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A HISTORY

ALTRINCHAM & BOWDON,

HISTORY

ALTRINCHAM AND BOWDON,

SSrrounf of il^p Sarong anb j^ousp of ^unl^am.

BY
ALFRED INGHAM.

" Jumping o'er times,
Turning th' accomplishment of many years
Into an hour-glass."— Shakespeare.

^Ux:itt,t6fam :
MACKIE, BREWTNALL AND CO., GUARDIAN OFFICE,
1879.

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

EARL OF STAMFORD AND WARRINGTON,
LORD OF THE MANOR OF ALTRINCHAM,
THIS VOLUME IS
(BY HIS LORDSHIP'S PERMISSION)
^espectfuUi? HeUicatefl,
BY THE AUTHOR,

PREFACE.

In accordance with ancient custom, the author indites
a few lines by way of preface. This work has been the
outcome of that little leisure which falls to the lot of
those connected with the press, and as such has occupied
him for a period of over three years.
His hearty acknowledgments are due to many gentle
men for the perusal of valuable books and documents,
and also for the kindly encouragement he has received
during the compilation of its pages. His earnest endeavour
has been to make everything so plain that even " he who
runs may read." There has been no display of learning,
and there are no footnotes or other aids to bewilder
ment and confusion.
It is an honest attempt to set forth the facts
connected with a district singularly rich in historical
associations. In this respect it appeals to a much wider
constituency than that for which it is intended. While
the description of Bowdon Parish Church, and its numer
ous monuments, will be only valuable locally, the House
of Dunham, many of whose members have been conspicuous

viii Preface.
at various critical periods of our country's history, will
possess an almost national interest.
Altrincham, too, as one of the oldest towns in the
kingdom, is well deserving of a permanent record. It is
amongst the few which have preserved intact their ancient
charters of incorporation under the feudal system. Its
customs were embalmed only in the memories of one or
two old inhabitants, and they are now reproduced for the
first time.
The fac simile of the Altrincham charter which
appears in the following pages is a reproduction in
photo-hthography. It therefore gives the document as
it actually appears, with its age-worn blots and creases.
As a whole, the work is intended not only to form a
book of reference, but also a local history in which the
progress of the district is depicted from the earliest period
to the present day.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I.
PAGE
Bowdon, a peep at the past, geological, historical, and romantic — Boaden
Downs — Watling Street, signs of Roman occupation — The tumulus in
the Park — An old Saxon coin — The Barons of Dunham, their position
and power — The Crusader's Cedar — The legend of the Seven Sisters —
" The last of the barons" 1-15
CHAPTER II.
The Parish Church, its claims to antiquity — The yew trees, a relic of
Saxon Christianity — The wakes, their origin and use — An old bead roll
and its record — Description ol the old church — Value of the living six
centuries ago — The ringers' orders — A law suit — Another bead roll and
its record — Memorials of old families — The Brereton monument — The
Dunham Chapel, &c. 16-27
CHAPTER III.
Description ofthe old church, continued — The tales told by the tombstones
and the tablets — A curious old stone 28-34
CHAPTER IV.
The Parish Church, its restoration — Reminders and relics of antiquity —
Description of restored edifice — Tablets to the Ven. Archdeacon Pollock,
and to the first Vicar of St. Margaret's — The stained glass windows and
their donors — A run through the registers — Curious and interesting
extracts — the Bowdon proverb — Notices of Vicars, with list — The
ancient rating valuation, ormize, list of benefactions, &c. 35-55
CHAPTER V.
Altrincham 600 years ago — The ancient charter — Sanjam fair — Election of
Mayor, form of an oath and proclamation — The Court of Pye Powder —
Importance of the bellman — A Mayor's wisdom — The Earl's Christinas
box — Sayings regarding the Mayor — Election of burgesses — Progress of
the trust and its disposal —List of Mayors 56-75
CHAPTER VI.
A retrospect — Sundry lawsuits — The first Booth of Dunham Massey; his
supposed death at the Battle of Blore Heath — A Booth knighted by
Queen Elizabeth — Interesting wills — Dame Booth's Charity — Contribu-
butions to the defence of the Kingdom — Dr. Dee's reference to Sir Geo.
Booth — Purchase of the town of Warrington ; the instructions thereon
— Death of William Booth 76-86

X Contents.
CHAPTER vn. PAGi
Birth of Sir George Booth, first Lord Delamer — Description of Sir William
Brereton — Indictment against Sir George ; his part in attempting to
pacify the county — Its failure — The siege of Nantwich — Spirited de
fence — Defeat of the Royalists — Sir George elected member for Che
shire; his exclusion by Colonel Pride's purge — RoyaHst attempts at
a Restoration — Sir George's celebrated rising — The Battle of Winning-
ton — His betrayal and arrest : his committal to the Tower — Release
and re-election — His improvements at Dunham — Description of the old
mansion — His death 87-95
CHAPTER VIII.
The second Lord Delamer ; his popularity ; his advocacy of the people's
rights — Court jealousy — His committal to the Tower on three occasions;
his remarkable trial at Westminster Hall ; his eloquent defence and jus
tification ; his retirement to his seat in Cheshire ; his support of the
Prince of Orange ; his subsequent honourable career and death 96-105
CHAPTER IX.
The House of Dunham, continued — The Second Earl of Warrington ; his
character and literary attainments — The union of the House of Dun
ham with that of Stamford — The Honorable Booth Grey — " Domestic
happiness, a family picture " — The revival of the lapsed titles of Baron
Delamer and Earl of Warrington — Biography of the present Earl 106-115
CHAPTER X.
The Maceys of Altrincham — A rebellious subject — The Bowdon family —
Disposal of lands — Some old district names — Bowdon free school —
Guy Faux at Altrincham — A witty Bowdon Curate — The Unicorn
Hotel 300 years ago — An Altrincham landlord and landlady ofthe olden
time — Sir Peter Leycester's description of the town in 1666 — The story
of the "Bloody field" — Adam Martindale at Dunham; his duties
there — Bowdon Dissenters troublesome — Dick Turpin ; his exploits at
Newbridge Hollow and Hoo Green 113-121
CHAPTER XI.
Indications of growth and enterprise — Thc cutting of the Bridgewater
Canal — A few figures — Manufacture of woollen and cotton yarn — Obso
lete punishments : penance, cucking stool, scold's bridle, public whip
pings in the Altrincham Market-place — Executions for burglaries at
Bowdon — A man hanged for poaching near Altrincham — The ancient
custom of souling — The entertaining play of St: George and the Dragon
— Wassailing and Christmas carols — The barley hump and Dunham ale
— The lions of Dunham — Altrincham races — Dunham Parks and the
Hall — De Quincey's description of Altrincham 122-129

Contents. xi
CHAPTER XII. PAOE
Ecclesiastical Altrincham : The Wesleyan Methodist Churches — Wesley's
visits to Altrincham — St. George's Church ; its Schools, &c. — An
Altrincham Centenarian — The Unitarians ; their early history ; descrip
tion of the New Chapel in Dunham Road — The Methodist New
Connexion — The Independents or Congregationahsts, with some
notices of their Pastors and Work — St. Margaret's, Dunham Massey
— St. John's— The Old Downs Chapel— The Primitive Methodists 130-148
CHAPTER XIII.
More looks into old books — Visit of strolling players — Disappearance of
town documents — Appointment of town's attorney — Wages a century
ago — Disturbances'in Altrincham — Another Altrincham industry — The
fire engine — The old handcuffs — A jury list — The expenses of the great
well — Altrincham highways indicted — Hard times ; a display of public
spirit — The select vestry — Extracts from the books ; a stray parcel of
gloves — How the town got a sundial — Substitutes for the Militia —
Disrespect for proclamations — A worthy overseer — Dread of hydro
phobia, &c. 149-159
CHAPTER XIV.
Description of Altrincham and Bowdon 50 years ago — The old Market
Place ; its ancient cross, lock-ups, and star chamber — Higher Town
boys V. those of Lower Town — The town field — An Altrincham
Carnival^The loyalty of the town — The first Altrincham undertaker
— Altrincham Woolcombers and their Bishop Blaize festival — Bowdon
bull baiters, and Altrincham cockfighters — Salt works at Dunham —
The destruction of small birds — The churchwardens and their duties —
Formation of the Altrincham Poor Law Union ; the old workhouse and
its management — Cutting of the Bowdon line — Lloyd's Hospital —
Introduction of coal gas into Altrincham — Formation of the Gas
Company ; negotiations for the purchase of the works and their results ;
Altrincham and Bowdon Literary Institution ; the Altrincham and
Bowdon Local Boards — Concluding remarks 160-182
Appendix 183-189

HISTORY OF
ALTRINCHAM & BOWDON.

CHAPTER I.
Bowdon, a peep at the past, geological, historical, and romantic
— Boaden Downs — Watling Street, signs of Roman occupation
— The tumulus in the Park — An old Saxon coin—The Barons of
Dunham, their position and power — The Crusader's Cedar — The
legend of the Seven Sisters — " The last of the har ons."
jOWDON, eight centuries ago, was spelled Bogedon,
or the hill or down by a bog. It was so written
in the Domesday Book, and was comprised in the ancient
hundred of Bochelau, whence our modern Bucklow, in the
eastern division of which it is still included. It has also
been written Bodon, Bodeon, Bawdon, Boaden, Bauden,
Boden, and Bowden ; but the modernized spelling of
Bowdon now prevails. This is derived from two Anglo-
Saxon words signifying Bode, a dwelling, and Don or
Dun, a plain upon a rising hill or down.
Geologists tell us, with the charming uncertainty they
always attach to their " periods," that Bowdon has little
interest for them, — that it was once an enormous sand
bank, left by the receding waves of a restless ocean, to be
at a subsequent time transformed by the God of Nature
into a lovely garden, the loveliness of which was to be
heightened and enhanced by the ingenuity and art of
man, B

2 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
It may be very safely assumed that it was not then
the pleasant place of residence it has since become. It
had not the same delightful prospects of pastoral scenery,
of grassy plain and lovely woodland, hemmed in by masses
of billowy vegetation. The pre-historic Bogedonian — if
there was such a creature — looking southwards from the
hill side, would have seen the waves beating at the foot
of the vale, where the shingle of the sea beach was quite
recently uncovered ; later still, he might have viewed
what is now called Alderley Edge, and the more distant
Mow Cop, looking out on a vast expanse of moor and
morass, studded here and there with a consumptive dwarf
oak ; but he could have formed no conception of the
changes to be wrought, as if by fairy wand, in future ages.
The "proud hill's crest" had not become dotted with
those stately homes which in so marked a degree con
tribute to set off Nature's beauties. It had not even those
prim ivy-covered quaint old houses which peep out at the
passer-by from their nests of umbrageous foliage and over
hanging trees, as if very modesty prevented their coming
to the front in all the boldness of modern paint and stucco.
" Sleepy hollow," as Altrincham has been termed, was
unknown, and that almost universal edible, the potato, did
not flourish in unchecked luxuriance on the Downs, and
form a special cry in the adjacent market of Cottonopolis.
All that can, with any degree of confidence, be relied upon
as giving Bowdon a place in early English history is the
mention of it which occurs in the Domesday Book, of
which more hereafter, and when among other things, there
was a Church and a Priest, with his half-a-hide of land,
a hide being as much as one plough would cultivate in a
year, 60 to 120 acres according to the peculiar reckoning
of the times, and which said Priest lived contentedly
amongst his meagre and widely-scattered flock, and was
passing rich on the forty pounds a year of the period.
There are, however, evidences of this portion of the
district having been inhabited long before the Conquest.
The British Road, well known by the name of Watling

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 3
Street, runs through it, and was adapted by the Romans
to suit their own purposes. The ancient Roman Road, as
traced by that eminent authority, Whitaker, commences
at the ford of the Mersey called Stretford, continues to
Broadheath, where the Roman Road keeps the middle of
the heath, and was discovered on the cutting of the Bridge-
water Canal which crosses its line. It is then seen in the
enclosures about Oldfield Hall, and in crossing the Moss
is known by the name of Upcast. It afterwards ascends
the hill, enters (skirts) Dunham Park, passes on to Street
head, and crossing the Bollin falls into the modern
road at Newbridge. It was comprised in the Roman
province of Flavia Csesariensis ; and subsequently, in the
sixth century, by a course of events in which Britain had
passed through the fiery ordeal of Saxon subjugation and
civil war, it became included in the Kingdom of Mercia.
No doubt, the army of Danes, who are said to have
taken possession of Chester in the latter end of the year
894, (according to the Saxon chronicle,) marched through
it from Northumberland. There are still most con
clusive evidences of Roman or Danish occupation in
the tumuli or barrows which are to be seen in Dunham
New Park. One of them is marked on the Ordnance
Survey Map, and there are also others at Bollington and
Baguley, but both these are either more level, or considerably
reduced in size. These tumuli are the most ancient form
of burial places known, and were in extensive use amongst
the Romans and Danes, who probably derived it in their
turn from the Greeks, for the custom is mentioned by
Homer. Some of these tumuli, as at Marathon, are very
large, and it is said that the higher they are the greater
must the deceased have been held in esteem by their
fellows. The tumulus marked on the Ordnance Survey
Map exists on the north side of the New Park, and is
known more generally by the name of Beech Mount, being
marked by a clump of these noble trees, some of which
are beginning to exhibit signs of decrepitude and old age.
In his work, " Britannia Romana," published by Horsley in

4 History of Altrincham and Bnwdon.
1732, he refers to this, when discussing the place where
the Roman station, Condate, — the exact site of which has
been the subject of much controversy amongst anti
quarians — shall be placed. He says: — "The urns which
have been found, and the barrows that are in Dunham
Park, belonging to the Earl of Warrington, and the
military way near it, render it highly probable that the
Roman Road has gone directly from Manchester to
Chester through or near to Northwich, the piece of
Roman Road by Altrincham pointing directly towards
Chester and Manchester, and not at all towards Congleton.
It is in the middle of a field near the road which now
leads from Manchester to Chester and is called the Street.
This leaves little room to doubt that the military road,
and consequently, the iter (way) has proceeded this way to
Chester, which is also further confirmed by the name of
Stretford on the Mersey."
Thus, in a somewhat interesting manner, is related an
important fact. It is in this road that the Romans have
left a mark of their enduring greatness, when all appear
ances of ancient Saxon power have been completely effaced.
These urns speak to us of Rome in her palmy days ;
but the mounds tell a story which may extend beyond.
Imagination pictures a somewhat rugged country, studded
with the kraals or mud dwellings of the aboriginal
inhabitants, — a time when, according to Lucian, the
monk, the county exported slaves and horses. Near the
great highroad would be the dwelling of the hardy chieftain.
At his death, guided by -those sesthetic tastes instinct
even in savage nations, the nearest spot on which nature
had greatly lavished her beauties would be selected for
his burial place, and at what would then be the head of
a mossy dell would his remains be laid. There would
be the long procession of bearded warriors and slaves,
headed by weirdly robed priests, who, amidst meanings
and lamentations, would perform, with mysterious and
perhaps ghastly rites, the last offices for the dead. The
huge tumulus would be raised, with nothing but its height

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 5
to remind the people that buried greatness there reposed
in its last long sleep ; with no image or legendary scroll
to record, for the information of succeeding generations,
the names and deeds of the mighty dead; his very
remembrance would in time be blotted out. But he
would have a grand burial place, not perhaps graced
with the virtues of consecration, except in the sense in
which nature reflects Nature's Deity. There, we may
leave him in nature's presence-chamber itself, — and, if we
could have seen it then, standing out like the refreshing
greenery of the desert oasis, in "the forest primeval,"
where The murmuring pines and the hemlocks
Bearded with moss, and in garments green, indistinct in the twilight.
Stand like Druids of old, with voices sad and prophetic ;
Stand like harpers hoar, with beards that rest on their bosoms.
Another interesting memento of the ancient associations
of Bowdon may here be mentioned. Not very many years
ago, a bystander, who was watching the sexton of the
Parish Church open out a grave, observed in one of the
shovels full of earth thrown out something black and round.
This, on rubbing, gave out a bright appearance, and, on
being placed in the hands of an antiquarian, proved to be a
silver penny of Eadmund, one of the early Saxon Kings,
and grandson of Alfred the Great. On the obverse was
Eadmund Rex, in the centre being a small cross. On the
reverse, amongst other things, was the word Ingel \\ Gar,
M. T., or really, Ingelgar, Moneyer. Probably the sandy
soil into which the coin had been dropped prevented
corrosion, as it was in an admirable state of preservation.
The capital letters were well formed, and differed very
little from our modern ones, except the G, which was
very square in form, and the M, which consisted of two
outer stems like capital I's connected not by an inner
acute angle like a V, but by a slight curve or festoon at
the top. This Ingelgar was, during the years 941-945,
a moneyer to Anlaf, at that period King of Northumbria,
who, in the latter year, was expelled by Eadmund. Ingelgar,

6 History of A Itrincham and Bowdon.
in addition to Anlaf, was moneyer to three other Kings;
Eric, also a King of Northumbria, and to Eadmund, and
his brother and successor Eadred. The coin was thought
to have been struck at Manchester, on account of its
proximity to Bowdon ; but as there was also a Mint at
Chester, there is no conclusive evidence on this point.
We now leave for the present speculation behind, and pro
ceed to the consideration of authentic records. With the
advent]of William the Conqueror, and the consolidation of his
power in England, we see the establishment of a feudalism
which was to leave its mark and impress on the people to
our own time. The County of Chester, which was then
looked upon in the light of a little kingdom, was amongst
the last in England to yield to his army, and the city did
not fall into his hands until 1070. Shortly afterwards the
Earldom of Chester was given by the King to his nephew,
Hugh D'Avaranches, son of Eichard Gosse, and sur-
named Hugh la Loup, or Hugh Lupus, on account of his
bearing a wolf's head on his shield. The Earl had his
Council of Barons spiritual and temporal, with all the
usual officers of the Court and a reigning Sovereign. The
county was parted amongst the Normans, and the old
Saxon possessors turned out. Amongst the Normans
in the Roll of Battle Abbey, quoted by HoUinshed, appears
the name of Hamound. This again is given in ancient
charters as Hamund ; and as he was a most important
personage, it is beyond doubt that he is the same Ham-
unde or Hamo who held the Barony of Doneham or
Dunham, at the time of the Domesday Survey, in 1086, and
who dwelt at the Castle, which in all probability was
founded by a Saxon predecessor. These barons held their
Lordships from the Earl of Chester, and the tenants of
the farms from the barons. In an old poem written about
300 years ago, it is said of the first Earl of Chester, that
On Hamon Massy he did bestow
The Dunham Massy barony ;
To whom there did succeed in rowe
Five heires of his successively.

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 7
From henceforth 'mongst the female heires
It scattered was for many years ;
Yet most part, after ages passed.
To Fitton of Bollin came at last.
Another version gives it : —
Vpon Hughe Massey he did bestow
the Dunham Massey barronj'e,
to whom their did succeed in row
8 (5) heyres of his successivelye ;
from thenceforth mongst the femall heyres
it scattered was for many yeeres,
yet most part after ages past
a Boothe of Du[n]ham came at last.
The entry in Domesday Book says that " Hamo holds
Doneham; Elward held it, and was a freeman; there is
one hide of land rateable to the gelt ; the land is three
carucates ; one is demesne ; and there are two neatherds,
two villeins, and one bordar; and one acre of wood, and
one house in the city (of Chester) ; in the time of King
Edward it was worth 12s. ; now los. It was waste."
It also states that the same Hamo " holds Bogedone;
Elward held it and was a free man; there is one hide
rateable to the gelt ; the land is two carucates ; there are
two foreigners having one carucate ; there is a priest and
a church to which half this hide belongs ; also a grinding
mill rendering 16 pence ; it was waste, and so [the Earl]
found it."
It may be well to explain the meaning of one or two of
these terms. The quantity of a hide, as has been already
mentioned, appears to have varied considerably. The
land rateable to the gelt was that which was taxed for the
purpose of subsidizing the invading Danes, and a caru
cate, or carve, or ploughland, was generally eight
oxgangs, or bovates — 224 acres. There do not seem to
have been any radmen or roadmen in either township,
although there was one in Hale ; but those of a lower
order, viz., neatherds, &c., are noted. Radmen were
those who served their superior lords on horseback, and

8 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
were freemen in a certain sense. Villeins were those
whose ^state of vassallage almost amounted to slavery;
neatherds or bovarii were employed in attending to the
cattle, and in other servile work ; and bordars, or boors,
held small portions of land, and were probably bound to
supply the table of the Lord of the Manor with eggs,
poultry, &c.
That historian and antiquarian par excellence, Sir Peter
Leycester, shrewdly guesses that Hamon the Norman
dispossessed Elward the Saxon of his lands in this
neighbourhood, after having had them " given " to him by
the Earl ; but in addition to these he held Hale, Ashley,
half of Owlerton — now OUerbarrow — Bromhale, Puddington
in Wirrall, and other lands, by military service ; he
being bound to attend the King in time of war with a
certain number of horse and foot, and immediately repair
to the King's summons with his whole posse should an
enemy's army come into Cheshire, or should Chester
Castle be besieged. An engraving in King's "Vale Royal"
represents the Earl of Chester in Parliament assembled,
his eight barons seated on each side of him, and amongst
them, the first on his left-hand side, distinguished by his
arms — quarterly, gules and or, in the first quarter a lion
passant, argent, — is to be seen Hamo of Dunham. At the
barrier which divides the room into two portions, are a
number of adherents, who appear to be pressing their
claims to lands, which, having been won by the sword,
will be so held and esteemed good title to them in the
future. The Castle of Dunham was greatly strengthened by
Hamon, so as to resist successfully the marauding pro
pensities of avaricious neighbours. He was one of the most
influential of the barons, and from the fact of his Castle
being situated near the great Roman road, it formed a
powerful position of defence in case of invasion. The
Counties Palatine, says one writer, were judged to be in
greater danger than the others, and greater attention
was therefore paid to their defences. The adjoining County

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. g
Palatine of Lancaster was surrounded by a chain of forts,
one of which was at Widnes, where a baron was stationed
to protect that side from the incursions of the Cheshire
people ; and the jealousy being mutual, opposite to this on
the Cheshire side was Halton Castle, placed in such a
manner as to guard the county from any^ surprise either
from Warrington, another Lancashire barony, or Runcorn
Ferry. The next barony was Newton, erected as well to
strengthen Warrington as to oppose any passage out of
Cheshire, and opposite to this was placed Hamon at
Dunham. Hamon in his lifetime gave to St. Werburgh's
at Chester, the village of Northerden (Northenden), in the
Maxfield or Macclesfield Hundred. He had a son and
heir, named after him, Hamon, and also Robert Massey,
who was a witness to the first Randle's charter of
confirmation to the Abbey of St. Werburgh in Chester,
about A.D. 1124.
The second Hamon had issue Hamon, a son and heir,
and Robert Massey, from whom sprang the Masseys of
Sale. This is probably the Hamon Massey who is noticed
in one of the ancient chronicles as having held the Castle
of Dunham against Henry II. in 1173, during the rebel
lion of which Hugh Earl of Chester was principal leader.
He gave the lands of Bramhall, or Bromale, to Matthew
de Bromale by charter, of which the following is a trans
lation : —
Hamo de Masci to all his friends, both clerical and lay,
as well present as to come, sends greeting. Know ye all
that I have granted, &c., to Matthew de Bromale, Brom
ale and Dokenfeld and two parts of Baguley, which his
father held of me and my heirs in fee [by the service] of
a breastplate [meaning that he should render or pay for
his lands a man armed with a breastplate for military
defence, or its equivalent in money, at a later period,
every year] to him and his heirs, to hold of me and my
heirs freely and quietly, &c., making to me and my heirs
the free service in fee of one breastplate ; and know ye
that I have quit claimed the said Matthew and his heirs

