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Prestbury

by Alec and Val Scaresbrook

The name is derived from Priest's Town, which is appropriate because the parish of St Peter's was one of the largest in the country.

St Peter's church

Even if you have no interest in churches (this one was begun in 1220), do wander around the beautifully wooded churchyard. This is a very old site of worship, as evidenced by an 8th century preaching cross, found in fragments in the church walls during renovation in 1841. The cross commemorates the first teaching of Christianity and it's thought that the pieces had been incorporated in the church wall for 400 years. The cross is now on display in a glass case in the churchyard, behind the church. Nearby is the Norman chapel, dating from 1190 and restored in the 18th century. As a consequence much is not original, but the doorway topped with its row of weathered figures is. Have a peep inside and step back 700 years in time.

The Priest's House

Now a bank, this striking black and white house on the left hand side of the main street, opposite the church, was once the vicarage, dating back to the 16th century. It fell into disrepair but fortunately was restored in the late 1960s. See the map below