Lea, Cheshire Explained

Coordinates:53.035°N -2.426°W
Official Name:Lea
Label Position:left
Population:25
Population Ref:(2001)
Civil Parish:Doddington and District
Unitary England:Cheshire East
Lieutenancy England:Cheshire
Region:North West England
Country:England
Constituency Westminster:Crewe and Nantwich
Post Town:NANTWICH
Postcode District:CW5
Postcode Area:CW
Dial Code:01270
Os Grid Reference:SJ714487
Static Image:Lea - Lea Farm.jpg
Static Image Caption:Lea Farm

Lea is a former civil parish, now in the parish of Doddington and District,[1] in the unitary authority area of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England, which lies to the north east of Audlem and to the south of Crewe. The parish was predominantly rural, but it includes the hamlet of Lea Forge (at).[2] Nearby villages include Betley, Blakenhall, Hough, Walgherton and Wybunbury.

According to the 2001 census, it had a population of 25.[3] At the time of the 2011 Census the population remained less than 100. Details are included in the civil parish of Blakenhall, Cheshire.

Governance

Lea was administered by Doddington and District Parish Council, which also includes the parishes of Blakenhall, Bridgemere, Checkley cum Wrinehill, Doddington and Hunsterson.[4] From 1974 the civil parish was served by Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council, which was succeeded on 1 April 2009 by the new unitary authority of Cheshire East .[5] Lea falls in the parliamentary constituency of Crewe and Nantwich,[6] which has been represented by Kieran Mullan since 2019, after being represented by Laura Smith (2017–19), Edward Timpson (2008–17) and Gwyneth Dunwoody (1983–2008).

Lea was formerly a township in the parish of Wybunbury,[7] from 1866 Lea was a civil parish in its own right,[8] on 1 April 2023 the parish was abolished to form "Doddington and District".[9]

Geography and transport

The parish includes several areas of mixed woodland, including Lea Park. The South Cheshire Way long-distance footpath runs through the parish. The A51 runs immediately to its west.

Landmarks

There is one listed building in the parish. This is a timber-framed house dating from the 16th century named Lea Hall, which was extended in the 19th and 20th centuries. It is designated by English Heritage at Grade II*. This grade is the middle of the three grades of listing designated by English Heritage, and is granted to "particularly important buildings of more than special interest".

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Doddington and District. Mapit. 16 July 2023.
  2. http://www.ukbmd.org.uk/genuki/chs/lea.html Genuki: Lea (near Crewe)
  3. http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/viewFullDataset.do?instanceSelection=03070&productId=779&$ph=60_61&datasetInstanceId=3070&startColumn=1&numberOfColumns=8&containerAreaId=790334 Office for National Statistics : Census 2001 : Parish Headcounts : Crewe and Nantwich
  4. http://parish.cheshire.gov.uk/doddington/Index.htm Doddington and District Parish Council Official Web Site
  5. http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/uksi_20080634_en_2#pt2-l1g3 Cheshire (Structural Changes) Order 2008
  6. http://maps.cheshire.gov.uk/cheshirecc.interactivemapping.web.internet/Default.aspx?e=370949&n=351148&mpp=25&layers=BOU.PLA.PLO.PAR.WCON&hLayer=WCON&hField=OBJECTID&hValue=19 Cheshire County Council: Interactive Mapping: Crewe and Nantwich
  7. Web site: History of Lea, in Crewe and Nantwich and Cheshire. A Vision of Britain through Time. 16 July 2023.
  8. Web site: Relationships and changes Lea CP/Tn through time. A Vision of Britain through Time. 16 July 2023.
  9. Web site: Cheshire East Registration District. UKBMD. 11 October 2023.