IO History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
and the aforesaid lands, to me and my heirs, of the service
and custom which I, the said Hamo, used to demand
from them, namely, of ploughing, mucking, and sowing
corn, and of making hay, and doing homage of estovers
[providing food] , pannage, and of all other services except
the service of the fee of one breastplate. These being
witnesses : Roger de Massie, William de Carington, Robert
de Massie, and Richard de Fitton, and very many others,
both seeing and hearing the same.
The third Hamon married Agatha de Theray, and had
several children, the eldest of whom was a son named
after his father. He died about the end of the reign of
King John, or the beginning of that of Henry III., and
his wife Agatha survived him. He is said to have given
to his brother John Massey all the land of Moreton. He
also confirmed to Robert, son of Waltheof or Fitz Wal-
theof, all his father's lands in Bredbury, Brinnington, and
Etchells, by a very interesting charter, which has been
translated as follows : —
Hamo de Masci to all his men, whether French or
English, clerical or lay, as well in the future as now
living, sendeth greeting. Be it known to you all that I
have regranted to Robert, the son of Waltheof, all the
land which Waltheof, his father, held of me and my
ancestors for his inheritance, that is to say Hecheles
(Etchells) with all that appertains to it, to him and his
heirs, holding of me and my heirs freely, quietly, and
peaceably, by the service of half a knight's fee. And I
[the said] Hamo reserve to my own use, stag, hind and
boar in Hulreswood, and the other liberties shall remain
to Robert, the son of Waltheof, and his heirs. And I
[the said] Hamo regrant to Robert, the son of Waltheof,
Bredburie and Brinintone, with their appurtenances, as his
inheritance to him and his heirs, to hold of me and my
heirs, by the service of carrying my bed, my arms or my
clothing, whenever the Earl [of Chester] in his own
proper person shall go into Wales. And I [the said]
Hamo will fully furnish [the said] Robert, the son of

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. ii
Waltheof, and his heirs, with a sumpter beast, and a
man and a sack, and we will find estovers [sufficient
food] for the man and the sumpter beast aforesaid whilst
he is with us in the field, until he shall be returned
to the said Robert or his heirs. And Robert, the son of
Waltheof, shall pay aid to ransom my body from captivity
and detention, and to make my eldest son a knight, and
to give my eldest daughter a marriage portion, in considera
tion of which [the said] Robert has given me a gold ring.
The conditions named in this charter were usual under
the feudal system, when the kingdom was really the en
campment of a great army and military ideas predominated.
While the vassal was thus bound to render service to his
lord, and to attend as assessor in his court of justice, the
lord in his turn was bound to afford him protection in case
of his fief being attacked; but the defence of each other's
person was reciprocal.
As freedom broadens down, we frequently find in sub
sequent writings the Barons of Dunham conceding to their
squires the right that neither they nor their heirs or tenants
shall be impleaded or brought to trial for any offence in
the Court at Dunham, which was a most valuable right,
as the barons had most extraordinary privileges, on their
own estates, and in their hands was reposed the power
of life and death. So late as the year 1597 this right was
exercised in the Baronial Court of Kinderton, where Hugh
Stringer was tried for murder, convicted and executed.
It was probably about this period that Roger de Masci,
of Hale, son of Geffrey Masci (being possessed of one half
the lands in " Bodeon"), sold them unto Agatha de Massey
for the sum of £^ 7s. in money, and two robes, one for
himself and the other for his wife, " rending there for
yearly one pound of cumming seed at the feast of Saint
Martin." These lands, Agatha, by another deed, in which
she styles herself de Theray, gave to Robert her younger
son, whom she made heir thereof by the consent of Hamon,
her eldest son.
Hamon, the fourth baron, was, like his father, liberally

12 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
disposed towards the Church, and gave to the Priory of
Birkenhead, which was founded by his father, the advowson
and donation of the church of Bowdon, as also half an
acre of land in Dunham, to wit, " that which lieth between
the land of the church of Bowdon and the land of John
Provost of Dunham, and one acre of land in ... .
at the head of the croft of John Villar and Thomas Criar."
He subsequently by charter, addressed to " all the
children of the holy Church, chiefly to my heirs and
friends, and all my tenants, clarkes, and laymen," gave
liberty to the monks to elect their own prior "for their
quiet and assurance for me and my heirs according to
Pope Alexander's Bull and privilege confirmed unto them."
He had issue a son and heir (Hamon), and William
Massey, from whom descended the Masseys of Tatton.
He had also a daughter Margery, to whom he gave the
whole town of Stretford about the year 1250, but she
afterwards released her right in such town unto Henry
de Trafford. Of the fifth Hamon, but little is said. He
married Alice, daughter and heiress of Sir Eustace Whitney,
and had issue a son and heir, viz., Hamon, the sixth
and last Baron of Dunham Massey. In the reign of
Edward I., 1288, the barony of Dunham Massey, says
Leycester, was found to be held of the King, in capite,
by the service of five knights' fees, or the value of 1,000
acres of land, showing it to be of great importance. The
last Hamon appears to have been very unfortunate,
not only in his domestic, but also in his public relations.
He espoused Isabel, daughter of Homfrey de Beauchamp;
but their honeymoon was of the briefest possible character.
They were married, but on their wedding day, ere the
midnight hour chimed, the bride had gone to her eternal
rest ! Afterwards he married her sister Alice, and had
issue by her four daughters, and a son, who received the
family name of Hamon, but who died young. From
Alice it is said he was divorced, and then married Joan
Clinton, sister to the Earl of Huntingdon. An action at
law was instituted against this Hamon, at Chester, in

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 13
the reign of Edward II., by Peter Dutton, styled also
sometimes Peter de Warburton, an ancestor of the War-
burtons of Arley, concerning a parcel of waste ground
conceived by him to lie in Warburton. The said Hamon
pleaded that Hamon Massey, his father, was seized of the
same, and that the land in question lay in Dunham, and not
in Warburton ; and moreover that he the said Hamon was
one of the king's barons, and held his land in capite as Earl
of Chester in barony immediately, and that they ought
not to proceed to trial without a jury of knights and
discreet men of the county. In the same reign, William,
the second son of Hugh de Dutton, of Dutton, was indicted
at Chester for taking away Matilda de Stokeport by
force, and in a state almost of nudity, from Dunham,
she being then in the custody of Hamo de Masci. This
is probably only a specimen of the rough and ready
style of winning and wooing which prevailed in those
days, as William and Matilda were married about the
time of the abduction.
Hamon sold the reversion of Dunham Massey and
other estates to Oliver Ingham, then justice of Chester,
for 1,000 marks (about ^500), and 40 marks (about £20)
annual rent for his life, and, according to Leycester, died
about the 15th year of the reign of Edward III. (1342)
only possessed of the manors of Dunham, Kelsall,
Altrincham, Bidston, Salghall or Saughall, and Moreton.
With him became extinct the Barons of Dunham, after
the Masseys had had a continuance there of 260 years.
It is said by Leycester that this Sir Hamon, upon receiving
his charter from Edward I. in 1290, made a charter to
his burgesses of Altrincham of a guild mercatory, or
society for free traffic, whereby Altrincham was erected
into one of the market towns of Cheshire, and its burgesses
made a brotherhood of merchants. If it were only for this
his memory is well worthy of being held in respect by
the people of Altrincham ; for the privileges then conferred
were almost invaluable, and were what most towns at
that period might well envy.

14 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
Of the Castle, of which so much has been said, there
are no visible remains. A large circular mound near the
Hall is supposed to be the last relic ; and tradition affirms
that the fine old cedar, long, long ago killed by the ivy,
was brought a sapling from the Holy Land by one of the
old crusading Barons of Dunham, and that it died out
with the last of the race ! Probably, too, the fact of the
last baron dying without leaving a lawful son to succeed
him, gave rise to the romantic legend of the " Seven
Sisters," in connection with the park at Dunham, where
there is a clump of trees which is known by this name.
Many people are acquainted with it, and, no doubt, lament
the tragic end of the youthful heir, who was struck dead by
lightning just as he was passing the " Seven Sisters."
And each fatal tree was stained with gore ;
And so was the bloody earth ;
And the same night saw his dreadful death
That first beheld his birth.
And the legend closes : —
The seven sister trees may still be seen,
Though the mortal ones are fled ; —
And none of that fated house were left,
When the squire himself was dead.
Hamon also reminds us in a most striking manner of
Longfellow's melodious poem, " The Norman Baron." We
can well picture to ourselves the stately Castle of Dunham.
In his chamber on Christmas Eve, lies the dying baron.
The King of Terrors has already laid his relentless hand
upon him ; and the humble monk, seated by the bed side,
mutters the "prayer and paternoster" which shall usher
the fast fleeting soul into eternity. Outside, the tempest
thunders, and shakes the Castle turret, but the sufferer is
unmindful of it. Within the precincts serf and vassal are
holding their Christmas festival. As their lays they
chaunt, the sound rises above that of the tempest, and
the dying baron turns his weary head to listen to the
carol, in which is heralded the birth of the manger-cradled

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 15
stranger, Christ, who was born to set us free. In an
instant, the spirit of repentance appears. He thinks of the
justice, long withheld, due to those under his iron rule,
and they are by him freed again. As on the sacred missal
he inscribes their freedom, death relaxes his iron features,
and the monk repeats a deep Amen.
Many centuries have been numbered
Since in death the baron slumbered.
By the convent's sculptured portal,
Mingling with the common dust:
But the good deed, through the ages
Living in historic pages,
Brighter grows and gleams immortal,
Unconsumed by moth or rust.

CHAPTER II.
The Parish Church, its claims to antiquity — The yew trees, a relic
of Saxon Christianity — The wakes, their origin and use — An old
head roll and its record— Description of the old church — Value of
the living six centuries ago — The ringers' orders — A law suit —
Another head roll and its record — Memorials of old families — The
Brereton monument — The Dtcnham Chapel, &c.
vT is not stated precisely when the Church of Bowdon
was originally founded. It cannot boast a date like
that at Rostherne, of 1188, although, there is no doubt,
Bowdon is much older ; neither is it recorded that it had
" a priory of regular canons of the Order of St. Augustine,"
like its relation at Mobberley, or any of the Prasmonstaten-
sians, such as dwelt at Warburton, anciently spelled Wur-
burgetone ; but it is certain that at the Domesday Survey,
as already noticed, there was a priest attached to the
church, munificently endowed probably with many "fat
fallows." It is also certain that the church existed a very
long time prior to the Conquest. The planting of yew trees
in churchyards, on account of their sombre and funereal
aspect, is a relic of the Saxon Christianity which had spread
over the land, and the custom prevailed at Bowdon. There
are several growing now in the churchyard, and one in
particular is, judging from calculations made of the growth
of such trees, upwards of 800 years old. According to one
authority, it is even said to have been planted in the seventh

u

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 17
century. It is a gnarled sturdy-looking veteran, but much
the worse for its thousand years' (supposed) exposure on
the hilltop.
The view from the churchyard is the finest in the
district. It embraces a vast expanse of lovely scenery,
including the beautiful valley of the Bollin, backed in
the distance by Alderley Edge, the hills of Derbyshire
and Staffordshire, and many other features of interest.
The church is dedicated to St. Mary, whose "feast" is
kept annually by wakes held in the month of September.
This feast was formerly celebrated on the Sth September,
being the nativity of the Virgin, but it is now held on the
1st Sunday after the full moon succeeding the 14th Septem
ber. Those who are familiar with the manner in which it
is kept in modern times feel that it has fallen from its
high estate. Leycester says that the word Wakes or
fast day is derived from the Latin Vigilae k Vigilando,
because at such times people prayed most on the night
before such fast day in the churches: "yet we find this
primitive custom abused in the reign of King Edgar, A.D.
967, and at last it turned into a feasting and merriment
of neighbours." Who will say after this that history does
not repeat itself ?
From extracts taken from the Bead Roll, A.D. 1298,
it is shown that " Robertus de Masci, by ye consent of
his wife and heirs male of his body, gave and devised unto
Adam de Bodon, two oxganges (56 acres) of land in
Bodon, rending yearly one penny upon the Altar of St.
Mary the Virgin at Bodon on the nativity of St. Mary the
Virgin, which is the eighth day of September in perpetual
alms for the Salvation of the Souls of Robertus de Masci, his
wife, ancestors and heirs, and for the souls of Mathew de
Bodon and Hale." Baron Masci, son and heir to the fourth
Hamon de Masci, gave to God, the blessed Virgin Mary,
and St. James, and to the Prior and Convent of Birkenhead
half-an-acre of land in Doneham Masci, together with the
advowson of the church of our good lady Saint Mary in
Bowdon, A.D. 1278; "for in that year was Richard Masci,
c

i8 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
one of the witnesses. Sheriff of Chester." After the dis
solution of the abbeys in the reign of Henry VIIL, a new
Bishopric was created at Chester, whereunto was given
amongst other things the church of Bowdon.
The advowson of the Vicarage continues attached to the
See of Chester. The latter is held by lease of lives by
the Earl of Stamford and Warrington. The church was
valued in the tax roll of Pope Nicholas in the thirteenth
century at £11 6s. 8d., and at £24 per annum in the King's
book. In 1666, according to Sir Peter Leycester, it was
£120 per annum; two hundred years or so later it is given
at £900 in the Clergy List.
A description of the church as it anciently stood will not
be found uninteresting. The exterior was chiefly in the
Norman style of architecture, introducing at the eastern
termination, or at the Carrington and Dunham Chancels,
the pointed and more fanciful Gothic. The tower was also
in the Norman style, embattled and quadrangular, and
contained a peal of sonorous bells. In the belfry is the
following : — THE RINGERS' ORDERS.
You ringers all, observe these orders well —
He pays his sixpence that o'erturns a bell,
And he that rings with either spur or hat
Must pay his sixpence certainly for that ;
And he that rings and does disturb the peal
Must pay his sixpence or a gun of ale.
These laws elsewhere in every church are used.
That bells and ringers may not be abused.
James Millatt, Ferdinand Laughton, George Wright,
and James Fletcher, Churchwardens ; Joseph Drink-
water, John Pickering, Aaron Eccles, Peter Picker
ing, John Dean, John Hobbert, Par'ish Ringers.
Formerly, the sixth bell was tolled for a funeral, and
after being tolled (if for a male) the whole six bells were
tolled thrice each ; (if for a female) only twice each. The
curfew was rung on the fifth bell, and the practice is still
continued, although the day ot the month is not tolled as
it was up to 1864 or 1865.

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. ig
The interior of the church consisted of a nave, chancel,
and side aisles, with spacious galleries ending in two pri
vate chancels, appropriated and belonging to the Lords of
Dunham Massey. Regarding these chancels, it appears
that a dispute arose at the death of John Carrington,
between his executors and the Brereton family, as to the
right of legal possession of Carrington chapel. The Brere-
tons claimed it by reason of being possessed of one-fourth
of the lands in Bowdon, and the Booth family by heirship.
The enquiry in 1557 by the Court of Chancery resulted
in the claim of the latter family being confirmed. These
chapels were divided from the rest of the church, the
Dunham one by two pointed arches, and the Carrington
one by three, resting on short octagonal pillars. Connected
with them were originally two chantry priests, John Perci-
vall and Henry Tipping.
There was also a bead roll belonging to the chantry to
the following effect : —
Pray for ye good estate of me, Sr. Wm. Booth, Maude my wife, Lawrence
Bishope, George sonne and heir apparent of me, ye said Wm., Katherine his
wife, Wm. sonne of the said George Bouthe, Richard Bouthe, John Bouthe,
and Wm. Bouthe, sonnes of me yt said Wm. Geffrey Bouthe and Hamnett
Bouthe, Clerkes, brethren of yt sd Sr. Wm. Bouthe, Lucy late wife of John
Chantrill, Ellen wife of Robert Leigh, and Allison wife of Robert Hesketh,
sisters of me yt said Wm. Thomas Duncalfe and James Hall, p'sones of Northen,
for ye souls late of my father and mother, that is to say, Robert Bouthe, Knt,
Jane his wife, Wm. Bouthe late Archbishop of York, Rafe Bouthe my sonne,
Jonet, late wife of Will. Holte, my daughter Kate Bouthe, Mr. Edmond
Bouthe Clarke, Piers Bouthe Clerk, and Robert Bouthe brethren of me, ye said
Wm., Jonet late wife of Will., Mainwaringe, and Margaret late wife of James
Scaresbrooke, my susters, and especially for all the 
There was formerly an inscription over this chapel : —
This is Dunham Chapel, repaired by and belonging to the Lords
of Dunham Massey.
The arms of the Booths, surmounting with the motto,
"Quod ero spero"; and on the other: —
This is Carrington Chapel, repaired by and belonging to the Lords
of Dunham and Carrington.
In the chapel belonging to Sir George Bouthe, " on a
faire stone of marble with beasts about it," was " the picture

20 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
of a man and woman engraven in brass." The "two re
cumbent figures had clasped hands : the male figure in
plate armour, under his feet six kneeling figures (infants),
and seven under those of his wife ; in three angles of the
tomb, the arms of Massy of Doneham, quartering those
of the Bouthes, and the fourth, those of Butler, Baron of
Warrington." The inscription translated read: —
Of your charity pray for the souls of George Bouthe, Esquire, and Eliza
beth his wife, and of the said Thomas Butler of Bewsey, Knt, which George
and Elizabeth, had together at the time of the death of the said George
Bouthe, three sons, George, Jo, and Robert.
The Booths, at this time, appear to have used the
arms of the Norman founder of the Barony.
In the east window, were the words : —
W'ch chapelle and chamber was erected by Sr Wra. Booth, about Edward
IV. raigne.
And in Latin the following: —
Pray for the souls of Will Booth Knt, and Matilda his wife, daughter oi
John Dutton Esqr., and for the soul of George Booth, son and heir, who it is
said built this chapel.
There were other memorials existing in the same chapel in
the i6th and 17th centuries. Upon an " alabaster stone"
this monument, engraven with an inscription, about the
stone : A knight in plate armour, recumbent, his head rest
ing on a helmet, the crest of which is a lion passant, on each
side a recumbent female ; over his head the coat of Mascy
of Dunham ; over the dexter lady, argent, an eagle, dis
played azure; at her feet four children. Over the sinister
lady the coat of Fitton, and at her feet four children. In
Latin were the words: — -
Here lies the body of Sir William Booth, knight, who died on gth Nov.,
15 19, and Margarete and Helena, wives ofthe said William ; upon whose souls
God be merciful. Amen.
There was a little monument to two of the children of
Sir George Bouthe, Francis and George, who died in infancy.
There were no arms upon it, but two little children with two
torches turned downwards.
In the Carrington Chapel were many similar inscriptions

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 21
and arms of the Vawdreys, Baguleys, Leghs of Baguley,
the Lords of Carrington, &c. On the Carrington side of the
chancel there was an ancient monument of the Brereton
family, erected in the years 1627 to 1637. It is now on the
north side near the Communion table. Although bearing
marks of great exposure, sufficient of it is still to be seen to
show that it is a real work of art. The husband and wife
are recumbent, arrayed in robes and ruffles, peculiar to
the time ; and underneath, in bas-relief, are their eight
children in surcoats. The third holds a skull in its hands ;
and between the sixth and seventh is an infant in swaddling
clothes. There is impaled beneath a canopy of frieze in the
arabesque, two escutcheons, Brereton and Warburton arms
conjoined. The family arms are charged with 27 quarter-
ings (18 Breretons and 9 Warburtons) impaling Hugh Lupus,
Cholmondeley, Booth, Warburton, Egerton, and others : and
there is a beautiful Latin inscription, of which the follow
ing is a translation : —
Under this monument (?) lie interred the bodies of Wm. Brereton, of Ashley,
in the county of Chester, Esq., and Jane his wife ; the former of whom derived
origin and descent from the ancient and illustrious family of Lord William
Brereton, of Brereton, in the aforesaid county; the latter was one ofthe daugh
ters and co-heiresses of Peter Warburton, of Arley, in the said county. Esquire,
lately deceased. They bore male children, Richard, Thomas, WiUiam (peace
fully sleeping in the Lord) and Peter ; females, Frances, Maria, (also overcome
by the bonds of death,) Ann and Catherine. They enjoyed themselves in con
jugal and chaste love ; they adhered strictly to and exercised the principles of
the true and orthodox religion (as Christians ought to do) ; and having walked
this life righteously and holy, are now awaiting the joyful and glorious resur
rection by the body of Christ to be conveyed to the heavenly abode of rest, unto
which they were called. Jane, his v/ife, died March 2nd, 1627, aged 63 years ;
William died August 29th, 1630, also aged 63.
There is a tradition concerning this couple that the wife,
Jane Brereton, was murdered, and that her hands were cut
off. There are no hands on the female effigy ; but it is just
possible that it may have been an act of vandalism on the
part of some evil-disposed persons in former times.
While on the subject of the chancel, it may be mentioned
that in the window in or about the year 1600 were five
coats of arms. In the first, Tatton impaling Davenport ;

22 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
2, Tatton impaling Booth; 3, the Bishopric of Chester;
4, Tatton impaling Fitton; 5, Tatton, with a label, im
paling Warren.
In the floor of the chancel, within the rails of the
altar, was a somewhat curious inscription, in Latin : —
In this place is interred the remains of — Gerrard, of Riddings the first and
last of that name — on the day in the year of our Lord 1672.
In the body of the church, on the south side, there was
a monument of Sir William Baguley, Knight. It was a
full-length effigy, cut in free stone, and represented a
warrior in mail. The surcoat and shield were emblazoned
with the arms of Baguley, or Bagleigh. As it appeared to
be in the way, it was taken out of the church, and for
several years graced the grotto in a gentleman's garden at
Partington. It attracted some attention at a later period,
and through the instrumentality of T. W. Tatton, Esq.,
of Wythenshawe, it ultimately found a more appropriate
resting place at Baguley Old Hall, from whence the
original had sprung.
There must have been many representations on painted
glass, for which Cheshire churches are famous, at Bowdon.
In the head of the south aisle was a very ancient coat of
arms of the Baguleys ; under which was a memorial of the
Leghs of Baguley ; underneath was a kneeling male figure
with one son and four daughters kneeling behind him. In
the second window on the south side, Sir Thomas Butler,
in coat armour, with two sons and eight daughters
kneeling behind him. In the west window were the arms
of the Barony of Dunham Massey. In a higher window
on the south side were certain coats of arms, and an
inscription in Latin, desiring prayers for James Hall,
Rector of Northen, who bequeathed the window. On the
north side, in the second window from the " bell house,"
as it is quaintly termed, were two kneeling figures, the
man habited in a surcoat emblazoned with the arms of
Ashley, with five sons and four daughters, ranged severally
behind them. Oyer them were the arms of Ashley, an

