PROBATE VALUATIONS IN PRESTBURY
The History of Prestbury
Prestbury is part of the Cheshire Golden Triangle and has a history that dates back to before the Norman Conquest in 1066. The name of the town is derived from the word ‘Preôsta burh’, which means ‘a priest’s fortified enclosure’ and bears reference to the early inhabitation of Prestbury by priests. It’s possible that evidence of cremation sites and urns found near to Prestbury, may indicate that the area was inhabited in the pre-Christian times.
In the Domesday Book of 1086, Prestbury isn’t mentioned (potentially due to the absence of a manor in the village), but twelve of thirty-five parishes of Cheshire were included. Between the creation of the Domesday Book and the rule of Edward the Confessor, many of these townships increased in value. At the time of the Domesday Book, two-thirds of the noted townships were considered waste.
Prestbury enjoyed good transportation links, and was on high ground, but the population was very low in early times. The village is known to have had cattle fairs and industrial buildings, like a mill and smithy, as well as a school and inn in the 18th century.
In the early 19th century, Prestbury was connected to New Road via a bridge, which was later replaced in 1855. During this time, the silk industry also began to grow in Prestbury; new homes were built, and a factory was opened.
Many buildings were constructed in Prestbury during these times that are protected today, including The Bridge Hotel, and Prestbury Hall. The Prestbury Mill is known to have been destroyed in 1940, and during the 20th century Prestbury emerged as a residential community. The population of Prestbury today is still rather small and hasn’t seen much growth; expanding by less than 150 people between the 2001 census and the 2011 census, to 3,471 people.