This page introduces visitors to current day Upton
and its facilities.
Upton by Chester lies on the edge of Chester, about one and a half miles from the city centre It
comprises three Civil Parishes, Bache, Moston and Upton-by-Chester and is
situated between two major routes into the City.
A HISTORIC
VILLAGE
Upton is mentioned in the Domesday Book and was a significant
rural village at the time of the Civil War, with Cromwell visiting the two
Halls. The first major growth taking the population to nearly 2000 was during
the affluent late Victorian period when people were escaping the overcrowded
city and when the Lunatic Asylum was built.
The next period of expansion was between the wars and then a major expansion
in the post-WW2 period saw a building programme integrating Upton with the City of Chester. Further infilling continued during the 1960's and
1970's but today there is little room for further development and outward
expansion is contained by the green belt policy.
UPTON TODAY
THE POPULATION of Upton is 8760 between the three wards of Bache, Moston and
Upton-by-Chester.
HOUSING: This is
mixed, with the majority of properties being semi-detached and detached
houses. There is also a mixture of tenure with both private owners and also
local authority housing. Although there are smaller starter homes, although
these are in the minority.
SCHOOLS: There are
four Primary and one High School that serve the area well. The primary
schools are: Acresfield
on Acres Lane, Mill View on Weston Grove, Upton Heath on Upton Lane and Westlea on Weston
Grove. Upton High
School is situated on St James Avenue. There is also a specialised school for disabled
children at Dorin Park
School.
KIDSGUIDE: This is a
website which has been set up for families in and around Chester which lists event, facilities and services for kids in
this area. Check it out at Kidsguide
SHOPPING: Upton has a recognisable physical identity with three sets of
shops that provide focal points for people to gather and communicate. One set
of shops is located on Mill Lane, between Upton Drive and Liverpool Road, in close proximity to the Safeway Stores site, while a
large group of shops is on Long Lane, stretching from Heath Road towards Weston Grove, where a third set of shops is
located. These shops between them provide the area with Post Offices, Chemists,
Off-licences, Butchers, Florists, Take-away's, Cake shops, a Bank,
Housewares, Dentists, Paper shops and General stores.
PETROL STATIONS:
There are four petrol stations which are located at Moston traffic lights,
Long Lane, Weston Grove and Safeway Stores, on Liverpool Road.
PUBLIC HOUSES: The
area is well served with four Public Houses - The Egerton Arms on Liverpool Road, The Frog also on Liverpool Road, The Gamekeeper on Weston Grove and The Wheatsheaf on Heath Road.
MEDICAL FACILITIES:
There is a doctors surgery on Wealstone Lane behind the Library. The Countess of Chester Health Park
is within the boundaries of Upton Parish, which is very convenient for local
residents. There is also a private health clinic on Heath Road, at the entrance to Chemistry Pits Playing Field.
LIBRARY: Upton has its own Library which is situated on Wealstone Lane.
CHESTER ZOO: The Zoo which attracts visitors from all over the
country, lies within the parish. Recent changes to the entrance and roads now
keep traffic conjestion to a minimum for local residents.
PLAYING FIELDS: Wealstone Lane playing field provides excellent facilities which
include tennis,bowls, football, pitch & putt and a childrens play area which
is safe, attractice and fenced to keep dogs out. There is also play equipment
at Greenfields playing field, a small play area off Greenfields which is off Caughall Road. The future of another greenspace called Chemistry Pits
off Heath Road is at present being considered by the Parish Council
after play equipment had to be removed. Equipment on these sites is regularly
checked to ensure that its meets with safety standards.
ORGANISATIONS: There
are many organisations in the area which also attract members from other
areas. These include:
Upton Tennis Club,
Upton Horticulatural Society, Girl Guides and Brownies, Scouts and Cubs,
Upton Bowling Clubs, Womens Institute, Upton Dramatic Society.
TRANSPORT: The area
is well served with public transport which includes bus routes to and from
the city centre and also a train station at The Bache where trains run
between Chester and Liverpool. There is easy access to the M53 to Liverpool
and Manchester and also the A55 into Wales, which is excellent for people who need to commute.
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