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Lymm

Coordinates: 53°23′00″N 2°28′30″W / 53.383399°N 2.475034°W / 53.383399; -2.475034
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lymm
The Grove, Lymm
Lymm is located in Cheshire
Lymm
Lymm
Location within Cheshire
Population12,660 [1]
OS grid referenceSJ685875
Civil parish
  • Lymm
Unitary authority
Ceremonial county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townLYMM
Postcode districtWA13
Dialling code01925
PoliceCheshire
FireCheshire
AmbulanceNorth West
UK Parliament
List of places
UK
England
Cheshire
53°23′00″N 2°28′30″W / 53.383399°N 2.475034°W / 53.383399; -2.475034

Lymm (/ˈlɪm/ LIM) is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Warrington, Cheshire, England. It incorporates the hamlets of Booths Hill, Broomedge, Church Green, Deansgreen, Heatley, Heatley Heath, Little Heatley, Oughtrington, Reddish, Rushgreen and Statham. At the 2021 United Kingdom census it had a population of 12,660.[2] The village is situated in the northern aspect of Cheshire and borders Greater Manchester to the East and lies 1 mile from the border of Salford to the north.

History

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The name Lymm, of Celtic origins, means a "place of running water" and is likely derived from an ancient stream that ran through the village centre.[3][4] The village appears as "Limme" in the Domesday Book of 1086.[5]

Lymm was an agricultural village until the Industrial Revolution, which brought the Bridgewater Canal and the Warrington and Altrincham Junction Railway to the village. The village played a prominent role within the salt extraction industry, gold beating industry and cotton industry (many of its inhabitants were fustian cutters).[6]

In 2017, Lymm was voted as one of the 'Best Places to Live' according to The Times and The Sunday Times list.[7][8][9][10] In June 2023, the village was voted as one of Britain's 'Most Desirable Towns' according to The Daily Telegraph,[11][12][13] and in November 2023 it was voted as the third 'Most Desirable' place to live in the North of England according to the Telegraph.[14]

The Official Seal of Lymm Urban District Council

|thumb|The Official Seal of Lymm Urban District Council]]

Governance

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Lymm currently lies within the parliamentary constituency of Tatton. As of the 2024 General Election it is represented by Conservative MP Esther McVey, who had a 2.1% majority. Before the 2024 General Election boundary changes, Lymm was a part of the “bellwether” Warrington South constituency.[15][16]

On a local council level, the village is split between Lymm South ward and Lymm North and Thelwall ward within the Borough of Warrington. As of the 2024 Warrington Borough Council elections, Lymm South has two councillors, both Liberal Democrat, while Lymm North and Thelwall has three councillors, also all Liberal Democrats.

There is also a 12-member Lymm Parish Council.[17] Following the 2024 elections, there are 11 Liberal Democrat and 1 independent councillor. The parish council is a successor parish council from the Lymm Urban District Council.[citation needed]

Lymm is twinned with Meung-sur-Loire,[18] an ancient village and commune near Orléans, France.

Education

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Lymm High School accepts students from Lymm and the surrounding villages and hamlets. It was judged as 'Good' in its 2024 Ofsted inspection with the sixth form provision being judged as ‘Outstanding’. In December 2023, The Sunday Times ranked the school as one of the top five secondary schools in the North West and the top secondary school in the Warrington area.[19][20]

Lymm is also in the catchment for Altrincham Grammar School for Boys and Altrincham Grammar School for Girls.[citation needed]

There are four primary schools within Lymm. The following three primary schools formed as an Academy by the Beam Education Trust in May 2021:[21]

  • Oughtrington Primary School[22] (Ofsted rating 'Outstanding', 2020[23])
  • Ravenbank Community Primary School[24] (Ofsted rating 'Good', 2023[25])
  • Statham Primary School[26] (Ofsted rating 'Good', 2023[27])

The fourth primary school is Cherry Tree Primary School,[28] located in the southern part of Lymm, and was rated as 'Good' at its last Ofsted inspection in 2024.[29]

The Manchester Japanese School (マンチェスター日本人補習授業校 Manchesutā Nihonjin Hoshū Jugyō Kō), a weekend Japanese educational programme, is held at the Language Centre at Lymm High School.[30]

Culture and heritage

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Lymm Heritage Centre,[31] which opened in June 2017, is in the centre of the village on Legh Street. It hosts exhibitions related to local history as well as activities for schools and visitors.[32]

Morris dancing was taking place in Lymm as early as 1817, often appearing in the village at Rushbearing time throughout the Victorian era.[33] Morris dancing[34] continues to feature within the village with Lymm Morris dancers frequently performing during Rushbearing[35] and at the various annual village festivals including the Lymm May Queen Festival,[36] Lymm Festival[37] and Lymm Dickensian Festival.[38]

Landmarks

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Main article: Listed buildings in Lymm

Lymm village centre is a designated conservation area, notable for its historic buildings, both listed and unlisted including the French-style terracotta former town hall, St Peter's Church and Lymm Hall. Another is Oughtrington Hall and Lodge (formerly owned by a cadet branch of the Leigh family) this is now Lymm High School.[39] Foxley Hall, home to a cadet branch of the ancient Booth family before ownership passed to the Carlisle family,[40] is no longer standing, but fustian-cutting cottages on Church Road and Arley Grove do survive.

