{{Short description|Village in Cheshire, England}} {{Use British English|date=July 2016}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}} {{Infobox UK place |map_type= Cheshire |country= England |static_image= The Combermere Arms - geograph.org.uk - 183711.jpg |static_image_width= 240px |static_image_caption= Combermere Arms on the A525 |official_name= Burleydam |population= |civil_parish= Dodcott cum Wilkesley |unitary_england= Cheshire East |lieutenancy_england= Cheshire |region= North West England |constituency_westminster= Chester South and Eddisbury |constituency_westminster1= |post_town= WHITCHURCH |postcode_district= SY13 |postcode_area= SY |dial_code= 01948 |os_grid_reference= SJ605426 |coordinates = {{coord|52.9797|-2.5889|display=inline,title}} |hide_services=yes }} '''Burleydam''' is a small English village in the civil parish of Dodcott cum Wilkesley in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, near the border with Shropshire. It is on the A525. The nearest town is Whitchurch in Shropshire, around 8 km (5 miles) to the west; nearby small settlements include Barnett Brook, Grindley Green and Royal's Green in Dodcott cum Wilkesley; Dodd's Green and Newhall in Newhall civil parish; and Old Woodhouses and New Woodhouses in Shropshire.<ref name=map>{{citation |url=http://maps.cheshire.gov.uk/cheshirecc.interactivemapping.web.internet/Default.aspx?e=360415&n=342648&mpp=5&layers=BOU.PLA.PLO.PAR&hLayer=&hField=&hValue=®ion=0 |publisher=Cheshire East/Cheshire West and Chester |work=Interactive mapping |title=Burleydam, showing civil parishes |accessdate=18 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304042722/http://maps.cheshire.gov.uk/cheshirecc.interactivemapping.web.internet/Default.aspx?e=360415&n=342648&mpp=5&layers=BOU.PLA.PLO.PAR&hLayer=&hField=&hValue=®ion=0 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
The land was granted to Combermere Abbey, a Cistercian monastery, at its foundation in 1133. The village lies at the south-east edge of Combermere Park, around 750 m to the south east of the main (Stone Lodge) entrance.<ref name=map /> It benefited from the patronage of the Cotton family, later the Viscounts Combermere, who gained the abbey and its estates after its dissolution.
==History== The village is historically sometimes spelled Burladame, Burledam and Burley Dam.<ref name=WI /><ref name=Latham_p32>Latham, ed., p. 32</ref><ref>{{citation|url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/maps/results.jsp?xCenter=3186990.8056&yCenter=2974746.3579&scale=63360&viewScale=11338.5888&mapLayer=nineteenth&subLayer=first_edition&title=Ordnance%20Survey%20and%20Ordnance%20Survey%20of%20Scotland%20First%20Series&download=false |title=Ordnance Survey First Series, Sheet 73 |publisher=Ordnance Survey |year=1833}}</ref> Land at Burleydam was part of the lands granted to the Cistercian monastery of Combermere Abbey at its foundation in 1133.<ref>Latham, ed., p. 22</ref><ref name=Combermere>{{citation|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=39977 |title=Houses of Cistercian monks: The abbey of Combermere |work=A History of the County of Chester (Vol. 3) |year=1980 |accessdate=19 March 2013}}</ref> After its dissolution in 1538, the abbey's estate was given to Sir George Cotton;<ref name=Combermere /> the family, later the Viscounts Combermere, remained major land owners in the area until the 20th century.<ref name=Latham_p32 /> They took the Royalist side in the Civil War, and Royalist troops under Lord Capell were quartered in Burleydam in 1643.<ref>Latham, ed., pp. 34, 37</ref>
