Rushton Spencer | |
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Rushton Spencer on the A523 |
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Rushton Spencer shown within Staffordshire | |
Population | 485 (2011) |
OS grid reference | SJ938625 |
Civil parish |
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District | |
Shire county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | MACCLESFIELD |
Postcode district | SK11 |
Dialling code | 01260 |
Police | Staffordshire |
Fire | Staffordshire |
Ambulance | West Midlands |
EU Parliament | West Midlands |
UK Parliament | |
Rushton is a civil parish in Staffordshire, England. The village within the civil parish, usually known as Rushton Spencer, is about 4 miles (6.4 km) north of Leek and 7 miles (11 km) south of Macclesfield, on the A523 road which runs between these towns.
The Parish Council does not yet have its own website; however, the Rushton Manor Courts Leet and Baron does record the Proceedings of the Parish Council, which include minutes and agendas.
At one time there were two adjacent civil parishes, Rushton Spencer and Rushton James. Rushton Spencer has the River Dane at its northern boundary with Cheshire, and the road crosses the river at Hugbridge; Bosley Cloud is the western boundary. To the south, separated by a stream, is Rushton James, which is bordered by Long Edge in the west, and Ryecroft Gate in the east. The parishes were amalgamated in 1934 to form Rushton civil parish.
There are two public houses in the village. The Knot Inn is on Station Lane, west of the main road; it is near the former railway station and used to be called the Railway Inn. The Royal Oak is on the main road at the junction with Leek Old Road.
A short distance south-east of the village, on Leek Old Road, is St Helen's Well. There is an old belief that when the well becomes dry, there will be bad times.
The name Rushton, from Old English, means a settlement by rushes.
The area was a single manor at the time of the Norman Conquest. The overlordship was held by the Earls of Chester probably by the late 11th century. Ranulf de Gernon, 4th Earl of Chester from 1129 to 1153, gave Rushton to Norman de Verdun of Alton.
Two manors existed by the early 13th century; the northern part, originally called Hugbridge, was held by Sir Hugh le Despenser (hence the name Rushton Spencer), who paid chief rent to Ranulf de Blondeville, 6th Earl of Chester; by 1251 the rent was paid to Dieulacres Abbey, near Leek, established earlier by Ranulf de Blondeville.