City of Chester
Encyclopedia
Chester was a non-metropolitan local government district
Non-metropolitan district
Non-metropolitan districts, or colloquially shire districts, are a type of local government district in England. As created, they are sub-divisions of non-metropolitan counties in a so-called "two-tier" arrangement...

 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, with the status of a city
City status in the United Kingdom
City status in the United Kingdom is granted by the British monarch to a select group of communities. The holding of city status gives a settlement no special rights other than that of calling itself a "city". Nonetheless, this appellation carries its own prestige and, consequently, competitions...

 and a borough.

Apart from 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...

 itself, which was the principal settlement, the district covered a large rural area. Other settlements included Malpas
Malpas, Cheshire
Malpas is a large village which used to be a market town, and it is also a civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The parish lies on the border with Shropshire and Wales...

 and Tarvin
Tarvin
Tarvin is a village in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It had a population of 2,693 people at the 2001 UK census, and the ward covers about .-Location:...

.

Creation

The district was formed on 1 April 1974, under the Local Government Act 1972
Local Government Act 1972
The Local Government Act 1972 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales on 1 April 1974....

, by the merger of the existing city and county borough
County borough
County borough is a term introduced in 1889 in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland , to refer to a borough or a city independent of county council control. They were abolished by the Local Government Act 1972 in England and Wales, but continue in use for lieutenancy and shrievalty in...

 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...

 with the Chester Rural District
Chester Rural District
Chester was a rural district of Cheshire, England, from 1894 to 1974. It was based around the city and county borough of Chester but did not include it. The district saw various boundary changes throughout its life...

 and Tarvin Rural District
Tarvin Rural District
Tarvin was, from 1894 to 1974, a rural district in the administrative county of Cheshire, England. The district was named after the village of Tarvin, and saw considerable boundary changes throughout its life.-Creation:...

. The district council used the name Chester City Council.

Membership and wards

The first council had 62 members and was elected as a shadow authority (known as Chester District Council) on 7 June 1973. The council came into its powers on 1 April 1974, on which date a royal charter
Royal Charter
A royal charter is a formal document issued by a monarch as letters patent, granting a right or power to an individual or a body corporate. They were, and are still, used to establish significant organizations such as cities or universities. Charters should be distinguished from warrants and...

 and letters patent
Letters patent
Letters patent are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch or president, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, title, or status to a person or corporation...

 came into force with the authority becoming Chester City Council and the chairman of the council having the title of mayor. An election of the whole council was held again in 1976.

The number of councillors was reduced to 60 at the next council election in 1979. Thereafter the city council elections were "by thirds": with 20 councillors retiring in three out of every four years. In the fourth year, elections to Cheshire County Council
Cheshire County Council
Cheshire County Council was a County Council, of the second highest level of United Kingdom Government for the residents of Cheshire. Founded in 1889, it ceased to exist on 1 April 2009, when it and the district councils in Cheshire were replaced by two unitary authorities; Cheshire West and...

 took place.

In 1999 the ward boundaries were altered, although the number of councillors remained at 60. The city was divided into 31 wards, each returning between 1 and 3 councillors. The boundary changes necessitated an election of the whole council, with elections being held by thirds thereafter. The final election took place in 2007.

Lord mayoralty and shrievalty

The office of mayor of Chester was continued in 1974 by virtue of the charter, the title being borne by the chairman of the council. The mayor of Chester had, since at least 1528, enjoyed the additional honorific title of "Admiral of the Dee". The title was confirmed by letters patent dated 15 May 1974. In 1992, as part of celebrations of the fortieth anniversary of the accession of Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...

, the mayor's title was raised to Lord Mayor
Lord Mayor
The Lord Mayor is the title of the Mayor of a major city, with special recognition.-Commonwealth of Nations:* In Australia it is a political position. Australian cities with Lord Mayors: Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle, Parramatta, Perth, Sydney, and Wollongong...

 by letters patent dated 10 March 1992.

Under the charter granted in 1974 the new council was permitted to continue to appoint any traditional "officers of dignity" that the predecessor city and county borough had been entitled to appoint. Accordingly, in June 1974 it was decided to continue the office of Sheriff of Chester that dated from the early twelfth century.

The offices of lord mayor and sheriff of Chester were held by serving councillors, and there was an annual rotation of the posts between the three main parties.

Coat of arms

In 1977 the city council was regranted a "differenced" version of the sixteenth century arms of the predecessor Corporation of the City and County Borough of Chester. The historic arms of Chester was based on the Royal Arms of England (three golden lions on a red shield) combined with three gold wheatsheaves on blue of the Earldom of Chester. A gold border bearing acorns was added to the arms to represent the rural areas added in 1974. The crest of the corporation was a depiction of the city sword. To this was added two branches of oak for the two rural districts combined with the county borough. The supporters
Supporters
In heraldry, supporters are figures usually placed on either side of the shield and depicted holding it up. These figures may be real or imaginary animals, human figures, and in rare cases plants or inanimate objects...

 of the city arms were a gold lion representing England and a white wolf for Hugh Lupus, 1st Earl of Chester
Hugh d'Avranches, 1st Earl of Chester
Hugh d'Avranches , also known as le Gros and Lupus was the first Earl of Chester and one of the great magnates of early Norman England.-Early career:...

. In 1977 they were altered slightly by the addition of red castles hanging about their necks. The Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...

 motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...

 was Antiqui Colant Antiquum Dierum or Let the ancients worship the ancient of days.

Civil Parishes

Chester district contained a comparatively large number of civil parishes, some of which were small. Consequently, 21 of these, although civil parishes, had neither a parish council nor a parish meeting
Parish meeting
A parish meeting, in England, is a meeting to which all the electors in a civil parish are entitled to attend. In some cases, where a parish or group of parishes has fewer than 200 electors, the parish meeting can take on the role of the parish council itself, with statutory powers, and electing a...

, with the responsibilities that would normally be given to such bodies being retained by the district council. A further 64 civil parishes were grouped so that they shared a parish administration (either a council or meeting) with one or more adjacent civil parishes. The remaining 20 civil parishes had either a parish council of their own (26), or held a parish meeting of their own (4).
The central Chester city area was unparished, save for a small, anomalous area around Chester Castle
Chester Castle
Chester Castle is in the city of Chester, Cheshire, England. It is sited at the southwest extremity of the area bounded by the city walls . The castle stands on an eminence overlooking the River Dee. In the castle complex are the remaining parts of the medieval castle together with the...

, which formed the civil parish of Chester Castle.
  • Agden
    Agden, Chester
    Agden is a small civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is the site of Agden Hall. The parish has a parish meeting rather than a parish council. It has a population of 42....

  • Aldersey
    Aldersey
    Aldersey is a civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chesterand the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It contains the villages of Aldersey Green and Aldersey Park , and is about south-east of Chester. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 72....

  • Aldford
    Aldford
    Aldford is a village and civil parish in the county of Cheshire, England, south of Chester . It has a population of 213.The village lies on the east bank of the River Dee...

  • Ashton Hayes
    Ashton Hayes
    Ashton Hayes is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is located about 8 miles east of Chester on the B5393 road. The nearest villages are Mouldsworth to the north east and Kelsall to the south east...

  • Bache
    Bache, Cheshire
    Bache is a small civil parish and suburb of Chester, Cheshire, England.-History:The name "Bache" comes from a large tidal lagoon that was once linked to the River Dee at Blacon. The area, which now lies under Liverpool Road and a supermarket car park, was slowly reclaimed and raised when the...

  • Backford
    Backford
    Backford is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is situated between Chester and Ellesmere Port on the A41 trunk road, to the north of the Shropshire Union Canal....

  • Barrow
    Barrow, Cheshire
    Barrow is a civil parish containing the villages of Great Barrow, Little Barrow and Stamford Bridge. It is situated about east-north-east of Chester, north-west of Tarporley, and south of Frodsham.-See also:*St Bartholomew's Church, Barrow...

  • Barton
    Barton, Cheshire
    Barton is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The village is located near the Welsh border, about twelve miles south of Chester, and only about eight miles east of Wrexham in Wales.According to the 2001...

  • Beeston
    Beeston, Cheshire
    Beeston is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire in the north of England. It is south of Tarporley, and close to the Shropshire Union Canal. Beeston Castle nearby is a spectacular clifftop ruin in the care of English...

  • Bickley
    Bickley, Cheshire
    Bickley is a civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. According to the 2001 Census it had a population of 498. The parish includes the villages of Bickley Town and Bickley Moss....

  • Bradley
    Bradley, Cheshire
    Bradley is a civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. It has a population of 61. The main settlement in the parish is the village of Bradley Green....

  • Bridge Trafford
    Bridge Trafford
    Bridge Trafford is a hamlet and civil parish situated near to Chester, in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The hamlet lies some to the north of the centre of the village of Mickle Trafford on the A56 road...

  • Broxton
  • Bruen Stapleford
    Bruen Stapleford
    Bruen Stapleford is a civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 66.-External links:...

  • Buerton
    Buerton, Chester
    Buerton is a civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 22....

  • Burton
    Burton, Chester
    Burton is a small village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The parish is sufficiently small that it contains only the very small village, Burton Hall, and a small amount of farmland surrounding these...

  • Burwardsley
    Burwardsley
    Burwardsley is a village and civil parish the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The parish also includes the small villages of Burwardsley, Burwardsley Hill, Higher Burwardsley. The parish also includes Burwardsley Hall and is part of...

  • Caldecott
    Caldecott, Cheshire
    Caldecott is a civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. It has a population of 24. The main settlement is Caldecott Green.-External links:...

  • Capenhurst
    Capenhurst
    Capenhurst is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England and located on the Wirral Peninsula to the south west of the town of Ellesmere Port...

  • Carden
    Carden, Chester
    Carden is a small village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The village of Carden consists of Higher Carden and Lower Carden...

  • Caughall
    Caughall
    Caughall is a civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. It has a population of 29. The parish includes Caughall Manor and Chester Zoo.-External links:...

  • Chester Castle
    Chester Castle (parish)
    Chester Castle is an area around the castle in Chester. It was historically an extra-parochial area and today remains a civil parish,although with no inhabitants....

  • Chidlow
    Chidlow, Cheshire
    Chidlow is a civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. It has a population of 8.-External links:...

  • Chorlton
  • Chorlton by Backford
    Chorlton-by-Backford
    Chorlton by Backford is a civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. It has a population of 80....

  • Chowley
    Chowley
    Chowley is a civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. It has a population of 23.-External links:...

  • Christleton
    Christleton
    Christleton is a small village and civil parish on the outskirts of Chester in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The 2001 Census recorded a population for the entire civil parish of 2,112....

  • Church Shocklach
    Church Shocklach
    Church Shocklach is a civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. It has a population of 113. The parish includes most of the village of Shocklach.-External links:...

  • Churton by Aldford
    Churton by Aldford
    Churton by Aldford is a civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. It has a population of 136...

  • Churton by Farndon
    Churton by Farndon
    Churton by Farndon is a civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. It has a population of 146. The parish includes the southern part of the village of Churton.-External links:...

  • Churton Heath
    Churton Heath
    Churton Heath is a civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. It has a population of 8.-External links:...

  • Claverton
    Claverton, Cheshire
    Claverton is a civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. It has a population of 7. The parish includes the site of The King's School.-External links:...

  • Clotton Hoofield
    Clotton Hoofield
    Clotton Hoofield is a civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. It has a population of 308. The largest settlements in the parish are Clotton, Clotton Common and Hoofield.-External links:...

  • Clutton
    Clutton, Cheshire
    Clutton is a village in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It has a Church of England primary school.-External links:*...

  • Coddington
    Coddington, Cheshire
    Coddington is a civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England.Coddington is home to descendants of the Great Richard Yeoward, who practically made Tenerife become know single handedly for its brilliant shipping and tasty...

  • Cotton Abbotts
    Cotton Abbotts
    Cotton Abbotts is a civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. It has a population of 3.-External links:...

  • Cotton Edmunds
    Cotton Edmunds
    Cotton Edmunds is a civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. It has a population of 25.-External links:...

  • Crewe by Farndon
    Crewe by Farndon
    Crewe by Farndon is a civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. It has a population of 16.-External links:...

  • Croughton
    Croughton, Cheshire
    Croughton is a hamlet and civil parish on the outskirts of the city of Chester, and part of the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county Cheshire. The Shropshire Union canal runs through Croughton. The name "Croughton" means in the bend in the water. Croughton can be...

  • Cuddington
  • Dodleston
    Dodleston
    Dodleston is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, situated on the border between England and Wales...

  • Duckington
    Duckington
    Duckington is a small village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England.-External links:...

  • Duddon
    Duddon
    Duddon is a small settlement in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is on the A51 road and is east of the town of Chester. Local features include Duddon St. Peter's Church and St. Peter's Primary School. The church was erected in...

