Population 1,033 (2011 Census) Region West Midlands Sovereign state United Kingdom Local time Sunday 11:54 PM Dialling code 01270 | OS grid reference SJ754485 Country England Post town CREWE Shire county Staffordshire UK parliament constituency Newcastle-under-Lyme | |
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Weather 6°C, Wind W at 14 km/h, 93% Humidity District Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme | ||
Betley is a village and civil parish in the Newcastle district of Staffordshire, England, about halfway between Newcastle-under-Lyme and Nantwich. Betley forms a continual linear settlement with Wrinehill.
Contents
Map of Betley, Crewe, UK
School
Transport
The A531 road passes through Betley as a non-primary route. It connects with the A525 road to the south and with the A500 road to the north.
Betley was once served by Betley Road train station on the present West Coast Main Line a few miles south of Crewe, but the station was inconveniently located some distance west of the village where it saw little use; despite being generously provided with four platforms it closed in October 1945.
History
Betley - meaning the 'clearing in the woods' of Bette (a Saxon woman's name) - is an ancient settlement. It is mentioned in the Domesday Book. It is one of several villages - including Buddileigh, Audley, and Madeley - which seem to be named after women. It had a major market, the charter for which was granted in the thirteenth century. At Betley Hall, a now-demolished country house, Charles Darwin conducted some of his zoological observations and Florence Nightingale visited. At another country house in the village, Betley Court (which is still standing), lived the Romantic poet Eliza Tollet. The church, dedicated to St Margaret of Antioch, is a beautiful medieval building (reasonably well-restored by George Gilbert Scott), with oak beams and a cricket ground to the rear.
Nearest places
Twin towns
Betley is twinned with: