Chatbox

Heartfelt thanks for a fantastic job done by Norman and Dave.

This episode of neglected drainage, and lots more like it, generates understandably heightened feelings towards Cheshire East Council such as it not being fit for purpose. A little controlled anger can sometimes be a productive thing , providing of course it's aimed at the correct target.

Can you think of any logical reason why any local council with the equipment, manpower and money would refuse to carry out the relatively simple task of clearing a drain ? -------no, me neither.
The Local Government Association says councils have faced a reduction in core funding since 2010 of 60 %, the Financial Times has it at 77 %.
As our American cousins would put it-----go figure!

Am I not right in thinking that the traditional 'Lengthsman' was usually an employee (or called upon where needed) by the Parish Council, not usually the Borough council to maintain local roads and gulleys. Everyone living locally already knows where the habitual problems are so to employ someone to maintain them alone would surely be a huge leap forward. Please note I am in no way defending the very Poor Borough Council I would just like someone to do something about anything. Please note I am writing this post from within a pothole in Paddock Lane and if it wasn't for the lockdown I would be Kayaking around Billy's garden.

Are there any qualified electricians in the Audlem/Buerton area please?

Does anyone know of a window cleaner willing to travel to Buerton to clean our windows please?

Try Anthony Jess from Shavington. First class work.

07913 533859

I totally agree with Norman! Well said. It's exactly the same regarding the Brooks. Years ago we used to have the relevant authorities cleaning them out and dredging them.....not any more. Regarding the CE Highways; I've spoken to them this morning about the water off the road coming on to my property and helping it to flood. We'll see what occours...I hope I don't have to wait as long as I have for that (non-existant) street sign. As for the Brook totally flooding my property; after the authorities telling me they won't help me at all, I'm waiting for Edward Timpson to get in touch. Here's hoping he may get the ball rolling.

A big thanks from Sally and me too for the Wood Orchard Lane drain clearing. Great job Norman. I echo your sentiments as well regarding Cheshire East Council Highways – what they do is very poor indeed and they need a severe shake up regarding what is done with the monies taken fro us all. The Lengthsmen used to do a fantastic job, as Norman has also said; bring them back which would be good value for us all.

Hello

Does anyone have recommendations for a person/organisation who cleans and fixes roof gutters?

Many Thanks

As regular walker I thank David and Norman on a job well done On my walks I see lots of blocked drains around Audlem. I suggest C E sub contract the job to Norman and David to clear the lot .

I didn't mention disappearing ditches and the main reason for muddy roads is the shrinking width due to lack of a lengthsman to keep the margins clear. The lengthsman also ensured all gulleys and drains were kept clear and updated the authority on surface conditions. We now just have fleets of vans travelling around Cheshire East "monitoring" the deteriorating conditions of the highways and office workers "acknowledging" our reports of particular problems. C.E. Highways are not fit for purpose.

Thank you John Whitehead, your article this morning brought back many memories. As a camp follower of Keele's Anglo-Saxon course I too visited Escomb, with its circular graveyard wall to keep out the devil. It is such a charming little church in the midst of council houses. Happy days.

I have found a booklet entitled 'The Audlem Scrapbook' compiled in 1951 and which I think I bought from Williams Newsagents in the 1070s. It lists many pubs and suggests that the Lamb was formerly Named The Goat.

Of the older pubs it lists:
The Phoenix
The Romping Cat
The Why Not -now a ruin in Kynsey
The Greyhound in Hankelow – now the Grey House
The Plough at Swanbach – which became the shop
The Coach and Horses in Bueron – which became the shop
The Leather Bottle -now Yew Tree Farm in Buerton
The Wolf – now Wolf Farm in Buerton
The Railway Inn – now Holly House

It seems as if they were quite a boozy lot in the 18th and 19th centuries!

My sincere condolences to Gill and the rest of Tom's family. I have many fond memories when Tom worked for my Dad, Peter Young. Happy Days. RIP Tom.

According to the "Cheshire Historic Towns Survey" there were five pubs in Audlem in the late eighteenth century – The Griffin, The Hawk & Buckle, The Horseshoe, The Phoenix and The Goat's Head. There also used to be a pub in Buerton, on the main Woore Road (on the opposite side to the old schoolhouse, a few hundred yards or so towards Woore). I THINK it may have been called The Unicorn, but would welcome any more info.

Does anyone know or heard of a Pub in the area called The Goat? Someone told me about it years ago. I'm not sure but it may have been towards the Chapel End side of the village possibly. Or I've dreamed it....one of the two.

Hi Colin,
I too have a green booklet with a white dust cover entitled Audlem – The history of a Cheshire Parish and its five townships.
It was given to me in 1999 and lists some of the pubs that had been and some the still are in existence. One of them is The Greyhound at Hankelow as well as The White Lion.
Both seem to have been inns in 1778 so, maybe The Greyhound (or Greyhause or Grey House) could outdate the White Lion. Looking forward to the next pub instalment from Lennie and even more to actually going for a pint in one of them!

I have to inform Lennie that he is wrong about the exact location of the Romping Cat in Salford. It is our house, number 34 right on the turn in the road. When we bought it in 1978 the old cellar complete with barrel stillage was intact. But due to the high water table (a small open drain allowed spring water to flow across the cellar floor thus keeping the ale at a stable temperature summer and winter) we filled in the shallow cellar which had a raised ceiling two feet above the taproom floor, so as to extend the kitchen over it. The spring water still feeds the roadside well at the adjoining Springwell cottage. The late local historian Bill Hardy, gave us a copy of a victorian map from the Cheshire Archives showing it as the R.C. and also a copy of the census from 1851 or 61 recording that 11 people resided here. The pub was also handy for the first village police station complete with it's open air cells built on the opposite side of the lane, where drunkards could, 'cool off'.

About 30 tears ago I was given from the bookshop at Dagfielda a very old small green booklet entitled the history of Audlem and district. Within that booklet, the Greyhause of Hankelow was stated as having been an old coaching house / Inn. Situated on the main road quite close to the green t is now a residential property. Could it have preceded the White Lion? It didn't say

Does anyone know if the the Main road from Audlem to Market Drayton has flooded again, by the dip in the road what like like an old railway bridge?

Kenneth (Ken) Rickards of Auckland New Zealand formerly of Audlem , Passed away peacefully on Tuesday 19th Jan @21 aged 94
Ken was much loved. A private cremation will be held 20th Jan 13:00 hrs.
Contact Tracy camp55@gmail.com

This is submitted to AOL by Geoff Farr on behalf of ken's sister Mrs Jean Thomas.

When flying my small aeroplane across the Channel as I have many times, my route for the crossing was Swanage........ Cherbourg........
Down the Cherbourg peninsular steering East along the coast and bypassing North of Bayeux.
The submerged Sections of the Mulberry harbors can still be seen submerged off shore.

Golf-Foxtrot, Alfa, Romeo,Romeo.

I've a non functioning NEC laptop I can donate if anyone is a wizard and can it working.

Thank you Michael – and thank you to everyone who has been so supportive of school and families already. It really makes a huge difference to all the staff and pupils to know that everyone in the village is doing their best to help.

Does anyone have any old working Tablets, Laptops or Computers?
If so Audlem St. James"s School would welcome any donations of the like.
With online schooling now taking place several pupils do not have the facilities to partake lessons online.
Any items donated to the school will be "cleaned" before being put into use.
I have dropped off an old laptop and it was gratefully received. There must be others out there which could find a new home.

Agree entirely with Nigel re caustic comments appearing. Post them on Farcebook or Twatter, that's where they belong!
Regarding masks outdoors: a very lucid Prof (part of the government advisory team) was interviewed yesterday on this.
He was against wearing them outdoors, PROVIDING distancing was broadly observed. His view was that the reduction in risk was so low as to be not worth trying to enforce it.
He also pointed out that in cold or wet weather outside, the masks get damp, and then become an aerosol generator, so actually make the situation worse if you're a virus carrier and don't realise it.
I'll stick to keeping as far away as practical from people outdoors, and save the mask for indoors.