Kelsall

Geology

The western part of the parish (west of the Peckforton Fault) is underlain by the Wilmslow Sandstone Formation. East of the fault, the bedrock is largely Tarporley Siltstone with the underlying Helsby Sandstone occurring in some areas.

The lower ground in the west is largely covered by glacial till whilst higher ground in the east is free of superficial deposits. A small area of glacio-fluvial sands and gravels is mapped in the centre of the parish. A narrow strip of alluvium is associated with Salter's Brook.

The Peckforton Fault runs into the parish from the SE then turns north. It downthrows to the east. Two parallel unnamed faults, both downthrowing to the west, run NNE–SSW through Kelsall village, their southern ends terminating at the Peckforton Fault. They terminate against a short ENE–WSW aligned fault with a northerly downthrow at the northern end of the parish. The Clotton Fault which downthrows to the east runs NNW–SSE through the western part of the parish. The rocks within the faulted blocks have a gentle to moderate easterly dip.

History

On Christmas Eve, December 1944, a V-1 flying bomb exploded near Street Farm to the south of the village. It had been one of several aerial-launched rockets fired at Manchester by the German Luftwaffe. This explosion would be the most westerly impact of a V1 bomb during the Second World War.

Demographics

At the 2001 census the population of Kelsall civil parish was 2,525, increasing to 2,609 at the 2011 census. The total population of the Kelsall local government ward, which also included the village of Ashton Hayes, was recorded as 3,439. This ward had been amalgamated with Tarvin by the time of the 2011 Census.

Amenities

The village contains two churches, primary school, community centre, doctors' surgery, chemist, local store, butchers shop, four public houses, farm shop), and nursing and residential home. The Kelsall and District Rural Amenities Society (KADRAS) was formed in the late 1960s in order to stimulate public interest in the care and development of Kelsall's history, beauty and character.

The village also hosts the annual Chester Folk Festival every May. The £3.82m, two-mile A54 bypass opened in October 1986.

References

References

1. British Geological Survey 1:50K map sheet 109 '''Chester'''
2. (26 December 2024). "V1 Bomb Flying Over the Ridge 1944".
3. "2001 Census: Kelsall (civil parish)". Office for National Statistics.
4. "Parish population 2011".
5. "2001 Census: Kelsall (ward)". Office for National Statistics.
6. "Willington Fruit Farm Shop".
7. "About us...and what we do". Chester Folk Festival.