Weston-under-Redcastle

Weston-Under-Redcastle
240px Derelict windmill just north of Weston village
Weston-Under-Redcastle  Weston-Under-Redcastle shown within Shropshire
Population	285 (2011)
OS grid reference	SJ564288
Civil parish	Weston-Under-Redcastle
Unitary authority	Shropshire
Ceremonial county	Shropshire
Region	West Midlands
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	SHREWSBURY
Postcode district	SY4
Dialling code	01948
Police	West Mercia
Fire	Shropshire
Ambulance	West Midlands
EU Parliament	West Midlands
UK Parliament	North Shropshire
List of places UK England Shropshire

Weston-under-Redcastle is a small village and civil parish in Shropshire, England. It lies 6.2 miles via road east of Wem within the North Shropshire District Counicil. At one end of the village is the main entrance to Hawkstone Park hotel and golf courses, and at the other end is a wood. Weston was mentioned in the Domesday Book, and part of the 1989 BBC adaptation of Prince Caspian was filmed in part of the village. It is situated under the south west edge of the Hawkstone Ridge.

The village

Weston-under-Redcastle’s Church of England church, the Chapel of Saint Luke dates back to 1791 in the Gothic style but with a Georgian tower. Weston has a Village Hall, and Maynard’s Farm Shop mentioned in Rick Stein's Food Heroes of Britain. Two bus stops lie opposite and adjacent to the church providing links to Wem and Bings Heath. Weston is home to the 18th century Hawkstone Park Hotel which has 2 golf courses, 2 restaurants, bars and award winning Hawkstone Park Follies. Weston is also home to The Citadel guesthouse which dates back to the 1820s as well as the Windmill Cottage Guesthouse.

Rate of Population Change 1881-1961

1881	-	296	282
1891	-	282	272
1901	-	272	222
1911	-	222	231
1921	-	231	246
1931	-	246	253
1951	253	-	266
1961	-	266	289

History

Domesday Book

Weston-under-Redcastle was pronounced as Westune in the 1086 Domesday Book, it was included in the Hundred of Hodnet within the county of Shropshire. The county had a population of 21 households which was considered quite large for the time with total tax value of 3 geld units. In 1066 the value to the lord was £3 whilst in 1086 was £2. The village contained 3 villages, 9 smallholders, 8 slaves and 1 rider. Weston had 8 plough lands, 2 lords plough teams and one men’s plough team. In 1066 the lord was Edric the Wild whilst in 1086 it was Ranulf Peverel. The fifteen Shropshire hundreds mentioned in the Domesday Survey were entirely rearranged in the 1100-1135 reign of King Henry I, with the Hundred of Hodnet being merged before 1203 into the Hundred of Bradford. When Bradford was divisioned, Weston was in North Bradford.

Hawkstone Park

Hawkstone Park consists of 100 acres (40 ha) of follies and landscaped parkland grounds and rocky outcrops, based around the authentic Norman castle of Red Castle. The history of Hawkstone Park stretches back almost 800 years. In 1227 Henry de Audley, Sheriff of Shropshire and Staffordshire, built a sandstone castle on a natural outcrop of rock that was flanked on all sides by wide valleys. Hawkstone house was established by Richard Hill of Hawkstone (1655-1727) also known as the 'Great Hill'.

King Arthur

In one of the caves of Hawkstone Park it is rumoured that it was the burial ground of King Arthur.

Transport

The village is situated closely to the east of the A49 linking it with nearby Shrewsbury. The nearest railway station is Wem taking a usual two hourly service southbound to Shrewsbury and northbound to Crewe. There are two bus stops in Weston connecting the village with Shrewsbury. The nearest airports are situated in Liverpool and Manchester.

External links

Media related to at Wikimedia Commons