Editing Audlem

{{Short description|Village in Cheshire, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox UK place
 | official_name=            Audlem
 | static_image_name=        Audlem - geograph.org.uk - 2679151.jpg
 | static_image_caption=     Main square in Audlem, taken in 2011.
 | map_type=                 Cheshire
| population = 1,832
| population_ref = ([[United Kingdom Census 2011|2011 Census]])
 | os_grid_reference=        SJ660436
 | coordinates = {{coord|52.989187|-2.507862|display=inline,title}}
 | post_town=                CREWE
 | postcode_area=            CW
 | postcode_district=        CW3
 | dial_code=                01270
 | constituency_westminster= [[Chester South and Eddisbury (UK Parliament constituency)|Chester South and Eddisbury]]
 | civil_parish=             Audlem
|unitary_england=       [[Cheshire East]]
|lieutenancy_england=   [[Cheshire]]
 | region=                   North West England
 | country=                  England
 | website=
}}

'''Audlem''' ({{IPAc-en|ʊər|d|l|ə|m}} {{respell|ORD|ləm}}) is a village and [[Civil parishes in England|civil parish]] in [[Cheshire]], [[North West England]]. In 2021, it had a population of  1,832.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11120234&c=Audlem&d=16&e=62&g=6407643&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1457872804509&enc=1|title=Civil Parish population 2011|access-date=13 March 2016|publisher=Office for National Statistics|work=Neighbourhood Statistics}}</ref>

The largest village in southern Cheshire, Audlem is approximately {{convert | 7 | mi | spell = in}} south of [[Nantwich]], just {{Convert | 1 | mi | spell = in}} north of the border with the neighbouring county of [[Shropshire]], the village is {{Convert | 8 | mi | spell = in}} east of [[Whitchurch, Shropshire|Whitchurch]] and {{Convert | 7 | mi | spell = in}} north of [[Market Drayton]]. It is also approximately {{convert | 9 | mi | spell = in}} from the border with [[Wales]].

==History==
Audlem was mentioned in the [[Domesday Book]] in 1086 as ''Aldelime''. By the late 13th century, [[St James' Church, Audlem|St James' Church]] had been founded and [[Edward I of England|Edward I]] granted it a market charter in 1295.<ref name=scholes>Scholes, R. (2000). pages&nbsp;24–25.</ref>

The arrival of the [[Shropshire Union Canal]] in 1835 was a significant development for Audlem. The canal boosted the local economy by facilitating the transport of goods and materials, particularly agricultural produce and coal. During this period, many of the village's distinctive Georgian and Victorian buildings were constructed. Audlem’s flight of 15 locks, designed by [[Thomas Telford]], are a notable engineering feature. Though commercial activity on the canal virtually ceased in the 1950s, it is now an important source of tourism for the village. The canal continues to draw visitors and leisure boaters alike along the waterway itself and to walk the picturesque path.<ref name="Bourne">{{cite news |last1=Bourne |first1=Dianne |title=The historic, pretty village where residents go all out so it stays pristine – and even paid more tax to keep developers away |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/historic-pretty-village-residents-even-21554400 |access-date=2 June 2024 |publisher=Manchester Evening News}}</ref>

In 2008 village residents launched an online referendum on moving the village to Wales from England – in a protest over prescription charges in England.<ref name="story">{{cite web |title=Story of Audlem |url=https://www.audlem.org/heritagex/story-of-audlem.html |access-date=2 June 2024 |website=Audlem Online}}</ref><ref name="Bourne" />

===Landmarks===
{{see also|Listed buildings in Audlem}}

[[File:St James' Church, Audlem.jpg|thumb|right|St James' Church]]

There are many historic buildings including [[Moss Hall, Audlem|Moss Hall]] is an [[Elizabethan era|Elizabethan]] [[timber framing|timber-framed]] hall from 1616 {{convert| 1/2 | mi | 1 | spell = in}} from Audlem village centre.

