76-509: Little Leigh (formerly Leigh-juxta-Bartington) is a civil parish and village within the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire , England. It is situated on high ground on the north bank of the River Weaver ; it is approximately 2 miles north of Weaverham on the A533 road and about three miles north-west of Northwich . The population of
152-522: A London borough . (Since the new county was beforehand a mixture of metropolitan boroughs , municipal boroughs and urban districts, no extant parish councils were abolished.) In 1974, the Local Government Act 1972 retained rural parishes, but abolished most urban parishes, as well as the urban districts and boroughs which had administered them. Provision was made for smaller urban districts and boroughs to become successor parishes , with
228-515: A Special Expense, to residents of the unparished area to fund those activities. If the district council does not opt to make a Special Expenses charge, there is an element of double taxation of residents of parished areas, because services provided to residents of the unparished area are funded by council tax paid by residents of the whole district, rather than only by residents of the unparished area. Parish councils comprise volunteer councillors who are elected to serve for four years. Decisions of
304-576: A boundary coterminous with an existing urban district or borough or, if divided by a new district boundary, as much as was comprised in a single district. There were 300 such successor parishes established. In urban areas that were considered too large to be single parishes, the parishes were simply abolished, and they became unparished areas . The distinction between types of parish was no longer made; whether parishes continued by virtue of being retained rural parishes or were created as successor parishes, they were all simply termed parishes. The 1972 act allowed
380-477: A city council (though most cities are not parishes but principal areas, or in England specifically metropolitan boroughs or non-metropolitan districts ). The chairman of a town council will have the title "town mayor" and that of a parish council which is a city will usually have the title of mayor . When a city or town has been abolished as a borough, and it is considered desirable to maintain continuity of
456-462: A city council. According to the Department for Communities and Local Government , in England in 2011 there were 9,946 parishes. Since 1997 around 100 new civil parishes have been created, in some cases by splitting existing civil parishes, but mostly by creating new ones from unparished areas. Parish or town councils have very few statutory duties (things they are required to do by law) but have
532-559: A city was Hereford , whose city council was merged in 1998 to form a unitary Herefordshire . The area of the city of Hereford remained unparished until 2000 when a parish council was created for the city. As another example, the charter trustees for the City of Bath make up the majority of the councillors on Bath and North East Somerset Council. Civil parishes cover 35% of England's population, with one in Greater London and few in
608-440: A civil parish is usually an elected parish council (which can decide to call itself a town, village, community or neighbourhood council, or a city council if the parish has city status). Alternatively, in parishes with small populations (typically fewer than 150 electors) governance may be by a parish meeting which all electors may attend; alternatively, parishes with small populations may be grouped with one or more neighbours under
684-481: A civil parish which has no parish council, the parish meeting may levy a council tax precept for expenditure relating to specific functions, powers and rights which have been conferred on it by legislation. In places where there is no civil parish ( unparished areas ), the administration of the activities normally undertaken by the parish becomes the responsibility of the district or borough council. The district council may make an additional council tax charge, known as
760-586: A common parish council. Wales was also divided into civil parishes until 1974, when they were replaced by communities , which are similar to English parishes in the way they operate. Civil parishes in Scotland were abolished for local government purposes by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1929 ; the Scottish equivalent of English civil parishes are the community council areas established by
836-529: A new code. In either case the code must comply with the Nolan Principles of Public Life . A parish can be granted city status by the Crown . As of 2020 , eight parishes in England have city status, each having a long-established Anglican cathedral: Chichester , Ely , Hereford , Lichfield , Ripon , Salisbury , Truro and Wells . The council of an ungrouped parish may pass a resolution giving
