Culcheth and Glazebury
| Culcheth and Glazebury | |
|---|---|
 The sundial in the centre of Culcheth |
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 Culcheth and Glazebury
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| Culcheth and Glazebury shown within Cheshire | |
| Population | 8,534 (2001) |
| OS grid reference | SJ6595 |
| Civil parish |
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| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | WARRINGTON |
| Postcode district | WA3 |
| Dialling code | 01925 |
| Police | Cheshire |
| Fire | Cheshire |
| Ambulance | North West |
| EU Parliament | North West England |
| UK Parliament | |
Culcheth and Glazebury is a civil parish in Cheshire, England. At the 2001 census, it had a population of 8,534.
Historically part of Lancashire, the area was dense woodland until the Norman conquest, hence the village gets its name from the Celtic for "narrow wood".
Bronze age pottery discovered at Croft suggests the area was inhabited 4,000 years ago.
The Culcheth family played an important role in shaping village fortunes.
Gilbert de Culcheth was lord of the manor of Culcheth and built its first hall in 1200. He was survived by a son Hugh de Gilbert and four daughters.
Hugh de Gilbert was murdered by a group of twelve angry men in 1246, leaving no male heir. This saw the land divided between daughters Margery, Elizabeth, Ellen and Joan. However, equality was unheard of and land could not be passed down to women.
The responsibility for the girls went to the Baron of Warrington who married off all the girls to his four sons. Eldest girl Margery, married Richard who took the name de Culcheth to ensure its survival. Each couple lived in their own sector of the Manor - Culcheth, Holcroft, Risley and Peasfurlong.
Religion played an important role. As Catholics during the Reformation, services took place under complete secrecy in the family chapel which priests would enter through a secret passage by the fireplace in the great hall, and exit at a secluded spot on the tree-lined drive.
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Wikipedia