The parish church of St Peter, Oughtrington, is an example of Gothic Revival architecture.[41] St Mary's Church, Lymm,[42] overlooking Lymm Dam and dating back to 1521, was rebuilt in the 19th century after falling into disrepair. Lymm Baptist Church was built in 1850 and an attached Sunday school was built in 1851.[43]

Lymm Cross, usually known simply as "the Cross", is a Grade I listed structure dating from the 17th century, restored in 1897.[44][45]

A “dinosaur” (reptile) footprint was discovered in the Victorian era, in one of Lymm's many quarries, which is thought to be from the Triassic period.[6] It is on display in the centre of the village.[34]

Spud Wood is a recreational area, located next to the Bridgewater Canal, managed by the Woodland Trust.[46] In 2014 the community was granted a licence to run a wood allotment scheme where local residents can coppice and fell wood.[47][48] There is also a community orchard located in grounds behind Oughtrington Community Centre – run by the same local group.[49]

Transport

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The Bridgewater Canal at Lymm

The M56 (junctions 7, 8 and 9) and M6 (junction 19 and 20) motorways are both within 3 miles (4.8 km) of Lymm.[50] The conjunction of these motorways with the A50[51] is known as the Lymm Interchange, and hosts a service station known as the Poplar 2000 services, a well-used truck stop. The A56 also passes just south of the village, connecting the nearby towns of Warrington and Altrincham.[52] The CAT5/5A buses to Lymm from Warrington and Altrincham are frequent on weekdays and Saturdays.[53][54]

Lymm Historic Transport Day is an annual summer festival celebrating various modes of transport, from canal boats to vintage vehicles, which takes place in the village on the May Queen field.[55]

Waterways

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The Bridgewater Canal passes through the centre of Lymm. The Manchester Ship Canal passes to the north, and beyond its route lies the River Mersey. To the east of Lymm the River Bollin flows along the village's border with Warburton and the borough of Trafford. A number of small brooks feed the popular tourist attraction of Lymm Dam,[56][57] built in 1824 to enable the construction of the Stockport–Warrington Road (now known as the A56).[58]

Railways

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Former railway line now the Trans Pennine Trail

Lymm railway station was on Whitbarrow Road. It opened on 1 November 1853 as part of the Warrington and Altrincham Junction railway. There was a further station at Heatley, on Mill Lane, for salt and lead. To the east, the track ran via Dunham into Broadheath and the Manchester network. To the west, the track used to run into Warrington, via Latchford, and the tar processing on Loushers Lane, then into Bank Quay Low Level.

The line closed to passengers on 10 September 1962; it was officially closed to all types of traffic on 7 July 1985, but lasted a few months. Then it became financially unviable, and the tracks and sleepers were rapidly lifted. Lymm today has no railway station; the closest stations are at Glazebrook, Birchwood, Warrington, Knutsford and Altrincham.

Cycleways

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Today the old Railway through Lymm forms a good stretch of the Trans Pennine Trail, with a ranger station at Statham, near the centre of the village. In 2022, upgrade work to certain sections of the trail commenced to provide updated all weather surfaces for users.

Demography

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Note: statistics expressed as percentages may not add up to 100%. Census data is based on that of Lymm Ward from the 2011 censuses.[59]

Population

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  • Total population: 12, 700 residents
  • Households: 5,300
  • Male:female ratio: 47.9%:52.1%
  • Average age of population: 46 years

Ethnicity breakdown

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  • 95.2% White
  • 2.2% Mixed
  • 2.0% Asian
  • 0.3% Black
  • 0.4% Other

Highest educational qualifications

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  • 10.2% have no qualifications.
  • 4.8% have an apprenticeship qualification.
  • 33.6% have a level 1, 2 or 3 or qualification.
  • 49.4% have a level 4 qualification or higher.

