Butley in the Domesday Book (1086)

Butley is named in the Domesday Book, compiled by Norman commissioners in 1086, entered under the hundred of Hamestan in Cheshire. The survey assessed Butley at 4.5 carucates of taxable land.

At the time of the survey, Butley supported a recorded population of 4 villagers, 10 smallholders, working 4 ploughs between them.

By 1086 Butley was worth 3 shillings, up from 2 shillings before the Conquest – in contrast to many Yorkshire neighbours whose valuations collapsed.

Resources Recorded at Butley (1086)

• Meadow: 14 acres

Other Settlements in Hamestan

• Adlington
• Bosley
• Bramhall
• Bredbury
• Capesthorne
• Cheadle
• Chelford
• Cranage
• Gawsworth
• Henbury
• Hollingworth
• Hungrewenitune
• Kermincham
• Leighton

The Meaning of the Name

The name Butley is of Anglo-Saxon origin. Its final element derives from the Old English word lēah, a woodland clearing or glade. The first element is most likely a personal name or an early descriptive term, now difficult to recover with certainty. Taken together the name probably meant something close to ‘a clearing’.

Remarkably, the name has changed little since 1086, when the Domesday scribes wrote it as Butley.

Listed Buildings Near Butley

Historic England records 26 listed buildings within about a mile of Butley. Listing protects structures of special architectural or historic interest, graded I (exceptional), II* (particularly important) and II.

Grade II

• Milestone Opposite Aldersey Fold - 0.47 km
• Cock and Pheasant Inn - 0.52 km
• Yew Tree House - 0.55 km
• 50 and 52, Bollington Road - 0.55 km
• Barley Grange - 0.55 km
• Church of St Oswald - 0.61 km
• Moss Cottage - 0.64 km
• Orchard House - 0.65 km
• 11, Moss Brow - 0.67 km
• 9, Moss Brow - 0.67 km
• Lowerhouse Mill Premises of Slater Harrison Limited - 0.67 km
• Nos 10 and 12 and Railings - 0.68 km
• The Corner Shop - 0.68 km
• Heywood’s - 0.71 km
• Stables at Number 101 - 0.77 km
• Heath House - 0.79 km
• Parish Boundary Stone at Sj 92296 77883 - 0.81 km
• Turner Heath - 0.81 km
• Parish Boundary Stone at Sj 92297 77883 - 0.81 km
• Heybridge Farmhouse - 0.96 km
• Briar Cottage - 1.1 km
• South Entrance Arch to Prestbury Railway Tunnel - 1.16 km
• Bollington Hall Farmhouse - 1.18 km
• Lord Clyde Inn - 1.27 km

…and 2 more listed structures in the area.

Scheduled Monuments Near Butley

Scheduled monuments are nationally important archaeological sites given legal protection. 1 lies within roughly a mile of Butley:

• Bowl barrow 60m north of junction of London Road and Bonis Hall Lane - 1.23 km

Butley Today

Today Butley lies within the administrative area of Prestbury.

Nearby Domesday Settlements

Other places recorded in the 1086 survey within a few miles:

• Hungrewenitune - 1.0 km W
• Adlington - 3.0 km N
• Mottram St Andrew - 3.6 km NW
• Macclesfield - 4.0 km S
• Henbury - 5.0 km SW
• Over Alderley - 5.1 km W