The Combermere Arms dates from the mid-16th century, or earlier according to tradition; landlords are recorded from 1850.<ref name=WI /><ref name=Latham_p98>Latham, ed., pp. 98–99</ref> The existing building is claimed to date in part from the late 17th and early 18th centuries.<ref>{{citation|url=https://www.brunningandprice.co.uk/combermere/history/ |title=History |work=The Combermere Arms |publisher=Brunning & Price |accessdate=19 March 2013}}</ref> By 1820, the road through the village was the toll road to Whitchurch in Shropshire (now the A530/A525), and the Combermere Arms became a popular coaching inn.<ref name=Latham_p98 /><ref>Latham, ed., p. 115</ref> In the 19th century, Burleydam Races occurred annually for three days, with a Race Ball being held at the Combermere Arms.<ref name=WI />
Burleydam is recorded as an ecclesiastical parish in Daniel King's ''Vale Royal'' of 1656.<ref name=Latham_p32 /> A chapel at Burleydam, noted by Francis Gastrell in around 1720, was built after the dissolution by the Cotton family; it is said to have been unconsecrated, but had a curate and served the abbey and tenants.<ref>Latham, ed., p. 40</ref> The present St Mary's and St Michael's Church was built by Sir Lynch Cotton in 1769, as a private chapel to the abbey.<ref name=WI /><ref name=Latham_p71 /> Samuel Johnson attended a service on 24 July 1774 while staying at the abbey.<ref name=johnson>{{citation|title=The Life of Samuel Johnson (Volume 3)|author=Boswell, James |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LFUVAAAAYAAJ&q=samuel+johnson+burley+dam&pg=PA131 |year=1831 |publisher= J. Murray}}</ref> It became an Anglican parish church in 1869; the first incumbent, Revd Thomas Meredyth, had previously been the abbey's chaplain.<ref name=WI /> Burials started in the churchyard the same year, with Lady Susan, wife of Wellington Stapleton-Cotton, Viscount Combermere, being the earliest burial.<ref name=Latham_p71>Latham, ed., pp. 71–72</ref> The church was extended in 1886.<ref name=Latham_p71 /><ref name=church />
The population of Burleydam in 1779 was assessed as approximately 15 people.<ref>Latham, ed., p. 42</ref> The village had a school from around 1850 until 1974. In 1866, it was located behind the vicarage. A purpose-built school opened on 21 October 1872, on land donated by Viscount Combermere, and was extended in 1900 and 1913. The first head-teacher of the new school was Edward Storer and Joseph A. Warner held the post from 1893 to 1924.<ref name=Latham_p93 /> Both Lady Combermere and Lady Crossley (wife of Sir Kenneth Crossley, who purchased Combermere Abbey in 1919<ref>Latham, ed., p. 120</ref>) were active in support. Pupil numbers increased from 21 in 1866, to 43 in 1872, with a peak of 144 in the 20th century, declining to 15 in 1974, when the school was closed.<ref name=Latham_p93>Latham, ed., pp. 93–94</ref>
Burleydam had a post office, mentioned in a gazetteer of 1870–72, which also served as a village shop.<ref name=WI /><ref>{{citation|title=Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales|author=Wilson, John Marius|date=1870–72}}</ref> By 1908 it was located opposite the Combermere Arms. In the 1920s it was run by Mrs Whittle and later by Mr T. Lea.<ref name=Latham_p87>Latham, ed., p. 87, plate opposite p. 95</ref> The doctor from nearby Wrenbury held twice-weekly surgeries in its back room.<ref name=WI /> The building opposite the Combermere Arms was demolished in around 1960, and both post office and shop closed in the early 1970s.<ref name=WI /><ref name=Latham_p87 />
==Geography and economy== [[File:Burleydam 2.jpg|thumb|right|200px|St Mary's and St Michael's Church]] Burleydam is a small scattered settlement centred at {{gbmappingsmall|SJ 605 426}}, which stretches along the A525 (Whitchurch Road) at the junction with Dodd's Green Lane.<ref name=map /> The village is at an elevation of around 75 m.<ref name=OS_Explorer>{{citation|publisher=Ordnance Survey|title=OS Explorer Map (1:25 000) Crewe & Nantwich (sheet 257)}}</ref> Two brooks, the Burley and the Walkmill, run through the village; one is crossed by Burleydam Bridge. The brooks join Barnett Brook, a tributary of the River Weaver.<ref name=map /><ref name=WI>Cheshire Federation of Women's Institutes, pp. 46–47</ref> The narrow strip of woodland of Walkmill Covert lies immediately to the north east of the village.<ref name=OS_Explorer />