==Education and facilities==
Audlem has clubs for [[tennis]], [[badminton]], [[Association football|football]], [[cricket]], [[golf]], [[pigeon racing]] (or [[Pigeon keeping|pigeon-fancying]]), [[Caravan (towed trailer)|caravanning]], bell ringing and [[bowls]]. [[Cyclist]]s meet informally at The Tearoom at No.11.
Audlem has a website, AudlemOnline.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.audlem.org/ |title=Home page |website=AudlemOnline |access-date=27 February 2022}}</ref>
Saint James' Primary School is the only school in the village.

==Transport==
[[File:Shropshire Union Canal, Audlem - geograph.org.uk - 5346242.jpg|thumb|right|The Shropshire Union Canal in Audlem]]

===Roads===
Audlem lies at the junction of the [[A525 road|A525]] and [[A529 road|A529]] roads in south Cheshire. The A525 road runs from Newcastle under Lyme and Woore from the east and Whitchurch from the west. The A529 runs from Nantwich in the north and from Market Drayton in the south. 

Audlem is approximately {{Convert | 10 | mi}} west of the [[M6 motorway]]. The closest junctions are junction 16 from the North and junctions 15 and 14 from the South.<ref>{{cite web |title=Audlem Online: How to find us |url=https://www.audlem.org/tourism/how-to-find-us.html |website=Audlem Online |access-date=2 June 2024}}</ref>

===Canal===
Audlem is on the [[Shropshire Union Canal]], which has a flight of 15 locks, to raise the canal {{convert|93|ft|m}} from the [[Cheshire Plain]] to the Shropshire Plain. The [[River Weaver]] passes west of the village. 

===Railway===
[[Audlem railway station]] closed along with the local railway line in 1963. The station was on the former [[Great Western Railway]] between [[Market Drayton]] and [[Nantwich railway station|Nantwich]], opened in 1863.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.audlem.org/content.php?ContID=132&SubCat=13 |title=Audlem Village History website |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080213072012/http://www.audlem.org/content.php?ContID=132&SubCat=13 |archive-date=2008-02-13 }}</ref> The station was immortalised in the song "[[Slow Train (Flanders and Swann song)|Slow Train]]" by [[Flanders and Swann]].

The closest railway stations are Nantwich and [[Whitchurch railway station (Shropshire)|Whitchurch]] on the [[Welsh Marches line]]. Both stations are {{Convert | 7 | mi}} from Audlem. [[Crewe railway station|Crewe]], on the [[West Coast Main Line]], is {{Convert | 10 | mi}} away.
===Buses===
Audlem is served by the go-too bus.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.go-too.co.uk/home.aspx | title = Go-too | year = 2024 | website = Go-too | access-date = 2024-09-25 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240922131227/https://www.go-too.co.uk/home.aspx | archive-date = 2024-09-22}}</ref> Other bus services were discontinued on 1 September 2024.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/public_transport/bus_service_changes.aspx | title = Bus Service Changes | year = 2024 | website = [[Cheshire East Council]] | access-date = 2024-09-25 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240826115612/https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/public_transport/bus_service_changes.aspx | archive-date = 2024-08-26 | quote = Councillor Mark Goldsmith, chair of Cheshire East Council's highways and transport committee, said: 'The operator of our Nantwich rural bus routes (70, 71, 72 and 73) has given the council notice that they intend to pull out of providing these services.'}}</ref>

==Notable people==
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[[File:The Lord Combermere, Audlem - geograph.org.uk - 4189874.jpg|thumb|right|The Lord Combermere pub in Audlem, named [[Field marshal (United Kingdom)|Field Marshal]] [[Stapleton Cotton, 1st Viscount Combermere|Lord Combermere]], who was educated in the village]]