  • Dunham on the Hill
    Dunham-on-the-Hill
    Dunham on the Hill is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. It is located on the A56 main road, near Helsby....

  • Eaton
  • Eccleston
    Eccleston, Cheshire
    Eccleston is a civil parish and village in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, and close to Chester...

  • Edge
    Edge, Cheshire
    Edge is civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The parish includes Edge Hall and Edge Green....

  • Edgerley
    Edgerley, Cheshire
    Edgerley is a civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. It has a population of 7.-References:...

  • Elton
    Elton, Cheshire
    Elton is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is situated approximately to the northeast of Chester, between Helsby and Ellesmere Port, near to the River Mersey. Its proximity to the River Mersey and...

  • Farndon
    Farndon, Cheshire
    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...

  • Foulk Stapleford
    Foulk Stapleford
    Foulk Stapleford is a civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England.It contains the village of Hargrave. St Peter's Church, Hargrave is a Grade II* listed building....

  • Golborne Bellow
    Golborne Bellow
    Golborne Bellow is a civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. It has a population of 89. The parish includes part of the village of Gatesheath.-External links:...

  • Golborne David
    Golborne David
    Golborne David is a civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. It has a population of 55.-External links:...

  • Grafton
    Grafton, Cheshire
    Grafton is a civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. It has a population of 3.-External links:...

  • Great Boughton
    Great Boughton
    Great Boughton is a civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It includes the villages of Boughton Heath and Vicars Cross....

  • Guilden Sutton
    Guilden Sutton
    Guilden Sutton is a civil parish and village in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is home to 1,525 residents, two churches, a primary school, one pub, a Post Office and a village hall as well as several local...

  • Hampton
    Hampton, Cheshire
    Hampton, containing the village of Hampton Heath, is a civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. According to the 2001 UK census, the total population of the civil parish was 409....

  • Handley
    Handley, Cheshire
    Handley is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England.All Saints Church, Handley is a Grade II* listed building.Milton Green is a hamlet in the parish.-External links:...

  • Hapsford
    Hapsford
    Hapsford 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 A5117 road, with Helsby to the east and the village of Elton, near Ellesmere Port, to the north west. Junction 14 of the M56 motorway and...

  • Harthill
    Harthill, Cheshire
    Harthill is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England.All Saints Church, Harthill is a Grade II* listed building.-External links:...

  • Hatton
  • Hockenhull
    Hockenhull
    Hockenhull is a civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. It has a population of 19.-External links:...

  • Hoole Village
    Hoole Village
    Hoole Village is a civil parish situated near to Chester, in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. In 2004 its population was 230....

  • Horton by Malpas
  • Horton cum Peel
  • Huntington
    Huntington, Cheshire
    Huntington is a civil parish on the southern outskirts of Chester in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England...

  • Huxley
    Huxley, Cheshire
    Huxley is a small rural village and civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. It has a population of 220. It is home to Huxley Primary School.-External links:...

  • Iddinshall
    Iddinshall
    Iddinshall is a civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. It has a population of 42.-External links:...

  • Kelsall
    Kelsall
    Kelsall is a medium-sized agricultural/commuter village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is located around east of Chester, west of Northwich and north west of Tarporley...

  • Kings Marsh
    Kings Marsh
    Kings Marsh is a civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. It has a population of 30.-External links:...

  • Larkton
    Larkton
    Larkton is a civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. It has a population of 28.-External links:...

  • Lea Newbold
    Lea Newbold
    Lea Newbold is a civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. It has a population of 8.-External links:...

  • Lea by Backford
    Lea-by-Backford
    Lea-by-Backford is a hamlet and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is situated between Chester and Ellesmere Port, west of the A41 trunk road and to the north of the Shropshire Union Canal. -External links:...

  • Ledsham
    Ledsham, Cheshire
    Ledsham 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 Wirral Peninsula, to the north of Capenhurst and to the west of Ellesmere Port...

  • Little Stanney
    Little Stanney
    Little Stanney is a suburban village and civil parish on the Wirral Peninsula, in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It has a population of 181, and is located between Chester and Ellesmere Port....

  • Littleton
    Littleton, Cheshire
    Littleton is a civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. It has a population of 644.-External links:...

  • Lower Kinnerton
    Lower Kinnerton
    Lower Kinnerton is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, situated on the border between England and Wales. It has a population of 119. The village is located south of Broughton and to the north west of the parish...