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 23
ashbranch with ash keys dependant. In Latin there was
a request to pray for the souls of John Ashley and Alice,
his wife, who caused the window to be erected A.D. 1530.
In the next window on the north side, were the arms of
the Carringtons, quartering the same coat with a helmet
and crest over. In the compartment on the dexter side of
the shield was a man in armour kneeling, his surcoat
emblazoned with the arms of Carrington, one son behind
him in this compartment and another in the next. In the
compartment on the other side were two kneeling females,
their arms severally emblazoned with those of Brereton
and Warburton. Behind the first was one daughter, and
four behind the other. This was erected in 1530 by the
Carringtons. In another window on the north side were
two figures kneeling on cushions. The male figure's
surcoat was emblazoned with the arms of Ashton, and the
dress of the female with that of Butler. Over them were
the arms of Mascy of Dunham, quartering Ashton, Stayley,
Fitton, and Thornton. Four sons and nine daughters knelt
severally behind them ; and an inscription requested prayers
for the good estate of George Bouthe and Elizabeth his
wife, who erected the window in 1530.
In another light of the same window were the arms of
Mascy of Dunham, surmounted with a crosier ; this window
being presented by John Sharpe, Prior of Birkenhead, in
the same year. The same coat of arms was repeated in the
roof of the north aisle, but it has been obliterated, and the
marks of the chisel which has been used may still be seen.
In the lowermost window on the north side was another
memorial to a Prior of Birkenhead, Robert Millington, or
Millenton. There were the arms of Millington and an
ecclesiastic kneeling, holding a cup in his left hand.
In the east window of the north aisle, over against the
chancel, was a window bequeathed by Hamonis Carrington,
and surmounted by the Carrington arms.
On a flag in the middle aisle was a memorial to the Rev.
P. Lancaster, A.M., who died March 7th, 1763 ; but prior to
the restoration, there was a large number of inscriptions on

24 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
stones in the interior to the servants of the Dunham
family. In the Dunham Chapel are two large mural monuments.
One has a shield of 60 quarterings of the Booth family
placed against a pyramid, and resting on a sarcophagus.
At the sides of the pyramids are two medallions to the
memory of Langham and Henry Booth, younger sons of
the then Earl of Warrington, who died in 1724, and in
1727. The other is divided into two tablets; the first
to the memory of Henry Booth, Earl of Warrington and
Baron Delamer, who died in 1693-4 ; the second to the
memory of his Countess, sole daughter and heiress of Sir
James Langham. In the charging of the surcoat. Booth
has nine quarterings impaling six of Langhams. The
inscription regarding the Earl is as follows : —
Beneath
lieth the body of
the Right Honourable Henry Booth,
Earl of Warrington and Baron Delamer,
of Dunham Massey ;
a person of
unblemished honor,
impartial justice,
strict integrity,
an illustrious example of
steady and unalterable adherence to
the liberties and properties of his country,
in the worst of times
rejecting all offers to allure
and
despising all dangers to deter
him therefrom,
for which he was
thrice committed close prisoner to the tower of
London,
and, at length
tried for his life
upon a false accusation of high treason, from which he was
unanimously acquitted
by his peers, on the 14th January, mdclxxxv-vi. (1685-6),
which day
he afterwards annually commemorated
by acts of devotion and charity.

History of Altrincham and Bowdon, 25
In the year
MDCLXXXVIII (1688)
he greatly signalised himself at the
REVOLUTION on behalf of
the Protestant religion and the rights of the Nation,
without mixture of self interest,
preferring the good of his country
to the favor of the prince
who then ascended the throne,
and
having served his generation according to the will of God,
was gathered to his fathers in peace,
on the second day of January, 169I (1693-4),
in the xlii. (forty-second) year of his age,
whose mortal remains were here entombed
on the same memorable day on which, eight years before,
his trial had been.
The companion inscription sets forth the many virtues
and good qualities of Mary Countess of Warrington, his
wife, as follows : —
Also rest by him the earthly remains of the Rt. Honble. Mary, Countess of
Warrington, his wife, sole daughter and heir of Sir James Langham, of Cotters-
brooke, in the county of Northampton, Knt. and Bart.; a Lady of ingenuous
parts, singular discretion, consummate judgement, great humility, meek and
compassionate temper, extensive charity, exemplary and unaffected piety, per
fect resignation to God's will ; lowly in prosperity and patient in adversity,
prudent in her affairs, and endowed with all other virtuous qualities ; a con
scientious discharger of her duty in all relations, being a faithful, affectionate,
oMiging, and observant Wife, alleviating the cares and afflictions of her
husband, by willingly sharing with him therein ; a tender, indulgent, and careful
Mother, a dutiful and respectful Daughter, gentle and kind to her servants;
courteous and beneficent to her neighbours, a sincere friend, a lover and valuer
of all good people, justly beloved and admired by all who knew her, who having
perfected holiness in the fear of God was by Him received to an eariy and
eternal Rest from her labours on the 23rd of March, 169^, in the xxxvii year of
her age, calmly, composedly meeting and desiring death, with joyful hope and
steadfastness of faith, a lively draught of real worth and goodness.
A pattern deserving an imitation.
Of whom the world was not worthy. Heb. xi. 38.
Underneath are the words —
To perpetuate the remembrance of so much virtue till that great day
come, wherein it shall be openly rewarded, this monument is erected as a

26 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
mark of dutiful respect and affection by the care of their son George Earl of
Warrington, who reveres their memory.
Mottoes : Ero quod spero (Let me be what I wish or
profess to be) ; and A ma puissance (According to my
power). On the second monument is the following : —
This monument is
erected
to the ever valuable memory of the Honorable
Langham and Henry Booth,
younger sons of the
Right Honorable Henry late Earl of
Warrington.
Both of them began their earthly pilgrimage on the
Lord's Day
and,
after having fought a good fight
cheerfully resigned their souls into the mercifull
hands of their God and Saviour
JESUS CHRIST,
finishing their course in ye XL year of their respective ages,
the former on the xii of May. mdccxiv (1714)
Ihe latter on the 11 Febr. mdccxxvii, do now rest in hope to receive
their bodies
immortal and glorious
in the great day of the Lord.

In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die, but they are in peace and
their hope full of Immortality, for God proved them and found them Worthy
of Himself; for Hnble. age is not measured by Number of years, but they
being made perfect in a short time, fulfilled a long time, and pleasing God
were beloved of Him, so that living among sinners they were translated.
Wis. iii. and iv.
On a brass which was formerly fixed in a stone at the
descent to the family vault of the Earls of Stamford and
Warrington, &c., was an inscription of which the following
is a translation. It was not replaced at the restoration of
the church : —
Under this monument are interred the remains of George, Lord Delamer,
Baron of the ancient and noble house of Dunham Massey, who was dis
tinguished by his piety, fidelity, and affection to God, King, and Country, and
who in the sixty-second year of his age exchanged an earthly coronet for a

History of A Itrincham and Bowdon. 27
celestial crown, and died on the loth day of August, in the year of our Salvation
1684. William Andrews, deploring the death of his most honourable Lord (in
whose service he had continued for upwards of 30 years, faithfully emulating and
partaking in the loyalty which his master showed to his King), this monument to
his ever-blessed and happy memory has been erected, consecrated, and preserved,
and a hope added that when his life at the same time with his official duty to
that noble family came to an end, at the entrance to this tomb his ashes might
rest, until the day when they might rise, together with those of his master, into
the new and eternal life. Died 25th day of July, 1685.
In the south-east angle of this chapel is a portion of
a piscina, much defaced, formerly used for holy water.

CHAPTER III.
Description ot the old church, continued — The tales told hy the
tomhstones and the tablets — .-i curious old stone.
^^HERE still remains something to be said about the
old structure, and having described the Dunham
and Carrington Chapels, we pass on to the other parts of
the church. The vestry was situated under the belfry,
and occupied the ancient western entrance, and at the
north entrance were the font and the gallery stairs and
near the south porch the organ gallery stairs. The
galleries were of fair dimensions. The organ gallery was
built under a faculty from the Bishop of Chester, and the
organ was presented by the Earl of Stamford and Warring
ton in 1822. This was afterwards pulled down, and a new
one built in the Carrington Chapel, which in its turn gave
place in 1876 to a noble instrument built by Messrs.
Jardine and Co., of Manchester. The galleries on the
north side were enlarged and re-built in the year 1841, at
the sole expense of the Vicar, the Rev. W. H. G. Mann,
M.A. The side aisles of the church had handsome carved
oak roofs. On the south side the roof had remained un
finished for centuries, and had become so dilapidated as to
render its restoration necessary. This was undertaken by
Mr. Kay, of Manchester, and was executed by him with
such exactness as to preserve its pristine effect. There
was some exquisite carving, and the cluster points all

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 29
varied in pattern. The ceilings were divided from the
nave by five pointed arches on each side, resting on short
octagonal pillars with capitals. The roof appears to have"
been taken down about 1778, and the walls raised ; at
which time John Coe, Richard Leather, Thomas Ashley,
and John Slater were Churchwardens.
There are several monuments in various parts of the
church which have not been hitherto mentioned. Promi
nent amongst them is a fine mural one to the memory
of Thomas and Harriet Assheton, of Ashley, and their
son, Thomas Assheton Smith, descendants of the ancient
family of the Breretons of Bowdon :—
In n vault near this place were interred
the remains of Thomas Assheton, of Assheley, Esq.,
on the gth day of July, 1759, aged 64.
Also in the same vault, Harriet Assheton,
who died at Manchester, Jan., 1773, aged 74 ;
also, the Remains
of Thomas Assheton Smith, of Asheley, Esq.,
son of the above Thomas and Harriet,
who died April i6th, 1774, aged 49 years,
to whose memory Wm. Henry Assheton Smith, Esq.,
erects this monument.
Quis desiderio sit pudor aut modus
Tam cari capitis.
Also the remains of
William Henry Assheton Smith, Esq.,
younger son of the above,
Thomas Assheton Smith Esq.,
who died at Hailey, in the county of Oxford,
March 4th, 1839, aged 82 years.

Sacred
to the memory of
Hugh Fitz-Patrick Hall, Esq.,
of Jamaica, and late of Ashley, in this county,
who died on the 27th day of June, 1788,
in the 38th year of his age ;
also, Martha his wife,
the second daughter of
Marsden Kenyon, Esq.,
of Manchester,
who died on the 14th day of Jan., 1780,
in the 26th year of her age.

30 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
In a recess at the south entrance to the organ gallery
was a tablet, the inscription of which, although somewhat
defaced, is worth quotation : —
Reader, stop while thou perusest this inscription, reflect on mortal frailty,
dust to dust, the decree of the great ' I am,' and thinkest not thou at that great
day of reckoning, when the elements shall melt with fervent heat, when the
grand eruption and disorganization of nature shall be, the gates of hell burst
open, the torrents and mighty sweeping cataracts composed of the dam'd
disgorging their injurious declamations, flooding in ; all which lamentations will
be drowned in the grand hallelujah chanted by myriads of saints in voices
blending in harmony ; this man formed of clay shall be metamorphised to
angelic form, admitted a chorister in that sacred band, and be welcomed by
seraphs and archangels into the presence of his Maker. Go thou and tread in
his steps.
Underneath this thrilling prelude is a dedication to the
memory of a most unostentatious man, the Rev. Thomas
Whittaker, sometime perpetual curate of Ringway : —
What he was as a scholar he desired not to have recorded,
what he was as a minister of Christ
ought ever to be had in remembrance ;
and when those who revered him as a guide,
a counsellor, and a friend are seen no more,
let this humble memorial testify
how diligently he instructed the young,
warned the careless, sought out the neglected,
comforted the afflicted, and preached to all
the doctrine of his God and Saviour,
which he cordially embraced,
which his life adorned, and whose consolarions
he enjoyed in his last hours.
he died May vii, mdcccxviii (1818),
aged LXIII (63) years.
God forbid that I should glory save in
the Cross of Christ my Lord. — Gal. vi. 5.
In the middle aisle was a tablet with a Latin inscrip
tion to the memory of John Baldwin, LL.B. : —
Who was placed over the parish of Bowdon as Vicar more than forty-
three years. To him was entrusted the joyful gift of the ministry, which he
diligently performed; and at length, having concluded his labours, peacefully
returned his soul to God in the year of safety, on the 3rd day of July, 1815,
aged 69.
On the same stone is also an inscription to — •
John Baldwin, junior, his only and much beloved son, who had scarcely

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 31
entered into the sacred office, in which he dutifully pointed out the way of
the blessed, when he expired, having fulfilled the task imposed, on the i6th
January, in the year of safety, 1817, aged 25 years. Wife, husband, mother,
son, bewailing.
There are the following inscriptions, in other parts of
the church : — This humble tablet
in conformity with the unassuming tenor of his mind
records the death of
William Hade NichoUs, M.D.,
a native of the city of Durham,
whose character as a man
reflects honour upon human nature ;
visiting at Altrincham upon a tour of observation,
he was arrested by a call from his Creator
May 28th, 1830, in the 69th year of his age,
and was interred in the cemetery
of this church.

Sacred
to the memory of
the Reverend Daniel Whittle, A.M.,
late of Hollingworth Hall, in this county,
who after a ministry, short but faithful and approved,
at Saint George's Chapel, in Altrincham,
in the prime of life, in the midst of usefulness
was by his Master summoned away from his work,
with him to rest, with him to reign,
on 22nd April, A.u. 1834 ;
born 26th Jan., a.d. 1800.
Looking for that * * Titus ii. 13.

To the memory of
Edward Jeremiah Lloyd,
of Oldfield Hall,
a magistrate for the counties of
Chester and Lancaster,
and a Captain in the Earl of Chester's Yeomanry Cavalry,
who closed an exemplary and useful life
on the 3rd day of July, 1850,
in the 6ist year of his age.
Distinguished by the urbanity of his manners
and the kindness of his disposition
no less than by his undeviating honor
and exact sense of justice ;
accessible and benevolent to the poor.

32 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
considerate and attentive to all,
he engaged in a remarkable degree the affections,
while he commanded the respect
of every class of society.
to testify their appreciation of his worth
and to record so eminent an example of excellence ;
the inhabitants of this neighbourhood
and the members of the corps to which he belonged,
have caused this tablet
to be erected.

t
I.H.S.
Sacred to the Memory of Thomas Bagshaw, of Altrincham, late of Man
chester, who died October 15th, 1843, in the 70th year of his age. His loss
was deeply lamented by all who knew him, for through a long and peaceful
life he worthily sustained the character of a faithful and sincere friend, a
truly honorable man, and a benefactor of mankind. As a grateful tribute to
his departed . worth, and as a mark of the deep esteem with which his
memory is cherished, this tablet is erected by his sole surviving Niece, S. B.
" The praise of Man is fluctuating and perisheth.
The testimony of a good conscience endureth for ever."
Passing from the interior to the exterior, we enter the
churchyard to note many points of interest to be discerned
there. Some of the old inscriptions are rather curious.
On a stone, on the north side, is the following :—
The body that this stone doth here embrace,
So like to Leah, with a Rachael's face,
Sarah's obedience, likewise Lydia's heart.
With Martha's care, and Mary's better part.
This was formerly to be seen under the chancel window : —
Here lie the bodies of a daughter of John Cooke, of Altrincham, an attorney
at law, and Sarah his wife, who, though full grown (and a while before alive), was
born dead the i6th and was buried 17th March, 1749.
Near the old yew tree is: —
Here lieth the body of John Pixton, of Altrincham, who died 27th Sepr.,
1843, in the 96th year of his age; Mary, wife of John Pixton, of Altrinc
ham, who died 21st February, 1841, in the g3rd year of her age.
Twenty years they lived a single life.
Seventy-two they lived a married life.
Three years he lived a widower chaste.
And now hath left the world and gone to rest.

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 33
On one of the stones is an old heading in Roman letters
LB. 1633, enclosed in a square ; but the oldest inscrip
tion to be found in the yard is on a long narrow stone,
also not far from the old yew tree. Owing to the way in
which the words are divided, it is somewhat difficult to
decipher at first sight, but it reads as follows : —
Here lyeth the bodie of William Artinstall, de Ringey, deceased Nov
ember XXVII, Ao. Do. 1617 ; also the bodie of Laurence Artinstall, of
Ringey, who departed this life August 4th, Anno. Dom. 1684.
On the grave of Francis Booth, who was Clerk of the
church 40 years (it is a remarkable fact that there have
only been three clerks during 120 years, Mr. H. Service
being the last, who served forty), is an inscription at
once unique and suggestive. It reads : —
I oft have viewed the gloomy place
Which claims the relicks of the human race.
And read on the insculptured stone
Here lies the body of . . .
but now my own
Dissolves to native dust, and as you see
Another here has done the same for me.
Our life is but a winter's day.
Some only breakfast and away.
Others to dinner stay and are full fed,
The oldest man but sups and goes to bed ;
Large is his debt who lingers out the day.
Who goes the soonest has the least to pay.
On the tombstone of John Bray, of Dunham, who was
81 at the time of his death, and his wife Martha aged 91,
are the following lines : —
Our term of life is 70 years — an age that few survive.
But if we've more than common strength, to 80 we arrive ;
And then our boasted strength decays, to sorrow turned and pain.
And soon the slender thread is cut, and we no longer reign.
Near the tower is another stone, inscribed to the memory
of Peter Shaw, of Bowdon, who died in 1825, aged 74
D

34 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
years. He was the faithful servant of Mr. Thomas Daven
port, of Oldfield, "for 24 years and upwards": —
Farewell, vain world, I've seen enough of thee.
And now ara careless what thou sayest of me,
Thy smiles I court not, nor thy frowns I fear,
My cares are past, my head lies quiet here.
What faults you saw in me take care to shun.
And look at home — enough there's to be done, —
Where'er I lived or died, it matters not,
To whom related or by whom begot.
I was, now am not, ask no more of me,
'Tis all I am, and all that you shall be.
There are references on some of the stones to the
ancient family of Vawdrey, frequently alluded to in the
annals of the parish. There are two such references
which may be quoted as possessing great interest : —
William Vawdrey, of Owlerbarrow, gent., sonne to John Vawdrey of
Banke, gent, was borne the 20th day of Nov. Anno Dom. 1606. He
married Mary, the daughter and hasrotrix of John Massey, gent, and after,
Alice, sister to Sir Edward Moore of Thelewell, baronet, and had by them
sixteen sonnes and daughters. Departed this life and was buried the 12th
day of May, Anno Dom. 1665.
On the stone are the arms of the Vawdreys. Also : —
The mortalitie and death of the sonnes and daughters of William Vaw
drey of Owlerbarrow, gent., by Alice his wife :
Alice, second November, 1650.
Richard, 17th December, 1650.
John, 23rd January, 1651.
Thomas, i6th July, 1654.
Henry, 3rd December, 1654.
and William, seventh sonne, likewise departed this life 22nd day of January,
1664.

CHAPTER IV.
The Parish Church, its restoration — Reminders and relics of
antiquity —Description of restored edifice — Tablets to ihe Ven.
Archdeacon Pollock, atid to the first Vicar of St. Margaret's — The
stained glass windows and their donors — A run through the
registers — Curious and interesting extracts— the Bowdon Proverb
— Notices of Vicars, with list — The ancient rating valuation, or
mize, list of benefactions, ^^c.
'^HE hoary pile which had served the spiritual wants
of the parish for so many centuries at length fell
into irreparable decay, and the substitution of an edifice
more calculated to meet the increased requirements of
the age was rendered necessary. It is a matter for
thankfulness that Bowdon has escaped that spirit of
vandalism which demolishes while it does not reproduce,
and that the restoration of its parish church is essentially
so both in spirit and in fact. As nearly as possible the
old type has been adhered to.
In 1854 attention was drawn to the state of the church,
and two years afterwards plans were prepared ; but these
were objected to for many reasons, and ultimately after
some competition Mr. W. H. Brakspear was entrusted
with the important work. In the demolition of the
ancient structure the remains of two churches formerly
existing on the site were discovered. These were un
mistakably portions of the ancient Norman church,

36 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
probably of the twelfth century, and a decorated church
of the fourteenth century. The traces of Norman work
were, indeed, very numerous. A piscina, cusped-headed,
having marks of four crockets and a finial, was also found ;
but whether this was from the high altar or not is
uncertain. Another feature of interest was the stone
figure of a recumbent Knight, in armour, greatly worn,
found in the foundations of the nave pier.
The first, or foundation stone was laid on Wednesday,
i8th August, 1858, in the presence of a large concourse of
spectators, by the Bishop of Chester. The Vicar (Rev. W.
Pollock) on that occasion announced that there had been
received from various sources, the sum of ;^6,ooo. The
Nonconformists had responded to his appeal in a way which
called forth his warmest gratitude. The silver trowel
which he presented to the Bishop bore the following
inscription : —
To John, Lord Bishop of the diocese, and patron of the living, on his
laying the first stone, in the restoration of their ancient Parish Church, by
the Vicar and Building Committee, on behalf of the parishioners of Bowdon,
i8th August, 1858. Reverend William Pollock, M.A., Vicar, John Mort,
A. W. Mills, John Reid, and John Warburton, Churchwardens.
It has been erected on a more extended scale, but
occupies the same site, and to some extent rests on the
old foundation. By the introduction of north and south
transepts, the increase in size has been made principally
towards the east, which consequently required a greater
height than before existed. Thus the aisles, walls,
clerestory, and tower have been considerably increased in
size. All the architectural features of any value have
been reproduced, and the north and south aisle ceilings
of carved oak remain entire, and have been carefully
restored. Those portions of the old church that had
been preserved from an earlier building have also been
utilized, which will explain why the architecture of the
middle and third pointed periods are found side by side.
The general character of the architecture, however, is
that of the perpendicular, or third pointed period.