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#1732779989981912-431: A new smaller manor, there was a means of making a chapel which, if generating or endowed with enough funds, would generally justify foundation of a parish, with its own parish priest (and in latter centuries vestry ). This consistency was a result of canon law which prized the status quo in issues between local churches and so made boundary changes and sub-division difficult. The consistency of these boundaries until
988-416: A parish council, and instead will only have a parish meeting : an example of direct democracy . Alternatively several small parishes can be grouped together and share a common parish council, or even a common parish meeting. A parish council may decide to call itself a town council, village council, community council, neighbourhood council, or if the parish has city status, the parish council may call itself
1064-503: A population of between 100 and 300 could request their county council to establish a parish council. Provision was also made for a grouped parish council to be established covering two or more rural parishes. In such groups, each parish retained its own parish meeting which could vote to leave the group, but otherwise the grouped parish council acted across the combined area of the parishes included. Urban civil parishes were not given their own parish councils, but were directly administered by
1140-1079: A range of discretionary powers which they may exercise voluntarily. These powers have been defined by various pieces of legislation. The role they play can vary significantly depending on the size, resources and ability of the council, but their activities can include any of the following: Parish councils have powers to provide and manage various local facilities; these can include allotments , cemeteries, parks, playgrounds, playing fields and village greens , village halls or community centres , bus shelters, street lighting, roadside verges, car parks, footpaths, litter bins and war memorials. Larger parish councils may also be involved in running markets , public toilets and public clocks, museums and leisure centres . Parish councils may spend money on various things they deem to be beneficial to their communities, such as providing grants to local community groups or local projects, or fund things such as public events, crime prevention measures, community transport schemes, traffic calming or tourism promotion. Parish councils have
1216-409: A role in the planning system; they have a statutory right to be consulted on any planning applications in their areas. They may also produce a neighbourhood plan to influence local development. The Localism Act 2011 allowed eligible parish councils to be granted a " general power of competence " which allows them within certain limits the freedom to do anything an individual can do provided it
1292-598: A set number of guardians for each parish, hence a final purpose of urban civil parishes. With the abolition of the Poor Law system in 1930, urban parishes became a geographical division only with no administrative power; that was exercised at the urban district or borough council level. In 1965 civil parishes in London were formally abolished when Greater London was created, as the legislative framework for Greater London did not make provision for any local government body below
1368-943: A small village or town ward to a large tract of mostly uninhabited moorland in the Cheviots, Pennines or Dartmoor. The two largest as at December 2023 are Stanhope (County Durham) at 98.6 square miles (255 km ), and Dartmoor Forest (Devon) at 79.07 square miles (204.8 km ). The two smallest are parcels of shared rural land: Lands Common to Axminster and Kilmington (Devon) at 0.012 square miles (0.031 km ; 3.1 ha; 7.7 acres), and Lands Common to Brancepeth and Brandon and Byshottles (County Durham) at 0.0165 square miles (0.043 km ; 4.3 ha; 10.6 acres). The next two smallest are parishes in built up areas: Chester Castle (Cheshire) at 0.0168 square miles (0.044 km ; 4.4 ha; 10.8 acres) (no recorded population) and Hamilton Lea (Leicestershire) at 0.07 square miles (0.18 km ; 18 ha; 45 acres) (1,021 residents at
1444-521: A spur to the creation of new parishes in some larger towns which were previously unparished, in order to retain a local tier of government; examples include Shrewsbury (2009), Salisbury (2009), Crewe (2013) and Weymouth (2019). In 2003 seven new parish councils were set up for Burton upon Trent , and in 2001 the Milton Keynes urban area became entirely parished, with ten new parishes being created. Parishes can also be abolished where there
