Guilden Sutton

History

Guilden Sutton was mentioned in the Domesday Book. Legend has it that the parish has always been "off the beaten track", with Roman Roads running close by. Indeed, there is a delightful story that Cromwell's men were unable to find it when they sought to punish the Royalist settlement, and that missing Chester plate is buried under an unspecified oak tree. Actual historic finds have been few: a bronze coin of Licinius I (AD 307–324) found behind the Bird in Hand, a mediaeval lead spindlewhorl, four 17th-century swords found in a house cellar, and a cannonball.

A church was probably built in the 12th or 13th century. The earliest register of births, marriages and deaths dates back to 1595; the Achdeacon’s corrections Books, recording the proceedings of church courts, refer to “Edward Dutton and Margaret his wife” being absent from church in 1673 and the churchwardens’ accounts reveal that 10s 6d (52.5p) purchased a coffin for Joseph Joynson in 1744.

In the mid-18th century, the parish consisted of 12 farm houses and eight cottages. Always an agricultural community, the parish had the services of a man to prevent cattle straying. The church was much damaged by a great storm in 1802 and was rebuilt. By 1810, the village was growing and had 24 houses and 120 people, increasing to 42 houses and 234 people 60 years later, including farmers, a blacksmith, a tile and brick maker, two boot and shoe makers, a painter and a bricklayer.

The Methodist Chapel was built in 1873, the original village school in 1891, and the present church hall in 1916.

By the 1930s, the village had grown to 404 people with electricity having arrived in 1925. Piped water did not extend to the main part of the village until 1945, and gas not until 1968. In 1951, part of a neighbouring area was transferred to Guilden Sutton, adding a further 209 inhabitants. Further new housing was added on a modest scale during the next 15 years, but plans were then drawn up for a large scale expansion which, now completed, has taken the village to its present size.

Parish Council

Guilden Sutton has an eight-member elected parish council. Elections will be contested for the first time in recent history in May 2011.

Following the election Cllr Kerfoot resigned from the council and was replaced by Bill Moulton, who had previously been a councillor between 2006 and May 2011.

None of the Parish Councillors in Guilden Sutton is affiliated with a political party. The Clerk to the Council is David Norbury.

Cheshire West and Chester Council

The new unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester Council replaced Chester City Council and Cheshire County Council on 1 April 2009. Shadow elections to the new unitary authority were held on 1 May 2008, in which Guilden Sutton was part of the Gowy Ward (based on the old Cheshire County Council division of the same name). In May 2011, the ward was renamed 'Chester Villages' and representation was reduced to two councillors. The election was won by Margaret and Stuart Parker for the Conservative Party. Existing Councillor Brian Bailey contested the seat as an Independent and Councillor Hugo Deynem contested the new seat of Tarvin and Kelsall.

Six candidates contested the new Chester Villages ward, of which Guilden Sutton is a part, on 5 May 2011.

Member of Parliament

The local MP is Chris Matheson, Labour, as Guilden Sutton is part of the City of Chester constituency. The former MP was Stephen Mosley.