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Cheshire
Cheshire, a lowland county in north-western England, resembles a hammock slung between the south-west Pennines (east) and Flint–Denbighshire uplands (west); the southerly morainic barrier is crossed by the midland gap, now followed by road, rail, and canal. These barriers halted the early flood of Anglo-Saxon invaders to fertile meadowlands and ancient woodlands. The Romans had established a legionary fortress at Deva (Chester), as a base for advances into Wales and west Brigantia, but place-names reflect subsequent traces of early Celtic church influence and Scandinavian invasions (Irish-Norse into Wirral, Danes into east). Initially part of Mercia and ‘shired’ (=sheared) in the 10th cent., the county boundaries conformed to roughly their present extent by the 12th cent. palatinate from 1237 when the earldom passed to the crown, though sparsely inhabited, Cheshire was not rich in castles despite its border position; large country houses, characteristically half-timbered, were its greater glory. Of crucial importance during the Civil War because of its strategic position, the county saw much fighting. The royalist defeat at Nantwich in 1644, followed by the surrender of Chester after siege in February 1646, effectively ended Charles I's hopes of help from Ireland.
Long known for its salt and famous for its cheese since the Middle Ages, Cheshire remained only moderately important agriculturally until specialization encouraged expansion of its dairying. The south and centre of the county have remained agricultural. Equal balance between rural and urban populations was affected by the revolutionary changes of the industrial period, with the extension of manufacturing industries and improving transport. Under the influence of the expanding cotton industry, Stockport (important for the manufacture of textile machinery) and other towns in north-east Cheshire grew rapidly; Birkenhead then developed around Cammell Laird's shipyard. As population quadrupled during the 19th cent., canals took coal and agricultural products to the labour forces, and salt all over England; railway networks radiating from Crewe and Chester were augmented by that growing around Manchester and a tunnel under the river Mersey, linking Birkenhead with Liverpool (1886). The emergence of the chemical industries, concentrated on Northwich (salt), Runcorn, and Port Sunlight (soap), lessened the dependence on textiles. Population has continued to increase, since much of northern Cheshire has become an overspill or dormitory area for nearby Lancashire urban centres. The county, once called ‘the seedplot of Gentility’, nevertheless remains determined to maintain its distinctions. A. S. Hargreaves |
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Cite this article
JOHN CANNON. "Cheshire." The Oxford Companion to British History. 2002. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN CANNON. "Cheshire." The Oxford Companion to British History. 2002. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O110-Cheshire.html JOHN CANNON. "Cheshire." The Oxford Companion to British History. 2002. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O110-Cheshire.html |
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Cheshire
Cheshire, a lowland county in north‐western England, resembles a hammock slung between the south‐west Pennines (east) and Flint–Denbighshire uplands (west). The Romans had established a legionary fortress at Deva (Chester), as a base for advances into Wales, but place‐names reflect subsequent traces of early Celtic influence and Scandinavian invasions. Initially part of Mercia and ‘shired’ in the 10th cent., the county boundaries conformed to roughly their present extent by the 12th cent. Palatinate from 1237 when the earldom passed to the crown, Cheshire was not rich in castles despite its border position; large country houses, characteristically half‐timbered, were its greater glory.
Long known for its salt and cheese, Cheshire remained only moderately important agriculturally until specialization encouraged expansion of its dairying. Under the influence of the expanding cotton industry, Stockport and other towns in north‐east Cheshire grew rapidly; Birkenhead then developed around Cammell Laird's shipyard. As population quadrupled during the 19th cent., canals took coal and salt all over England; railway networks radiated from Crewe and Chester and a tunnel under the river Mersey linked Birkenhead with Liverpool (1886). The emergence of the chemical industries, concentrated on Northwich (salt), Runcorn, and Port Sunlight (soap), lessened the dependence on textiles. Much of northern Cheshire has become a dormitory area for nearby Lancashire urban centres. |
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Cite this article
JOHN CANNON. "Cheshire." A Dictionary of British History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN CANNON. "Cheshire." A Dictionary of British History. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O43-Cheshire.html JOHN CANNON. "Cheshire." A Dictionary of British History. 2004. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O43-Cheshire.html |
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Cheshire
Cheshire , county, W central England, on the N border with Wales. The county seat was Chester .
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Cite this article
"Cheshire." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Cheshire." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-CheshireEng.html "Cheshire." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-CheshireEng.html |
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Cheshire
Cheshire County in nw England, bounded w by Wales and n by Greater Manchester and Merseyside. The county town is Chester. Cheshire is drained by the Mersey, Weaver and Dee rivers. It is an important industrial and dairy farming region, noted for its cheese. Industries: salt mining, chemicals, textiles, motor vehicles, oil refining. Area: 2331sq km (900sq mi). Pop. (1998 est.) 672,400.
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"Cheshire." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Cheshire." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Cheshire.html "Cheshire." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Cheshire.html |
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Cheshire
Cheshire town (1990 pop. 25,684), New Haven co., S central Conn., in a farm area; settled 1695, inc. 1780. It is chiefly residential, with some light industry. The painter John Frederick Kensett was born in Cheshire. |
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Cite this article
"Cheshire." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Cheshire." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-CheshireUS.html "Cheshire." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-CheshireUS.html |
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Cheshire
Chesh·ire / ˈcheshər/ (also Cheshire cheese) • n. a kind of firm crumbly cheese, originally made in Cheshire, England. |
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"Cheshire." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Cheshire." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-cheshire010.html "Cheshire." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-cheshire010.html |
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Cheshire
Cheshire, UK, USA UK (England): formerly Cestre Scire, a county with a name shortened from Chestershire, that is, the district of the city of Chester.
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JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Cheshire." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Cheshire." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O209-Cheshire.html JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Cheshire." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O209-Cheshire.html |
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Cheshire
Cheshire (the county). Cestre Scire 1086 (DB). ‘Province of the city of Chester’. OE scīr ‘district’.
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A. D. MILLS. "Cheshire." A Dictionary of British Place-Names. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. A. D. MILLS. "Cheshire." A Dictionary of British Place-Names. 2003. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O40-Cheshire.html A. D. MILLS. "Cheshire." A Dictionary of British Place-Names. 2003. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O40-Cheshire.html |
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Cheshire
Cheshire
•cassia, glacier
•apraxia, dyspraxia
•banksia • eclampsia
•estancia, fancier, financier, Landseer
•intarsia, mahseer, Marcia, tarsier
•bartsia, bilharzia
•anorexia, dyslexia
•intelligentsia • dyspepsia
•Dacia, fascia
•Felicia, Galicia, indicia, Lycia, Mysia
•asphyxia, elixir, ixia
•dossier • nausea
•Andalusia, Lucia
•overseer • Mercia • Hampshire
•Berkshire • Caernarvonshire
•Cheshire • differentia • Breconshire
•Devonshire • Ayrshire
•Galatia, Hypatia, solatia
•alopecia, godetia, Helvetia
•Alicia, Leticia
•Derbyshire • Berwickshire
•Cambridgeshire • Warwickshire
•Argyllshire • quassia • Shropshire
•Yorkshire • Staffordshire
•Hertfordshire • Bedfordshire
•Herefordshire • Oxfordshire
•Forfarshire • Lancashire
•Lincolnshire • Monmouthshire
•Buckinghamshire • Nottinghamshire
•Northamptonshire • Leicestershire
•Wigtownshire • Worcestershire
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Cite this article
"Cheshire." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Cheshire." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-Cheshire.html "Cheshire." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-Cheshire.html |
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