Dunham-on-the-Hill is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Dunham-on-the-Hill and Hapsford, in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester, and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is on the A56 road, approximately 2.3 miles (3.7 km) from Helsby and 6 miles (9.7 km) from Chester. The village is 120 feet (37 m) above sea level, south west of Helsby Hill.
Originally a small hamlet, it has gradually enlarged over the twentieth century, although the village retains a semi-rural character. Council housing was built shortly after the Second World War behind ‘The Wheatsheaf' pub, with many of these properties now owner occupied. Other in-fill building in the village has increased the population of the parish from fewer than 300 in the early 1900s to 534 recorded in the 2001 census.[1] This decreased slightly to 501 at the time of the 2011 census.[2] The civil parish was abolished in 2015 to form Dunham-on-the-Hill and Hapsford, part also went to Manley.[3]
The name Dunham-on-the-Hill means "hill village or homestead", deriving from the Old Englishdūn (a hill) and hām (a village, community or homestead).[4]
The village is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Doneham[5] under the ownership of Earl Hugh of Chester. The entry lists eleven households (seven villagers, three smallholders and one 'smiths'). Comprising farmland, meadow and some woodland, Aescwulf of Landican had previously been the owner in 1066.[6]
Dunham-on-the-Hill was a township in Thornton parish, Eddisbury Hundred, which became a civil parish in 1866. Its population was recorded as 260 in 1801, then 332 in 1851, 282 in 1901, 446 in 1951 and increasing to 534 by 2001.[3]
ROF Dunham on the Hill was an explosives storage depot built during World War II. The facility had its own on-site railway, with access provided via a branch line near the railway station. The depot closed during the 1960s and most of the land has been given over to agriculture.[7] Some of the old storage sheds can still be seen from the M56 motorway.[8]
The village school closed in 2008. The 'Dunham Arms' pub reopened in 2010.
Churches
The parish church of St Luke was built in the 1860s as a chapel of ease. Before this villagers had to walk across the fields to Thornton-le-Moors in order to attend church services. Services are held here at 9.30 every Sunday morning.
The village also has two Methodist chapels, both now converted into dwellings. The Wesleyan Methodist church in the centre of Dunham was the first place of worship to be built in the village. Hapsford Methodist Church is on the A56 between Dunham and its neighbouring village, Hapsford.
The 17th century Smithy farmhouse, one of several listed buildings in the village.
^ ab"Dunham on the Hill". GENUKI. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
^"Key to English Place-Names: Dunham-on-the-Hill". University of Nottingham. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
^"Cheshire A-K: Dunham-on-the-Hill". Domesday Book Online. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
^Powell-Smith, Anna. "Dunham [on the Hill]". Open Domesday/University of Hull. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
^Searle, Mike. "WWII Cheshire: Royal Ordnance Factory Dunham-on-the-Hill Bulk Explosives Storage". Geograph. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
^"ROF Storage Depot Dunham-on-the Hill". Airfield Information Exchange. Retrieved 26 June 2010. 1 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dunham-on-the-Hill.
Official website
January 31, 2023
dunham, hill, village, former, civil, parish, parish, hapsford, unitary, authority, cheshire, west, chester, ceremonial, county, cheshire, england, road, approximately, miles, from, helsby, miles, from, chester, village, feet, above, level, south, west, helsby. Dunham on the Hill is a village and former civil parish now in the parish of Dunham on the Hill and Hapsford in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire England It is on the A56 road approximately 2 3 miles 3 7 km from Helsby and 6 miles 9 7 km from Chester The village is 120 feet 37 m above sea level south west of Helsby Hill Dunham on the HillSt Luke s ChurchDunham on the HillLocation within CheshirePopulation501 2011 census OS grid referenceSJ471726Civil parishDunham on the Hill and HapsfordUnitary authorityCheshire West and ChesterCeremonial countyCheshireRegionNorth WestCountryEnglandSovereign stateUnited KingdomPost townFrodshamPostcode districtWA6Dialling code01928PoliceCheshireFireCheshireAmbulanceNorth WestUK ParliamentEddisburyList of places UK England Cheshire 53 14 53 N 2 48 04 W 53 248 N 2 801 W 53 248 2 801 Coordinates 53 14 53 N 2 48 04 W 53 248 N 2 801 W 53 248 2 801Originally a small hamlet it has gradually enlarged over the twentieth century although the village retains a semi rural character Council housing was built shortly after the Second World War behind The Wheatsheaf pub with many of these properties now owner occupied Other in fill building in the village has increased the population of the parish from fewer than 300 in the early 1900s to 534 recorded in the 2001 census 1 This decreased slightly to 501 at the time of the 2011 census 2 The civil parish was abolished in 2015 to form Dunham on the Hill and Hapsford part also went to Manley 3 Contents 1 History 2 Churches 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory EditThe name Dunham on the Hill means hill village or homestead deriving from the Old English dun a hill and ham a village community or homestead 4 The village is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 as Doneham 5 under the ownership of Earl Hugh of Chester The entry lists eleven households seven villagers three smallholders and one smiths Comprising farmland meadow and some woodland Aescwulf of Landican had previously been the owner in 1066 6 Dunham on the Hill was a township in Thornton parish Eddisbury Hundred which became a civil parish in 1866 Its population was recorded as 260 in 1801 then 332 in 1851 282 in 1901 446 in 1951 and increasing to 534 by 2001 3 Dunham Hill railway station opened in 1850 as part of the Birkenhead Railway It closed in 1952 although the tracks passing through the station site are still operational as the Chester Warrington line ROF Dunham on the Hill was an explosives storage depot built during World War II The facility had its own on site railway with access provided via a branch line near the railway station The depot closed during the 1960s and most of the land has been given over to agriculture 7 Some of the old storage sheds can still be seen from the M56 motorway 8 The village school closed in 2008 The Dunham Arms pub reopened in 2010 Churches EditThe parish church of St Luke was built in the 1860s as a chapel of ease Before this villagers had to walk across the fields to Thornton le Moors in order to attend church services Services are held here at 9 30 every Sunday morning The village also has two Methodist chapels both now converted into dwellings The Wesleyan Methodist church in the centre of Dunham was the first place of worship to be built in the village Hapsford Methodist Church is on the A56 between Dunham and its neighbouring village Hapsford The 17th century Smithy farmhouse one of several listed buildings in the village See also Edit Cheshire portalListed buildings in Dunham on the HillReferences Edit UK Census 2001 Local Area Report Dunham on the Hill Parish 13UB044 Nomis Office for National Statistics Retrieved 20 February 2021 UK Census 2011 Local Area Report Dunham on the Hill Parish E04011090 Nomis Office for National Statistics Retrieved 20 February 2021 a b Dunham on the Hill GENUKI Retrieved 15 April 2018 Key to English Place Names Dunham on the Hill University of Nottingham Retrieved 20 February 2021 Cheshire A K Dunham on the Hill Domesday Book Online Retrieved 20 February 2021 Powell Smith Anna Dunham on the Hill Open Domesday University of Hull Retrieved 20 February 2021 Searle Mike WWII Cheshire Royal Ordnance Factory Dunham on the Hill Bulk Explosives Storage Geograph Retrieved 20 February 2021 ROF Storage Depot Dunham on the Hill Airfield Information Exchange Retrieved 26 June 2010 Archived 1 March 2012 at the Wayback MachineExternal links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dunham on the Hill Official website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dunham on the Hill amp oldid 1007996322, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