1520-427: Is a clergyman who hopes of appointment as curate of Little Leigh on death of Mr. Jones the present curate. Notes re Chapel of Little Leigh and proposed enlargement to which inhabitants are opposed. [REDACTED] Media related to Little Leigh at Wikimedia Commons Civil parish In England, a civil parish is a type of administrative parish used for local government . It is a territorial designation which
1596-507: Is at present the only part of England where civil parishes cannot be created. If enough electors in the area of a proposed new parish (ranging from 50% in an area with less than 500 electors to 10% in one with more than 2,500) sign a petition demanding its creation, then the local district council or unitary authority must consider the proposal. Since the beginning of the 21st century, numerous parish councils have been created, including some relatively large urban ones. The main driver has been
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#17327799899811672-539: Is evidence that this is in response to "justified, clear and sustained local support" from the area's inhabitants. Examples are Birtley , which was abolished in 2006, and Southsea , abolished in 2010. Every civil parish has a parish meeting, which all the electors of the parish are entitled to attend. Generally a meeting is held once a year. A civil parish may have a parish council which exercises various local responsibilities prescribed by statute. Parishes with fewer than 200 electors are usually deemed too small to have
1748-405: Is not prohibited by other legislation, as opposed to being limited to the powers explicitly granted to them by law. To be eligible for this, a parish council must meet certain conditions such as having a clerk with suitable qualifications. Parish councils receive funding by levying a " precept " on the council tax paid by the residents of the parish (or parishes) served by the parish council. In
1824-540: Is said to have been the inspiration for the well known folk song " The Farmer's Boy ". In 1872, there was a population of 914 living in 179 houses. Below are transcripts of documents found in Northwich Library: The township of Little-Legh was held by William Fitz-Nigell baron of Halton in the time of the Conqueror, as appears by Doomsday-book. Simon Fitz-Osbern, being possed of this village about
1900-1251: Is that Wrench pay £400 in bequests, made up from £100 given by Sir Robert Cotton, Bart, for a minister at Little Leigh: £100 subscription now collecting to qualify for Queen Anne's Bounty of £200: Bequests £200 to brother John Horton, £20 at interest which to be paid to grammar school master at Little Leigh: £20 to Tailors guild: £20 to poor of Great Budworth, £10 to Ester Worral; £10 to Randle Pierson: £10 at interest to be paid to poor of Little Leigh not in receipt of any other relief: £10 to poor of Barnton: £100 at interest for preaching minister at Little Leigh. 17 June 1782: Letter signed by 19 parishioners of Little Leigh, to Rev. [? Joseph] Eaton, Vicar of Great Budworth, asking that he support choice of Rev. Mr [Joseph] Walcam as minister at Little Leigh when imminent death of Mr. Jones occurs. 29 August 1782: John Horton, Little Leigh to Joseph Hill, Chancery Office, London: Asks for help in complaint of inhabitants of Little Leigh: Vicar of Great Budworth has appointed curate at Little Leigh against wishes of inhabitants and terms of Ralph Horton's will. Inhabitants entered caveat at Chester but Mr. Jeffs (the other appete) has broken into chapel but refuses to reside or serve. 1838: Draft and copy Memorial from
1976-404: Is the lowest tier of local government. Civil parishes can trace their origin to the ancient system of parishes , which for centuries were the principal unit of secular and religious administration in most of England and Wales. Civil and religious parishes were formally split into two types in the 19th century and are now entirely separate. Civil parishes in their modern form came into being through
2052-504: The 'Standards Board regime' with local monitoring by district, unitary or equivalent authorities. Under new regulations which came into effect in 2012 all parish councils in England are required to adopt a code of conduct with which parish councillors must comply, and to promote and maintain high standards. A new criminal offence of failing to comply with statutory requirements was introduced. More than one 'model code' has been published, and councils are free to modify an existing code or adopt
2128-761: The Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 , which have fewer powers than their English and Welsh counterparts. There are no equivalent units in Northern Ireland . The parish system in Europe was established between the 8th and 12th centuries, and an early form was long established in England by the time of the Norman Conquest . These areas were originally based on the territory of manors , which, in some cases, derived their bounds from Roman or Iron Age estates; some large manors were sub-divided into several parishes. Initially, churches and their priests were
