Introduction
Prestbury is an attractive place, surrounded with open space and rolling countryside and replete with footpaths and an unusually large amount of tree cover compared to the norm in Cheshire. The River Bollin flows almost the full length of the parish and its course takes it through the historic centre of the village. The centre is well preserved with many listed buildings and around that are prime residential areas, distinct detached properties and dairy farms. Many buildings are hidden from the main roads by foliage. The conurbation of Greater Manchester lies to the north the Peak District National Park is immediately to the east, the market town of Macclesfield to the south, and Alderley Edge and Wilmslow to the west. Residents enjoy a good standard of living, a factor which evokes mixed feelings. Although it is a popular place for eating out, having more than its fair share of good eating establishments, it has an image outside the parish of being rather grand but this does not reflect the thriving and friendly community and plethora of active organisations which exist.
The Making of Prestbury
There are numerous published accounts of the history of the ancient Parish of Prestbury, including in the adopted and unadopted Village Design Statements, and also an impressive historical tapestry mounted on a wall in the Village Hall which was produced by a tremendous community effort to celebrate the second millennium. Consequently, there is no intention to reproduce a detailed history here – merely an attempt to set the scene for what exists at the end of 2008/ beginning of 2009.
It is known that this southerly part of the Bollin River valley has been settled for almost 10 centuries, dating back to the Saxon period, and churches on the site of the present St. Peter’s Church were the ecclesiastical and administrative centres for a very large area. One of the oldest structures is the Norman Chapel in the churchyard of St. Peter’s but probably the two best known buildings are the Grade One listed church itself, which dates back in parts to the 13th century, and the black and white timber-framed Grade Two star Old Priest’s House (a branch of the NatWest Bank) opposite the church which dates to the 15th century. Many other listed buildings on the main street are two, three and four centuries old and some were used as silk weavers’ cottages during the 19th century. At that time nearby Macclesfield had an international reputation for producing silk cloth, and small scale silk production spread to Prestbury.
The railway arrived in the mid 19th century, making Prestbury easily accessible from Manchester for commuters, and the parish started to become more residential. During the 20th century the parish was required to accept significant housing which was provided through ‘estates’ outside the village centre and in which a large proportion of the population now reside. However, the centre was protected with conservation area status as later was the main part of Butley Town.
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Geography and Administration
Prestbury is a long, narrow parish covering 1,165 hectares to the west of the Peak Park foothills and to the east of the sandstone ridge which is ‘The Edge’. It straddles the River Bollin, partly in flood plain, and is bounded on the east by the River Dean. Its boundaries with towns and other parishes (working clockwise) are with Stockport (Woodford) and Adlington to the North East, Bollington to the east, Macclesfield (Tytherington, Upton and Whirley) to the south and Over Alderley and Mottram St. Andrew to the west. Until March 31st 2009 it will lie within the County of Cheshire and the District of Macclesfield Borough but after April 1st 2009 it will be part of the new Unitary Authority of Cheshire East. The major built areas are surrounded with or in the Green Belt and much of the area also enjoys the local designation of an Area of Special County Value (ASCV).
Just outside the boundary on the north side of the parish is Woodford aerodrome, with Adlington Hall estate forming part of the eastern boundary. To the south east is Tytherington Golf Course and on the west are Hare Hill gardens. Just within the boundaries on the southern side are Prestbury Golf Club, Macclesfield Rugby Club and a scheduled ancient monument (a cross) off Prestbury Road, whilst just inside the boundaries on the west side is Spittle House, another ancient monument in a rural setting. Just within the north eastern boundary is the ancient site of Bonis Hall, set within its own grounds. From these descriptions it is evident that the built part of the parish is surrounded by open space and distinct from neighbouring communities with its own strong identity
Prestbury has a local station close to the village centre providing direct access by rail to Manchester and Stoke-on-Trent, and connections to Birmingham and London at Macclesfield. Manchester airport is approximately 20 minutes away by car, and the primary road network links the parish to Stockport, Manchester, Buxton, Sheffield, Leek, Stoke and to the national motorway network.
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The Changing Times
Some areas of the parish are designated as low density on the Local Plan and, at the time of writing, no parts of the parish are designated for development. However, significant building has taken place in recent years, a time of economic boom. Many detached properties have been demolished and replaced with much larger ones. This rapid replacement process has caused alarm amongst some residents who felt it was starting to change the character of the parish. There have also been concerns that the commercial heart of the village needs a new impetus. Two key retail units standing empty for some time and the closure and deterioration of Ford House, a key building in the middle of the main street, have both been factors influencing these concerns.
As the Parish Plan has come to fruition, at the turn of 2008 and 2009, the UK government is demanding significant house building nationally but the economy has taken a steep down-turn. Sales of properties, cars and other big value items have dropped significantly everywhere, due to difficulties in borrowing money and a general reluctance to make significant financial commitments at a time of uncertainty. However, it remains to be seen what the longer term impact will be on the community.
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Prestbury’s Population Profile
The census revealed an average age of over 46, with three quarters married, 78% in good health and over half with two A levels, a degree or a higher qualification.
According to the census, 57% of residents were employed. Of these, 44% were in managerial or professional jobs and 79% in the service sector. Some 73% of the employed travelled to work by car (an average of 11.4 miles)
The most common category of household was a couple, with or without children (46%) living in a detached house or bungalow (74%) and owning two or more cars (66%).Over half (54%) owned their property outright or did not have a mortgage.
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Prestbury’s People
Prestbury’s rich community life offers something for everyone. The number of people who took an active part in the parish plan project is testament enough to a strong community spirit - as is the regularity with which Prestbury wins its class in the annual Community Pride (formerly the Best Kept Village) competition run by Cheshire Community Action (formerly Cheshire Community Council).
Many local children start their education at Prestbury C of E Primary School, which is both outstanding both educationally (Ofsted report 2006-7) and in its pastoral care. Parents regularly help out in school and through the active PTA. The modern premises are used by community, church and sports groups for their own events.
A range of organisations cater for families. Scouts and Guides, Cubs and Brownies, Beavers and Rainbows all meet regularly in the village, in many cases led by parent volunteers. The busy Village Hall holds twice-weekly Mums & Tots sessions, activities for pre-school children, and ballet and dance classes, and many children celebrate their birthdays there. Other groups offer social activities, sports and outdoor pursuits, or creative activities. With so many children attending local schools and extra-curricular activities together, local families socialise together and many help each other out on a regular basis with practical arrangements.
Prestbury has a high proportion of older and retired residents, some of whom live close to the centre in developments designed to meet their needs; there is also a care home close to the village centre. Many older residents enjoy to the full the numerous activities Prestbury has to offer, (remarkably, the village supports five Probus – Professional & Business – Clubs, four for men and one for women) and benefit from strong informal support networks of friends, family and neighbours. People of working age often have to travel outside the parish to work, but like younger and older residents many choose to become actively involved in parish life in their leisure time. Residents of all ages value the many excellent local services – doctors, dentist, post office, banks, pharmacy and a range of other shops catering for everyday needs.
The parish has a wide range of groups which bring together residents with shared interests: for example there are two very active churches, community events such as the annual Flower Show, the Rose Queen festival, the Parish bonfire, and the annual duck race on the Bollin, Many residents enjoy sports on offer locally - bowls, cricket, tennis, golf, football, and squash. Runners and walkers take to the lanes or the Bollin Valley. Pilates, yoga, flower arranging, traditional handicrafts, bridge and gardening all thrive. Finally, for many residents, a highlight of their week is the chance to relax with friends and family at Prestbury’s popular pubs and restaurants.
You can find out more about these groups and organisations through this website on the Organisations tab.
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