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Frodsham

Frodsham is a market town and civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. Its population is 8,982.^[1] It is approximately 3 miles (5 km) south of Runcorn, 16 miles (26 km) south of Liverpool, and approximately 28 miles (45 km) south-west of Manchester. The River Weaver runs to its north east and on the west it overlooks the estuary of the River Mersey. The A56 road and the Chester-Manchester railway line pass through the town, and the M56 motorway passes to the north west.

In the medieval times it was an important borough and port belonging to the earls of Chester^{[citation needed]} Its parish church, St. Laurence's, still exhibits evidence of a building present in the 12th century in its nave^{[citation needed]} and is referenced in the Domesday Book.

A market is held each Thursday, and Frodsham's viability as a trading centre is emphasised by the presence of the "big four" clearing banks and several building societies. Development in the town's shops and premises with alcohol licences is evident through the recent (post-2002) opening or modernisation of contemporary-style bar/restaurants, take-away food shops and public houses, and in the continued presence of small, specialised, businesses operating from town centre shops. New industrial premises to the north east of the town very close to the M56 motorway are being built to augment those already present.^{[citation needed]}

Etymology

The etymology of Frodsham's name is not entirely clear. A literal translation of the Old English would give personal name of Frod or an old spelling of Ford, and ham which means a village or homestead; hence Frod's village or the Village on the Ford (Ford-ham). However, an alternative, more obscure etymology exists which suggests the name means "promontory into marsh", which would make sense considering that Frodsham had a promontory castle very close to marshland. Frodsham is unique as the name of a settlement in the British Isles.^[2][3] Earlier spellings of the name have included Fradsham, Frandsham, Frodisham, Ffradsam, Ffrodesham and Ffradsham.^[4]

Early history

Frodsham Hill is the location of an Iron Age promontory fort, the outline of which can still be seen.^[5]

The town is of Saxon origin; its 11th century church is mentioned in the Domesday Book. In the 13th century the church was home to a holy woman recluse (hermit) called Wymark^{[citation needed]} who was well known enough to be paid an annual pension from the royal exchequer. Frodsham was an important manor of the medieval earls of Chester, and was created a borough in the early 13th century probably by Earl Ranulf III. The mouth of the River Weaver, where it joins the Mersey, made Frodsham into a significant port for the coasting trade, particularly for the export of Cheshire salt, brought down the river from Northwich and Nantwich. The site of the manor house was in Castle Park; the building was of stone and was fortified. In an account of 1315 it is called 'castellum' (little castle), although 'manerium' (manor house) was the usual designation.

Recent history

Frodsham was the headquarters of Runcorn Rural District Council. In 1974 the district was split between Halton Borough Council, Warrington Borough Council and Vale Royal District Council (latterly Vale Royal Borough Council). In the early 1990s Vale Royal Borough Council opened a new purpose-built headquarters in Winsford. At the same time, its offices in Hartford near Northwich (the former headquarters of Northwich Rural District Council) and at Castle Park in Frodsham (the former headquarters of Runcorn Rural District Council) became downgraded.

Castle Park House had a major refurbishment in 2005-2006 and now operates as a One Stop Shop for Cheshire West and Chester Council providing a number of services for the community and for businesses.

In 1982 the parish council became Frodsham Town Council and Frodsham was no longer a village. The chair of the parish council became the mayor of Frodsham. The majority of powers were held by Cheshire County Council and Vale Royal Borough Council who were replaced by Cheshire West and Chester Council on 1 April, 2009.

Frodsham was home to Frodsham School, a science and technology college which closed in July 2009, due to the falling birth rate, and amalgamated with Helsby High School. The site is to be redveloped and will provide a new health centre for the town.

Frodsham, like the neighbouring village Helsby, has a hill overlooking the Mersey Estuary which is popular with dog walkers and naturalists.

Frodsham Hill, overlooking Frodsham and the Liverpool skyline, is a large sandstone based hill home to many farms, prestige homes and the Mersey View nightclub (commonly known as 'the View') and Forest Hills Hotel. Before the construction of the hotel and nightclub, famously hosting one of The Beatles first appearances, the site was home to a very large helter skelter.

