Grappenhall in 2023: Why we love it!

Grappenhall in 2022 – 7 Reasons Why We Love It

I’m not going to tell you how amazingly beautiful Grappenhall in Cheshire is.  It’s also not my intention to tell you how much we love living here.

And no, I’m not going to tell you our favourite places to visit, cafes and pubs we like or shops we want either.

Instead, I will give you 7 Reasons why we love living here.

Grappenhall is just moments away from Lymm by car – or a pleasant hour’s walk along the Bridgewater canal.   Maybe a visit is on the cards for you?

Why not add to the blog via our comment section and tell us what you would like to be added.

7:  It has a sense of place

Grappenhall near Warrington is an attractive Cheshire village with some interesting buildings and cobbled streets.

And everyone comments on them. So we would go as far as to say it is one of the key aspects of Grappenhall.

This is a stunning location and yet still often overlooked. So if you are in the North West, pop on down and come and say hello.

6:  Grappenhall – A Place Name With History

Don’t you love a bit of history? What about Grappenhall as a name?

The name is derived from group, grep, or grepe (meaning ditches/drains) and half (meaning flat land or flat ground) in Old English.

‘Gropenhale’ was the name given to the village in the Domesday Book of 1086. It was described as having a wood with deer, valued at five shillings, and had a religious meeting place.

It is impressive how far names go back and that we sort of understand them when we don’t.

5:  It is another canal-side gem

Canals are so often associated with transport and the waterside in Grappenhall is no exception.

A busy commercial enterprise once hauled coal from Worsley Mines near Manchester to industries in Widnes, Runcorn, and Northwich to generate chemicals.

The Bridgewater Canal was built for Francis Egerton, 3rd Duke of Bridgewater, by James Brindley and was completed in 1772. A pleasant stroll along the canal’s towpath is possible these
days.

And it makes for a great chill-out walk.

What is your favourite canal walk? Let us know.

4:  If you like Your Church History – you are sorted

Despite being largely rebuilt in the sixteenth century, the Church of St. Wilfred was originally a Norman church. 

The church was first recorded as having a rector in 1189.

A commemorative window in their honour decorates the small chapel added to the church in 1334 by the local Boydell family.

Several fragments of mediaeval stained glass from a chapel in Cheshire have been
preserved.

During nineteenth-century building work, a Saxon font of local red sandstone was discovered three feet below floor level.

Sir William Boydell was honoured with an effigy in the chancel in 1275.

Leonardo da Vinci’s painting of The Last Supper is incorporated into the reredos.

The reredos is carved in oak.  How showbiz is that!

This place can be overlooked as a great learning experience for all the family.

3:  Is it the Grappenhall Cat?

In Lewis Carroll’s famous children’s book Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, the grinning Cheshire cat is said to have been inspired by the carving of a cat on the west face of the church tower.

Born in Daresbury, Carroll grew up nearby. In front of the churchyard gate is the enclosure containing two stone stock uprights.

Our whole area references the Cheshire Cat, and this is no exception.

2:  The Garden People Often Miss

When Warrington banker Thomas Parr built a new house and estate for his family around 1830, he created the Grappenhall Heys Walled Garden.

To give the mansion a suitable setting, the land nearest it was designated parkland and the outer areas as farmland.

Since then, ponds, avenues, and woodlands have been added to the estate, which looks like it used to.

This landscape provides a record of gentry country estate design as a whole.

According to historical records, the estate was at its most productive and creative peak from 1875 to 1899. 

From 1875 to 1899 is regarded as the most significant time in garden design and production.

It is well worth a visit.

1:   Eating And Drinking In Old Fashioned Pubs

In Grappenhall village, the Parr Arms is a fabulous pub serving quality food and drinks.

Roaring fires and sumptuous décor provide a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

With a menu full of mouth-watering dishes and daily specials, they offer an extensive selection of cask ales and beers, along with a vast selection of wines for you to enjoy with friends, family, or business colleagues.

The Ram’s Head Inn is a traditional nineteenth-century pub in the picturesque village of Grappenhall in Cheshire.

The Ram’s Head was built in 1893 and had a well in the middle!

Besides cosy log burning stoves, the pub also has newly installed garden pods in its outdoor seating area. These provide shelter and warmth throughout the year.

Locally sourced, fresh produce powers a menu suitable for all occasions, whether casual lunch or business dinner, afternoon grazing, evening dining, or something special.

There is an excellent selection of cask-conditioned ales, including local favourites and lagers from around the world, glasses of wine for every occasion, and an extensive range of gins.

There is also coffee and delicious homemade cake available.

Sounds good to us!

So When Will You Visit Grappenhall?
Whether you are looking for an excellent base for the North West or just visiting
Grappenhall, this is somewhere you should put on your list of places to see.

It’s one of those hidden gems that can be inspiring, relaxing and a pleasure to visit.
A true local can tell you everything you need to know about Grappenhall In Cheshire.

We will be adding to the blog and would love to know your best food and drink options.

Some routes pass near Grappenhall on the following transport lines:

Bus: 47,5A, CAT5
The nearest main train station is Warrington Central.

Grappenhall 2023: Leave your comments and views below to add your ideas to the blog.