2204-1010: The Local Government Act 1894 ( 56 & 57 Vict. c. 73) to become the smallest geographical area for local government in rural areas. The act abolished the civil (non-ecclesiastical) duties of vestries . Parishes which straddled county boundaries or sanitary districts had to be split so that the part in each urban or rural sanitary district became a separate parish (see List of county exclaves in England and Wales 1844–1974 ). The sanitary districts were then reconstituted as urban districts and rural districts , with parishes that fell within urban districts classed as urban parishes, and parishes that fell within rural districts were classed as rural parishes. The 1894 act established elected civil parish councils as to all rural parishes with more than 300 electors, and established annual parish meetings in all rural parishes. Civil parishes were grouped to form either rural or urban districts which are thereafter classified as either type. The parish meetings for parishes with
2280-411: The Local Government Act 1894 ( 56 & 57 Vict. c. 73), which established elected parish councils to take on the secular functions of the parish vestry . A civil parish can range in size from a sparsely populated rural area with fewer than a hundred inhabitants, to a large town with a population in excess of 100,000 . This scope is similar to that of municipalities in continental Europe, such as
2356-472: The break with Rome , parishes managed ecclesiastical matters, while the manor was the principal unit of local administration and justice. Later, the church replaced the manor court as the rural administrative centre, and levied a local tax on produce known as a tithe . In the medieval period, responsibilities such as relief of the poor passed increasingly from the lord of the manor to the parish's rector , who in practice would delegate tasks among his vestry or
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2432-692: The communes of France . However, unlike their continental European counterparts, parish councils are not principal authorities , and in most cases have a relatively minor role in local government. As of September 2023 , there are 10,464 parishes in England, and in 2020 they covered approximately 40% of the English population. For historical reasons, civil parishes predominantly cover rural areas and smaller urban areas, with most larger urban areas being wholly or partly unparished ; but since 1997 it has been possible for civil parishes to be created within unparished areas if demanded by local residents . In 2007
2508-470: The (often well-endowed) monasteries. After the dissolution of the monasteries , the power to levy a rate to fund relief of the poor was conferred on the parish authorities by the Poor Relief Act 1601 . Both before and after this optional social change, local (vestry-administered) charities are well-documented. The parish authorities were known as vestries and consisted of all the ratepayers of
2584-564: The 19th century is useful to historians, and is also of cultural significance in terms of shaping local identities; reinforced by the use of grouped parish boundaries, often, by successive local authority areas; and in a very rough, operations-geared way by most postcode districts. There was (and is) wide disparity in parish size. Writtle , Essex traditionally measures 13,568 acres (21 sq mi) – two parishes neighbouring are Shellow Bowells at 469 acres (0.7 sq mi), and Chignall Smealy at 476 acres (0.7 sq mi) Until
2660-591: The 2011 census, Newland with Woodhouse Moor and Beaumont Chase reported inhabitants, and there were no new deserted parishes recorded. Nearly all instances of detached parts of civil parishes (areas not contiguous with the main part of the parish) and of those straddling counties have been ended. 14 examples remain in England as at 2022, including Barnby Moor and Wallingwells , both in Nottinghamshire. Direct predecessors of civil parishes are most often known as "ancient parishes", although many date only from
2736-511: The 2021 census). The 2001 census recorded several parishes with no inhabitants. These were Chester Castle (in the middle of Chester city centre), Newland with Woodhouse Moor , Beaumont Chase , Martinsthorpe , Meering , Stanground North (subsequently abolished), Sturston , Tottington , and Tyneham (subsequently merged). The lands of the last three were taken over by the Armed Forces during World War II and remain deserted. In