The aforementioned sandstone foundations of Frodsham Hill is also the home to Frodsham Caves. The caves are small natural formations extended in the 19th and early 20th century by the excavation of sand for use in building and for scattering on the floors of local cottages.^{[citation needed]}

Geography

Frodsham lies on the main thoroughfare between Chester and Warrington, occupying a narrow area between Frodsham Marsh to the north west and the steep slopes of Overton Hill to the south. The A56 road and the Chester-Manchester railway line pass through the town and the M56 motorway runs parallel to these to the north west on the edge of the marsh. The marsh extends for nearly 2 miles (3 km) to the River Mersey, along the edge of which runs the Manchester Ship Canal. The River Weaver with its navigation runs to the north east of the town. Where the A56 crosses the Weaver the area of the town is known as Frodsham Bridge. From the centre of the town B roads run towards Northwich and the centre of the county. The commercial and residential areas are concentrated around these roads.^[6]

Geology

The drainage of Frodsham is into the River Weaver to the north and the River Mersey to the south. The bedrock is rock from the Sherwood sandstone group.^[7] In the Tertiary period, there was an uplift at the Overton and Frodsham faults which resulted in the outcrop of Overton Hill. The uplift resulted in trapping the water table at an elevation of around 200 feet (61 m) at which level springs developed.^[8] The drift consists of recent alluvium.^[7] The bedding of the red sandstone cliffs around Frodsham is a very good example of the way the sand dunes were laid down in the tertiary period by both air and water.

Climate

Being close to the west coast and the Irish Sea, the climate is generally temperate with few extremes of temperature or weather. The mean average temperature in the years 1971 to 2000 was 9.4 to 9.7°C, which was slightly above the average for the United Kingdom^[9] as was the average amount of annual sunshine at 1391 to 1470 hours.^[10] The average annual rainfall was 741 to 870 mm, which was slightly below the average for the UK.^[11] The average number of days in the year when snow is on the ground is 0 to 6, which is low for the United Kingdom.^[12] The average number of days of air frost is 2 to 39, which is also low.^[13]

Transport

There is a railway station in Frodsham which is managed by Arriva Trains Wales.^[14] Arriva Trains Wales run an hourly service through the station between Manchester Piccadilly and Llandudno via Chester. There are also infrequent services by Northern Rail between Ellesmere Port and Liverpool Lime Street via Warrington Bank Quay.^[15] Bus services are available to Chester, Runcorn, Ellesmere Port, Hatchmere (adjacent to Delamere Forest) and to Northwich.^[16] Frodsham is 8 miles (13 km) from Liverpool John Lennon Airport and 21 miles (34 km) from Manchester Airport.

Education

There are four primary schools in Frodsham, namely Frodsham Manor House Primary School, St Luke's Catholic Primary School, Frodsham Church of England Primary School and Frodsham Weaver Vale Primary School.^[17] The only secondary school in the town, Frodsham School, a science and technology college, has now closed.^[18] It is due to be converted into a health clinic and leisure centre.

Religion

There is one Anglican church in Frodsham, St Laurence's in Church Road. Frodsham Methodist Church is in Kingsley Road, just outside Frodsham in the Five Crosses area of the town. The town has, in the past, had a number of Methodist churches. Most recent to close were Trinity Wesleyan Chapel and Bourne Primitive Chapel. The Roman Catholic church is St. Luke's in High Street. There are two Evangelical chapels, Main Street Chapel and King's Church on Chester Road.^[19]

Notable people

William Charles Cotton (1813–1879) who introduced beekeeping to New Zealand was vicar of Frodsham from 1859 until his death.^[20]

Harriet Shaw Weaver (1876–1961), feminist political activist and patron of James Joyce, was born in Frodsham.^[21]

Patrick Larley (1951– ), classical composer, conductor, organist and solo singer was born in the town.^[22]

Gary Barlow (1971– ), singer, pianist, songwriter, and producer was born in Frodsham.^[23]

Djibril Cissé (1981– ), Ex Liverpool and France footballer, in 2008 joined Sunderland A.F.C. and lives in the town as Lord of the Manor of Frodsham.^[24]

Caradog Jones (1962– ), the first Welshman to reach the summit of Mount Everest, lives in Frodsham.^[25]

Bob Carolgees (1948– ), 1980s TV entertainer, owns a candle shop at the Lady Hayes Craft Centre, near Frodsham.^[26]