Fradswell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fradswell |
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 Fradswell
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| Population | 194 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | SJ 9918 |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Stafford |
| Postcode district | ST18 |
| Police | Staffordshire |
| Fire | Staffordshire |
| Ambulance | West Midlands |
| EU Parliament | West Midlands |
Fradswell is a small village in Staffordshire, England. It is located about 7 miles (10 km) north-east of the town of Stafford. The village is a quiet, rural place.
Contents
Fradswell's Early History
Fradswell was first mentioned a very long time ago in the Domesday Book. This was a famous survey of England made in 1086 by William the Conqueror. In the Domesday Book, Fradswell was called Frodawelle or Frodeswelle. It was likely a settlement built by the Angles, an early English group, during the Dark Ages.
In the 13th century, Fradswell got its own church. It was called the Chapel of Saint James The Less. Parts of the original church still stand today. The main part of the church was rebuilt in 1764. Later, in 1851, Fradswell became its own parish. A parish is like a local area with its own church. More improvements were made to the church, including new stained glass windows. At that time, about 237 people lived in Fradswell.
Life in Fradswell Today
Today, Fradswell is a small village with about 175 people. It is a peaceful place surrounded by countryside.
In 2015, the village received a large grant of £450,000. This money helped them build a brand new community hub. The old village hall, built in 1924, was made of wood. The new hub is a modern building that opened in 2016. Local children even helped to open it! This hub is a central place for people to meet. There is also a quiet serenity garden nearby. The community hub hosts many events throughout the year.
Annual Village Events
Fradswell is known for two fun annual events that bring the community together.
Frapfest! Apple Festival
Every September, the village holds an event called Frapfest! This is the Fradswell Apple Festival. Local people bring apples they have grown. These apples are then chopped up and pressed to make fresh apple juice. Most of this juice is later turned into Fradswell Cider. It's a great way to use local produce.
Fradswell Wassail
In January, Fradswell celebrates the Wassail. This is an evening event with flaming torches and music. The community gathers to "wake up" the apple trees. They hope this will help the trees grow a good crop of apples in the summer. It's a traditional and fun way to celebrate the start of the new year.