2812-569: The North Staffordshire Canal, which intersects the township for about a mile and three-quarters, is rated at £800. The village is pleasantly situated on high ground, commanding extensive views of the surrounding country. Lord Leigh is lord of the manor and owner of about four fifths of the township. There are about 30 acres of glebe land in the township. Little Leigh appears, from the Domesday survey, to have been included in
2888-738: The administration of the poor laws was the main civil function of parishes, the Poor Law Amendment Act 1866 , which received royal assent on 10 August 1866, declared all areas that levied a separate rate or had their own overseer of the poor to be parishes. This included the Church of England parishes (until then simply known as "parishes"), extra-parochial areas , townships and chapelries . To have collected rates this means these beforehand had their own vestries, boards or equivalent bodies. Parishes using this definition subsequently became known as "civil parishes" to distinguish them from
2964-399: The charter, the charter may be transferred to a parish council for its area. Where there is no such parish council, the district council may appoint charter trustees to whom the charter and the arms of the former borough will belong. The charter trustees (who consist of the councillor or councillors for the area of the former borough) maintain traditions such as mayoralty . An example of such
3040-533: The civil parish taken at the 2011 census was 567. The village appears in Domesday Book as "Lege"; there were only five households and the manor was held by William FitzNigel of Halton . Originally in the parish of Great Budworth , an ancient chapel of ease in Little Leigh was fully rebuilt in 1712 and was described as "a mean building of brick, standing defenceless in the highway". The chapel
3116-537: The council are carried out by a paid officer, typically known as a parish clerk. Councils may employ additional people (including bodies corporate, provided where necessary, by tender) to carry out specific tasks dictated by the council. Some councils have chosen to pay their elected members an allowance, as permitted under part 5 of the Local Authorities (Members' Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003. The number of councillors varies roughly in proportion to
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3192-464: The council of the urban district or borough in which they were contained. Many urban parishes were coterminous (geographically identical) with the urban district or municipal borough in which they lay. Towns which included multiple urban parishes often consolidated the urban parishes into one. The urban parishes continued to be used as an electoral area for electing guardians to the poor law unions . The unions took in areas in multiple parishes and had
3268-466: The council will an election be held. However, sometimes there are fewer candidates than seats. When this happens, the vacant seats have to be filled by co-option by the council. If a vacancy arises for a seat mid-term, an election is only held if a certain number (usually ten) of parish residents request an election. Otherwise the council will co-opt someone to be the replacement councillor. The Localism Act 2011 introduced new arrangements which replaced
3344-459: The creation of town and parish councils is encouraged in unparished areas . The Local Government and Rating Act 1997 created a procedure which gave residents in unparished areas the right to demand that a new parish and parish council be created. This right was extended to London boroughs by the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 – with this, the City of London
3420-731: The decease of Edward lord Leigh in 1786, It has since passed with other Stoneley estates, under the will of lord Leigh, to the Leighs of Adlestrop in Gloucestershire, and is now vested in [the representative of] that family, [Lord Leigh of Stoneleigh Abbey]. The Chapel of Ease, a small brick fabric, was rebuilt in 1718. The living is a perpetual curacy, returned in the King's book, at £65. 10s., which has been augmented with £200 benefactions, and £800 Queen Ann's Bounty. Patron: vicar of Great Budworth. Incumbent: Rev. William Whitworth, who resides at
3496-463: The desire to have a more local tier of government when new larger authorities have been created, which are felt to be remote from local concerns and identity. A number of parishes have been created in places which used to have their own borough or district council; examples include Daventry (2003), Folkestone (2004), Kidderminster (2015) and Sutton Coldfield (2016). The trend towards the creation of geographically large unitary authorities has been
3572-439: The ecclesiastical parishes. The Church of England parishes, which cover more than 99% of England, have become officially (and to avoid ambiguity) termed ecclesiastical parishes . The limits of many of these have diverged; most greatly through changes in population and church attendance (these factors can cause churches to be opened or closed). Since 1921, each has been the responsibility of its own parochial church council . In
