Latest News - 5k Run and Fun Run
As part of the May Day celebrations, a fun run and 5k race is being organized on the roads around Church Broughton in aid of the FCBS and Breast Cancer Campaign
Date: 3rd May 2009. Time: Fun Run, 4.00pm. 5k, 5.00pm.
Registration on the Church Broughton playing field. Fun Run from 3.30pm , 5k from 4.00pm.
Fun Run is approximately 1 mile and open to all ages – children to be accompanied by an adult.
5k is open to year 7 and older (born on or before 31st August 1997).
Entry Fees: Fun Run £1.00, Junior 5k £2.00, Adults 5k £3.00.
Prizes for fastest man, woman, junior* and best predicted time*. Judges decisions are final.
‘*’ Junior is for both boys and girls who are currently in academic years 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11. The best predicted time prize is awarded to the person who completes the race in the closest predicted time – if this results in a tie, then the winner is the one who completes the course in the fastest time. NB. Entrants into this competition are not permitted any form of time keeping device with them while completing the course (watch, mobile phone, etc.,.). In order to ensure fair competition, the course will be kept a closely guarded secret until just before the race.
Marshalls will be situated throughout the route, however as roads will not be closed for the event, runners are requested to keep to the left hand side of the road while running. All runners will run at their own risk and will be responsible for any children completing either the Fun Run or 5k that they have signed for. FCBS will not be liable for any injuries or losses suffered while completing either run.
Welcome to the Church Broughton website
Welcome to the Church Broughton Website. This website has been set up for the villagers of Church Broughton.
If you have any problems accessing the website, or would like more information please contact Matt Harlow at webmaster@churchbroughton.com.
The Holly Bush Public House & Restaurant
Why not check out the website for the only pub in the village, the Holly Bush.
Church Broughton History
If we are to put together a history of this village and area, there are a lot of gaps, so any knowledge you have to contribute is welcome. I know nothing about the Romans locally, except that there are a lot of straight roads around and Long Lane was a Roman road, between Derby and Rocester on the way to Chester.
In Saxon times, Tutbury was part of Mercia. Aethelred lived there and when he became King of Mercia in 674, he granted Hanbury to his pious niece, Werberga, and she erected a nunnery there. Offa and Kenulph, Kings of Mercia probably lived at Tutbury. In 824 the Danes overwhelmed Tutbury and Hanbury. Forty years later King Alfred's daughter expelled them, but they returned yet again and were finally defeated at a great massacre at Houndshill, five miles from Church Broughton.
Tutbury's hill protected by the river made it a good site. Scropton and Barton Blount were the large settlements on this side of the river. Scropton had the advantage of being close to the River Dove, and Barton Blount, at one time, had two mills on the Longford Brook. In 1968 our family drove over to the Spendloves' farm, by Barton Blount, where Maurice Beresford was excavating the deserted village. The part he uncovered had been there from the twelfth to the fourteenth century (1100s to 1306s). There was a large muddy area and, as Mr Beresford was as it were out, one of the group of prisoners from Sudbury, who were his workforce showed us round. In a way it seemed appropriate, because he was a down and out, but was so enthusiastic, it was if he had lived there. A flea crawled over his face as he showed us the saw pit and where the houses had been. We felt as if we were back in the twelfth century. Mr Beresford thought that, if he could have continued the excavation nearer Barton Hall, he would probably have got back to the 800s. The deserted village had been large and important. He found Chester pottery, which demonstrated wealth, and was excited by the proof of a two storey building. All the houses had been built of timber, without stone foundations, so I assume that Broughton would have been built similarly, with thatched rooves. Of course thatch continued till recent times. There is a photo of the Holly Bush thatched!
Before the roads were given road signs, Old Hall Lane was known as Back Lane and the part between the church and Old Hall Lane was called The Street. These are Saxon names, the chief village street being called The Street, and the land behind its houses contained by a back lane. On the 1626 map, houses lining both sides of The Street can be seen. The first main route into the village would have been from Heath Top to the church. There is the remains of a road from Chapel Lane across the fields to Barton. It passes humps in the first field, called Hall Orchard, which may be the remains of an ancient set of buildings. If you go by way of Badder Green, there is another ruin on the way to Lodge Hill. It would be very exciting if we could have a Church Broughton excavation.
The Hall Orchard is ridged. I don't know whether this is part of the old strip system or more recent drainage. The village had several fields divided so that each villager had some good strips and some wet or poor ones. Large meadows were available for grazing and between the villages was wild gorsey heath and woodland. You have to picture a third world situation. Everyone walked everywhere and used oxen for ploughing.
The text on this page is copyright Janet Arthur, Church Broughton