Quiet village where Martin Lewis spent childhood where homes now sell for £325k

Martin Lewis was born in Manchester and spent his idyllic childhood growing up in the Cheshire countryside, but his world was turned upside down when his mother was tragically killed

Martin Lewis CBE, an award-winning journalist and consumer champion, has empowered millions of Brits to save money and manage their finances.

The founder and Executive Chair of the popular Money Saving Expert website, this consumer expert also hosts his own prime-time ITV show, is a charity founder, author and, according to Google, the UK's 'most searched-for' British man. Throughout his career, he has led significant financial justice campaigns, including reclaiming bank charges and PPI.

Every week on his ITV1 show The Martin Lewis Money Show: Live, Martin provides comfort, consolation, and exceptional financial advice to people across the UK. Viewers occasionally witness him becoming emotional as he strives to assist those in dire circumstances.

Martin, truly a 'man for the people', was born in Didsbury, a suburb of Manchester, but spent his formative years in a rural village in Cheshire's Delamere Forest, attending The King's School in Chester.

He later studied Government and Law at the London School of Economics, where he engaged in political campaigning, before earning a postgraduate diploma in broadcast journalism at Cardiff University, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Currently, Martin resides in London with his TV presenter wife Lara Lewington and their daughter Sapphire. Despite having a blissful childhood in rural Cheshire, his world was shattered when his mother tragically died just before his 12th birthday.

Martin, originally from the snug village of Norley near Frodsham, opened up to BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs listeners about the stark impact his mother Susan's death had on him.

"My mum was there one day and she wasn't the next and that was it," he shared. "This was 1984 and you didn't have counselling. My childhood ended that day and I am still not over it."

In the year 2018, Martin unveiled a one-hour documentary dubbed '10 Things Your Kids Need To Know', which delved into the ways in which parents and educators can more adequately equip youngsters to tackle contemporary life's challenges.

Within this documentary, Martin offered a fleeting look at his past family abode in Norley. This delightful hamlet boasts a mere 1,219 dwellers and features the lovable Tigers Head public house.

Though small, Norley sits a mere five miles from the historic market town of Frodsham, one of Cheshires most ancient settlements with a market tradition stretching back to the 13th century. The bustling weekly market continues to add to its old-world allure alongside quaint streets, vintage structures, and individualistic stores that furnish the town with an air of everlasting allure.

Visitors can delve into the history of the 12th-century St Laurence's Church, revel in homely pubs and cafes, and embark on treks along the Sandstone Trail commencing in the town. Its advantageous location also primes it as a perfect spot for outdoor pursuits and for visiting nearby draws such as Chester and the Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet.

In 2022, Frodsham topped the list of ten rural towns, villages and hamlets that are drawing the most demand from buyers seeking a significant lifestyle change, as ranked by Rightmove.

Frodsham is a highly sought-after place to live, with properties averaging £324,842 over the past year. Detached properties were the market's mainstay, selling for an average of £461,779, while semi-detached homes averaged £300,604 and terraced properties £207,462, according to Rightmove.

Just outside the town lies the 2,400-acre Delamere Forest. As one of the county's largest woodlands, it's ideal for outdoor activities such as walking, cycling, birdwatching, and horse riding.

The forest's varied landscape includes woodlands, clearings, and picturesque trails, and is home to wildlife like woodpeckers, buzzards, foxes, and deer.

It also boasts a visitor centre, cafe, picnic areas, and a Go Ape adventure course. Its peaceful setting and proximity to Chester and Manchester make it a favoured nature retreat.