RAF Air Cadets

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2137 (Lymm) Squadron formed in 1964 as part of the programme to reestablish units that had been closed following the Second World War. They formed at Park Road in Broomedge with a wooden spooner hut. In 2015 this was demolished to make way for a new £300,000 facility which was opened in 2016.[60] In April 2018 the Squadron lead the Royal Air Force Air Cadets action to commemorate the Royal Air Force centenary by travelling to the first RAF airfield at Saint-Omer in France and parading on behalf of the RAF and Ministry of Defence.[61]

Sport

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Association football is played in Lymm, there are adult and junior teams playing at Lymm Rovers F.C. and another junior team – Lymm Piranhas J.F.C.. Lymm Rugby Union Club[62] fields four teams on a regular basis.

There is angling at Lymm Dam and at several other fisheries including Heatley Mere and Meadow View. Angling is represented by the Lymm Angling Club.[63]

Lymm has a number of sports facilities, including:

  • Lymm Golf Club[64]
  • Lymm Lawn Tennis Club[65]
  • Lymm Croquet Club[65]
  • Lymm Oughtrington Park Cricket Club[66] – whose home ground is in the former grounds of Oughtrington Hall, a former ancestral home of a cadet branch of the Leigh family
  • Lymm Leisure Centre,[67][68] which is next door to the cricket club at Lymm High School – has a swimming pool, badminton court and gym facilities
  • Crown green bowling takes place in Stage Lane, the Oughtrington Bowling Club[69] having been established for more than a century

Lymm has a number of cycling (Lymm Velo Club[70]), triathlon (Cheshire CAT[71]) and running clubs (Lymm Runners[72]).

Notable people

[edit]
[edit]

The 2011 television series Candy Cabs[75] and the 2015 Sky 1 television series After Hours[76] were filmed in Lymm. A scene from Paul Abbott's TV Series No Offence was filmed in Lymm in 2014.[77] Central Lymm is featured in episode 7 of the 2016 Netflix production of Paranoid.

Lymm has its own radio station, Cheshire's Mix 56, created in 2020. It broadcasts 24 hours a day and is run by volunteers.[78]