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 37
The arcades of the nave have been somewhat extended
in their span, and transept arches introduced, otherwise
they may be considered a restoration. The aisles and
chapels being of unusual width, they have been spanned
by two arches of similar design to those of the nave.
There are also two arches on either side of the chancel,
opening out of the chapel. The chancel has a massive
arch of separation from the nave, in the deep hollow
moulding' of which is arranged, at certain distances,
carved flowers and foliage, which also with the mould
ings to some extent return down the pier. There is a
lofty arch and stone carved screen opening out of the
tower and inner porch, which has a rich continuous carved
hollow mould in the arch and piers. Over this arch is a cir
cular traceried opening for ventilation, connected with an
exhauster in the tower above. The whole of the interior
is lined with finely worked ashlar, with the exception of
the Vestry.
The two chapels, as is well known, were formerly the
mortuary chapels of the ancestors of the present Earl of
Stamford and Warrington, and under the South or Dunham
Chapel is the present family vault. To give the true
character to these chapels, monumental arches and
copestones have been introduced externally immediately
above the base mould, and above each is a circular
window with tracery arranged as a cross.
The tower, which was only intended to be taken partly
down, was found too dilapidated, and had to be wholly rebuilt.
The restored one is certainly a striking conception. Its
height from the ground to the top of the parapet is 91
feet 6 inches, being 31 feet 6 inches higher than the old
one. It is surmounted by eight richly crocketed pinnacles,
the four corner ones being terminated with gilt copper vanes.
The interior is lighted with gas. Four polished brass
coronse, of eight lights each, are in the nave ; one in each
of the transepts ; one in the chancel ; three in each aisle,
and one in the Dunham Chapel, of six lights each.
Most of the tablets formerly in the old church

38 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
ara to be found in the restored edifice. There are also
additional ones, of which it becomes necessary to speak.
First and foremost is the following : —
This tablet and the monument over his grave, were erected by the
parishioners in loving memory of William Pollock, D.D., who, after much
and varied pastoral work, diligently and faithfully done, in the diocese of
Stockport, Macclesfield, St. Helens, and Liverpool, was appointed Vicar of
this parish in 1856, and subsequently Rural Dean of Frodsham East, honor
ary Canon of Chester Cathedral and Archdeacon of Chester. The complete
reconstruction of this church, the building of St. Mark's Church at Dunham,
and the Bowdon and Ashley Parochial Schools are among the memorials of
the great influence which the love and respect he inspired enabled him to
exercise. Born 12th April, 1812 ; died nth October, 1873. 'Blessed are the
dead which die in the Lord.'
Also : —
This tablet is placed by grateful friends of the Rev. John Kingsley,
M.A., Vicar of St. Margaret's, Dunham Massey, to record his faithful
services while curate of the parish church during a period of twenty years.
He died in the sixty-first year of his age, and was buried in this church
yard on the i8th day of November, i86g. 'Verily, I say unto you. Inasmuch
as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done
it unto me.' — St. Matthew xxv. 40.
The following is the inscription on a brass at the west
end of the south aisle wall : — •
This church of St. Mary, at first erected in Saxon times, and afterwards
thrice restored, viz., about the years of grace iioo, 1320, and 1510, was
rebuilt and enlarged by voluntary subscriptions, the good work being com
pleted according to the good hand of our God upon us, a.d. i860. William
Pollock, M.A., Vicar ; John Mort, Alexander W. Mills, D. A. Clarke, John
Reid, M. E. Lycett, Churchwardens ; W. H. Brakspear, Architect. " ' The
place whereon thou standest is holy ground.'
There are several stained glass windows of great beauty.
The large east window has for its subject the crucifixion,
the centre light containing the figure of Our Saviour, and
on each side are the malefactors, which, however, are not
made too prominent. The other lights and tracery are filled
with pictures of the Ascension, the scene on the morning
of the resurrection, the Marys going to the sepulchre with
angels, Abraham offering up his son Isaac, and Moses

History of A Itrincham and Bowdon. 39
lifting up the brazen serpent, both events being typical of
the Crucifixion. Underneath are the words: —
In memory of Mary, the Wife of William Neild, Esquire, of High
Lawn, who died March i6th, 1859.
The north and south transept windows are the gifts of
Lady Murray, a descendant of the ancient family of
Rigby, of Oldfield Hall, and of E. Joynson, Esq., J. P., of
Bowdon. One represents the Miracles; the other the
Parables of Our Lord. The window ot the west end is
the gift of John Clegg, Esq., J. P., of Altrincham. There
is a small chancel window erected by W. D. NichoUs,
Esq., and his sisters, to the memory of their father.
The font is a massive octagonal one, richly cut, of
Painswick stone, and the basin rests on a shaft of
Devonshire marble. It was the gift of Miss Joynson.
The oak lectern was the gift of Miss Pollock.
The restored church contains 1,164 sittings, exclusive of
those for the private accommodation of the Earl of Stam
ford and Warrington, being an increase of 359 sittings on
the former number. The entire cost of the building and
works in connection therewith was /¦i2,37i i6s. 7d., ex
clusive of the sum of ^^1,748 los., which was allowed by
the contractor on account of old materials. Of this
amount £11,447 was contributed by resident parishioners,
or persons owning property in the parish ; ;f52i by
strangers; ^zto by the Incorporated Society for the building
and enlarging of Churches; and £t$o by the Diocesan
Church Building Society.
The Registers of the baptisms, marriages, and burials
date from the year 1628; but there are incomplete
copies preserved at Chester from the beginning of 1600.
Not the least interesting feature connected with those
at Bowdon is an index which was compiled several
years ago by Mr. Rushton, a son of the Ven. Archdeacon
Rushton, formerly of Manchester. The work of reference
is thus rendered remarkably easy, and ample testimony
to his painstaking endeavours is borne by the fact that

40 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
not a single error has yet been discovered. The first
volume contains records under all three divisions, from
1628 to 1653. It is headed : —
A Register Book of all Weddings, Christenings, and Burials, in the
Parish Church of Bowdon, in the year of our Lord, 1628.
The first entry states that : —
Robert Tatton, of Withenshaw, Esquire, and Anne Brereton, daughter
of the Right Worshipful William Brereton, of Ashley, Esquire, were marryed
the eight day of January, Anno Dom. 1628.
This is an important event, and is more elaborately set
forth than the rest. The parchment on which the
entries are made is very stout ; but it is obvious that
little care has been bestowed on its preservation in
former years, as damp, the arch-enemy of ancient docu
ments, has been at work and succeeded in effectually
obliterating some of the written characters. In 1646,
the marriages are entered at greater length, as are also
the baptisms. One of the clerks, Thomas Sanderson,
was most particular. We find that —
Alexander Sanderson, sonne to Thomas Sanderson, clarke of Bowdon,
was born upon Saint Michael and All Angels daye, between the hours
of five and six of the clock in the morninge, being the 28th day of
September, in anno 1636.
At the foot of the volume it is announced that —
George Booth, Knit and Barronett, is one of his Matie's justices
of peace within the County of ghester, as attested by Peter Drinkwater,
clerk. The first name amongst the burials is that of " Henry
Arstall de Ringey, January 19th, 1628."
A stranger yt ("that) plaid on a tabret and whistle.
There is nothing to indicate where this wandering
minstrel of some accomplishment died ; but that he found
a strangei 's grave at Bowdon, and went down to it
apparently " unwept, unhonoured, and unsung," is clear.
Alexander Owen, clerk of Bowdon, was buryed ye third day of February,
Anno Domini 1628.
Margaret Pagett, wife of Mr. Thomas Pagett minister and preacher at
Bowdon, Aug. ultimo, 1628.

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 41
Robert Janny, Vicar of Bowdon, departed this life the Sth day of
January, and was buryed the gth in anno 1636.
A poore boy out of the Woodhouses was buryed 8th day of November,
1640. Dorrity Smith, daughter to George Smith, being a stranger, and
another a child that was not baptised of his, March i8th, 1640.
Two infants of one Sarah May.
A poor child of a stranger, 1647.
Amongst the concluding entries in the first volume is
the following : —
Sir George Booth, of Dunham Massey, Knight and Baronett, departed
this lyfe the 24th day of October, and was buryed the 28th day of
November, in the year of our Lord God, one thousand six hundred and
fiftie two, 1652.
The second volume contains baptisms and burials from
1653 to 1681, and marriages from 1653 to 1664, and from
1673 to 1681, nine years being missing. The latter are,
however, to be found at Chester for the years i665, 1668 to
1673, but for 1665 and 1667 there are no records. On a
kind of rider attached to the ordinary register is a list of
stillborn children ; thus : —
A man child of John Deane's of Altrincham was still born 2gth October
1653- A man child of Robert Arstall of Hale fields was born dead January
26th 1653, &c.
In 1653, during the Commonwealth period, there was a
very stringent Act of Parliament passed requiring marriages
to take place before a Justice of the Peace. The form
usually adopted was the following: —
Publication of banns of marriage was made in our parish church of
Bowdon three several Lords days between John Yeates of Lime parish and
Margaret Baxter of this parish, wh. days of publication were the 4th,
the nth and the i8th dayes of December in the year 1653, and were
married the 23rd day of December within the same year before me,
Peter Brookes Esquire.
The following contains the first reference" to any trade
pursued in the district : —
Publication of banns of marriage was made in our parish church of Bowdon
three several Lords days betwixt Wm. Tippinge, of Hale, woollin webster
(woollen weaver), and Katheren Hall, of Ashley, both of this parish of Bowdon,
wch. dayes of publication were the 22nd, 29th dayes of January, and first day

42 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
of February, and noe objection being made but that they might lawfully proceed
in marriage : and were married by me, Thomas Standley (Stanley), of Alderley,
Esquire, one of the Justices of Peace for this County, the 6th day of February,
1653- Proclamation was in some instances made, generally by
the bellman, at the Cross in the Market Place. These
proclamations usually read as follows : —
Publication of banns was made in the Altrincham Market, within our
parish of Bowdon, three severall market dayes betwixt Edward Woodall, ofthe
parish of Ashton upon Mercey Bancke, and Anne Carrington, of this parish,
which dayes of publication were the 15th, 22th, and 2gth dayes of August, in
the year of our Lord God 1654, ^"<i were marryed the i6th day of September, in
the year of our Lord God 1654, before Tho. Brereton, Esquire.
Some of the entries state that publication was made
between the hours of eleven and two in the Market Place,
but this does not appear prior to the year 1656 to have
been a popular mode, as three fourths of the proclamations
were made in " our parish church." The majority of the
marriages took place before Thomas Brereton, Esquire; but
it is interesting to note that on one or two occasions
Colonel Henry Bradshaw, of Marple, brother to President
Bradshaw, also officiated. In 1656 and 1657, the pub
lications were, with few exceptions, made in the Altrin
cham Market Place, "at the close of the morning," or
12 o'clock. In 1658 they were made in solitary instances,
but they are solemnized by the Vicar, James Wat-
mough, "in the presence of numerous people." This
elaborate style of entering marriages then ceases, except
in the instances of the principal families of the district,
when the details are given with some minuteness. The
births at this period partake of the same character as
the marriages in the extent and preciseness of the entries.
The wife of the Vicar presented him with three or four
interesting " olive branches," to all of whom due honour
is accorded in the matter of registering. That the school
master was also a married man and similarly situated,
is proved by the following amongst the baptisms: —
Hanna, daughter of Peter Hurdes, schoolmaister, (August 24th, 1667.)

History of A Itrincham and Bowdon. 43
The ages are not given, and very seldom the trades,
but occasionally they crop up. Husbandmen are the
most numerous, yeomen coming next in order. There
were several websters or weavers in Bowdon (1657), and
at a somewhat later date, blacksmiths, saddlers, gardeners,
"joyners," shoemakers, in Altrincham and the neighbour
hood. John Higginson, of Bowdon, innkeeper, was buried 24th day of Novr.
1657. A poore woman wch. was a stranger came by pass, buryed ye gth day
of November. A poore ould wooman whose name was thought to be Steenson, Jan
uary I2th, 1658.
A child that was born dead of Tho. Kinge, was buried 15th March,
1658. Roger Shuttleworth, schoolmaister, buried 7th day of February (1659).
Thomas Brereton, Esquire, of Ashley, departed this life the loth day
of July, and was buried the igth day of July, in the year of our Lord God
1660. Jane Drinkwater, of Hale, a poore woman, buryed 22th October (i66r).
Edward Leigh, of Altringham, a poore man, buried 23th November
(1661). Mr. John Lightfoote, vicar of Bowdon, departed this lyfe ye 22th day
of December, in ye yr. of our Lord 1661.
Mrs. Margrett Vaudrey, of ye Bancke (Bank Hall), widow, was buryed
in Carrington Chapel by leave and lycense of George Lord Delamer, by the
interest of Samuel Vaudry, the son, June ye 24th, 1662.
Charles, son of John Houghton, Schoolmaister, Deer, ye 8th, 1662.
Robert Tippinge, of Bowdon, gent and steward to George, Lord Dela
mer, was buryed ye 21th day of ffebruary, 1662.
Isaac Tipping, son of Edward Tipping, of Hale, Dec. 22th, (1665).
William, son of John Royle, of Hale, was buryed Dec. ye 28th.
The two last mentioned Isaac Tipping and William Royle had not xtian
buriall, theire friendes contemninge it. Tho : Weston, Vic.
Wm. Tippinge, of Dunham, bayliffe to Lord Delamer, buryed March
Z3th, (1670).
Raphe Thomas, of Altringham, piper, buried September 12th, (1672).
Thomas Sanderson, dark of the church, buryed March ye 13th, (1672).
William Shuttleworth, servant to Francis Mosley, vicar, April 17th,
(1673)- The two succeeding volumes of Registers are very small,
volume III. containing baptisms from 1682 to 1702, and
volume IV. marriages from 1683 to 1719. On the title

44 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
page of volume iii. there is a memorandum, dated August
29th, 1697, setting forth that : —
Richard Rogers, Wm. Coppock, Robert Leather and Isaac Eccles,
churchwardens for the p'sh (parish) of Bowdon in the yeare 1690, did pay
unto John Lawrinson, Wm. Simpson, Robert Leather and Isaac Eccles,
churchwardens for the p'sh of Bowdon for the yeare 1693 the summe of six
pounds eighteen shillings and sixpence (which they had in their hands)
towards reimbursing them, wch was in full for all moneys they were out
of purse in the yeare i6g3. Witness my hand,
Jo : Hyde, Vic. of Bowdon.
The " baptizings," as they are now called, continue
until the year 1683 in a most orderly manner, when
there is a record of "John, son of ffrancis Newton,
of Altringham, March ye 22th." Underneath this
is written: "A brave boy; long may hee live to
God's glory." It is to be hoped that this pious wish
was fulfilled. In July 1696 the handwriting changes,
and Altringham is spelled Althringham, just as though
the clerk was a native of the sister isle. Almost
simultaneously we have the first indication of dissent
in an aggressive form in the parish.
i6g6. — Deborah, daughter of Robert Hankinson, of Ashley, was born July
13th and baptised July 28th, i6g6, by Mr. Dernily, as is said by a note
sent thereof to ye vicar.
John, son of George Warburton, of Hale, born Dec. 3th, i6g6 and
baptised Dec. 23th, 1696, by whom I don't know. Aron Warburton
told mee of it.
1698. — Henry, son of Richard Green, of Altringham, apothecary, born
November 27th, baptized Dec. 13th (1698).
William, s. of John Taylor, of Timpley, mason.
John, s. ot Richard Millington, of Althringham, carpenter.
John, s. of James Whitehead, Baguley, weaver.
A female child of Wm. Norman, of Altrincham, saddler.
1699. — Josiah, s. of Robert Hankinson, of Ashley, born May 21th, and
baptized June ist ; Timothy, s. of Robert Hankinson, of Ashley, born May
2ith, and baptized June ist. They were twins. Both the aforesaid children
were baptized at Robert Hankinson's house, by one Dernily, a. dissenter,
contrary to law, the house not being lycensed. He preaches at Ringey
chappell, a chappell anciently belonging to the Church of England and under
Bowdon Church.
Mary. d. of James Mosse, of Dunham, born July 12th, baptized July
igth by Mr. (Mr. this time) Dernily, the Nonconformist, contrary to law.

History of A Itrincham and Bowdon. 45
Wm., s. of Tho. Heald, of Ashley, baptized at Heald's house by
Dernily, the dissenter, contrary to law.
Geo., s. of James Hardie, of Althringham, born Dec. 3th, and baptized
Dec. nth by Mr. Dernily, the dissenting minister, at Ringey.
These would be the "separatists" who were said to be
about this time so numerous and troublesome in the
parish. Mr. Dernily's name then drops out of the Register,
and so far as he is concerned the breast ecclesiastical ceases
from troubling, and its conscience is at rest. How it
fares from others later on will be seen. We proceed with
more interesting extracts.
1699. — March 2nd, baptized John, s. of John Lupton, grocer, Altringham.
1700. — James s. of James Hardy, alderman, of Altrincham.
This is the first reference to any one holding any official
position in connection with the Corporation of the town.
lyoo. — Ann, d. of John Worsley, glacier ; Nathaniel s. of Wm. Brown-
hill, of Dunham, born December 23th, baptized January 6th, 1700; the
father did not acquaint me with the birth or baptism till
June Sth, 1701, being Whit Sunday. Mr. Yates baptized it unknown to
me. — Jo. Hyde.
We now hark back to the burials in the same volume,
several of which refer to the Booth family. There are
one or two references to trades then being pursued in the
district, notably that of malting at Altrincham. At the
end of the volume, amongst the list of the stillborn
children, is Margaret Hardey, Quaker, probably the same
Margaret Hardey, widow, of Bowdon, who is referred to
in the volume as having been " buryd at the Quaker's
burying place in Mobberley p'sh." Many of the people
dying at Carrington and Partington were buried at Flixton,
probably on account of its being more convenient than
Bowdon. We now take volume iv. which contains marriages
from the year 1683 to 1719. There are one or two entries
on the title page, amongst them one to the effect that: —
Peter Barber, of Agden, was married in Cartwright's land, beyond
Limme.

46 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
The marriages begin to be noted as being solemnized
by banns or by licence. The one following, however, was
not in "either of these fashions."
Joseph Peirson and Sarah Huribut, of Ashley, marryed by Mr. Gooden
(clandestinely), January ith, 1697.
James Coe, of Ashley, marryed to a woman in Lane (Lancashire),
sells meal at a meal house in Manchester, his father lives at Ashley, not
marryed at Bowdon, but at Manchester as I am told.
A reticent individual was
Thomas Ogden, keeper, at Dunham, and Ann Moulston, marryed about
Christmas, 1698, but he will not tell where nor by whom.
This reticency appears to become epidemic at this time,
as subsequent entries show.
Isaac Rylands, of Hale, and Elizabeth Hankinson, marryed in July, in
the year 1698, he will not tell when, where, or by whom ; by Mr. Gooden.
This latter name looks as if it had been tacked on at
a venture. Both the Hankinsons and the Rylands were
rather troublesome dissenters at this period.
John Newton, of Hale, and Elizabeth Drinkwater, marryed in August
igth, i6g9, at Sandbage (Sandbach), as I am told.
Ellin Warburton, of Dunham, and James Pauden, of Brownley Green,
in Northenden parish, were marryed Septr., 1699, I know not wn., where, or
by whom.
Roger Simpson, of Altringham, smith, and Mary Harrison, of Altring
ham, marryed (as is said) about Novr. 21, 1699, but do not tell when,
where, or by whom. They were marryed, 'tis said, by Mr. John Brown,
not in holy orders.
This Mr. Brown was a sort of Gretna Green gentleman
who lived at Ashton-on-Mersey, and he united several
couples in the bonds of holy matrimony " contrary to the
statute in that case made and provided." These storms
subsided, and for a long time marrying and giving in
marriage proceeded in the orthodox fashion. Even the
Rylands and the Hankinsons saw the error of their ways,
and went to the Parish Church as in duty bound. There
is also not the same loose style of entering, but it is

History of Altrincham and Bote) don. 47
difficult to withstand the conviction that this is rather
ungallant : —
Richard Ardern and ye whoman from Prestbury parish, marryed Octr.
25th (1708).
Probably she had the same objection to giving her name
as ladies are said to have to stating their age.
The most important entry we come to for many years
then is the record of the marriage of the Vicar : —
August 28th, 1717. — Mr. Peter Lancaster, vicar of Bowdon, and Mrs. Mary
Edmonds, of this parish, were married at Bowdon Church, by Mr. Spencer,
curate at Lymme, by licence from Mr. Allen, of Peover.
At the end of the volume is the following : —
October ye 20th, 1709. — At a parish meeting in Bowdon Church it
was granted and agreed that Augustin Rawlins, parish dark, instead of
gathering his wages wh. is one lay (rate) he is to have it gathered by ye
church wardens and collectors from henceforth.
This is signed by Matthew Wood, vicar, the church
wardens, and others present at the meeting, including
Alderman John Higginson, who makes his mark, the said
mark resembling the figure four made very awkwardly.
Volume v., which we take next in order, contains baptisms
from 1702 to 1720, and burials from 1702 to 1717. It was
provided at the charge of the parish as testified to by " John
Millatt, de Dains, of Carrington, George Timperley, of
Timperley, George Leicester, of Hale, and Aaron Warburton,
of Bowdon, churchwardens." The children baptised are
those of a tanner at Hale, a flaxman, gunsmith, horse-
jockey, mercer, glover, clothier, apothecary, brickmoulder,
bricklayer, barber, basketmaker, butcher, cooper, flaxseller,
baker, a whitesmith, at Carrington, and a miller at Dunham,
which tend to show that 200 years ago this was a district
of some importance.
There are several baptisms of illegitimate children, one of
which must have been the offspring of a man of con
sequence, and must have held even the powers that be
in awe. After the words detailing the usual particulars
there is — " Wch. she fathered upon Mr. G . . . . ,
C  "

48 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
There are some children baptised by Mr. Waterhouse,
who, like Mr. Dernily, was a dissenting thorn in the
ecclesiastical side, and the fact is always precisely stated.
In some cases he is " dissenting minister," in others " dis
senting teacher," and he appears to have been in business
in a large way. At Carrington, " Mr. Orrill," another
dissenting teacher, was busy at this period.
Amongst the burials in June, 1703, there is that of —
Mr. Robert Whitehead, Curate of Bowdon.
April, 1708.— Ann Johnson, servant for 40 years at Dunham House.
In the year 1667, ^^ ^^^ of Parliament was passed for
the encouragement of the woollen and paper manufactures
in the kingdom. It enacted that no corpse should be
buried in " shirt, sheet, shroud, or shift," but in woollen,
and an affidavit made within eight days of interment that
the dead was not shrouded in linen. A penalty of £5
was incurred if the law was broken. These affidavits are
regularly entered in the Bowdon Parish Registers as having
been made, except in solitary instances which were at
once notified to the churchwardens. No specific entry of
the enforcement of the Act appears until June, 1709, when
there was —
Alice, wife of Thomas Warburton, of Hale, buried in linnen contrary to Act
of Parliament. He paid ye fine to ye churchwardens of Bowdon for ye use
of ye poore.
Not many years afterwards, the fine of £5 was enforced
in the case of —
Mary Leigh, widow, Bowdon, buried in linnen. £2 los. whereof went
to the poor.
In 1728, Nicholas Waterhouse, of Bowdon, a dissenting
teacher, "was buried in linnen," but there is no note made
as to whether any fine was enforced. This famous Act was
not repealed until 1814, and then not without some
opposition. Amongst other burials are : —
1709, Dec. — Mary, wife of George Leicester, gouldsmith, of Altringham.
17 10, March.— James, son of Hen. Smith, of Altringham Alderman.

