the encyclopedic entry of Blacon

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Blacon

Blacon is a large ex-council owned housing estate near Chester, in Cheshire, England, containing a mixture of private homes and substantial public council-built properties. At one time it was one of the largest council housing estates in Europe, but is now owned, run and maintained by the Chester And District Housing Trust.

Geography

Blacon is situated adjacent to the Welsh border and is located on a hill, one mile to the north-west of, and overlooking Chester. The village is built on what was previously farming land and is surrounded by open countryside. Blacon has views across to the city centre of Chester and to the Welsh hills some twenty miles to the west. Other nearby places include Upton to the east and the villages of Mollington and Saughall to the north.

History

North Blacon (Blacon Hall)

Blacon was originally known as Blakon Hill and was owned by the Marquess of Crewe. The Parish of Blacon cum Crabwall was formed in 1923, and on 1 April 1936, under the Cheshire County Review Order, 1936, most of the parish was transferred to Chester County Borough.

It was a small farming village community until major building work by Chester City Council began in the early 1950s. Most of the older and original estate, was built in the ten years to 1960; though further parts were added on the old army camp site in South Blacon, in the late 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. 'The Parade' Shops, built in 1954 in north Blacon, are an example of Chester City Council building.

Blacon Camp (Blacon Lodge)

The British army had maintained an army camp in south Blacon, from just before, to just after, the second world war. A mixture of wooden and 'Nissen' huts were occupied by soldiers until the late 1950s; and the army firing range was still in evidence until the Chester City Council 'tower block' buildings of the mid-1960s. This part of Blacon is often referred to as 'The Camp'.

Community initiatives

The Blacon community are taking part in initiatives, led by the government's Neighbourhood Management Pathfinder Programme, and a number of projects have been established by, and for, Blacon residents.

Progress to improve the estate continues apace, with work done by the Blacon Community Trust and Blacon-Together already giving results. Discussions continue about further regeneration initiatives, both for north and south Blacon, with a timescale of three to seven years.

Policing

Blacon is home to the new headquarters of the Western Division of the Cheshire Constabulary

Schools

Primary

St. Theresa’s Catholic Primary School
J H Godwin Primary School
Dee Point Primary School
Highfield Community Primary School
The Arches Community Primary School

Secondary

Blacon High School, a specialist school (sports)
Blacon Young Peoples Project

Places of worship

There are several places of worship in Blacon to cater for Christian and Muslim faiths.

Blacon railway station

The station was closed to passengers on 9 September 1968 as part of the Beeching Axe for the economic modernisation of the British railway network in the mid-1960s. Freight trains ran through Blacon until 20 April 1984, resuming as a single track line on 31 August 1986 before closing again in the early 1990s.

Although the old station and railway line have gone, they have been replaced with a tarmac road surface, which now provides a cycle path, jogging track and a countryside walkway. This amenity is accessed from the side of old Blacon station bridge; but its route can also be joined (just off) Chester's 'Fountain' roundabout, travelling via Blacon, and on to the North Wales countryside. Other joined routes can be accessed along the way.