Audlem, Cheshire - Shroppie Fly, Shropshire Union Canal - Salmon postcard 1970s

Audlem is a large village and civil parish located in the unitary authority of Cheshire East and the ceremonial county of Cheshire in the north west of England, approximately 11 km (6.8 mi) south of Nantwich. Close to the border with the neighbouring county of Shropshire, the village is eight miles (13 km) east of Whitchurch and seven miles (11 km) north of Market Drayton. According to the 2001 census, the population of the entire civil parish was 1,790.^[1]

It is situated on the Shropshire Union Canal which has a run of 15 locks, designed by Thomas Telford, to raise the canal from the Cheshire Plain to the 93 feet (28 m) higher Shropshire Plain. The River Weaver passes west of the village. Audlem railway station closed along with the local railway line in the 1960s.

Audlem was mentioned in the Domesday Book as Aldelime, and Edward I granted it a market charter in 1295.^[2]

In 2005 it was voted Cheshire's 'Village of the Year' and the North of England 'Village of the Year' also the 'Most Vibrant Village in Cheshire'. After also winning the county's 'Building Community Life' award, Audlem went on to win England's 'Building Community Life' award. Audlem has clubs for tennis, badminton, football, cricket, golf, pigeon racing (or pigeon-fancying), caravanning and bowls. Cyclists meet informally at The Old Priest-House Cafe.

Moss Hall is an Elizabethan timber-framed hall from 1616 which is 0.5 miles (1 km) from Audlem village centre.

Saint James' primary school is the only school in the village.

British composer peter mcgarr (born 1953) has written several pieces inspired by Audlem, as homage to his mother who lived in the village when a child. ('Audlem Sonatas', 'Night-time' and 'Mourning Gamelan')^[3]