  • Macefen
    Macefen
    Macefen is a civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It lies east of the village of Malpas and north west of Whitchurch, Salop. Part of the village of No Man's Heath lies within the northern boundary of Macefen.Macefen is...

  • Malpas
    Malpas, Cheshire
    Malpas is a large village which used to be a market town, and it is also a civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The parish lies on the border with Shropshire and Wales...

      (town)
  • Marlston cum Lache
  • Mickle Trafford
    Mickle Trafford
    Mickle Trafford is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It includes the area known as Plemstall. In 2004 the population of the civil parish was estimated to be 2,140, although the 2001 census recorded...

  • Mollington
    Mollington, Cheshire
    Mollington is a small village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England, It is located two miles north of the city of Chester, with approximate boundaries formed by the A41 Liverpool-Chester trunk road and Shropshire Union...

  • Moston
    Moston, Chester
    Moston is a small village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is situated in the north east of Chester, close to the Shropshire Union Canal and the A41 trunk road between Chester and Birkenhead...

  • Mouldsworth
    Mouldsworth
    Mouldsworth is a village and civil parish on the outskirts of Chester in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is located about 8 miles north east of Chester City Centre on the B5393 road. The nearest villages are Manley to the north...

  • Newton by Malpas
    Newton by Malpas
    Newton by Malpas is a civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. It has a population of 11.-External links:...

  • Newton by Tattenhall
  • Oldcastle
    Oldcastle, Cheshire
    Oldcastle is a civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. It has a population of 54.-External links:...

  • 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....

  • Picton
    Picton, Cheshire
    Picton is a hamlet and civil parish situated near to Chester, in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. It has a population of 58....

  • Poulton
    Poulton, Cheshire
    Poulton is a civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. It has a population of 92.-External links:...

  • Prior's Heys
    Prior's Heys
    Prior's Heys is a civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. It has a population of 10....

  • Puddington
    Puddington, Cheshire
    Puddington is a village and civil parish on the Wirral Peninsula, in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England, located close to the border with Wales ....

  • Pulford
    Pulford
    Pulford is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is situated on the B5445 road, to the south west of Chester and on the border with Wales. It is believed that the name of the village is derived from the...

  • Rowton
    Rowton, Cheshire
    Rowton is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. It has a population of 497. The Battle of Rowton Heath took place in the village on 24 September 1645 during the English Civil War. It resulted in a decisive...

  • Saighton
    Saighton
    Saighton is a civil parish and village in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England, a few miles south of Chester...

  • Saughall
    Saughall
    Saughall is a civil parish and village in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is situated approximately north west of Chester and close to the Welsh border....

  • Shocklach Oviatt
    Shocklach Oviatt
    Shocklach Oviatt is a civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It includes the village of Shocklach.St Edith's Church, Shocklach is a Grade I listed building....

  • Shotwick
    Shotwick
    Shotwick is a village and civil parish on the Wirral Peninsula in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England...

  • Shotwick Park
    Shotwick Park
    Shotwick Park is a civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. Located near the village of Shotwick, it is four miles north west of Chester and close to the Welsh border....

  • Stockton
    Stockton, Cheshire
    Stockton is a civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. It has a population of 21....

  • Stoke
    Stoke, Chester
    Stoke is a civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England.It includes the village of Stoak and the intersection of the M53 and M56 motorways. The Shropshire Union Canal passes through the parish....

  • Stretton
    Stretton, Chester
    Stretton is a civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The small, rural parish includes the hamlets of Stretton and Wetreins Green...

  • Tarvin
    Tarvin
    Tarvin is a village in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It had a population of 2,693 people at the 2001 UK census, and the ward covers about .-Location:...

  • Tattenhall
    Tattenhall
    Tattenhall is a village and civil parish, 8 miles south-east of Chester, in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. At the 2001 Census, the population was recorded as 1,986.-History:...

  • Thornton le Moors
    Thornton-le-Moors
    Thornton-le-Moors is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. At the census of 2001 it had a population of 260....

  • Threapwood
    Threapwood
    Threapwood is a small village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is close to the villages of Shocklach, Worthenbury and Malpas...

  • Tilston
    Tilston
    Tilston is a village and a civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. At the 2001 Census, the population was recorded as 627.St Mary's Church, Tilston is a Grade II* listed building....