Notable residents and other people associated with Audlem include:
* [[Isabella Whitney]] (c.1546/48–after 1624), the first woman known to have published secular poetry in the English language, grew up in Ryle Green when her father took a lease of a farm there.<ref>{{cite book |url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/45498 |last=Travitsky |first=B. S. |chapter=Whitney, Isabella (fl. 1566–1573) |title=Oxford Dictionary of National Biography |publisher=Oxford University Press |date=2004 |access-date=21 April 2010}}</ref> Her brother, [[Geoffrey Whitney]] (c.1548–c.1601), is likewise believed to have been brought up there; also a poet, he is known for his collection ''Choice of Emblemes''.<ref>{{cite book |title=Dictionary of National Biography |volume=LXI |pages=142–143 |publisher=Oxford University Press |date=1900}}</ref>
* [[William Baker of Audlem|William Baker]] (1705–1771), architect, surveyor and building contractor, lived at Highfields from the 1740s.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Robinson |first=J. M. |title=Highfields, Audlem, Cheshire |magazine=Country Life |date=31 January 1991}}</ref>
* [[Field marshal (United Kingdom)|Field Marshal]] [[Stapleton Cotton, 1st Viscount Combermere]] (1773–1865), soldier, associate of the [[Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington|Duke of Wellington]], was educated at a grammar school then in Audlem for three years from age nine before entering [[Westminster School]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Memoirs and Correspondence of Field-marshal Viscount Combermere |author1=Mary, Viscountess Combermere |author2=Knollys, W. W. |date=1866 |volume=1 |page=25}}</ref>
* [[Henry Lisle]] (1846 in Audlem – 1916), lawyer<ref>[http://saskarchives.com/sites/default/files/documents/Members-of-Legislative-Assembly.pdf    Saskatchewan Archives Board, Members of the Legislative Assembly] retrieved 17 March 2018</ref> and political figure in [[Saskatchewan]], Canada
* [[Alice Elizabeth Gillington]] (1863 in Audlem – 1934), author, poet and journalist;<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160414050932/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-955443961.html   EFDSS Folk Music Journal, Alice E. Gillington, Dweller on the Roughs] retrieved 17 March 2018</ref> published books about Gypsies
* [[Mary Clarissa Gillington]], later better known as May Byron (1861 in Audlem – 1936), author, poet, elder sister of Alice Gillington
* [[Herbert Broomfield]] (1878 in Audlem – unknown), football goalkeeper,<ref>[http://www.mufcinfo.com/manupag/a-z_player_archive/a-z_player_archive_pages/broomfield_herbert.html  Profile at MUFC Info.com] retrieved 17 March 2018</ref> 28 pro appearances for [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.]]
* [[Peter Ellson]] (1925 in Audlem – 2014), professional footballing goalkeeper,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.crewealex.net/news/2014/april/peter-ellson---a-tribute-/#YzczoY4AyF8Mpoqp.99|title=Peter Ellson – A Tribute |date=16 April 2014 |publisher=Crewe Alexandra F.C. |access-date=2 June 2024}}</ref> 219 pro appearances for [[Crewe Alexandra F.C.]]
* [[Peter McGarr]] (born 1953), classical composer and teacher; he has written several pieces inspired by Audlem ('Audlem Sonatas', 'Night-time' and 'Mourning Gamelan'), as homage to his mother, who lived in the village when she was a child.<ref>[http://www.petermcgarr-composer.co.uk  Website of UK Composer Peter McGarr]</ref>
* [[Margaret Canovan]] (1939–2018), political theorist, lived in Audlem from 1979 to 2003 while working at [[Keele University]].<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VZ5sDwAAQBAJ |title=Directory of European Political Scientists |author=European Consortium for Political Research, University of Essex |publisher=Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. |date=2016 |edition=4th |isbn=9783111577555 |access-date=17 May 2021}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Cheshire}}
* [[St. James' Church, Audlem]]
* [[Audlem Baptist Church]]

==Notes and references==

===Notes===
{{reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite book|last=Scholes|first=R.|year=2000|title=Towns and villages of Britain: Cheshire|publisher=Sigma Press|location=Wilmslow, Cheshire|isbn=1-85058-637-3}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Audlem}}
* [http://www.audlem.org/ Audlem Online]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20091110080600/http://www.audlem-aset.org/ Audlem Special Events Team]
* {{OpenDomesday|SJ6543|audlem|Audlem}}

{{Cheshire, Cheshire East}}
{{Cheshire}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Civil parishes in Cheshire]]
[[Category:Villages in Cheshire]]