Local businesses include Burleydam Nurseries in the village centre, which specialises in chrysanthemums.<ref name=WI /> In 1990, dairy farming was a major employer;<ref name=WI /> there are several farms near the village including Blue Bache Farm, Burleydam Farm, Goldsmith House Farm, Lower Farm and Rookery Farm.<ref name=map />
==Landmarks== The Combermere Arms is a traditional public house on the junction with Dodd's Green Lane, with oak beams and "beautiful panelling" on the interior.<ref name=WI /><ref name=Latham_p98 /> It is recommended by ''The Good Pub Guide''.<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.thegoodpubguide.co.uk/pub/view/Combermere-Arms-SY13-4AT |title=Combermere Arms |work=The Good Pub Guide |publisher=Ebury Press |accessdate=19 March 2013}}</ref> It is supposed to be haunted by a poltergeist-like spirit, which two clergymen tricked into entering a bottle which they then buried beneath the steps of the main entrance.<ref name=WI /><ref name=Latham_p98 /> In one version of this story, the ghost is a murdered monk.<ref name=Latham_p98 />
The red-brick St Mary's and St Michael's Church dates from 1769 and is listed at grade II.<ref name=church>{{NHLE |desc = Church of St Michael |num = 1138532 |accessdate = 18 March 2013 |mode=cs2}}</ref> The cast-iron churchyard gates and railings, also listed, come from Lleweni Hall in Wales, which the Cotton family had acquired by marriage. They are older than the church, dating from the early 18th century.<ref name=gates>{{NHLE |desc = Railings, piers and gates at Church of St Michael |num = 1312550 |accessdate =18 March 2013 |mode=cs2}}</ref><ref name=Hartwell>Hartwell ''et al.'', p. 196</ref> The gate piers are composed of open ironwork tracery.<ref name=gates /><ref name=Hartwell /> Johnson noted both the church and its gates and railings on his 1774 visit; he described the latter as being "of great elegance."<ref name="johnson"/> The interior of the church has "beautiful" stained glass windows dating from the early 20th century, including an "exquisite" children's window donated by Lady Crossley.<ref name=WI /><ref name=Latham_p71 /> There is also a bust commemorating Stapleton Cotton, 1st Viscount Combermere.<ref name=Hartwell />
==Notable people== * Chloe Hewitt, ballroom dancer (''Strictly Come Dancing'')<ref>{{cite web |last1=Headley |first1=Shannen |title=Ex-Strictly dancer shocked at complaints |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clmye4dkmx8o |website=BBC News |access-date=30 July 2024 |date=27 July 2024}}</ref>
==See also== {{Portal|Cheshire}} *Listed buildings in Dodcott cum Wilkesley
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
===Sources=== *Cheshire Federation of Women's Institutes. ''The Cheshire Village Book'' (Countryside Books & CFWI; 1990) ({{ISBN|1-85306-075-5}}) *Hartwell C, Hyde M, Hubbard E, Pevsner N. ''The Buildings of England: Cheshire'' (2nd edn) (Yale University Press; 2011) ({{ISBN|978 0 300 17043 6}}) *Local History Group, Latham FA (ed.). ''Wrenbury and Marbury'' (The Local History Group; 1999) ({{ISBN|0 9522284 5 9}})
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20121204112818/http://www.brunningandprice.co.uk/combermere/home/ Combermere Arms] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070617234017/http://www.wrenburychurch.org.uk/stmarystmichaelschurchbu.htm St Mary & St Michael's Burleydam] *[http://www.ifootpath.com/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=39&walkID=2575 Walk route – The Combermere Arms and Burleydam] {{Cheshire, Cheshire East}} {{Cheshire}}
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Category:Villages in Cheshire