For the next few months I will be presenting some of the research evidence conducted by the late John Hodge and Margaret Croston in 1994 into the work of the first Parish Council in Christleton. It makes interesting reading and gives us insight into Village Life of that era. In this instance selected entries between 1894-1907. I have provided additional information in italics where it might clarify detail. The full accounts will be found in the Cheshire Archives & Local Studies files in Duke Street Chester.


17th Dec 1894. The 1st Parish Council Meeting. (9.00pm Boys School Room.)
John Cullimore was elected Chairman
Rev Lionel Garnett Vice Chair. C J Owen Clerk, & 9 councillors
(T Butler, J Mosford, S Earlam, F E Roberts, J Johnson, Thomas Cooper, W Evans & R Smith, E Platt.)
(The Pit was one of the first items on the agenda. No decision was taken, but the owner was asked to fill it in!)
21st Jan 1895 Village Pump.
Can it be made to work satisfactorily in its new position?
Problems with the Pit drainage etc. (near the Girl’s School)
Letter to be written to the County Council protesting against waste of money in sending lecturers about the county supplying so called technical education.
11th March 1895 Police Constable.
Clerk to write to Police Constable Davies to stop the nuisance committed in and about the Parish pump house.
19th April 1895 Overseers of the Poor.
Messrs Mosford & Atkin re-elected Overseers of the Poor for the ensuing year. Names of beneficiaries to be published on the church notice board for one Sunday only.
1st July 1985 Allotments.
Petition from 6 members of the parish for allotments.
Salary of the Clerk agreed at£5 p.a.
20th January 1896. Tar macadam
Parish Council strongly supports requisition by a householder of the village to the County Council that the pavement in the village be substituted by macadam.
First Parish precept for £18.13s.4d or 3/4d in the pound on the rateable value of the Parish
22nd 1896 Auditor
First Auditor’s stamp on Parish Accounts. (C.F. Jordison)
28th June 1897 Notice Board
Offer by T Mayers (Mechanic) to supply a notice board accepted with thanks.
29 September 1897 Repairs
Repairs to stileways and footpaths off Village Road to be undertaken.
8th August 1898 Sewage
Parish Council objects to Chester Rural District Scheme for sewage from Christleton and Great Boughton via Caldy Brook to the Dee. Alternative scheme suggested to convey far the greater part of their sewage to Birch Heath and treated there.
8th January 1900 Technical Education.
Clerk to write to Organising secretary Cheshire CC with a view to technical education being established in the Parish “ especially with ambulance and scientific dressmaking”
4th March 1901 Representative.
Resolved to apply to Cheshire CC for an additional representative on the Chester RDC
15th April 1901 Taking down cottage.
Agreed to privately purchase James Hockenhull’s cottage (to be pulled down), and Chester RDC to widen the very narrow road at this point.
30th September 1901 Memorial to Queen Victoria
Consideration of a memorial to the late Queen.
(This didn’t occur, but most villagers wore black crepe or armbands)
5th July 1903 School Manager
Appointment of Mr R P Walley as School Manager (Farmer from Cotton Abbots)
17 April 1905 Naming of Poor.
First naming of Christleton Poor recipients; 5 from The Square, 7 from elsewhere in the village and Rowton. 2/6d each
12 February 1906 John Sellers Charity
First mention of the John Sellers Charity. Parish Council approved order dated 31/1/06 possibly in connection with the extension of the churchyard
16th April 1906 Nuisance of dust.
Clerk to write to Cheshire CC and Chester RDC on the “great nuisance and danger to the public, and loss to farmers and owners due to the dust from traffic on the roads.
1st October 1906 Objection to new road!
Parish Council wrote a letter to Cheshire CC on proposed new road between Whitchurch and Tarvin Roads. Objected to on the grounds of insufficient use and created danger. (Littleton ratepayers also present at the meeting.)
11th February 1907 Danger to traffic.
Clerk to write to Coproration of Chester on the “very serious danger of traffic on Christleton Road (because of ) trams being allowed to stand so long at the Cherry Orchard Terminus, and in close proximity with an electric light standard… Removal of terminus into Stocks Lane requested later.
26th March 1907. Littleton Township.
Clerk to write to Chester RDC applying for separate representation for the Township of Littleton on the grounds of increased rateable value and population during the last few years- Also on the future question of sewerage for the township.