Mickle Trafford
Encyclopedia
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 1,831 people. The A56 road
from Chester
to Warrington
passes through the village and the Chester-Warrington railway line
passes to immediately to its east.
period are an arrowhead
and a worked flake which were found in the nearby settlement of Hoole Village. The arrowhead is dated as coming from the Early Bronze
to the Early Iron Age
(2350 BC to 701 BC). The Roman road
from Chester
to Wilderspool
(near the present town of Warrington
) passed through or near the village. It is likely that the road known as The Street, which passes to the northwest of the village, was the route of the Roman road. Finds of Roman coins, jewellery and pottery have been found in the village and nearby. There is also evidence of Roman practice camps in the nearby settlements of Hoole Village and Picton. Mickle Trafford is not mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
s but a raised area in a marsh by the River Gowy
, to the northeast of the present village, was known as the "Isle of Chester". Here lived a hermit
called Plegmund
, who was later to become the Archbishop of Canterbury
, and the area is now known as Plemstall, which means "Plegmund's holy place".
Formerly a township
in Plemstall Parish, Broxton Hundred, the population was 247 in 1801, 303 in 1851, 268 in 1901 and 348 in 1951.
is a Grade I listed building to the northeast of the village. On the lane leading to the church is St Plegmund's well. Other buildings in and around the village are listed Grade II. To the north of the village is Trafford Mill
. The other buildings are Mickle Trafford Manor, Windsor Lodge, Ivy Bank Farmhouse, and a farm building associated with Ivy Bank Farmhouse.
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. It includes the area known as Plemstall
Plemstall
Plemstall is an area in the civil parish of Mickle Trafford, the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester, and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It lies northeast of the village of Mickle Trafford....
. In 2004 the population of the civil parish was estimated to be 2,140, although the 2001 census recorded 1,831 people. 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...
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...
to 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...
passes through the village and the Chester-Warrington 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...
passes to immediately to its east.
History
The only artifacts found from the prehistoricPrehistory
Prehistory is the span of time before recorded history. Prehistory can refer to the period of human existence before the availability of those written records with which recorded history begins. More broadly, it refers to all the time preceding human existence and the invention of writing...
period are an arrowhead
Arrowhead
An arrowhead is a tip, usually sharpened, added to an arrow to make it more deadly or to fulfill some special purpose. Historically arrowheads were made of stone and of organic materials; as human civilization progressed other materials were used...
and a worked flake which were found in the nearby settlement of Hoole Village. The arrowhead is dated as coming from the Early Bronze
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
to the Early Iron Age
Iron 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...
(2350 BC to 701 BC). The Roman road
Roman road
The Roman roads were a vital part of the development of the Roman state, from about 500 BC through the expansion during the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. Roman roads enabled the Romans to move armies and trade goods and to communicate. The Roman road system spanned more than 400,000 km...
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...
to Wilderspool
Wilderspool
Wilderspool is a district of Warrington, England, located near to the town centre. Its area is basically Wilderspool Causeway and the streets coming off it; the limits being the River Mersey into the Stockton Heath Area of Warrington , Bridgefoot , and Centre Park...
(near the present town 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...
) passed through or near the village. It is likely that the road known as The Street, which passes to the northwest of the village, was the route of the Roman road. Finds of Roman coins, jewellery and pottery have been found in the village and nearby. There is also evidence of Roman practice camps in the nearby settlements of Hoole Village and Picton. Mickle Trafford is not mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is a collection of annals in Old English chronicling the history of the Anglo-Saxons. The original manuscript of the Chronicle was created late in the 9th century, probably in Wessex, during the reign of Alfred the Great...
s but a raised area in a marsh by the River Gowy
River Gowy
The River Gowy is a river in Cheshire, England and a tributary of the River Mersey.It rises in western Cheshire in the hills near Peckforton Castle, very close to the source of the River Weaver. While the Weaver flows south initially, the Gowy flows north and for several miles provides the valley...
, to the northeast of the present village, was known as the "Isle of Chester". Here lived a hermit
Hermit
A hermit is a person who lives, to some degree, in seclusion from society.In Christianity, the term was originally applied to a Christian who lives the eremitic life out of a religious conviction, namely the Desert Theology of the Old Testament .In the...
called Plegmund
Plegmund
Plegmund , after spending time as a hermit, became Archbishop of Canterbury in England from 890 to 914. He reorganised the Diocese of Winchester, creating four new sees, and worked with other scholars in translating religious works...
, who was later to become the Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
, and the area is now known as Plemstall, which means "Plegmund's holy place".
Formerly a township
Township
The word township is used to refer to different kinds of settlements in different countries. Township is generally associated with an urban area. However there are many exceptions to this rule. In Australia, the United States, and Canada, they may be settlements too small to be considered urban...
in Plemstall Parish, Broxton Hundred, the population was 247 in 1801, 303 in 1851, 268 in 1901 and 348 in 1951.
Landmarks and places of interest
St Peter's Church, PlemstallSt Peter's Church, Plemstall
St Peter's Church, Plemstall stands in an isolated position at the end of a country lane near the village of Mickle Trafford, Cheshire, England. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the...
is a Grade I listed building to the northeast of the village. On the lane leading to the church is St Plegmund's well. Other buildings in and around the village are listed Grade II. To the north of the village is Trafford Mill
Trafford Mill
Trafford Mill is a water mill ¾ mile to the north of the village of Mickle Trafford, Cheshire, England . It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II listed building.-History:...
. The other buildings are Mickle Trafford Manor, Windsor Lodge, Ivy Bank Farmhouse, and a farm building associated with Ivy Bank Farmhouse.