Holmes Chapel

Holmes Chapel is a village and civil parish in Cheshire, England, 8 mi north of Crewe and 21 mi south of Manchester; Swettenham Meadows Nature Reserve lies 2.5 mi east of the village and Goostrey lies to the north.

The population of the village was 6,700 at the 2021 census; it has since grown, due to a number of large housing developments.

History
Cotton Hall, where John Cotton was resident in 1400, remained the family seat until the 18th century when Daniel Cotton married into the Booths of Twemlow; a cadet branch of the family were created baronets and then Viscounts Combermere. Cotton Hall dates from at least the 15th century, with some additions in the 17th, 19th and 20th centuries. A farm and estate, just off Middlewich Road, Cotton Hall is now listed Grade II* under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, as amended, for its special architectural or historic interest.

Amenities
The village has a number of public houses. There is a major supermarket (Aldi), several smaller supermarkets, a precinct, and numerous outlets including a fish and chip shop, off licence, pizzeria, estate agent, a chemist, a library and a bakery. There is a GP practice on London Road.

The town has one secondary school, Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School, and two primary schools: Holmes Chapel Primary School and Hermitage Primary School.

Geography
Holmes Chapel, set within the Cheshire Plain, lies on the mid-reaches of the River Dane as it meanders its way around the north end of the village. The village is within the Unitary Authority district of Cheshire East, and used to be administered by Congleton borough.

Holmes Chapel has been twinned with Bessancourt, France, since 1980.

Points of interest
St Luke's Church was built in about 1430. Originally half-timbered, the brick walls encasing the nave and chancel are later additions. It was designated a Grade I listed building on 14 February 1967.

Transport
Holmes Chapel railway station is sited on the Crewe-Manchester Line, which is a spur of the West Coast Main Line. Northern operates hourly stopping services between Manchester Piccadilly and Crewe, making the village convenient for commuters.

The village is served by two bus routes; both are operated by D&G Bus:
 * 42: Crewe to Congleton (Monday to Saturday)
 * 319: Sandbach to Goostrey (Monday and Thursday).

Junction 18 of the M6 motorway serves both Holmes Chapel and nearby Middlewich.

Music

 * Harry Styles (born 1994), singer and member of boy band One Direction. From Jun 2024 Holmes Chapel Partnership are beginning to run guided walking tours of the village, lasting about 2.5 to 3 hours and including popular locations related to Styles, such as Mandeville's Bakery and Twemlow Viaduct.

Politics

 * Major Philip Glazebrook (1880–1918), Conservative MP for Manchester South until he was killed in the First World War

Sports

 * Dean Ashton (born 1983), footballer
 * Ryan Brooke (born 1990), footballer
 * Sir Henry Cotton MBE (1907–1987), golfer
 * Seth Johnson (born 1979), footballer
 * Tom Lowery (born 1997), footballer
 * Andy Porter (born 1968), football manager and footballer
 * Shirley Strong (born 1958), Olympic athlete