for many towns and villages...
". It involved children from Appleton Thorn Primary School walking through the village and holding sports and games at the school. This now takes place at the Village Hall. The ceremony stopped in the 1930s, but was later revived by the then headmaster, Mr. Bob Jones in 1967. "Bawming the Thorn" occurs on the Saturday nearest to Midsummer’s Day. Local schoolchildren dance around the tree.
"Bawming" means "decorating" - during the ceremony the thorn tree is decorated with ribbons and garlands. According to legend, the hawthorn at Appleton Thorn grew from a cutting of the Holy Thorn at Glastonbury
Glastonbury
Glastonbury is a small town in Somerset, England, situated at a dry point on the low lying Somerset Levels, south of Bristol. The town, which is in the Mendip district, had a population of 8,784 in the 2001 census...
, which was itself said to have sprung from the staff of Joseph of Arimathea
Joseph of Arimathea
Joseph of Arimathea was, according to the Gospels, the man who donated his own prepared tomb for the burial of Jesus after Jesus' Crucifixion. He is mentioned in all four Gospels.-Gospel references:...
, the man who arranged for Jesus's burial after the Crucifixion.
Appleton appeared in the Domesday survey
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...
as "Epeltune" and means "the tun where the apples grew".
The Appleton Cross near Pepper Street, is a reminder of a Warrington friar, Richard de Apulton who was ordained as the sub-deacon at Colwich
Colwich, Staffordshire
Colwich is a civil parish and village in Staffordshire, England. It is situated off the A51 road, about 3 miles north west of Rugeley, and 7 miles south east of Stafford...
in 1365.
Thorn Cross (HM Prison)
Thorn Cross (HM Prison)
HM Prison Thorn Cross is a Category D Young Offenders Institution for males aged 18 to 25. The prison is located in the village of Appleton Thorn in Cheshire, England. Thorn Cross is operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service.-History:...
is in Appleton Thorn, on the site formerly occupied by Royal Naval Air Station HMS Blackcap, a wartime aircrew training and aircraft repair airfield.
There are a number of graves of aircrew who died at HMS Blackcap, mainly in flying accidents, in St Cross churchyard known locally as "the war graves"