Aston By Budworth
Welcome to the beautiful parish of Aston By Budworth located in the heart of the Cheshire countryside
The ancient village of Great Budworth has existed since at least the 9th century AD, to the east of which a new settlement grew up, East Town by Budworth or Aston by Budworth as it is now known. The manor house of which was in existence before the Norman conquest AD 1066.
The present Queen Anne style house known as Aston Park built in 1715 stands on the site of the original manor.
The Warburton Family came into the ownership of the area including the township of Aston By Budworth (approx. 1500 hectares)in about 1180AD, there were only 5 farms on the southern and eastern borders and the whole northwest area was still virgin forest.
In 1470 the Warburton Family moved their main house to the site of the present Arley Hall. Some of the great old trees from the surrounding woodland were used to build both the hall and the Cruck Barn, where they can still be seen today.
Many people relocated to Arley and the surrounding area with the Warburton family. These included estate managers and workers, servants and farmers.
This increase in population lead to a mill being built on Arley Brook to grind corn, and the rest of the land to the northwest was turned in to farm land to provide meat, milk and grain.
Although Arley estate is still owned by the descendants of the Warburton Family, many of the houses and farms of Aston by Budworth have been sold in to private ownership.
A notable landmark of the parish is the Pinfold situated on the corner of Cann Lane and Budworth Road, although the pinfold in Aston by Budworth dates from the 18th century, the word Pinfold is derived from the old Saxon word to enclose or confine.
Pinfolds were used to keep stray livestock in until their owners could pay to have them released or if their owner couldn’t afford to pay the fine they would be sold to cover the cost of their keep.
Aston by Budworth comes under the authority of Cheshire East and in the 2001 census had 281 residents.
