Chesterton, Staffordshire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chesterton |
|
---|---|
![]() Holy Trinity Church |
|
Population | 7,421 (2011 census) |
OS grid reference | SJ832494 |
District |
|
Shire county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | Newcastle |
Postcode district | ST5 |
Dialling code | 01782 |
Police | Staffordshire |
Fire | Staffordshire |
Ambulance | West Midlands |
EU Parliament | West Midlands |
UK Parliament |
|
Chesterton is a village in Staffordshire, England. It is located near the town of Newcastle-under-Lyme. Long ago, Chesterton was known as a mining village.
In 2011, about 7,421 people lived in Chesterton. It is one of the biggest areas in the Newcastle-under-Lyme district.
Contents
Discovering Chesterton's Past
Chesterton's Roman History
Did you know Chesterton was once home to a Roman fort? This fort was built where Chesterton Community Sports College stands today. It was likely built around the late 1st Century AD. We don't know exactly how long the Romans used it.
Close by, in a place called Holditch, there was a small Roman settlement called a vicus. People living there might have even dug for coal.
Archaeologists have explored the fort site many times. In 1895, they found parts of the fort's walls and moat. More digging in 1969 uncovered even more sections of the old Roman defenses.
Chesterton's Village Story
Chesterton used to be a separate area called a township. Over time, it became part of the larger Newcastle-under-Lyme area in 1932.
For many years, the main workplace in Chesterton was Holditch Colliery. A colliery is a coal mine. This mine employed about 1,500 men. They dug for both coal and ironstone. Even with new investments, the colliery closed in 1988. Many miners then moved to work at Silverdale Colliery, which also closed later. Today, a big business park stands where Holditch Colliery used to be.
The Holditch Colliery Accident
A sad event happened at Holditch Colliery on July 2, 1937. It was a serious mining accident. In total, 30 men lost their lives, and eight others were hurt.
Experts investigated what happened. They found that a fire started in a coal-cutting machine. This fire caused explosions because of a gas called firedamp in the mine. Today, there is a special memorial at Apedale Heritage Centre to remember the people who died in this accident.
Learning in Chesterton
Chesterton has several schools for young people. There are four primary schools:
- Churchfields Primary
- Chesterton Primary
- Crackley Bank Primary
- St. Chad's Primary
For older students, there is one secondary school:
- Chesterton Community Sports College
Places of Worship
Chesterton is home to five different churches:
- Holy Trinity C of E Church
- Elim Pentecostal Church
- St Johns the Evangelist Church
- Chesterton United Reform Church
- St Chad's Church
Fun Places to Visit
If you're looking for things to do near Chesterton, check out these spots:
- Apedale Community Country Park: A great place for walks and enjoying nature.
- Apedale Heritage Centre: Learn about the area's mining history.
- Moseley Railway Trust: See and learn about old trains.
- Loomer Road Stadium: A local sports venue.
Famous Faces from Chesterton
Many interesting people have come from Chesterton:
- Jackie Trent (1940–2015): A talented singer and songwriter.
- Roger Johnson (born 1969): A TV journalist and news presenter for BBC.
Sports Stars
Chesterton has also produced many great athletes, especially footballers:
- Arthur Turner (1909–1994): A football player and manager who played 357 games.
- Ken Downing (1917–2004): A motor racing driver.
- Frank Bowyer (1922–1999): A footballer who played 512 games.
- Mike Pejic (born 1950): A footballer who played 360 games and 4 for England.
- Tony Loska (born 1950): A footballer who played 372 games.
- Ian Moores (1954–1998): A footballer who played 359 games.
- Mel Pejic (born 1959): A footballer who played 518 games.
- Aaron Ramsdale (born 1998): A footballer who has played 180 games and 4 for England.