Upton-by-Chester is a civil parish and a large suburb on the outskirts of Chester, in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It includes the villages of Upton and Upton Heath.
History
The name Upton is from the Old Englishupp, meaning up, higher or upon, and tūn, meaning a farmstead or settlement.[3]
"In Wilaveston/Wirral Hundred. Upton. Earl Edwin held it.41/2 hides paying tax. Land for 12 ploughs. In lordship 1; 2 ploughmen; 12 villagers and 2 riders with 5 ploughs. Of this land, Hamo holds 2 parts of 1 hide of this manor; Herbert 1⁄2 hide; Mundret 1 hide. In lordship 4 ploughs; 8 ploughmen. 2 villagers and 2 smallholders with 1 plough. Meadow, 1 acre. Value of the whole manor before 1066, 60s; now the Earl’s lordship 45s, his men’s 40s."[5]
Including the hamlet of Upton Heath, Upton-by-Chester was formerly a township within the parishes of St. Mary on the Hill and St. Oswald, Broxton Hundred.[6]
Upton-by-Chester as we know it today started when the railway was built in the mid-1800s. Gentlemen's country houses were built and provided employment other than traditional rural jobs. Initially ribbon development but then housing estates were built as more people moved out of the overcrowded city. Following the post-World War II building boom there is now little development land left.
A permanent military presence was established with the completion of Dale Barracks in 1938 at nearby Moston.[7]
Landmarks
Upton MillThe old water pump
One building of particular interest is Upton Mill, a five storeyed brick windmill which is a Grade II listed building. Built circa 1775 this was a full working flour mill with outhouses, yard and orchard. The wind sails were removed in the early 1920s when electricity was installed. The mill closed in 1953 and remained uninhabited until 1979 when it was sold and converted as a private residence.[8] Renovation was completed in 1988.
Estimated to be over two hundred years old, the last remaining communal water pump in Upton-by-Chester is on Heath Road. The pump was used up to the end of the nineteenth century, but in the early years of World War II was temporarily brought back into use. The well has since been covered over.[11]
The population was 173 in 1801, 555 in 1851, 1,769 in 1901 and increasing significantly to 6,343 by 1951.[6]
At the time of the 2001 census it was recorded as 7,806.[12]
According to the 2011 census the population of the civil parish stood at 7,956,[1]
whilst the figure for the local government ward was 8,905.[13]
Education
There are four primary schools in Upton-by-Chester; namely Acresfield Academy, Mill View Primary School, Upton Heath Church of England Primary School (formerly known as Upton Manor) and Upton Westlea Primary School. Upton-by-Chester High School is a co-educational state secondary school established in 1968.
Community
The Wheatsheaf Inn
The Countess of Chester Hospital is the principal NHS general hospital and accident & emergency department for the city of Chester and the surrounding area.
Chester Zoo opened in 1931 and is now one of the largest zoos in the United Kingdom.[14]
In and around Upton-by-Chester there are several shopping areas, including Bache, Upton-Heath and Weston Grove. In the vicinity there are at least four pubs, including the Race Horse, the Frog, the Mill@Upton (formerly the Egerton Arms Hotel) and The Wheatsheaf Inn.[15]
Other local amenities include a Royal British Legion Club, the Upton-by-Chester Golf Club, a bowling green and a village hall.[16]
The Chester to Ellesmere Port section of the A41 trunk road passes through the area, separating the areas of Upton and Upton Heath. Further west is the A5116 (Liverpool Road), which joins the A41 at Moston, immediately to the north of Upton-by-Chester.
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