A Hidden Village Which Used To Form Part Of Runcorn And Linked To Liverpool's Slave Trade

Aston (or Aston-by-Sutton) is a village and civil parish in the unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 111, reducing slightly to 106 at the 2011 census

The village is just outside the Runcorn urban area. From 1974 to 2009 it was in Vale Royal district.

St Peter's Church is a Grade I listed building.

Aston was the seat of the Aston baronets of the County of Chester (baronetcy created 1628, extinct 1815)

Aston-by-Sutton was formerly a township and chapelry in the parish of Runcorn, in 1866 Aston by Sutton became a separate civil parish,on 9 November 1936 the parish was abolished and merged with Aston Grange to form "Aston".

In 1931 the parish of Aston by Sutton had a population of 220.

Chloe ‘Gambia” was born around 1760 and sold into Slavery. The Aston family, who she worked for were not involved in the Slave Trade. It is likely that Chloe was bought at a Slave Auction held at Liverpool in the late 1760s.

She was baptised in St Peter’s Church, Aston-by-Sutton in 1767 when she was aged 7 years or thereabouts.

Chloe Gambia must have been trusted and respected by the Aston Family. She worked her way up the Domestic Service ladder. She eventually became the Housekeeper at Aston Hall. A Housekeeper was the highest-ranking female servant in a household. She died of Breast Cancer.

She is buried in the same grave as three other servants. Her part of the Inscription reads


ALSO, CHLOE GAMBIA A NEGRESS WHO
DIED AT ASTON HALL ON 12TH OF SEPT
1838 AGED 77 YEARS OR THEREABOUTS.
SHE HAD LIVED IN THE ASTON
FAMILY FOR 70 YEARS

a nice little relaxed mooch this one a very small but interesting place indeed

apparently nowadays the population is just on 100

if you would like to buy me a coffee here is the link
https://buymeacoffee.com/g2emediag

all money goes back in to the channel and of course on hot drinks....cheers

#abandoned #urbanexploration #runcorn