The best traffic-free bike rides around Leighton

A nice pub that does its own ales, but a little on the pricey side

"My pocket money goes towards buying secondhand books. I love the dry, musty smell of old books, the feel of the silky paper between my fingers. In any case, the book collection in my room is growing, and I find nothing makes a home feel more homely. Sometimes I feel a sense of elation just holding a book in my hands." (Deborah Crombie in "The Lost Poem")

Built c i 640, as two cottages, this was once an ale house, but by the mid-i 300s. it was the village shop and post office, with the District Bank in residence every Thursday. Run by Mr & Mrs Samuel Brereton it was the major supplier of goods in the village. but after the death of both her parents, Miss Amelia Brereton took over. She fell out with the Luxmore-Brookes over politics and bunit, what is. now, The Old Post Office and moved the business there in 1915.

The first village school was located in the church and taken by the minister, until the first schoolmaster was employed, named Thomas Wilson, who was buried in 1652. Eventually, in 1785, a two roomed school was built, mainly financed by donations. Henry Brooke, son of Thomas, who had purchased the Minshull estate in 1790, left provision in his will for a new school to be built in 1871. The photographs show headmaster Robert Kitchen and his wife with the school children. The old school was converted into the schoolmaster's house and still stands today, but it is now a private home called 'Sunnybank'. In 1903, Henry's nephew and successor, Charles Luxmoore, was of the opinion that it would be in the interest of the parish if the County Council purchased the school from him. He was disposed to take a reasonable price, probably one third of what it would cost the County Council to erect a new one. If they did not agree to purchase he was willing to let the school to the Education Authority at the nominal rent of £15 per annum. However, on 30th June 1905 Charles sold the school to the County Council for £450 this included all the outbuildings and land amounting to 2 roods and 11 perches. The school was finally closed on 22nd July, 1982 and is now a private home and pottery.

The first chapel on the site was a small wooden structure and existed by 1 133, when it was gifted to Combermere Abbey. In 1541, following the dissolution of monasteries, John Minshull purchased the lease for the rectory, from Daniel of Daresbury and built a Tudor 'magpie' church on the site using materials and columns from the demolition of Combermeere Abbey. He became the first Minister of the Church in the same year and was buried in the church, three years later. A storm badly damaged the church in 1667 and the tower partly collapsed at the end of the century. Services were held outside as it was simply too dangerous in the nave. The present building was built from 1702 (as seen by the darker bricks, either side of the clock face), to 1720, by appealing to the charity of other churches, known as 'Queen Anne's Bounty'. The style of the church is Bolingbroke' and has changed little since 1720, although restorations and modernisations in 1861 and 1899 have seen the addition of a central convex ceiling, altar panels and a minstrel gallery. The tower has a ring of six bells, dated from 1717 to 1982 and at the foot of the tower is the notable Wade crypt., belonging to the family from Wades Green Hall. There is a slate memorial to Thomas and Alice Minshull on the outside of the East wall. The inscription the great wrongs' refers to 'The Great Cheshire Will Case' which was a dispute between two branches of the Fitton family over the ownership of Gawsworth Hall, near Macclesfield. In 1 7 12, the husbands of the two heirs in dispute were, Lord Mohun and James, Duke of Hamilton. They fought a duel in Hyde Park, London and succeeded in killing e ach other. Alterations in 20 1 8-19 turned up remnants of the 154l church and some earlier items from the 1702-20 building and theses are displayed inside the church, along with old photos, artefacts and a cracked bell of 1717.

This Farm has had various uses, an ale house, vicarage, and private house. Built c 1620, the outstanding feature is the projecting porch on two [truscan columns. The diamond pattern of beams above the porch show it was a Cholmondeley owned farm, as it copies the design of their coat of arms.

A warm and welcoming inn in Church Minshull. Serving good food and drink. Accommodation available.

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