3648-534: The established English Church, which for a few years after Henry VIII alternated between the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England , before settling on the latter on the accession of Elizabeth I in 1558. By the 18th century, religious membership was becoming more fractured in some places, due in part to the progress of Methodism . The legitimacy of the parish vestry came into question, and
3724-645: The gift and continued patronage (benefaction) of the lord of the manor , but not all were willing and able to provide, so residents would be expected to attend the church of the nearest manor with a church. Later, the churches and priests became to a greater extent the responsibility of the Catholic Church thus this was formalised; the grouping of manors into one parish was recorded, as was a manor-parish existing in its own right. Boundaries changed little, and for centuries after 1180 'froze', despite changes to manors' extents. However, by subinfeudation , making
3800-455: The government at the time of the Local Government Act 1972 discouraged their creation for large towns or their suburbs, but there is generally nothing to stop their establishment. For example, Birmingham has two parishes ( New Frankley and Sutton Coldfield ), Oxford has four, and the Milton Keynes urban area has 24. Parishes could not however be established in London until the law was changed in 2007. A civil parish can range in area from
3876-462: The heirs of Dutton, even to this day, 1666, and is £25. 18s of an old rent. In this township is an ancient chappel of ease, called Little-Legh chappel, within the parish of Great-Budworth. It was later repaired by the inhabitants of Little-Legh, anno Domini 1664, whereunto five pounds was given towards the repair thereof, by the parishioners of Great Budworth, me praesente.* This is a Chapel of Ease for Legh, Barnton, Bartington, and Dutton. In 1718, it
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#17327799899813952-494: The highway. A board is displayed inside St Michael's & All Angels, on the south wall near the door, with the details of this will. LEIGH, (LITTLE) or LEIGH-JUXTA-BARTINGTON, is a chapelry township and pleasant village, 3 ¼ miles North West by West from Northwich, and 8 miles South from Warrington. The township contains 1,529 Acres, 2 roods, and 10 pecks of land. In 1841 there were 67 houses, and 387 inhabitants. Population, in 1801, 380; in 1831, 381. Rateable value, £3,003, of which
4028-521: The inhabitants of Little Leigh to Right Rev. John Bird, Bishop of Chester, re will of Ralph Horton, appointment of Rev. Thomas Jeffs (late minister) and Rev. Ric Jones (present minister) by vicar of Great Budworth: sale of trust lands by Jones to Trent and Mersey Canal Company, Requesting intervention of Bishop. The following are transcripts from records at the Shakespeare Birthplace trust, available on www.a2a.org.uk. The existing church
4104-512: The judger of Legh in his hundred of Halton, about anno Domini 1200. To be judger of a town, was to serve at the lord's court on the jury for such a town; whereof Dutton was discharged for Little-Legh by this deed. The hamlet of Clatterwig in Little-Legh was purchased by sir Thomas Dutton of Dutton, from Hugh de Clatterwig, in the reign of Henry the Third. This township hath ever since remained to
4180-476: The late 19th century, most of the "ancient" (a legal term equivalent to time immemorial ) irregularities inherited by the civil parish system were cleaned up, and the majority of exclaves were abolished. The census of 1911 noted that 8,322 (58%) of "parishes" in England and Wales were not geographically identical when comparing the civil to the ecclesiastical form. In 1894, civil parishes were reformed by
4256-465: The mid 19th century. Using a longer historical lens the better terms are "pre-separation (civil and ecclesiastical) parish", "original medieval parishes" and "new parishes". The Victoria County History , a landmark collaborative work mostly written in the 20th century (although incomplete), summarises the history of each English "parish", roughly meaning late medieval parish. A minority of these had exclaves , which could be: In some cases an exclave of
4332-456: The money for the future. The township is situated on high ground on the north bank of the Weever, about three miles north-west from Northwich. The village is a collection of inconsiderable farm-houses, amongst which the chapel is situate. It is a mean building of brick, standing in the highway, without any yard or fence round it. The west end is used as a school. [Preparations are now being made by