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 49
1710, March nth. — A still born child of William Coppock, of Hale,
clandestinely buried about this time, notice given to ye churchwardens, and
then Wm. Coppock pd. ye buriall fees and 2d. churching. — Wit : Tho. Birch.
1711, Dec. — Wm. Hesketh, of Altringham, Alderman.
1712, Dec. — John Pritchard, servant to Mr. Robert Orrell, Ashley, who
drown'd himself.
1714. — Wm., son of John Royle, of Altringham, flaxman.
1716, May gth. — Mr. Matthew Wood, Vicker of Bowdon.
Volume VI. contains baptisms from 1720 to 1738; weddings
from 1719 to 1731 ; and burials from 1717 to 1738. We
here find the first reference to another trade or calling in
Altrincham and the vicinity not mentioned before, in the
baptism of —
Wm., son of Wm. Garner, fustian man, and of Elizabeth, his wife, of Hale.
1722, Jan. 20th. — Mary, d. of Robert Leather, Alderman, of Altrincham,
and of Hanna, his wife.
1722, Jan. 24th. — Richard, son of Richard Leigh, ale seller, Altrincham,
and Elizabeth, his wife.
1723, Aug. 3. — Elizabeth, d. of John Swindells, turner, and Elizabeth, his
wife, of Baguley.
1723, Aug. loth. — Mary, d. of John Yates, bricklayer, and Deborah, his wife,
of Baguley. 1723. — Henry, son of John Kinsey (barber), and of his wife, Elizabeth, of
Altrincham. 1723, Aug. 30. — George, s. of Joseph Harding, fustian man, and of
Elizabeth, his wife, at Altrincham.
There were several ale sellers in Altrincham at this period,
and we once more notice that the dissenters began again to
trouble their brethren in the church. Baptisms by dissent
ing teachers are often recorded — notably by Mr. Fletcher.
There is also a Mr. Robinson mentioned as at Ringey or
Ringway chapel. The practice of recording trades appears
to have been most capricious. Sinderland too is for a great
number of years spelled Sunderland.
Amongst the burials at this period was —
Joseph, sen of Peter Melann, a Grecian, and of Mary, his wife.
One still more noteworthy occurred in 1727 in respect of
Hannah, wife of Kobert Orrill, of Hale, —
She was buried at her own desire without being brought into ye church or
having prayer said over her at ye grave, being a most rigid dissenter.

50 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
On June i6th, in the same year, —
Robert Prasmore, a wayfayring man, from the Bishopric of Durham.
And— On the same day. Farmery, son of Mr. Lawton and of Ann, his wife. " This
child was buried in the church without leave from me,'' says the vicar of that
period, " or leave ask'd. Agt. wch. I protested at ye grave, tho. I did not refuse
to bury ye corpse."
In 1734 there was interred " a travelling woman of the
kingdom of Ireland, who died at Bollington." The
marriages in the volume present few features of interest, one
excepted, viz., that on Feb. 22nd, 1725-6 : —
James Hardey, teacher of a seperate (dissenting) congregation at Stock
port, and Elizabeth Bentley, of Bowdon, spinster, by licence from Mr. Giles.
Volume VII. contains marriages from 1731 to 1754, and it
is pleasing to observe that about the first-named period
Bowdon was apparently a place to which those from a
distance wishful to enter into the estate of holy matrimony
resorted. At the end of the volume there is a list of the
"briefs" collected in the year of our Lord, 1751 : — ¦
£ s. d.
June 2nd, Shipston Church in com. Worcester Ch. ;£'i,487, oo : 06 : 06.
June 23rd, Knighton Church in com. Radnor Ch. ;fii436 00: 05: n.
July 2ist, Netherseal Church, com. Leicester Ch. ;f2,i58 00: 04: n.
September ist, Upton on Severn Ch. com. Worcest. Ch. ;£'2,oi5 00: 04: 08.
Oct. loth, Stamford Bridge Mill in com. Ebor (York)
lost by fire, collected from house to house, Ch. £2.,Si^ i: 1: 7^.
These " briefs " were letters patent issued by the Crown
for various charitable objects, such as the rebuilding of
churches destroyed by fire, or places desolated by a plague.
They were usually read in the church during morning
service, and a collection made ; but, as in one of the
instances, it was sometimes collected from house to house.
Volume VIII. is a book of stupendous proportions, and
brings down baptisms and burials to a comparatively
recent period — 1769. They are most uninteresting entries,
but about this time Peggy, Betty, Kitty, and Molly were
favourite names.
There are other volumes of Registers which are to a

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 51
great extent similar to the preceding ones. One point
only remains, and that is as to centenarians. Owing to
the ages not being mentioned in the earlier records, it is
impossible to say whether there were any or not. Alto
gether it cannot be said that the registers form a very
useful study, but from preceding extracts it will be seen
that they are not entirely devoid of interest.
It would not do to overlook the famous proverb, " Every
man is not born to be Vicar of Bowdon." Sir Peter
Leycester, who quoted it, appeared somewhat puzzled to
account for its true meaning, although it is very much
on a par with a great many other proverbs — self-
evident. There are two reasons assigned for the proverb.
The first is that in olden as well as in modern times, it
was an appointment that might be sought for. It had a
good stipend attached, was placed in the midst of a fertile
and lovely country, and was as a rule fairly free from the
interference of schismatic controversy such as existed among
the neighbouring churches. The second is that Charles
Jones, son of the then Vicar, was intended by his father,
who had secured the Bishop's patronage, to succeed him
on his decease, thus debarring anyone else from any chance
of the appointment.
A short notice of some of the Vicars of Bowdon may be
interesting. Of one, we cannot speak with the credit
which may have been deservedly due to both his pre
decessors and successors. This was Ralph Hough, who,
according to a note in the new edition of Ormerod, edited
by Charles Helsby, Esq., "married Blanche, a widow in
Peever or Peover about 1585." "He lived with her about
a year, then fled away from her after selling her goods,
came back to her again, sold her goods, and ran away for
good." A Vicar of Bowdon not mentioned in the list usually
given, is — Smith. Walker, in his " Sufferings of the
Clergy," states that he was sequestered on account of not
complying with the solemn league and covenant, and he
was turned out by a committee of Parliament without
ever being heard.

52 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
During the temporary ascendancy of Presbyterianism in
Cheshire in 1648, the ministers of the county, after the
example of their brethren in London and other places,
adopted and signed an attestation which had been drawn
up by Mr. John Ley, " the present preacher at Astbury."
It was entitled " An attestation to the testimony of our
Reverend Brethren of the Province of London to the truth
of Jesus Christ, and to our solemn league and covenant ;"
and was signed by "James Watmough, pastor of Bowdon,"
amongst others. The very air, however, seemed thick with
controversy, and disturbances arose in his parish between
Presbyterians and Independents or Separatists. The Act
of Uniformity was passed in the year 1662, and it would
appear that the Vicar of Bowdon conformed, thus saving
himself from the fate of numerous other brethren. In
1689-90, John Peake, for refusing to take the oaths of
allegiance to King Wilham III., was deprived of his living
as a Non-juror. Many of the Vicars of Bowdon have been
men of talent and erudition, and two or three have figured
as authors of learned works.
It may not be inappropriate to give a brief notice of
one whose memory will be long revered by the inhabitants,
— we refer to the late Venerable Archdeacon Pollock, who
died at Claughton, Birkenhead, on the nth October,
1873 ; but whose mortal remains are laid under the
shadow of the sacred edifice the restoration of which
was due to his indefatigable efforts. He was appointed
to the Vicarage of Bowdon in 1856, having previously, as
the reader will have gathered already, laboured hard in
the county, and also at Liverpool. On his appointment
he set to work to make his parish what it ought to be.
After organizing ample machinery for the immediate wants
of his flock, his next endeavour was to get a school built
at Hale Barns. He then undertook the much needed and
truly Herculean work of rebuilding the Parish Church,
and he had the pleasure, within four years of his appoint
ment, of seeing a dilapidated edifice replaced by an en
tirely new fabric. He gave much active help and warm

History of A Itrincham and Bowdon. 53
sympathy in the erection of St. John's Church, Ashley-
road. Another work was the building of a new Vicarage,
the old one being at a distance from the Church at the
foot of the hill in the vale. He was also the means of
erecting the School Church, at Ashley, and through his
instrumentality, the adjacent village of Dunham was
accommodated with the pretty church dedicated to St.
Mark. His next great undertaking was the building of
new national schools, the old ones having become inade
quate for the purpose intended. He was subsequently
appointed Honorary Canon of Chester Cathedral, Rural
Dean of Frodsham East, Archdeacon of Chester, and was
presented by his University with the degree of D.D., in
recognition of his early and distinguished scholarship. In
both local and general work he was unwearied : he was
mindful of all things great and small, and thought of all
other interests before his own. He was also conspicuous,
as is well known, for his eloquence and learning. His
arduous labours had the effect -of undermining his consti
tution ; and, disregarding urgent warnings to take rest, he
was struck down by paralysis on ist August, 1870, having
preached his last sermon, on the re-opening of St.
George's, Altrincham, in the month previous. A little
more than three years afterwards he breathed his last.
His funeral took place at Bowdon, on Thursday, i6th
October, 1873, when the choir sang a hymn which he had
himself composed, on the subject of " Lazarus." It is
sublime and affecting in its simple pathos, and opens with
the words : — Lord, if he sleep
He shall do wdl !
Why should we weep ?
Why should a knell,
Dirging and deep.
Over him swell ?
He shall do well.
.\n appropriate address was delivered by the Rev. Canon
Falloon, of Liverpool. The funeral was attended by the

54

History of Altrincham and Bowdon.

clergy and ministers of other denominations, and the laity
was largely and influentially represented.
The vacancy caused by his death was filled by the
preferment to the living of the Rev. Arthur Gore, M.A.,
who is an Honorary Canon of Chester Cathedral. He is a
graduate of Trinity College, Dublin, and was ordained in
1855. He was appointed to the Incumbency of Saint
Luke's, Liverpool, in 1862, and to Bowdon, in 1873. He
is most devoted and attentive to the discharge of his
parochial duties, and there is none who will not join in
wishing that he may long be spared to carry on those
works of usefulness inseparable from his high calling.

LIST OF THE VICARS OF BOWDON.

[compiled from various sources.]

Presented
I2I0 Gillebt or Gilbert, Sacdos.
.... Ricardus de Aldcroft.
i3og Ranulphus de Torrald.
1362 Ricardus de Wever.
i36g Ricardus More.
1411 Thomas Spencer.
1441 John Urmeston.
1473 William Minshall.
1535 Mr. Thomas Runcorne.
1556 Johes Hanson, M.A.
1558 Adam Wood.
1562 Robert Vawdrey.
1582 Ralph Hough.
1587 Thomas Warburton.
I5g7 Henry Starkey.
1614 George Byrom.
1616 Robert Janny.
1628 Thomas Pagett (minister and
preacher).
1647 — Joanes or Jones.

Presented 1648 James Watmough.
1660 John Lightfoote.
1667 Thomas Weston.
i66g-7o Francis Mosley.
1676 Charles Jones.
1681 (ante) Richard Wroe.
1689-90 James Peake.
1690 (i6th Jan.) John Hyde, on pri
vation of Jas. Peake.
Mathew Wood.
Peter Lancaster.
Thomas Hopper.
John Baldwin, LL.B.
James Thomas Law, A.M.
W. H. Galfridus Mann, A.M.,
exchanged with Jas. T. Law
for Lichfield.
William Pollock, D.D.
Arthur Gore, M.A.

1708
1716 1763
17721815 1820

1856
1873

^

fK^

V^

>C;

un

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 55
THE MIZE, OR OLD RATE AND ACREAGE.
Chapelries and Townships in the Value in 33rd year
Parish of Bowdon. Henry VIII. reign.
A. K. f. £ a. D.
Agden (one half)  T 670 00 . . 020
Altrincham...,  C 520 00 .. o 10 g
Bollington (one half)  T 400 00 . . 030
Bowdon  T 6go o o . . o lo o
Baguley  T 2070 00 .. o 16 o
Carrington  C 2070 00 . . o 10 g
Dunham Massey  T 3710 00 .. 080
Ashley  T 23go 00 . . 174
Hale  T 3540 00 .. i 12 10
Ashton-upon-Mersey (one half)  T 670 00 .. 070
Partington  T 1220 00 .. 068
Timperley  T 1380 00 . . o 10 g
From the above townships there were formerly four
churchwardens elected annually to manage the affairs of
the church and to collect the rates, and as remuneration
about £20 was allowed them to defray any little expenses
that might occur during the execution of their office. The
churchwardens are now appointed by the Earl of Stamford
and Warrington.
The following is the table in the church of " Benefactions
to the poor of Bowdon Parish, in lands per annum or sums
of money, the interest for ever " : —
i6ig, Dame Elizabeth Booth, relict of Sir William Booth, of Dunham Massey,
Knt., ;£'ioo. i6gi, Edward Leigh, of Baguley, Esquire, /'lOo; Mrs. Mary
Booth, ;£'5. 1714) William Chapman, of Hale, 2 acres of land ; Thomas Brere
ton left to the poor of Ashley ;£"20 ; Mrs. Francis Barlow, ;£'io ; Dame Meredith,
£2. 1722, Rectr. de Croxden in com. Staff, left to the poor of Altrincham, £2.
1744, Oliver Bellefontaine gave to buy gilt plate for ye Communion-table ;£'io5,
also, for ye use of ye poor ;£'n. 1766, Mr. Joseph Walton, ;£'4o. 1761, the
Right Honorable Harry, Earl of Stamford, £^2 : los. 1773, George Norman
left to the poor of Altrincham ;£'4o; to the School, William Tipping, of Dunham,
Gent., ^10. 1722, Rev. John Ashton, £2. 1807, John Cooper, Esquire, con
veyed to Trustees, a messuage and lands in Partington, containing altogether,
Cheshire measure, in trust, 3a. or. I2p., for poor householders in Altrincham, of
the age of 50 years and upwards. 1816, Mrs. Elizabeth Cooke, of Altrincham,
left £$0 ; Mrs. Sarah Cooke, of Altrincham, left £50. 1827, Mr. Robert Twam-
low, of Altrincham, left ;£'ioo.

CHAPTER V.
Altrincham 600 years ago — The ancient charter — Sanjam fair —
Election of Mayor, form of an oath and proclamation — The
Court of Pye Powder — Importance of the bellman — A Mayor's
wisdom — The Earl's Christmas box — Sayings regarding the
Mavor — Election of burgesses — Progress of the trust and its
disposal — List of Mayors.
Im|]iTH the granting of a charter by the Baron of
Dunham, nearly 600 years ago, the town of Altrin
cham commenced its constitutional existence. At that time
it was described as being nothing more than a small
cluster of chimneyless cottages, whose occupants were
bound to use the Lord's bakehouse of the place, with a
wooden shed for its town hall.
The Cheshire people appear to have been greatly behind
in the matter of architecture down to a comparatively
recent period. Smith, in a Treatise on Cheshire, written
about the year 1609, remarks that " In building and
furniture of their houses, till of late years, they used the old
manner of the Saxons. For they had their fire in the
midst of the house, against a hob of clay, and their oxen
under the same roof; but, within these forty years it is
altogether altered, so that they have builded chimneys and
furnished other parts of their house accordingly." This it
may be readily inferred was a picture of the primitive
state of the Altrincham people. Such were the comforts
of "the good old times ! "

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 57
Of the derivation of the name there does not appear to
be any exposition. In ancient documents it is spelled
" Altringham," and it is so pronounced to the present day,
although by many of the inhabitants, old ones particularly,
the "ing" is given as the sound in hinge, which is in all pro
bability the truest pronunciation. As a fee of the barony
of Dunham, Altrincham derived great privileges on receiving
its charter. Serfdom was got rid of to a great extent,
and freedom dawned for the burgesses of the place. The
arbitrary power of the Lord, giving him complete control over
the movements of his dependents was relaxed, and since that
time Altrincham has possessed the oldest known form of jus
tice in the land, namely, that of the Saxon Court Leet.
The Hamon, of which we have already heard, received a con
cession from Edward the First, in the year 1290, of a market
at Altrincham on Tuesdays, and a fair of three days' duration,
upon which he granted a charter to his burgesses, of which
a copy will be given hereafter. This charter is still preserved,
and is the most historical and valuable document the town
possesses. It is enclosed in a peculiarly shaped oak casket
or box, two or three inches in diameter, fitted with an oval
lid. The charter itself is a piece of parchment, about ten
inches by eight, yellow with age, and written in the quaint
but beautiful monkish Latin of that period. Appended to it
is the seal of Hamon de Massey, or Macy, as it is there spelled,
which has, however, been broken. Subsequently, Edward
II. , in the 12th year of his reign (1319), by letters patent
erased the grant of Edward the First, of the fair named there
in, and, in lieu thereof granted to Sir Hamon another fair, on
the eve, feast, and morrow of St. James's day, yearly — which
latter continues to be held under the well-known appellation of
" Sanjam " fair — as also another in the month of April. This
is a comparatively modern one, as in 1734 there is an entry
in the books of the Leet, " that the first new fair that
ever was kept, or held in the spring in Altrincham, was
upon Thursday, i8th April, to which fair came very great
choice of cattle."
It is believed to have been the practice since the

58 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
charter of Hamon de Massey was granted, to elect a
mayor annually under it; but papers and documents proving
the fact are only to be had for about 200 years past. The
Mayor is elected at the autumnal Court Leet of the present
Lord of the Manor, the Earl of Stamford and Warrington, and
a jury of the Leet of the borough, which consists of bur
gesses only, return by their verdict three persons for the
Mayor, out of whom the Steward of the Court selects one,
who is thereupon sworn by such Steward in this wise : —
You shall swear, well and truly to serve our sovereign lord the King (or Queen)
and the lord of this franchise, in the office of Mayor of this boro', for one whole
year, now next ensuing, or until another be sworn in your room ; you shall
administer equal justice to all persons to the best of your judgment and power ;
you shall diligently procure such things to be done as may lawfully and justly
tend to the profit and commodity of this corporation, and shall support, uphold,
and maintain the lawful customs, rights, liberties, and franchises thereof; you
shall, to the utmost of your power, endeavour to preserve the King's (or Queen's)
peace within this borough, and that all misdemeanours and offences committed
therein be duly punished ; and in all other things you shall faithfully and up
rightly behave yourself, to the utmost quietness, benefit, worship, and credit of
this borough and the inhabitants thereof. So help you God.
In former years, on each fair day in July and November,
it was customary for a Court of "Pye Powder" to be held
before the Steward and the Lord of the Leet and the
Mayor in the Court House, which was styled the Court of
Pye Powder of the Right Hon. the Earl, &c., holden for the
Boro' of Altrincham before the Steward and the Mayor.
At this Court none of the freeholders or their tenants
attended, but the leasehold tenants of the Lord of the Leet,
and their sub-tenants, and also the rack tenants were called
to do suit and service. This pye powder, or pie poudre, in
English law is the Court of Dusty Foot, and its jurisdiction
was established for cases arising at fairs and markets to do
justice to the buyer and seller immediately on the spot.
After the holding of the Court the Mayor and the Steward
proceeded to the Market Place, where the Bailiff (Crier of
the Court) proclaimed the fair, in the following terms : —
Oh yes ! Oh yes I Oh yes ! Draw near and hear the King's (or Queen's)
proclamation I I, A  B  , gentleman, Mayor of the Boro' and Corpora-

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 59
tion of Altrincham, in the name and on behalf of our Sovereign Lord the King
(or Queen), and in the name and on behalf of the Right Honorable the
Earl, &c.. Lord of this boro' and the liberties thereof, strictly chargeth and
commandeth all manner of persons resorting to this fair that they do keep the
peace during the continuance thereof, upon pain of forfeiting for every assault
or affray five pounds, and their bodies to prison ;
And that all manner of persons do forbear to carry any unlawful weapon or
weapons, but that they leave the same at their respective lodgings upon pain of
forfeiting the same weapons ;
And that all manner of persons do forbear to buy, sell, or exchange any
horses, mares, geldings, cows or other cattle in any stable or back yard, or
any other place except in the open fair or market ;
And that all persons who bring any goods or cattle to sell above the
price or value of 4jd. do pay the accustomed toll for the same upon pain of
forfeiting the same goods ;
And that no town dweller do keep in or about their houses any goods or
cattle to defraud the Lord of his toll upon pain of forfeiting for every such
offence 6s. 8d. ;
And lastly, the said Mayor strictly commandeth all rogues, vagabonds, and
other idle wandering persons who can give no just account of their repair
hither, that they forthwith depart this fair and the liberties thereof, upon pain
of such punishment as is by law appointed for such offenders. God bless
the King (or Queen), the Lord of this borough, the Mayor, and ;all his
(or her) Majesty's loyal subjects.
The officers of the borough formerly accompanied the
Mayor and the Steward in a parade of the streets of the
town, and these perambulations were supposed to extend
to the boundaries of the borough. Some old verdicts
contain orders of the Jury for all householders to attend
the Mayor with halberts under fine for not so doing. The
procession then must have had a formidable, as well as
imposing appearance, and would, no doubt, embrace all
sorts and conditions of men, from the Mayor, with the
constables, market lookers, dog muzzlers, and ale tasters,
down to the humble bellman.
The latter was a very important personage. The town
books from an early period bear the stamp and impress of
his valuable services ; for at a town's meeting held at the
Court House, March ist, 1796, it was ordered —
That it has been found by experience to be inconvenient to hold town's
meetings without notice by the bell (bellman) ; therefore, in future, it is
ordered that notice by the bell shall be given.

