Guilden Sutton

The likely meaning of the name Guilden Sutton is "golden south farm or settlement", derived from the Old English gylden (golden, rich) - sūð (south/southern) - tūn (a settlement, enclosure or farmstead).[3] This could perhaps be in reference to being at the southern extremity of the then Wilaveston Hundred.[4][5] Since the twelfth century, across a period of five hundred years, the name of the village has been spelt in different ways; such as Guldesocton, Guyldenesutton, Sutton-Gelders and Gilen Sutton.[4]

Guilden Sutton was mentioned in the Domesday Book as Sudtone, under the ownership of the Bishop of Chester and Robert FitzHugh.[6]

Several archaeological artefacts have been found in the vicinity of the village: a bronze coin of Licinius I (AD 307–324) was discovered behind the 'Bird in Hand' public house, a mediaeval lead spindle whorl, four 17th-century swords found in a house cellar, and a cannonball.[4]

Always an agricultural community, the parish even employed the services of a man to prevent cattle straying in the eighteenth century. Although electricity was available from 1925, other essential utilities such as a piped water supply did not extend to the main part of the village until 1945 and gas did not arrive until as late as 1968.[4]

The population of the parish grew considerably in the latter part of the twentieth century, from 442 in 1951 to 1,525 by 2001, due to boundary changes and significant residential development, such as the Oaklands estate by 1970. In the 1950s a large part of the neighbouring civil parish of Hoole was transferred to Guilden Sutton, adding another 209 inhabitants. More boundary changes occurred in 2015, further enlarging the Guilden Sutton civil parish.[7]

The original St John the Baptist's Church was probably built circa 1105. The earliest register of births, marriages and deaths dates back to 1595.[4] The church was damaged in a storm in 1802 and had been rebuilt by 1810. The present church is a designated Grade II listed building.[8]

The former Methodist Chapel was built in 1873; it ceased use as a church in 2010[9] and is now a house. The original village school was built in 1891 and the present church hall in 1916. The Bird in Hand public house has existed more or less in its present form since 1844, although it is believed to be much older.[4]

• Listed buildings in Guilden Sutton

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Guilden Sutton.

• Guilden Sutton Village