4408-465: The new district councils (outside London) to review their parishes, and many areas left unparished in 1972 have since been made parishes, either in whole or part. For example, Hinckley , whilst entirely unparished in 1974, now has four civil parishes, which together cover part of its area, whilst the central part of the town remains unparished. Some parishes were sub-divided into smaller territories known as hamlets , tithings or townships . Nowadays
4484-488: The other conurbations. Civil parishes vary greatly in population: some have populations below 100 and have no settlement larger than a hamlet , while others cover towns with populations of tens of thousands. Weston-super-Mare , with a population of 71,758, is the most populous civil parish. In many cases small settlements, today popularly termed villages , localities or suburbs, are in a single parish which originally had one church. Large urban areas are mostly unparished, as
4560-401: The parish the status of a town, at which point the council becomes a town council . Around 400 parish councils are called town councils. Under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 , a civil parish may be given one of the following alternative styles: As a result, a parish council can be called a town council, a community council, a village council or occasionally
4636-404: The parish. As the number of ratepayers of some parishes grew, it became increasingly difficult to convene meetings as an open vestry. In some, mostly built-up, areas the select vestry took over responsibility from the entire body of ratepayers. This innovation improved efficiency, but allowed governance by a self-perpetuating elite. The administration of the parish system relied on the monopoly of
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#17327799899814712-562: The parish; the church rate ceased to be levied in many parishes and became voluntary from 1868. During the 17th century it was found that the 1601 Poor Law did not work well for very large parishes, which were particularly common in northern England. Such parishes were typically subdivided into multiple townships , which levied their rates separately. The Poor Relief Act 1662 therefore directed that for poor law purposes 'parish' meant any place which maintained its own poor, thereby converting many townships into separate 'poor law parishes'. As
4788-487: The parsonage, built in 1717, and situate on the north side of the Chapel. The chapelry embraces Little Leigh, Bartington, and Dutton. The small tithes are commuted for £10, the rectorial for £120, and £1. 10s. to the impropriator. The National School is a neat brick building, erected in 1840, a little south from the Chapel, contiguous to which the residence for the teacher, which has been provided by Lord Leigh, who gave, also,
4864-499: The perceived inefficiency and corruption inherent in the system became a source for concern in some places. For this reason, during the early 19th century the parish progressively lost its powers to ad hoc boards and other organisations, such as the boards of guardians given responsibility for poor relief through the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834 . Sanitary districts covered England in 1875 and Ireland three years later. The replacement boards were each entitled to levy their own rate in
4940-502: The poor, and 9s. to the schoolmaster. Ralph Horton, by Will, in 1728, bequeathed £20, the interest to be paid yearly to the schoolmaster of Little Leigh. The sum of £43 has also been given for a similar purpose. This sum was in the hands of Edward Barker, when the Charity Commissioners published their Report, but owing to some remissness on the part of the parish in claiming it of his executors after his death, no interest
5016-411: The population of the parish. Most rural parish councillors are elected to represent the entire parish, though in parishes with larger populations or those that cover larger areas, the parish can be divided into wards. Each of these wards then returns councillors to the parish council (the numbers depending on their population). Only if there are more candidates standing for election than there are seats on
5092-654: The possessions of the Barons of Halton. About the reign of King John, Simon Fitz-Osborne purchased the manor, which was subsequently granted, with other estates, to Hugh Dutton and his heirs, paying annually two silver marks at the festival of St. Martin. It afterwards descended to the Gerards and the Fleetwoods, and was purchased of the latter by the Leighs, of Stoneley, in Warwickshire, in whom it continued vested until
5168-666: The present incumbent, the Rev George Willett, for the erection of a church, the corner stone of which has been recently laid. A school was built here in 1840.] Ralph Horton's will was seemingly of some importance to the villagers. It is replicated on a board in St Michael's & All Angels, and a copy exists at Shakespeare Birthplace Trust archives in Stratford upon Avon. The records for Lord Leigh of Stoneleigh, Warwickshire are held there, and hence much information about