6o History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
In the year 1699 a most important change took place
in connection with the Mayoralty of the town, which was
destined subsequently to render that office one of some
responsibility to its occupants. Most people are acquainted
with the story, which is to the effect that the then Earl
offered to grant to the Mayor of Altrincham a yearly pay
ment of £^, or land of the same yearly value, at his
option, making at the same time a similar offer to the
Mayor of Ashton-under-Lyne. The Mayor of the latter
place took the money ; but his brother of Altrincham
thought, and thought rightly, that the property could not
possibly deteriorate, and chose the land. The wisdom of
the choice has been fully vindicated in modern times. The
true version of the matter, however, is this : —
By an indenture, dated the 25th November, 1699, made
between the Right Hon. George Harry, the Earl of War
rington on the one part, and John Eccles, of Altrincham,
shoemaker, then Mayor of the said boro' of Altrincham
aforesaid on the other part, the said Earl, as well for the
goodwill which he had and bore " to the then Mayor,
aldermen (these, it is supposed, referred to the burgesses
who had served the office of Mayor, the title being fre
quently recognized in the old verdicts) and burgesses of
his boro' of Altrincham, and for the further and better de
fraying of the charges and expenses, which the Mayor of
the boro' aforesaid, and his' successors for the time being
was and were likely to be at during his and their Mayor
alty, as for divers other good causes and considerations
moving him thereunto, did give, grant, bargain, and sell
unto the said John Eccles, his executors, &c., certain lands,
with liberty to take and hedge in and improve the same,
for the term of 5,000 years, yielding and paying during the
said term a rent of twelvepence upon Christmas Day in
full" — a very handsome Christmas box certainly for an
Earl ! The deed further recites that this is to be only for
the proper use and behoof of John Eccles and his succes
sors in the office, subject to certain provisoes, amongst
them being neglecting or refusing to pay their rent, or

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 6i
neglecting to pay their proportionate shares of enclosing
the lands ; also for the re-entry of the Earl if the
rent should be unpaid for ten days after it became due,
being lawfully demanded, or if John Eccles should grant,
bargain, or sell or convert the said premises, or any pail
thereof or profits thereof, in any wise contrary to the use
and trust aforesaid.
Seventeen years afterwards, viz., in November, 1716,
another grant of land was made in the same form from
the said Earl to Charles Cresswell, then Mayor of the
borough. The Mayor's land, as it is called, was formerly waste,
and was 13a. ir. 26p., statute measure, and consisted of
Farther Moss Mayor Field
Nearer Moss Mayor Field
Thorley Moor -
Higher Thorley Moor
Seamen's Moss Mayor Field

It evidently formed a subject of notice at no very recent
period, as at a public town's meeting held at the Court
House, June 7th, 1796, it was ordered that Messrs. Worth-
thington be authorized "to take such measures as they
may think proper to procure an administration to be
granted to Mr. James Gratrix, to empower him to take
such legal acts as may be thought necessary, respecting
the fields belonging to the Mayor." No record of any
such proceedings having been taken appears ; but in
1803 there is a " Memorandum," dated 8th October,
which gives us some idea of the income then. It is as
follows : —
Mayors field let to Mr. Rigby, at the yearly rent,of ;£'i8, — who held it two
years, and gave up possession (not willing to hold it longer), in the year
I7g6 ; holding it from February I7g4. It was in I7g6 by public auction, at
Bowling Green, let for 12 years to Mr. Gratrix, at the rent of ;^i8 4s., which
lease expires 1808 ; as, also, Mr. George Lupton's lease of Mr. Taylor's Towns-
field Garden, for 12 years, from I7g6, expires year 1808, rent £2 3s. yearly.
Then follows in a somewhat tremulous hand, the signature, " Aaron Brun-
drett. Auctioneer.''

tt.

r. p.

2

0 14

I

I 32

2

0 33

I

I 2g

6

0 38

13

I 26

62 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
Of the office and dignity of Mayor of this borough much
has been said; and Webb, in his "Itinerary" written in
1621, speaks of Altrincham, " with its fine little market,
and a town of no meaner government than the Mayor
of an ancient institution to her principal officer;" while
King, in describing the market towns of Cheshire, says,
somewhat enviously, that although "Altrincham be none
of the chiefest market towns, yet it hath a Mayor (which
he, good old soul, in his innocence of heart, prints Major),
a weekly market, and yearly on St. James' a fair."
As there is a proverb attached to the Vicarage of Bowdon,
there are one or two sayings which have contributed in
no lesser degree to make the Mayoralty of Altrincham
famous. In former times, the " honour " was much
ridiculed, and it was said in an old rhyme : —
The Mayor of Altrincham and the Mayor of Over,
The one is a thatcher and the other a dauber.
Sir Walter Scott, too, in the forty-fifth chapter of his
novel, " The Heart of Mid-Lothian," puts a pecuhar
apology into the mouth of a worthy dame mentioned
therein. She has come down late to breakfast, and Sir
Walter writes ; —
The dame apologised to Captain Knockunder, as she was pleased to term
their entertainer ; "but as we say in Cheshire," she added, "' I was like the
Mayor of Altrincham, who lies in bed while his breeches are mending,' " for
the girl did not bring up the right bundle to my room, till she had brought up
all the others by mistake one after t'other. . . Pray,_mayl be so
bold as to ask if it is the fashion for you North country gentlemen to go to
church in your petticoats. Captain Knockunder ? "
•' Captain of Knockdunder, Madam, if you please, for I knock under to no
man ; and in respect of my garb, I shall go to church as I am, at your service.
Madam ; for if I were to lie in bed like your Major what-d'ye-callum, till my
breeches were mended, I might be there all my life, seeing I never had a pair of
them on my person but twice in my life, which I am bound to remember, it being
when the Duke brought his Duchess here, so I e'en borrowed the Minister's
trews for the twa days his grace was pleased to stay, &c."
That this dehcate Cheshire dam.sel and the ascetic rhymer
somewhat libelled both the office and the many worthy
gentlemen who have filled it there can be no doubt ; for

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 63
there is a long and goodly list of the best names in the
place, amongst them those of Massey, and in 1758-9, that
of the Honourable Booth Grey, son of the then Earl of
Stamford. It was in removing the effects of the present
Earl from Dunham Hall, some years ago, that a silver
medal was found, which had evidently been struck in
honour of his election. On one side is the inscription,
" The Honorable Booth Grey, Mayor of Altrincham, 1759 ; "
on the other, the coat of arms, with the motto, "A Ma
Puissance " (According to my power). This was presented
to the Mayor, Mr. John Astle Kelsall, in 1867-8.
One of its Mayors, so runs the tradition, was gifted with
the grace of repartee excellent well. The Mayor of Over
— for he and the Mayor of Altrincham are often coupled, —
journeyed once upon a time to Manchester. He was some
what proud, though he went on foot, and on arriving at
Altrincham felt he would be all the better for a shave. The
knight of steel and strop performed the operation most satis
factorily ; and as his worship rose to depart he said, rather
grandiloquently, " You may tell your customers that you
have had the honour of shaving the Mayor of Over." "And
you," retorted the ready-witted fellow, "may tell yours that
you have bad the honour of being shaved by the Mayor
of Altrincham." The rest can be better imagined than
described. It is singular that, while anciently the two were on such
an unenviable footing of equality, the Mayor of Over, by
prescriptive right, takes his seat as a magistrate both in
his own borough and at Quarter Sessions, the Mayor of
Altrincham does not appear either to have been invested
with or exercised magisterial functions. That Mayors of
the town when the charter was first granted did so is very
probable indeed, but any active administration of justice by
any of them has not been known.
The Court Leet was formerly all powerful in regulating
and administering the affairs of the town. In order to do
this with efficiency there were various officials appointed to
assist the Mayor; the principal being — the constables.

64 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
bailiffs, market lookers, burley or byelaw men, assessors,
leather sealers, scavengers, swine lookers, common lookers,
ale tasters, pump lookers, overseers, dog muzzlers, chimney
lookers, and the bellman. These ofiices were not then
sinecures, and all of them can be traced at work except the
ale tasters — a feature greatly to the credit of the Altrincham
publican one or two centuries ago. The chimney lookers on
one occasion had George Twyford and Edward Cooke each
amerced in is. for neglecting to sweep their chimneys,
which occasioned Edward Cooke's to take fire ; and a
worthy Alderman, whose name is honourably associated with
Altrincham (Alderman Cresswell) was ordered to " mussel "
his dog in pain of 6s. 8d., which he, neglecting to do, had
to pay, and was further fined los. The Overseer had Ann
Grantham amerced in los. for entertaining vagrants contrary
to Act of Parliament. The pump lookers saw that "no person
washed potatoes at ye town's pump, or fetched water to degg
straw, or set any barrel to be ledgined, or watered horses,
or fetched water to make daub or mortar." The common
lookers prevented persons gathering dung there, or
"fleaing" the common, or "surcharging" it, or turning
diseased animals on it. The swine lookers had Faith Brown
amerced in is. for turning out one swine. The leather sealers
had John Worthington, jun., fined in 3s. 4d., and WiUiam
Ellam, of Lymm, in 6s. 8'd., for selling leather not sufficiently
tanned. The market lookers saw that butchers did not
bring unmarketable meat, or the bakers give short weight in
bread. In fact, the Court took care that the officers did
their duty, or "pained" (fined) them for any omission.
Thus the well-looker was amerced in 3s. 4d. "for neglect
ing his office about cleaning the town's well ;" and the dog
muzzlers in i2d., for not doing as they ought to have done.
Concerning the Overseers, there is an entry 150 years ago,
which states : —
We find heretofore yt ye Overseers of ye poor have been very neglectful in
getting certificates from the interlopers, and for that reason wee doe order the
sukceeding officers to take care for the future to get certificates of those that
are in town yt have not given them, or those that may come in, if ye deny to
remove them, on pain of 6s. §d,

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 65
The previous Overseers had been fined I2d. each for
their neglect. But if the Court saw the officers did
their duty it also protected them in the doing of it, as
we find James Berry " amerced in 3s. 4d. for insulting
the market-lookers in the execution of their duty."
Some particular persons gave a good deal of trouble, just
as they do in the present day. Thus Faith (Ffaith) Brown
was twice fined is. for gathering dung on the common,
2s. for twice turning out her pig, and another shilling for
not paying or cleaning the well. Robert Leather, too, was
well known at court : he was ordered to repair his ovens,
to make a new and sufficient gate leading into the Town
Field, to open his part of Timperley brook, was amerced in
sixpence for ledginning his barrels at the town's pump, and
lastly was fined 6s. 8d. for neglecting to brush his hedge
and slance his ditch at Timperley. Hedges and ditches were
the occasion of a variety of orders, parties being required
to scour, ditch, slance, breast, and cleanse their ditches,
and to fall, brush, fence, and back beat their hedges.
" Muck," as it is always called, gave no small amount of
employment to the Court. Widow Norman was told not to
bring hers any further than the stumps from her stable on
pain of 6s. 8d., James Robinson was twice told to keep his
within his wall in his fold, while everybody was forbidden to
lay "swine muck," or " little house muck" in the bank for
the future. Mary Janson, for committing a great nuisance
in this respect, was fined los., and was ordered to lay no
more in the public street on pain of £oj oos. od. The
houses were mostly thatched with straw, and there were
sundry regulations respecting "straw for thatching." Such
straw was not to be wet in the highway, and great danger
arising from the thatch taking fire, many persons were
fined for not having their chimneys duly cleaned. George
Twyford was ordered to make up a dangerous hole in the
end of his brewhouse, on pain of 6s. 8d., and the smith
was to prevent sparks passing out of his smithy under
the comparatively heavy penalty of 20s. The bakers were
ordered not to lay their heath, gorse, or other fuel, within
F

66 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
sixty yards of any house, barn, or outbuilding, and to
quench their hot ashes under similarly heavy "pains."
The public bakehouse was an important institution, which
was maintained until a recent period. The Court regu
lated the time of "setting in" and "drawing," the former
at seven o'clock in the morning fi'om May to Michaelmas,
and eight o'clock from Michaelmas to May, also at such
other times as "that the inhabitants may have their
puddings, pyes, and other eatables out of the oven precisely
at 12 o'clock," and " draw for supper by six o'th' clock in
the evening," an hour which will be considered rather
early in these days. James Tipping, the baker, repeatedly
kept the lieges of Altrincham waiting for their dinners, and
no doubt this was the case in reference to suppers — for
he was frequently fined. The pecuniary affairs of the town
were well guarded, the officers being often amerced for
not producing their accounts to the assessor for inspec
tion. A most important feature of the work of the Court
was the preservation of footpaths and the repairing of high
ways, as several of the entries at different periods show.
Whereas the styles have lately been took up and the footway stopt leading
from Charles Cresswell's, Wellfield at Sandiway Head, and so from thence
leading through the upper end of John Smith's higher field, purchased of Mr.
John Eccles, which has been an immemorial footroad. We agree and order
that the several owners of the fields through which the footroad did heretofore
lead, to fix good and sufficient styles through their several closes or fields in
pain of each ^i.
In 1738, it was agreed and ordered : —
That George Norman and William Royle do take down their several styles
leading from Altrincham to Bowdon Church, and in lieu thereof do place stumps
and rails for the better ease and convenience of Churchpeople and other
passengers, and that within one month from this time on pain of 6s. 8d.
This is quite sufficient to show that the Court was a
most important one, and fulfilled duties very much after
the fashion of a Corporation in modern times.
The ancient custom in regard to the election of burgesses
is still carried out. These burgesses are all freeholders
within the borough, but must be elected by the Jury of

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 67
the Court Leet before they can be said to be fully qualified.
For many years the Jury returned one freeholder as
burgess at each Court Leet, who thereupon usually paid
a fine towards the expenses of the dinner of the Mayor,
Steward, Jury, Constables, &c., partaken of after the
Court had discharged the very onerous duties devolving
upon it. This habit of inflicting a fine was not an ancient
custom, as this election of burgesses was not carried out
with such regularity 100 or 120 years ago ; and the Jury
only elected one or two as they thought proper, and no
mention of a fine or other expenses to be paid is shown
by them. It is certain, however, that it was long the
custom for the Lord of the leet to present to the company
at the dinner, a certain sum towards the expenses of the
same, and the fines paid by new burgesses were added,
the remainder being paid equally by the persons present,
with the exception of the constables, for whom the Mayor
paid, as well as for himself. No one can possibly remember
when the custom originated, not even " the oldest
inhabitant." Occasions have been known when a newly-elected burgess
has declined to pay the customary fine ; and no persuasion,
not even that of the " ballivo" of the ancient charter,
which is supposed to mean the bailiff returned by the Jury,
who executed their precepts, and the warrants of the
steward for levying all fines and amercements imposed by
them, could induce him to part ; consequently, this money
has been lost to the company. It is said that in the year
1820, and for several years afterwards, the Mayor gave no
dinners, but only a certain sum towards the expenses of
the Court Leet dinners, the rest of the funds being
expended in lighting and watching the town. The practice
of the Mayor giving these dinners is, however, an in
stitution which cannot have existed from the granting of
the charter, as he had no public funds to meet the
expenses prior to the grants already mentioned, nor indeed
until the lands comprised in the lease became productive.
The date at which they are fixed as having commenced is

68 History of A Itrincham and Bowdon .
1749 or 1759, and about that time each burgess gave one
shilling towards the expenses of such dinner.
With the progress of the town, the value of the Mayor's
land correspondingly increased. Up to 1863, it had for
many years been vested in a trustee, upon trust for the
Mayors for the time being of the borough, during their
respective mayoralties, and was leased for farming purposes ;
the rents, then amounting to ^^70 los., being received and
expended by the Mayor at his discretion. This discretion
for a long time was not wisely exercised, and public
opinion was on more than one occasion strongly expressed.
It was alluded to many years previously at the Govern
ment Inquiry prior to the formation of the Local Board
of Health ; and Mr. Rawlinson, who held it, states
in his appendix that he fully concurred in the recom
mendations relative to the Mayor's property. Mr. Joyn
son and others named the subject, and expressed an
opinion that if the rental obtained from the land could
be laid out for public purposes, much good might result
to the inhabitants and the ratepayers generally. Mr.
E. Joynson stated "they had reason to believe that Lord
Stamford, whose ancestors left the property in question,
to the Mayor and Burgesses would have no objection
to its being made available for the improvement of the
town;" and Mr. I. Turton added that "the income from
the land was at present of no use whatever, for it was
spent in eating and drinking." Some remarks on the
improvement of Altrincham, which were then drawn up
for local use and information, pointed out that the town
was suffering, as Manchester did for at least a century,
from having outgrown the feudal usages and regulations
under which it had hitherto been governed, and also that the
main qualification which the Jurors of the Leet sought for in
a Mayor-elect was that he should be disposed to disburse
largely of this fund in the shape of good dinners and drink
ing bouts. Some of the Burgesses who did not approve
of this mode of spending the money, did not attend
the Court Leet or its dinners. It is pleasant to have to

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 69
record that of late years there has been an absence of
that license which formerly prevailed, and Mayors have
vied with each other in publicly and privately helping
on local objects, by subscriptions from the funds at their
disposal. Efforts have also been made to add greater
dignity to the transactions of the Leet, and perhaps by
none' more so than Mr. Edward Neild, who held the
office in 1875-6. During his term he presented two splendid
chairs for the use of the Court. They are from the
establishment of which he is the enterprising head, and
are constructed out of solid oak grown in Dunham Park.
They are in the Jacobean style of the i6th century,
from designs by Bernard Smith, of London, and there
fore harmonize to some extent with the antiquity of
the Court to which they are presented. The principal chair
stands about seven feet high, and the other, which is not
quite so elaborate, though not less tasteful in its design, is
six feet. The principals of both are splendid specimens of
turnery, and the carving is not less massive and imposing.
In the back of the chairs is a shield artistically placed on a
green ground, bearing the coat of arms of the town, with
the motto in gilt letters " Altrincham en avant." Under
neath, on a brass plate, is the inscription: "Presented to
the Court Leet of the Borough of Altrincham, by Edward
Neild, Mayor, 1875-6." They are upholstered in leather m
olive and gold of antique pattern, and the panels are also
decorated in the same manner. The back of the second chair
is ornamented with the coat of arms of the Earl of Stam
ford and Warrington, in silver and blue, surmounted with
a coronet, and the motto in gilt letters "A ma puissance."
Returning once more to the economic consideration of
the subject, it was mainly owing to the efforts of Mr.
W. Devereux NichoUs, a former Mayor, that this trust was
put on a satisfactory footing, legally speaking. He spent
the whole of his mayoral income in accomplishing the
object ; and in his representation he pointed out that
it was obvious that some parts of the land were eligible
for building purposes, and that the income would be much

70 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
increased if they could be leased for long terms. It had
also been for many years considered that the rents might
be much more advantageously applied than in the manner
before detailed, and that the inclination of the Burgesses
was very strong towards such an appropriation. This,
Mr. NichoUs did not do with a view to decreasing the
dignity of the office ; and suggestions were made that
the Mayor for the time being should receive a definite
and sufficient sum for the due maintenance of his office,
and the remainder be applied for some pubhc purpose,
as the Mayor for the time being and a committee of
Burgesses to be chosen by themselves might determine.
There were, however, many difficulties raised to this
course; but the object Mr. NichoUs had in view was
ultimately gained, and with the consent of the Lord of
the Manor and the Charity Commissioners, the following
gentlemen were elected by the burgesses trustees of what has
since been legally termed "The Mayor's Land Charity" : —
Messrs. James Street (Mayor), J. Howard, James Southern,
Mark Pierson, C. Balshaw, S. Barratt, J. Renshaw, and
J. A. Kelsall. Since that time, the income of the Mayor
has gone on rapidly increasing, and at the present time
(1878) it is nearly £250 per annum. It cannot, however,
rise much higher, as the land is now nearly all fixed on
long leases. It is to be hoped that the funds will continue
to be properly and judiciously spent, and some suitable
memorial, useful to the people and advantageous to the
town, will be seen in connection with the carrying out of
this ancient trust.
TRANSLATION OF CHARTER OF HAMON MASSEY.
To ALL faithful PEOPLE OF CHRIST, that shall see or hear this
present Charter, Hamon Massey, Lord of Dunham, sends greeting
everlasting in the Lord : KNOW YE, that I have given, and by this my
present Charter for me and my heirs confirm, to my Burgesses of Altrin
cham, that my Town of Altrincham be a Free Borough, and that my
Burgesses ofthe same Borough shall have a Guild Mercatory in the same
Borough, with all liberties and free customs unto such manner of Guild
belonging, according to the custom of the Borough of Macclesfield ; and
that they shall be quit through all my lands, as well by water as by land,
of toll, passage, frontage, stallage, lastage, and all other servile customs.
Also I have granted unto my said Burgesses, common of pasture, turbary

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 71
and bruary, within the limits of Dunham, Altrincham, and Timperley, sav
ing unto me and my heirs our improvements, and saving to me and my
heirs the inclosure of Sunderland, at our free will without the contradiction
of any person, whensoever we shall think fiJ, to enclose the same, so that
my aforesaid Burgesses may have common of pasture always and every
where for all their cattle within the bounds of Sunderland, so long as the
aforesaid place of Sunderland shall not be enclosed ; saving to me and my
heirs in all the time of pannage in the aforesaid Sunderland, so that in that
time we may have power at our will to fence in Sunderland aforesaid, with
out the contradiction of any persons. And when Sunderland aforesaid shall
be enclosed, my said Burgesses shall have their common up to the_ Hay of
Sunderland aforesaid, and not beyond. It is also my will that all my Bur
gesses who shall have hogs in the time of pannage in my said Borough
either after the feast of St. James and the time of pannage, shall give a
right toll when they pasture within the aforesaid commons, and they shall
not go from the said Borough with their hogs in the time of pannage.
Also, I have granted to my aforesaid Burgesses housebote and haybote in
all the woods of the aforesaid places (except my hays and enclosed woods).
And also I do grant to my aforesaid Burgesses that they shall not be im
pleaded out of the portmote of the aforesaid Borough, nor shall they be
interfered with out of their Borough on account of trespasses done within
the Borough, and if any of them becomes liable for any offence he shall be
amerced by his peers, and that according to the degree of his offence. I
will also that my Burgesses shall grind all their corn growing upon the
land of Altrincham, or expended in the same town, at my mills, for the
eighteenth of the full measure. I grant it also that my said Burgesses
may make unto themselves Presidents and Bailiffs by the Common Council
of me or of my Bailiffs and of themselves; and that no plea shall be holden
or determined in the said Borough but before me or my Bailiff; and that
every Burgess shall hold his several burgage of two perches of land in
breadth and five in length, with one whole acre of land in the field, for
twelve pence, to be paid to me and my heirs yearly, at three times of the
year by equal portions, that is to say : at the Nativity of St. John the
Baptist, tlie Feast of All Saints, and the Annunciation of the Blessed
Mary ; freely, quietly, peaceably, and wholly, with all the liberties afore
said; and that every Burgess may give a lien, sell, or assign by will, his bur
gage to any person or persons whomsoever he will (except to the officers
of our lord the King and religious men) without the contradiction of any
person or persons, saving to me and my heirs our free bakehouse in the
same Borough. I truly, the aforesaid Hamon, and my heirs, will for ever
covenant the aforesaid Burgages and the acres of land thereunto adjoining,
and all the liberties above written, unto my said Burgesses and their heirs
and assigns against all people. In witness whereof I have set my seal to
this present Charter, these being witnesses :
Sir Reginald de Grey (then Justice of Chester) ; .
Humphrey of Beauchamp, Richard of Massey, Knights;
Gilbert of Aston ; Thomas of Actone (or Agden) ; Hugh
of Baggelegh ; Matthew of Hale ; Henry of Dunham ;
John of Bowdpn ; and others,

72 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
The above is the best translation of the charter which
has been made, but it must be remembered that there are
numerous others in existence. In some instances it is
addressed to all " Shriften people," and charter is called
pax, and wrytynge, the expression varying with the period
at which such translation was made. Passage is egress and
regress ; foliage is toll paid for standing in the markets
and fairs ; lastage is liberty to set out standings in the
markets and fairs ; turbary is liberty to get turf or turves ;
bruary, heath, furze, or briars ; pannage, which is some
times given as farmage, pession, and passion, is the time
when hogs feed on acorns and stubble ; housebote is the
necessary timber for repairing houses and out-houses ;
haybote or hayhold, wood for hedges ; heyes, glades and
places for game ; the free bakehouse was a place to which
the inhabitants were bound to resort. In some instances
president has been translated borough reeve, and there
is an expression in one regarding the grain grown at
Altrincham, or expended in the town, "or sold at an inn
in the same town."
The exact date of the granting of the charter has not been
ascertained, but authorities concur in fixing the year 1290.
The Justice of Chester at that period was Sir Reginald
de Grey, who continued to hold that important office until
1300 ; but as one Ricardus de Massey acted in his absence
for some years, 1290 may be safely assumed to be the
year in which the Altrincham Charter was granted.
There are many differences in the wording of the trans
lations in addition to those already mentioned. The name
of Massey is given on both seal and charter as Macy. It
has since been rendered in various ways — Macie, Macey,
Mascie, Mascy, Massie, Massy, &c. No doubt, in connec
tion with other old Cheshire names and the numerous
changes in orthography connected therewith, it suggested
the somewhat ill-natured though celebrated rhyme that in
this county — Leghs are as numerous as fleas.
And Masseys as asses,

mm

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^^
History of Altrincham and Bowdon.