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ Census, 2021
  2. ^ "Census 2021 results - Census 2021". Census 2021 results - Census 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  3. ^ "Lymm". Archived from the original on 19 December 2007. Retrieved 10 November 2007.
  4. ^ "Why this Warrington village has a holiday feel and keeps people coming back". Warrington Guardian. 23 June 2024. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  5. ^ "Our Heritage". Lymm Heritage Centre. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  6. ^ a b Chambers, Matthew. "Lymm Industries". Lymm.com. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  7. ^ "Lymm named among best places to live in Britain". Warrington Guardian.
  8. ^ "Ancoats and Chorlton among Sunday Times best places to live". About Manchester. 18 March 2017. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  9. ^ Herman, Daisy; Otter, Saffron (4 December 2021). "Stunning Cheshire commuting village to Manchester is 'perfect place to live'". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  10. ^ Times, The Sunday. "Lymm, Cheshire". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  11. ^ "Village in Warrington is named as one of the most desirable places to live in Britain". Warrington Guardian. 21 June 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  12. ^ Porter, Gary (20 June 2023). "The 'aspirational' places in Cheshire among 'Britain's 50 most desirable towns'". CheshireLive. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  13. ^ Youens, Arabella (18 June 2023). "These are Britain's 50 most desirable towns... does yours make the cut?". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  14. ^ Bowen, Flora (29 November 2023). "The most desirable towns in the North – does yours make the cut?". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  15. ^ "Lymm voters set to be removed from Warrington election map". Warrington Guardian. 8 November 2022. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  16. ^ "Initial proposals for new Parliamentary constituency boundaries in the North West region | Boundary Commission for England | Page 5". boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  17. ^ "Councillors". Lymm Parish Council. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  18. ^ "Ville de Meung-sur-Loire". meung-sur-loire.com. Archived from the original on 29 January 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  19. ^ "Warrington high school named as one of the best in the north west". Warrington Guardian. 1 December 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  20. ^ "Best UK secondary schools 2024 | The Times league table". www.thetimes.co.uk. 1 December 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  21. ^ "Home page". The Beam Trust. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  22. ^ "Home page". Oughtrington Primary School. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  23. ^ "Oughtrington Community Primary School". Ofsted. 7 June 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  24. ^ "Home page". Ravenbank Community Primary School. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  25. ^ Ofsted Communications Team (5 May 2021). "Find an inspection report and registered childcare". reports.ofsted.gov.uk. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  26. ^ "Home page". Statham Primary School. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  27. ^ "Statham Community Primary School". Ofsted. 7 June 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  28. ^ "Home page". Cherry Tree Primary School. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  29. ^ Ofsted, Ofsted (14 July 2022). "Cherry Tree Primary School". reports.ofsted.gov.uk. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  30. ^ "Contact Us." Manchester Japanese School. Retrieved on 15 February 2015. "Oughtrington Lane, Lymm, Cheshire, WA13 0RB, United Kingdom (Language Centre at Lymm High School)"
  31. ^ "Home page". Lymm Heritage Centre. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  32. ^ reporter, staff (28 August 2024). "Another reason to visit Lymm". Warrington Worldwide. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  33. ^ Skentelbery, Gary (12 August 2024). "Villagers keep alive ancient tradition of Lymm Rushbearing". Warrington Worldwide. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  34. ^ a b "The Lymm Morris". www.lymm-morris.org.uk. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  35. ^ "Lymm Rushbearing". Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  36. ^ "Lymm May Queen Festival, Cheshire, North West, UK". Lymm May Queen 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  37. ^ "Home page". Lymm Festival. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
  38. ^ "Lymm Dickensian Christmas Festival – Lymm Dickensian Christmas Festival". lymmdickensian.org. 1 December 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  39. ^ "The Domvilles of Lymm, Cheshire". www.dumville.org.
  40. ^ "Kenneth Carlisle statistics". ESPN. Retrieved 25 March 2008.
  41. ^ "Home". oughtrington.co.uk. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  42. ^ "St Mary's Lymm". Archived from the original on 8 August 2008. Retrieved 28 January 2008.
  43. ^ Hartwell, Clare; Hyde, Matthew; Pevsner, Nikolaus (2011). Cheshire. The Buildings of England. London: Yale University Press. p. 447. ISBN 978-0-300170-43-6.
  44. ^ Historic England. "Lymm Cross (Grade I) (1227014)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  45. ^ Historic England. "Lymm Cross (1227014)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 10 April 2008.
  46. ^ Trust, Woodland. "Spud Wood – Visiting Woods". Woodland Trust. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  47. ^ "Spud Wood". Common Ground. 31 March 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  48. ^ "FoSW". www.spudwood.org.uk. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  49. ^ "FoSW – Orchard". www.spudwood.org.uk. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  50. ^ "M6 Junction 20A". Google Maps. Retrieved 12 June 2009.
  51. ^ "Poplar 2000". Google Maps. Retrieved 5 December 2010.
  52. ^ "Lymm village". Lymm.net. Retrieved 12 June 2009.
  53. ^ "Warrington Borough Transport". Retrieved 5 January 2009.
  54. ^ "GMPTE Timetable for routes 5, 37, 37A, 38" (PDF). Retrieved 5 January 2009.[permanent dead link‍]
  55. ^ "Home". lymmtransport. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  56. ^ Clarke, by Liv (12 August 2024). "'I visited a lake only a 20 minute drive from Manchester that felt a world away'". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  57. ^ Clarke, by Liv (18 August 2024). "I visited Cheshire's serene lakeside village that feels like the perfect escape". Cheshire Live. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  58. ^ "Lymm Dam". Visit North West. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  59. ^ "Lymm Ward" (PDF). Warrington Borough Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 June 2011.
  60. ^ "Lymm Life, page 7" (PDF). lymmlife.Co. uk. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  61. ^ "Air cadets' expedition to mark founding of RAF". Warrington Guardian. 5 April 2018. p. 7. Retrieved 7 February 2023 – via warrington-worldwide.co.uk.
  62. ^ "Home page". Lymm Rugby Football Club. Retrieved 25 March 2008.
  63. ^ "Home page". Lymm Angling Club. Retrieved 12 November 2008.
  64. ^ "Homa page". Lymm Golf Club. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  65. ^ a b "Home page". Lymm Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  66. ^ "Home page". Lymm Oughtrington Park Cricket Club. Archived from the original on 5 May 2008. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  67. ^ "Home page". Lymm Leisure Centre. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  68. ^ "Lymm Leisure Centre". Lymm High School. Retrieved 25 March 2008.
  69. ^ "Home page". Oughtrington Crown Green Bowling Club. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  70. ^ "Lymm Velo Club". Strava. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  71. ^ "Welcome to the Cheshire Cyclist, Athlete and Triathlete Club (Cheshire CAT)". Cheshire CAT. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  72. ^ "Home page". Lymm Runners. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  73. ^ Craddock, Jeremy (15 November 2010). "bookengine: The craft of Robert Westall: Visiting Lindy McKinnel". bookengine. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  74. ^ "My love for Robert Westall". Warrington Guardian. 2 August 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  75. ^ Bourne, Dianne (4 February 2011). "Video: Candy Cabs stars love Lymm". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
  76. ^ "Lymm-based Sky comedy After Hours hits screens on November 2". Warrington Guardian. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  77. ^ "Shameless creator films scene in Lymm for his new drama No Offence". Warrington Guardian.
  78. ^ "Lymm". Lymm Community Radio CIC. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
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Media related to Lymm at Wikimedia Commons

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Lymm.
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