  • Tilstone Fearnall
    Tilstone Fearnall
    Tilstone Fearnall is a civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. It has a population of 99.-External links:...

  • Tiverton
    Tiverton, Cheshire
    Tiverton is a civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. It has a population of 406.-External links:...

  • Tushingham cum Grindley
  • Upton by Chester
    Upton, Cheshire
    Upton by Chester is a civil parish and a large suburb on the outskirts of Chester, in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. It includes the villages of Upton and Upton Heath. At the 2001 Census the population was recorded as...

  • Waverton
    Waverton, Cheshire
    Waverton is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It lies about 5 km south east of Chester...

  • Wervin
    Wervin
    Wervin is a small village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is situated between Chester and Ellesmere Port, in close proximity to the Shropshire Union Canal and the M53 motorway. At the 2001 Census, Wervin had a...

  • Wigland
    Wigland
    Wigland is a civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. It has a population of 104.-External links:...

  • Willington
    Willington, Cheshire
    Willington is a village and civil parish, about from Chester, in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England....

  • Wimbolds Trafford
    Wimbolds Trafford
    Wimbolds Trafford is a hamlet and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. The hamlet lies on the B5132 road, approximately to the north east of Chester and north of the village of Mickle Trafford. -External links:...

  • Woodbank
    Woodbank, Cheshire
    Woodbank is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire in northwest England...

  • Wychough
    Wychough
    Wychough is a civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. It has a population of 11.-External links:...


Elections and political control

For the final years of its existence, Chester City Council was controlled by the Conservative Party
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...

, with the Liberal Democrats and Labour
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...

 as minor parties.

2006 Election

The Conservative Party gained 5 seats in Lache, Newton St. Michael's, Handbridge, Elton and Upton Grange. Labour lost three seats to the Conservatives, and avoided losing Boughton and City to the Conservatives, and College to the Liberal Democrats. The Liberal Democrats lost two seats to the Conservatives, and only avoided losing a safe seat, Vicars Cross, to the Conservatives. In addition, a Liberal Democrat Councillor (Jeff Clarke, Waverton) defected to the Conservatives. The Conservatives also won a by-election in Autumn 2006, taking another seat from the Liberal Democrats.

2007 Election

The Conservative party gained 7 seats in Lache, Newton Brook, Huntington, Tattenhall, Upton Grange, Kelsall and Boughton Heath. They also regained Christleton after the seat had been vaccant for four months. The Liberal Democrats were defeated in five seats, Labour in one, and one long-serving Independent (Doug Haynes, Tattenhall) was beaten. Labour were beaten into fourth place in one ward (Malpas) by the English Democrats. The Liberal Democrats narrowly avoided finishing in fourth place in Blacon Hall and Blacon Lodge. Labour held College by just 7 votes, with the Liberal Democrats in second place.

2008 Election

The 2008 elections were cancelled due to local government re-organisation. Elections to a shadow 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...

 (CWC) unitary authority were instead held. This meant that councillors elected in 2004 served for an additional year before the city council was disbanded. Therefore the Conservatives remained the governing party until April 2009, when the new CWC Council replaced the city council.

Abolition

In 2006 the Department for Communities and Local Government
Department for Communities and Local Government
The Department for Communities and Local Government is the UK Government department for communities and local government in England. It was established in May 2006 and is the successor to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, established in 2001...

 considered reorganising Cheshire's administrative structure as part of the 2009 structural changes to local government in England
2009 structural changes to local government in England
Structural changes to local government in England were effected on 1 April 2009, whereby a number of new unitary authorities were created in parts of the country which previously operated a 'two-tier' system of counties and districts...

. The decision to merge Vale Royal with the districts of Chester and Ellesmere Port and Neston
Ellesmere Port and Neston
Ellesmere Port and Neston was, from 1974 to 2009, a local government district with borough status in Cheshire, England. It covered the southern part of the Wirral Peninsula, namely that part which is not included in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral....

 to create a single unitary authority was announced on 25 July 2007, following a consultation period in which a proposal to create a single Cheshire unitary authority was rejected.

The Chester district was abolished on 1 April 2009, when the new 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...

 unitary authority was formed. Chester's city charter is retained through the appointment of charter trustees
Charter Trustees
In England and Wales, charter trustees are set up to maintain the continuity of a town charter or city charter after a district with the status of a borough or city has been abolished, until such time as a parish council is established...

.
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