73

LIST OF MAYORS
1452 Edward Massey
1483 Richard Massey
1547 Roger Booth
1552 John Ryle
1555 John Morris
1556 John Ryle
1557 John Ryle
1558 Ralph Massey
1559 Ralph Massey
1560 William Ardron
1561 George Newton
1562 George Newton
1563 George Newton
1565 Ralph Massey, senior
1614 William Rawlinson
r5i6 Alexander Vaudrey
1618 Robert Linguard
i6ig Richard Brereton
1620 Edward Bent
1621 Randle Wright
1622 George Birch
1623 William Rowlandson
1624 William Hesketh
1626 William Hesketh
1627 Robert Parker
1628 Robert Lingard
1629 James Leycester
1630 Randle Wright
1631 Peter Rowlinson
1632 George Birch
1633 Richard Brereton
1634 Richard Brereton
1635 Jeffery Coe
1636 George Vaudrey
1637 Lawrence Leicester
1638 Richard Wright
1639 George Ashton
1640 Robert Lingard
1641 William Hesketh
1642 William Rowlinson

OF THE BOROUGH
FROM 1452 TO 1878.
1643 Henry Cartwright
1644 Henry Cartwright
1645 George Parker
1646 John Bent
1647 George Birch
1648 William Leicester
1649 George Vaudrey
1650 Richard Brereton
165 1 Richard Brereton
1652 Richard Brereton
1653 Henry Bradshaw
1654 Richard Wright
1655 Peter Parker
1656 John Ashley
1657 Robert Hesketh
1658 Thomas Hesketh
1659 Henry Smith
1660 Robert Lingard
i65i John Paulden
1662 William Rowlinson
1663 James Doe
1664 George Birch
1665 George Parker
1666 John Coe
1667 James Brookes
1668 George Aldcroft
i56g George Hardey
1670 William Leicester
1671 George Vaudrey
1672 Richard Wright
1673 George Cook
1674 Robert Lingard
1675 George Parker
1676 Thomas Doe
1677 John Ashley
1678 Henry Hesketh
1679 William Delves
1680 Richard Wright
168 1 George Birch
1682 Henry Smith

OF ALTRINCHAM
1683 James Brookes
1684 John Burgess
1685 James Ashley
1686 Thomas Hesketh
1687 Joseph Pierson
1688 George Hardey
i68g John Leather
1690 George Parker
1691 Jeffrey Stockley
1692 Robert Lingard
1693 Robert Leicester
1694 Timothy Taylor
1695 William Hesketh
1696 Henry Smith
1697 James Hardey
1698 George Alcroft
1699 John Eccles
1700 Jeremiah Brundrett
1701 George Birch
1702 George Leicester
1703 William Grantham
1704 John Bent
1705 William Higginson
1706 John Higginson
1707 Robert Ashley
1708 George Smith
1709 James Warburton
1710 John Smith
1711 Edward Garnett
1712 John Cooke
1713 Thomas Royle
1714 Robert Lupton
1715 Robert Frith
1716 Charles Cresswell
1717 Robert Leather
1718 John Ashley
1719 James Hardey
1720 Richard Royle
1721 James Robinson
1722 Samuel Holt

74

Hisifjry of Altrmcham and Bowdon.

List of Mayors. — Continued.

1723 John Smith
¦ 1724 George Hardey
1725 Joshua Grantham
1726 William Leicester
1727 Fernando Laughton
1728 Richard Berry
1729 WiUiam Taylor
1730 William Royle
173 1 Richard Leigh
1732 John Birch
1733 James Fletcher
1734 George Smith
1735 George Warburton
1736 George Royle
1737 Henry Smith
1738 John Worthington
1739 Aaron Eccles
1740 Joshua Grantham
1741 Thomas Royle
1742 John Smith
1743 Richard Neild
1744 Robert Frith
1745 George Ashton
1746 George Burgess
1747 Benjamin Irlam
1748 John Leigh
1749 Richard Royle
1750 George Twyford
1751 Joseph "Grantham
1752 George Robinson
1753 Peter Bailey
1754 Thomas Royle
1755 James Wainwright
1756 Samuel Lamb
1757 Richard Crouchley
1758 The Honble. Booth
Grey
1759 Isaac Shaw
1760 Nathaniel Priestner
1761 Charles Cresswell
1762 Robert Ashley
1763 Edward Cpoke

1764 John Birch
1765 Thomas Moore
1766 William Rigby
1767 Thomas Warburton
1768 William Leicester
1769 John Walthew
1770 William Parkinson,
junr.
1771 William Taylor
1772 George Cooke
1773 Isaac Worthington,
junr.
1774 John Ratcliffe
1775 John Derbyshire
1776 George Lupton
1777 William Howard
1778 Thomas Duncalf
1779 Edward Darbyshire
1780 John Austin
1781 Wilham Pooks
1782 Vernon Poole
1783 Oswald Leicester
1784 John Clough
1785 Charles Poole
1786 Robert Mills
1787 John Eccles
1788 Robert Leicester
1789 James Staples
1790 Aaron Brundrett
1791 Thomas Howard
1792 James Walthew
1793 Timothy Brownell,
junr.
1794 James Gratrix
1795 William Parkinson
1796 John Atherton
1797 Samuel Howard
1798 Samuel Hardey
1799 George Burgess
1800 George Worthington
1801 Peter Leicester
1802 Saniuel Walker

18031804 180518061807
1808 18091810
18111812
1813
1814181518161817 1818i8ig1820182118221823182418251826
1827
18281829
1830183 1
183218331834 18351836 18371838
1839184018411842 1843

William Ashley
William Smith
Thomas Royle
John Postles
Thomas Carter
Abner Partington
William Royle
Thomas Darbyshire
John Mitchell
Samuel Hope
John Austin
Isaac Davenport
John Mitchell
John Barratt
William Ashley
John Drinkwater
Joshua Ashcroft
Samuel Bruckshaw
Samuel Renshaw
Timothy Brownell
Samuel Street
Samuel Clarke
John Faulkner
John Hope
Richard Irlam Grant
ham
John Clarke
John Adshead
Nathaniel Pass
Robert Shelmerdine
John Lupton
Charles Poole
Richard Poole
Isaac Harrop
Isaac Harrop
William Hamilton
Isaac Gaskarth
Joseph Arstall
Isaac Gaskarth
Joseph Bruckshaw
William Collier
William Collipr

History of Altrincham and Bowdon.

75

1844 William Renshaw
1845 James Royle
1846 James Matthews
1847 Joseph Hall
1848 George Massey
1849 Richard Broadbent
1850 Richard Broadbent
1851 Mark Pierson
1852 Mark Pierson
1853 George Berry
1854 Samuel Barratt
1855 John Davenport

List of Mayors. — Continued.
1856 Wilham D. Nicholls 1868
1857 William D. Nicholls i85g
1858 John Mort 1870
1859 John Mort 1871
i860 John Howard 1872
1861 Charles Balshaw 1873
1862 James Street
1863 Thomas Balshaw 1874
1864 Samuel Delves 1875
1865 Samuel Delves 1876
1866 Samuel Delves 1877
1867 James Astle Kelsall 1878

James Southern
Humphrey Davies
Joseph Gaskarth
Joseph Gaskarth
Matthew Fowden
John Shelmerdine
Mort
Samuel Burgess
Edward Neild
William Greenwood
William Greenwood
John Siddeley

CHAPTER VI.
A retrospect — Sundry lawsuits — The first Booth of Dunham
Massey ; his supposed death at the Battle of Blore Heath — A
Booth knighted hy Queen Elizabeth — hiteresting wills — Dame
Booth's Charity — Contributions to the defence of the Kingdom —
Dr. Dee's reference to Sir George Booth — Purchase of the town
of Warrington ; the ifistructions thereon — Death of William
Booth. (i§ BRIEF resume is necessary before proceeding further.
i^ It will be in the recollection of the reader that the
last Baron of Dunham sold the reversion of his estates in this
neighbourhood to Oliver Ingham, Justice of Chester. At
the time of Hamon's death, however, Oliver was abroad,
having been appointed Steward of Gascony by the King.
As has often been the case in modern times, the death
of an individual, even of mean degree, has given rise
to much legal contention. In this respect history only
repeats itself; for it was about the year 1341 that "great
suits " took place concerning the Barony of Dunham. It
was only natural that the descendants of the barons on
the female side should think that they were, in the absence
of such a notable individual as the aforesaid Oliver,
entitled to those broad acres, which constituted a most
enviable possession. Richard Fitton, and the heirs of
the other sisters, says Leycester, entered into the Manor of
Dunham ; but, by the King's command, Hamon Masci, of

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. ^'j
Tatton (afterwards the first Masci of Rixton) came and
turned them out. The dispute was not settled until Henry,
Duke of Lancaster, bought out the rights of all concerned,
and with princely liberality gave it to Roger Lestraunge,
or Strange, Lord of Knocking, who was descended from
Oliver Ingham by marriage, and by whose descendants it
was held for some time afterwards.
Up to this period, no mention was made of the Booths
in connection with Dunham Massey, and it was not until
the reign of Henry V. that they acquired a footing in this
district. The name Booth is derived from the Anglo-Saxon
word Both, a seat, or chief mansion-house, more usually
a village. In the year 1402, Richard de Venables, heir
to the estate of Le Bolyn, was drowned accidentally in
the river Bollin, and by this event, his two sisters, Alice
and Dulcia, or Douce, became co-heiresses. These lands
were held in trust until Dulcia came of age. She was
married to Robert del Bothe, or Booth, a younger son of
Sir John del Bothe, Barton, near Manchester, " the Mon
day after the invention of the Holy Cross," in the tenth
year of the reign of Henry IV, (1409), at which time she
was only nine years of age. Twelve years afterwards
the whole of the manors and estates were divided, Styal
and Dean Row, and the mills on the river Bollin, with
other lands in the county, principally in West Cheshire
falling to her share. By what has been described as a
complicated series of events, this Robert del Bothe seated
himself ultimately at Dunham Massey. He challenged
his right to a portion of the land in this manor, which he
contended ought to descend to him as one of the heirs by
marriage through the Fittons and Venables from the
last Baron of Dunham. Once having put his hand to
the plough he did not look back, and ultimately
it was agreed in the year 1433 between the holders
of the barony, viz., Sir Thomas Stanley and William
Chauntrell, sergeant-at-law, that one-half of the lands,
rents, and services in Dunham, Hale, and Altrincham,
should be given him. Thus, in brief, was laid the founda-

78 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
tion of a family which is generally agreed to have been one
of the most distinguished and influential in Cheshire.
This Sir Robert had a goodly number of sons and
daughters, amongst them John Booth, afterwards Bishop
of Exeter, and Warden of Manchester College. He and
his eldest son, William, were made Sheriffs of Cheshire
for both their lives in the year 1443 ; and Leycester
remarks that this is all the more noteworthy, " as being
the first patent for life which he could meet with in
the county." That he took a prominent part in public
affairs is often noticed in contemporary documents, and
for his services he had an annuity of ^10 per annum
granted by Henry VI. The time of his death, however,
appears to be involved in much obscurity. Leycester
says he lived in the reign of Henry IV., Henry V., and
seems to have died about the 29th year of the reign
of Henry VI. Another authority (Dr. Ormerod) suggests
that he was on the King's side in the battle of Blore
Heath in 1459, — which battle is well known to have been
singularly calamitous to the gentry of Cheshire. It
has remained for another antiquarian, Mr. Earwaker,
by his painstaking research, to throw a great deal
of additional light on the subject. Dr. Ormerod gives
as his authority th.e monument in Wilmslow Church to
the memory of Sir Robert and Douce, his wife ; but his
rendering of the inscription is shown to have been caused
by a misreading, and his remark that "it possesses
consideraljle interest, and is the only inscription now
remaining in the county relating to any of the warriors
who fell at Blore Heath," threatens, says Mr. Earwaker
"to become a popular local error," from its having been so
frequently repeated. The description which he gives of
the brass is also much more complete, and possesses the
utmost interest for this district. This handsome brass
still exists, but in a much worn state, and has lost the
greater part of its inscription, and one of its canopies.
It is, however, the finest yet left in Cheshire. Sir
Robert is represented in the plate armour worn in the

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 79
middle of the 15th century, his head uncovered, showing
the short cut hair, his feet adorned with the knightly
spurs, resting on a greyhound, and his sword lying across
his body. In his right hand, he grasps that of his wife
Douce, who lies on his left side. She is habited in a
tightly fitting dress, seen beneath a long heavy mantle,
which is fastened by two brooches across the chest. Her
flowing hair reaches down nearly to her waist, and is
confined at the top of the head by a narrow fillet or
circlet, probably enriched with jewels. Her little pet dog
is represented at her feet lying on the folds of the mantle.
Over each of these figures was a handsome canopy, that
over the lady now only remaining. There were the
shields on which the arms of Booth, Fitton, Masey, and
Thornton were quartered, and round the edges of the
tomb, in Latin, was the following inscription : —
Here lies the body of Sir Robert del Bouthe Knight, formerly lord of
Bolyn, Thorneton and Dunham, who died in the feast of Saint Edith the
Virgin (Septr. 16) in the year of our Lord 1460 ; and the body of Douce,
wife of the said Robert del Bouthe, who died on the morrow of the feast
of St. Tecla the Virgin (Sepr. 23) in the year of our Lord 1453, on whose
souls may ' God be merciful. Amen.
This account receives corroboration to some extent from
another source. The Rev. Charles Boutell, in his work
on "Monumental Brasses," gives a written description, as
also an engraving of the tomb in question. He says that
the height of the effigy in the original was three feet.
The double canopy is entirely destroyed, as also the
greater part of the border legend.
In the absence of the document recording the inquisi
tion post mortem, this must now be regarded as conclu
sive testimony as to the date of his death.
Sir Robert was succeeded by his son William, who, in the
year 1442, married Matilda, daughter of John Dutton, of
Dutton, Esquire, and had issue, George, son and heir, and
also other sons and daughters. He died on April 6th, 1477,
leaving certain lands in trust to provide a chaplain to pray
for the health of his soul and that of his ancestors and

8o History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
descendants, in a Chantry Chapel which he desired to be built
in Bowdon Church for that purpose ; this was afterwards
built, and was said from its spaciousness " to be a faire
Chappelle." In his inquisition post mortem, or inquest after
death, which was taken at " Knottesford," before Thomas
Wolton, Escheator, and a local jury, it is stated that he died
seised of certain lands, and that he had conceded to him
lands in Altryncham, &c. His wife, Matilda, married for
her second husband Sir William Brereton, Knight.
George Booth, Esquire, was 32 years of age when he was
declared his father's heir. He married Catherine, daughter
and heiress of Robert de Montfort, lord of Bescote, Staff'ord-
shire. It has been stated that his illustrious father-in-law
was descended from Charlemagne, Emperor of the Romans,
and David, King of Scotland, and that he was heir by his
great grandmother to the ancient family of Clinton, of Col
chester. By this marriage large estates were brought to
the family. By her he had issue two sons and three
daughters. He died the Sunday before the Annunciation
of the Blessed Virgin Mary, March 25th, 1484. In his
will he desired that his body should be buried " in the
new Chapel of St. Mary of Bawdon." Katherine, who
survived her husband, re-married. She died on the 7th
December, 1498.
At the time of his father's death, William, the next
heir, was 10 years of age. On attaining his majority in
1494, the necessary proof of age was made. In about four
years afterwards he was knighted. He was twice married,
his first wife being Margaret, daughter and co-heiress of
Sir Thomas Ashton, of Ashton-under-Lyne ; by her he had
two sons, the heir being named George. The manor of
Ashton-under-Lyne and other large inheritances in Lanca
shire passed by this marriage into the Booth family.
His second wife was Ellen, the daughter of Sir John
Montgomery, of Throwley, Staffordshire, and by her he had
issue seven sons and daughters. In one of the windows
of Wilmslow Church there was formerly heraldic stained
glass, representing Sir William Booth, wearing a tabard

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 8i
of arms, and kneeling with six sons behind him, and his
wife Ellen, also kneeling, with five daughters behind her.
There was an inscription in Latin, desiring prayers for
the souls of Sir William, and Ellen his wife, and for the
souls of their children, who caused a window to be made
in the year 1526.
The inquest after death, taken at Altrincham, before Sir
Ralph Egerton, Knight, November 30th, 15 19, recites the
lands he was possessed of and that he died the Wednes
day before the Feast of St. Martin the Bishop (November
11), last past (1519), and that George Bothe was son and
next heir, and of the age of 29 years.
George, the fifth owner of Dunham, married Elizabeth,
daughter of Sir Thomas Boteler or Butler, of Bewsey, the
scene of a tragedy the remembrance of which is preserved
by tradition, when a Butler was ruthlessly murdered by a
relative. By her he was blessed with several " olive
branches" ; and one of his daughters, Ellen, was married to
John Carrington, of Carrington, Esquire ; and another,
Dorothy, to Robert Tatton, of Wythenshawe, Esquire. He
died on the 25th October, 1531, his eldest son, George,
being then 15 years of age. In his will he states — •
I, George Bothe, of Donnham Massie, Esquire, &c., bequeath my body to be
buried in Jhesus Chappell at Bowdon churche, among myn ancestors. Alsoe,
I give to ye prior of Birkenhed my best horse to praye for me ; also at
Birkenhed aforesayd ten shillings to say a trentall of masses for my soule ;
also I give to ye prior and ye freires at Warington ten shillings to say a trentall
of masses for my soule. Item to ye same prior of Warington towards ye
gildying of our Ladie iijs iiijd (3s. 4d.) Also I will that my best gown oi velvet
and my best dublet shall be made in two vestiments, and ye one of ye sayd
vestements to be given to ye said chappell of Jhesus at Bowdon church, and ye
other vestement to remene in ye chappell of Dunnham for ever. Also I give
unto George Bothe, my son and heire apparent, my cheine of gold and my
signet of gold as heire lomes.
Also it is my will that my chaplen, Sir John Percivall, or some other discrete
prist, shall say masse, praye, and do devyn service for my soule and myn
ancestors and all Xten (Christian) souls by ye space of vij (7) yeres nexte after
my decese, and he to have for his salarie yerely iijlj xiijs iiij^ (£3 13s. 4d.)
And whereas I by my dede indented berying date ye xviijth day of Julie ye
xxiij yere of Kyng Henre ye viijth have infeoffed my brother in law John
Massie of Podington esquire, John Carryngton of Carryngton esquire, William
G

82 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
Mayre of Meyre esquire, Richard Legh of High Legh esquire Sec. in my manor
of Dunham Massie and in all my messuages, lands, tenements, rents and
services in Dunham Massie, Stayley, Bolyn, Deyn Roe, Stiall and Wilmeslowe,
in trust &c. as by the same dede indented more plenly doth appear.
Also I bequeth for ye makyng of ye side ile of ye Church of Bowdon at
such time as it shall be taken down five marks of money.
His son George, who succeeded him, also contracted an
early marriage, having at the age of i6 espoused Elizabeth,
daughter of Sir Edmund Trafford, of Trafford, Lancashire,
by whom he had issue William, son and heir, and three
daughters. He was one of the gentlemen who received
a letter from the Queen (Jane Seymour) dispersing the
joyful news through the kingdom of the birth of Edward
VI. in 1537.
The letter was in these words : —
By the Queue.
Trusty and wel-biloved, we grete youe well. And for asmuche as by the
inestimable goodness and grace of Almighty God, we be delivered and
brought in childbed of a Prince, conceyved in most lawful matrimonie between
my Lord the King's Majestye and us, doubting not but that for the love
and affection which ye beare unto us, and to the commyn wealth [common
wealth] of this realme, the knowledge thereof shuld be joyeous and glad
tydings unto youe, we have thought good to certiffie to you of the same.
To thintent [the intent] ye might not only rendre unto God condigne thanks
and praise for soo gret a benefit, but also pray for the long continuance
and preservation of the same here in this lief, to the honor of God, joye
and pleasor of my lord the king, and us, and the universall weale, quiet
and tranquillyty of this hole realm. Gevyn under our signet, at my Lord's
manor of Hampton cort, the xii day of October, [1537.]
To our trusty and welbiloved George Both, Esq.
He died in 1543, aged 28 years. His widow Elizabeth
survived him and was twice re-married, firstly, to James
Done, of Utkinton, and secondly to Thomas Fitton, of
Siddington. He appears to have made Wilmslow his
place of residence, and in his will he desired to be
buried there. His raised altar tomb, bearing his arms
and initials, with those of his wife, remained in the
Booth Chapel for a long period, but was destroyed at
the restoration of the church in 1863.