5244-513: The reign of king John grants the same unto Hugh Dutton, son of Hugh Dutton of Dutton, and to his heirs; silicet, totam villam de Leia in feu-firma: reddendo annuatim dua marcas argenti ad festum sancti Martini; [paying annually two silver marks at the festival of St. Martin] which rent is paid by the heirs of Dutton at this day, 1666, as to the manor of Harden-castle. Roger, constable of Cheshire, and Baron of Halton, acquitteth Hugh Dutton of Dutton de judice de Legha in hundredo meo de Halton; (id est) of
5320-438: The right to create civil parishes was extended to London boroughs , although only one, Queen's Park , has so far been created. Eight parishes also have city status (a status granted by the monarch ). A civil parish may be equally known as and confirmed as a town, village, neighbourhood or community by resolution of its parish council, a right not conferred on other units of English local government. The governing body of
5396-461: The site of the School. About 70 children attend the School, which is supported by subscriptions, charitable bequests, and the pence of the children. The Baptists have a small chapel in the township, under the pastoral care of Mr Thomas Smith. Charities: The interest of a sum of £60, supposed to have been given by Mr Barker and others, amounting to £3 per annum, is distributed in the sums of £2. 11s. to
5472-739: The village. The following extracts are taken from other records at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. It could be inferred from other records that the significance of Ralph's will with the villagers was due to his efforts in rebuilding the chapel in 1718. 12 August 1728: copies of the will of Ralph Horton, Little Leigh, Cheshire, Tailor. Bequeaths house and lands in Little Leigh in occupation of self and Kinsman Ralph Nickson, carpenter, to Francis Wrench, Barnton, Cheshire on trust to use rents and profits to pay preaching minister at Little Leigh chapel, which minister to be chosen by Wrench and inhabitants of Little Leigh. Condition of bequest
5548-1249: Was built in 1879, with plans by Edmund Kirby and Sons. Previously there was a chapel in the grounds of the existing churchyard, sited to the western end, near the small pedestrian gate. 19 October 1821: Memorandum of visit to Little Leigh chapel by Rev. George Henry Law, D.D, Bishop of Chester, and orders given then by him for: new prayer book, communion plate, new font, flagging of pews, appointment of chapel warden, incorporation of school into chapel and erection of new school. 10 May 1838: T.S. Newman, Northwich, Curate of Little Leigh to Chandos Leigh, Esq, Stoneleigh Abbey. Outlining proposal to build new chapel at Little Leigh, capable of holding 5–600 people from Little Leigh and Barnton. 20 August 1838: George Webber, Vicar of Great Budworth to Chandos Leigh, Stoneleigh Abbey: Is sure that if case for rebuilding chapel put fully to Leigh's tenants they will see value of scheme. 29 October 1838: Copy letter Chandos Leigh to Rev. Mr Newman, curate of Little Leigh: Is willing to contribute to repairs to present building but does not support enlargement to accommodate people of Barnton. No date [after 1838]: Report [in handwriting of Hon. Julia Judith Leigh] re Messrs. Newman of Nantwich. The younger Mr. N (John)
5624-509: Was completely rebuilt, and has been augmented by Queen Anne's bounty. The Minister is appointed by the Vicar of Budwoth. A School has always been held in the Chapel, but the Master's Salary, which arises from interest of money left by a person unknown [actually Ralph Horton's will of 1728 – see below.], is only forty shillings per annum. The Chapel is a mean building of brick, standing defenceless in
5700-480: Was paid for several years. After an investigation of the circumstances, it was proposed to pay over these gifts to the trustees on behalf of the school. John Dones charged his estate in Hedge Lane, in the township of Weaverham, with the annual payment of 16s. to purchase wine for the sacrament. No payment has been made for some time, but on representation of the case to the owner of the estate, he undertook to pay
5776-496: Was replaced in 1879 by St Michael and All Angels Church , when Little Leigh became a separate parish. The salary for a schoolmaster had been paid from a bequest since 1728; classes were held in the west end of the chapel until a National School was built in 1840. A Baptist Chapel was built in 1829. It contains a plaque commemorating an early minister, the Reverend Thomas Fownes Smith (1802–1866), who
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