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 83
His son and heir, William Booth, Esquire, was but
three years of age on succeeding to his father's ample
estates in 1546, and was ward to Henry VIII. He
married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John Warburton, of
Arley, and had a family of seven sons and six daughters.
One of his sons, Robert, distinguished himself as a soldier
in Holland. In 1571 he was made Sheriff of Chester,
and seven years afterwards had the honour of knighthood
conferred upon him by the virgin Queen. He died on
the 28th November, 1579, and was buried at Bowdon
on December Sth following, so that he does not appear
to have long survived the honours bestowed upon him.
His will is a most interesting one. He bequeaths to his
wife " the chain of gold," which he last brought with
him from London, weighing about xxx l'-. another small
chain, a carcanet of gold, one pair of bracelets of gold,
two suits of borders of gold, one single border of gold,
one tablet of gold, with all the rings she was accus
tomed to wear, and certain small buttons of gold,
enamelled black and white, three little gilt bowls, with
his third salt cellar, and all the husbandry stuff at
Stayley Hall. To his son George (his heir) he leaves
all the rest of his plate (reserving oue dozen of spoons
" of the worser sort," which he gave to his wife), his
best chain of gold with his signet, and all his apparel,
with all his gold buttons except those before given to
his wife. " To William Duncalf, my cast of ffawcons
(falcons), my baie trotting nagge and my setting spaniells."
To his well-beloved mother " my sealinge ring, usuallie
wore on my little finger;" to his brother-in-law, Daven
port, all his hounds ; to his cousin, William Tatton,
George Brereton (Ashley), and Edmund Joddrell, all his
fighting cocks and hens ; to his sisters Davenport, Chauntrell,
and Done, each a gold ring ; and to his brother-in-law,
Mr. John Done, his best baie nagge and his pied horse,
then at Stayley Hall; to his daughter-in-law, Jane Bothe
(married to his son George, then a minor), a black
ambling nag that was Mr. Carrington's, and also a gold

84 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
brooch ; to his brother-in-law Mr. Peter Warburton,
his best gray nag that he himself was accustomed to
ride upon, and also his lute ; to his brother-in-law,
Mr. George Warburton, a young coal-black nag ; to
Mr. Vicar, of Rochdale, iiij !'•; to William Leigh, his
long black cloak; to George Holme, his best pair of
virginalls, &c.
His wife, dame Elizabeth, survived him for. the long
period of 49 years, and appears to have distinguished
herself by her widely diffused charity. In 1620 she granted
to the Mayor and citizens of Chester the sum of ^^400
upon trust for ever, the interest of which at five per cent.
per annum, is to be annually paid out by them in certain
sums, -^5 of which is handed over to the overseers of
Bowdon parish, amongst others, to be expended in weekly
instalments in purchasing loaves of bread to be distributed
weekly, on every Sunday, for ever, immediately after
morning prayer in the Parish Church, to 24 poor aged
people. It is divided over several parishes, and the dis
tribution continues to be made.
George Booth, the second surviving son of the pre
ceding, lived in those critical times when the Protes
tantism of this country first rested on a firm foundation ;
when, as one writer has eloquently put it. Englishmen
performed those brilliant and glorious naval exploits,
especially the destruction of the Spanish Armada, which
are unsurpassed in our naval annals; when the majesty of
English prose was formed by the hand of Hooker ; when
the harmony of English verse flowed from the lips of
Spenser ; when the drama, the surest proof of advanced
civilization, had its first beginnings, and was perfected by the
immortal genius of Shakespeare ; while Bacon opened up a
new method of philosophy, whose practical fruits we may
be said even now to gather. Born on October 20th, 1566,
Sir George was, on the death of his father, still a minor,
and was made a ward of Queen Elizabeth. He was married
in 1577 to Jane, daughter and heiress of John Carrington. he
being 11 and his wife 15 years old at the time. She was an

History of A Itrincham and Bowdon. 85
orphan, her father having died only the month previously. She
died without issue, and he obtained, by suit, possession of
the land of Carrington. His second wife was Catherine,
daughter of Sir Edmund Anderson, Chief Justice of the
Common Pleas, and by her he had a large family. He
was, like all Englishmen of the period, seized with the
contagion of patriotism, and contributed liberally, as also
did his mother, towards the armaments which were raised
for the defence of the kingdom. He was Sheriff of Chester
for the first time in 1597, and he is referred to by the
gifted, but eccentric Dr. Dee, the then Warden of Man
chester College, who records in his diary that he received a
"viset" from Sir George, who had no doubt just been
knighted by the Queen, and that " after some few words of
discourse," he agreed to stand by the arbitrement of Mr.
Homfrey Darhport or Davenport, "a Cownsaylor of Gray's
Inne," concerning two or three tenements in his occupying
in Dunham Massey. He also mentions a second " viset "
he had from Sir George, who " sayed he wold yeld to me
what he wold not yeld to the bisshop nor any other,"
thereby showing that the worthy doctor stood high in his
estimation. Sir George was created a baronet by patent
bearing date May 22nd, 161 1, in the ninth year of the reign
of James I., being the tenth person who was created a
baronet after the institution of that order. To entitle him
to this honour he was amply possessed of all material
requisites. Webb, in his "Itinerary," speaks of the beautiful
seat of Dunham, at that time " never more graced than in
the present possessor, upon whom, and his most worthy
son, William Booth, Esquire, the world hath deservedly set
great love and affection, himself bearing a chief sway in
the great commands of regiments in the country, and his
son already giving proof of that wisdom and moderation in
government which have adorned his ancestors before him."
Of the eldest son William, mentioned above, it becomes
necessary to speak more at length, as his opening acts,
conspicuous for great ability, gave promise of a brilliant
future. It was by his efforts that the family acquired posses-

86 History of A Itrincham and Bowdon.
sion of Warrington. The instructions which he gave to his
stewards on that occasion are remarkable, as being probably
the last instance of an appeal being made on the old
principle of feudal benevolence to the tenantry for pecu
niary aid. The sum which was to be paid for Warrington
to Thomas Ireland, Esquire, of Bewsey, was -^7,000, and
in his instructions William wishes the tenantry to be
called together, the amount to be paid signified to them,
in order that by their assistance he and his father might
be enabled to finish the purchase. It was an opportunity
for the tenants to show their loves, such as might never
probably occur again, and the " desire " was for three
years' rent, which, if they would give, neither he nor his
father would require any more rents or gifts of them for
their two lives. Failing this, " they might provoke him to
' sharpe courses.' " Other landlords in Cheshire and Lan
cashire, he reminded them, had recently demanded three
years' rent only for spending money which had been
readily granted, and from the fact of the purchase being
rumoured about the country if the tenantry forsook them
in this extremity it would cause much disgrace. The
purchase was afterwards completed. William did not live
more than seven or eight years after this great event,
but died on the 26th April, 1636, in the lifetime of his father.
He had married Vere, second daughter and coheiress of
Sir Thomas Egerton, eldest son of Lord Chancellor Eger
ton, and she bore him five sons and two daughters.
Thomas, the eldest, died at Chester at the age of 12.
Consequently, George Booth, the second son, succeeded to
the baronetage on the death of his grandfather, who
attained the ripe age of 86, October 24th, 1652.
This Sir George was conspicuous in the political theatre
during the civil disturbances of the seventeenth century,
and a sketch of his life and actions may well form the
subject of a separate chapter.

w^

Wi^

CHAPTER VII.
Birth of Sir George Booth, first Lord Delamer — Description of Sir
William Brereton — Indictment against Sir George ; his part in
attempting to pacify the county — Its failure — The siege of Nant
wich — Spirited defence — Defeat of the Royalists — Sir George
elected member for Cheshire ; his exclusion hy Colonel Pride's
purge — Royalist attempts at a Restoration — Sir George's cele
brated rising — The battle of Winnington — His betrayal and arrest;
his committal to the Tower — Release and re-election — His im
provements at Dunham — Description ofthe old mansion — His death.
^T the period of the birth of Sir George Booth, in
1022, those aspirations for constitutional liberty
mherent in a commercial nation were beginning to animate
the mass of the people, and find vent in the House of
Commons. Those aspirations, repressed for the nonce by
an untoward display of regal prerogative, only burst out
with greater violence at a subsequent period. It is not
to be wondered at that the Booth family ranged them
selves on the side of the people, and from this fact the
grandfather of Sir George was looked upon as the chief
corner stone of the Puritan or Presbyterian party in
Cheshire. The word Puritan must not, however, be
misunderstood. There were Puritans of various political
complexions in those days, and ranked deservedly in the
first grade were those who were in favour of maintaining
the highest principles of civil liberty, apart from religious
doctrine — not those sour, narrow-minded bigots usually

88 History of A Itrincham and Bowdon.
associated with the word, and which are popularly thought
to be such in the present day. The part which the Booths
of Dunham Massey were called upon to take was one
fraught with danger and perplexity, but one which few
have succeeded in carrying out with greater honour, and
this at a time, too, when England had never before showed
so many instances of courage, ability, and virtue.
In illustration of this, there appears the following quaint
notice of Sir George's grandfather in Ricraft's Worthies : —
And next to this religious and faithful Lesley, is Sir George Booth, the
leader of Cheshire, who, when the troubles first began, stood up for his
country, exciting his tenants so to do, promising them that had leases of their
lands from him that if any such did suffer in person or goods he would make
them recompense, and if any had lease by life and should be slaine, the life of his
wife, child, or friend, should be put in his stead, a brave religious resolution,
which, if all the gentry that had adhered to the Parliament had done the like,
the warres could never have lasted so long. But this religious brave Booth
thought it not enough so to doe, but took a place of command himself, and was
very active and courageous for the preservation of his country, did many gallant
exploits which I hope hereafter to mention at large, and at present give him
this character — free, brave, godly brave Booth, the flower of Cheshire.
When the signal of open discord and civil strife was given
in August, 1642, Sir George Booth, and Sir William Brereton,
who was described by his enemies "as a notable man at a
thanksgiving dinner, having long teeth and a prodigious
stomach," were the only two Cheshire gentlemen mentioned
by name in the first order for arming the county, and secur
ing the magazines and equipments of the Royalists. The
battle of Edge Hill took place in October of the same year,
and soon after a great Session or Assizes was held at
Chester, where bills of indictment were preferred before the
Judges against Sir George Booth and hundreds of others
for high treason in taking up arms and adhering to
Parliament in the war ; but this indictment they would not
see fit to appear in person to answer. In the following
year (1643), that internal peace was necessary for the good
of the county was greatly felt ; and in July a meeting of
the principal persons in the county was held at Bunbury.
They appeared to be pretty equally divided between King

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 89
and Parliament, and a treaty of pacification was then drawn
up, which was signed by Sir George, on behalf of the
Parliamentarians, and by Lord Kilmorey, Sir Harry Main-
waring and others, for the Royalists. This measure, how
ever, appears to have been particularly distasteful to Par
liament, who considered it of such importance as to
immediately render it null and void, so far as they were
concerned, by a special ordinance.
Military preparations were on this rupture pushed on
vigorously by both sides, and Nantwich, which was
esteemed an important garrison, was taken possession
of by Parliament. The Royalists, whose head quarters
were at Chester, made several unsuccessful attempts to get
possession of the town, and in the severe siege by Lord
Byron in January, 1644, Sir George acted a most promi
nent part. The privations endured by the garrison were
extreme ; and when the town was greatly harassed. Lord
Byron sent a message asking him to yield the town into his
hands, as they were in a low and desperate condition. To
this Sir George sent a spirited refusal, in which he said
that though they might be termed traitors and hypocrites,
God in His own good time would show their unstained and
unspotted loyalty towards His Majesty as well as their
sincerity in all their privations.
There is a prophetic ring about these words. Sir George
was evidently animated by the highest feelings of love of
country ; and events in the latter part of his life strongly
confirm this. Other papers were also sent to the com
mander by various parties, amongst them one from Captain
Sandford or Handford, a man " very lavish of ink and big
words." The suspense in which Sir George and his companions
in arms were kept was soon to be removed by very un
expected means. The rising of the Weaver caused the
Royalists to withdraw, and the " plat " which they had
placed over the river was swept away. This was taken
advantage of by the townsmen and soldiers ; and on the
same day the Royalists were defeated by the combined

go History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
forces of Sir WiUiam Brereton and General Fairfax, and
they retreated to Chester.
In 1646 the celebrated fortress of Beeston was ordered
to be dismantled, and Sir George was on the commission
which sat at Warrington for this purpose. Two years
afterwards, years pregnant with eventful history. Parlia
ment was invaded, and the celebrated Pride's purge was
applied. Sir George was one of those members excluded
on that occasion ; and at a subsequent meeting in West
minster Hall he headed a deputation to the House
demanding equal liberty to sit. This, however, as is well
known, was not granted.
In 1650 he was on the commission of the peace for
the county, and instructions were afterwards issued when the
Commonwealth was fully assured, directing the Sheriff, in
conjunction with Peter Warburton, Sir George, and others,
to meet on certain days to enquire into conspiracies and
secret meetings, to disarm Papists or disaffected persons
that had appeared such by their actions and words, or
corresponded with Charles Stuart, son of the late King,
and to " observe " strangers resorting to the County of
Chester. By this tribunal ten persons were condemned,
and five executed. He was again elected a member for the
county in 1654, and it was this Parliament which showed
such little sign of submission to Cromwell's commands
that they were dismissed in January, 1655. In the suc
ceeding Parliament of 1656, the county again honoured
him with a renewal of well-merited confidence.
His views appeared for some time past to have been
undergoing a vital change. The reasons which caused Sir
George to become as active a partisan of the exiled Stuart
as he had formerly been of Parliament are, no doubt, to be
found in the disgust engendered by the high-handed pro
ceedings of Cromwell, the position taken by the Inde
pendents, who now regarded their former superiors, the
Presbyterians, with contempt, and his exclusion from the
House by Pride's purge. The Royalists made many attempts
at Restoration, and in some of them Sir George does not

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 91
appear to have been at all backward in asserting his changed
principles. An old Royalist song of the period says : —
Young Mainwaring fell by the side of hys sire,
Stout Booth was revenged for him there ;
For the foe left his grim trunkless head in the myre.
By the sword of old Dunham's young heir.
The union between the Presbyterians and the Royalists
gave additional impetus to the cause in which Sir George
was embarked. In July, 1659, Sir George proceeded to
Manchester, and after holding a conference with the Presby
terians and the Cavaliers returned to Warrington and
fixed a rising for the ist of August. Sir George also entered
into correspondence with the Earl of Derby and Lord Kil
morey, and such of the gentry of Lancashire and Cheshire
as desired to assist in the deliberations for restoring the
monarchy were allowed to do so. These plans were, how
ever, revealed to the prevailing powers, and the risings in
other counties were suppressed. That of Sir George was
only destined for a feeble continuance. A few of his
followers in their jubilancy plundered some of the houses
of the Cromwellians ; but this action, on their part, was
strongly condemned by Sir George. As showing the great
affection still felt for him by many of his old acquaintances,
one of those who had suffered from the exuberant hand
ling of his followers, a relative of President Bradshaw,
wrote, warning him that all the other counties in England
were quiet but Cheshire. Still he persisted in his enter
prise, notwithstanding that he complained that he had been
falsely deserted by a large number of the " best in England "
who had promised him assistance.
Pushing on to Chester, which city he took, though the
Castle held out, he and his forces rendezvoused at Rowton
Heath. An old tract of the period says that Sir George
invited the gentry of those parts to meet him, when he
declared " he was for a free parliament and a single person,
which proved effectual with the malecontented party, and
divers sparks appearing in this great flame." It appears they
had above 3,000 horse and foot, well mounted and armed,

92 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
" with drums beating, and colours flying, and trumpets
sounding;" and after they were drawn up on the Heath,
Col. Brooke and Col. Blackburne divided the horse and foot
into several bodies, " placing them in sundry warlike figures
and postures, after which Sir George made a speech show
ing the grounds and reasons of their present engagements
and undertakings."
This speech or declaration had great effect in rousing
the drooping spirits of his party. Not being able to get
possession of the Castle, he set off with a portion ot his
forces in the direction of York ; but the rapid approach
of Lambert from Ireland compelled him to return to his
former position at Chester, Clarendon remarking that Sir
George went to meet him with his natural impetuosity.
His misfortunes now appeared to be at their height.
On the 19th August the decisive battle of Winnington
was fought, resulting in the complete defeat of Sir
George's troops, and his own ultimate capture. The
troops of the Royalists were quartered at Northwich,
while Lambert's were at Weaverham. The two armies,
on this eventful day, came into action amongst the
enclosures at Hartford. The horse were unable to act,
and the Royalists " retired uninjured from hedge to hedge,
and passed the bridge without any other loss," says
Lambert, " than that of reputation, and discouragement
in meeting with those whom they found of equal courage,
but engaged in a better (?) cause." The Royalists now
endeavoured to secure the bridge, which would have
given them a great advantage, seeing that at this point
the river was unfordable, the bridge narrow, and flanked
with a strong ditch at the far end, and a high hill
which no horse could pass otherwise than along the
side in a narroA^ path. Those who are familiar with the
present magnificent picturesque road which approaches
Winnington Bridge will be fully able to realize the
disadvantages our ancestors stood at in the way of
locomotion, compared with our steam and telegraphic
times.

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 93
This coign of vantage was not long held by the flagging
Royalists. " After three good volleys," says Lambert,
" the horse passing the bridge together with the foot,
charged the horse of the Royalists, which advanced to
cover the retreat." Sir George Booth's infantry retired
in good order, following their colours up the hill, and
protected by the gallantry of the cavalry. Lambert gives
due praise and honour to the English valour of his
adversaries, and states that within a quarter of a
mile the Royalists halted to give battle, but were a
second time routed, although disputing " the place very
gallantly, both parties showing themselves like English
men." Such is the description of the battle of Winnington,
taken from an old tract of the period ; and contem
porary historians agree in describing it as very decisive.
Sir George escaped with great difficulty, and disguising
himself as a gentlewoman, left the scene of action. He
was, however, betrayed, having acted his part very badly ;
and was taken at Newport Pagnell, in Buckinghamshire,
where he was riding on a pillion in the disguise mentioned.
He was committed to the Tower. The proceedings of
this period awakened national comment, and several tracts
were published relative thereto. One of them, in particular,
purports to give a dialogue which occurred in the Tower
between Sir George and an imaginary individual named Sir
John Presbyter, in the course of which Sir George ex
presses his great repentance at having been connected
with the parsons in any way, and uses strong language
concerning them.
His confinement in the Tower was not of long duration.
General Monk having declared for a full and free Parlia
ment in which the nation would be thoroughly represented,
the excluded members and Sir George were released from
the sequestration under which they had laboured. In
1660, the Long Parliament was dissolved ; and what was
called the Convention Parliament, from its not being
regularly summoned, was held. Of this Parliament Sir
George was elected a member, and the commission for

94 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
the Restoration having been made, and carried amidst
general acclamation, he had the happiness of being the
first of the twelve members elected to carry to King
Charles the Second the answer of the House to His
Majesty's celebrated declaration of Breda.
Honours were now showered upon Sir George. In the
same year, the sum of £20,000 was on the point of being
voted to him as a reward for his services and great sufl'erings,
when he in his place in the House requested, with a high-
souled patriotism, which only those acquainted with the
manners of the time can fully appreciate, that it should
not be more than half that amount ; which was accordingly
granted by the Commons on August 2nd, and confirmed
by the Lords the day following. As a reward from the
Crown, he was ennobled by the title of Baron Delamer,
of Dunham Massey, the patent bearing date April 20th,
1661, and at the same time he had the liberty to propose
six gentlemen to receive the honour of Knighthood, and two
others for the dignity of Baronet.
During his eventful life. Sir George appears to have found
ample time to devote to domestic matters. According to
one old writer he greatly improved the Manor house of
Dunham Massey by building the north side thereof
answerable to the opposite part, surrounded it with "a large
outward court, with brick wall and a faire gate of stone,"
and made a domestic chapel on the south side of the house.
It was then, as shown on the illustration, what Dr.
Ormerod has described as "a large quadrangular pile, with
gables within and without. The gables within the court
were indented and scalloped, and large transome windows
introduced. The exterior front appears to have been finished
at a later period, with pilasters and ornaments in imitation of
the Italian style of architecture, and large octagonal turrets
were placed at the corners. It stood within gardens laid out
in the stiff taste of the time, and surrounded by an ample
moat, in one angle of which is drawn a large circular mound,
with a summer house on the top of it, supposed to be
the site of the Norman keep tower." The noble avenue of

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 95
beeches was in its swaddling clothes, so to speak, being
surrounded with large wooden guards, while the landscape is
destitute of that sylvan beauty which is the admiration, and
justly so, of modern times. He was twice married ; firstly,
to Catherine, the daughter of Theophilus Fiennes, Earl of
Lincoln, who died in childbirth, leaving an only daughter,
Vere Booth ; and secondly, to Elizabeth, daughter of
Henry Grey, Earl of Stamford, by whom he had seven
sons and six daughters, and who died in 1690 at Oldfield
Hall. Sir George died August loth, 1684, and was buried at
Bowdon on the gth September with great solemnity ; on
which occasion Mr. Cawdrey, a Presbyterian minister,
preached. The Latin inscription to his memory was written
by William Andrews, who had been for thirty years his
faithful domestic servant, and whose remains were deposited,
at his own request, in the same tomb as his master.
Clarendon describes Sir George as being of one of the best
fortunes and interests in Cheshire, then said to be the
" seed plot of gentilitie ;" but his deeds, more than all, entitle
his memory to be held in veneration and esteem by his
fellow-countrymen.

^^s

^W!!iB^cPl!W'PWCT

^^^H

CHAPTER VIII.
The seco?id Lord Delamer ; his popularity ; his advocacy of the
people's rights — Court jealousy — His committal to the Tower on
three occasions ; his remarkable trial at Westminster Hall ; his
eloquent defence and justification ; his retirement to his seat in
Cheshire ; his support of the Prince of Orange; his subsequent
honourable career and death.
^Ip^^ENRY, Lord Delamer, second son and heir of the pre-
^^^ ceding nobleman, was born on the 13th January
1651, and succeeded to the peerage on the death of his
father. He had been elected member of parliament for the
County during the father's lifetime, and was appointed to
the high office of Custos Rotulorum in 1673. He married
Mary, daughter and sole heiress of Sir James Langham,
Bart., of Cotters Brook, Northamptonshire. She died in
i6go-i, leaving him with four sons and two daughters. He
was distinguished at an early period of his career by his
ardent advocacy of those liberties which were overshadowed
and threatened with extinction by the curse of
popery. He was particularly anxious for the passing of the
famous bill of exclusion, for which Lord Russell, on the
morning of his execution, sent him a kindly message of
respect and thanks.
He also made great exertions for securing the purity of
Parliaments ; in instituting inquiries into the corruption of
the judges, and in recommending the punishment of sucl^

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. gy
as might be guilty. For his part in promoting the Bill of
Exclusion he incurred the animosity of the Duke of York,
and the Duke's influence on the facile King was no doubt
increased by the fact of the sympathy of this nobleman with
the Duke of Monmouth. In fact, his name had been
returned by the Court spies as one of the Cheshire
gentlemen who attended Monmouth when he visited Dun
ham in 1682. He was deposed from his public positions
of trust, and just before the death of Charles II. committed
a prisoner to the Tower. He was released, after an incarcera
tion of several months, without any formal accusation being
made against him. Soon after the accession of the Duke of
York, as King James II., to the throne, he was committed
to the Tower under somewhat similar circumstances, but
was released on bail. This system of petty persecution
was still further carried out, and a third time he was
committed. It was the last straw which broke the camel's
back. The Lords, anxious for the consolidation of those
ancient safeguards which had received such severe shocks
in previous reigns, interfered, on his remonstrance, or rather
petition, by a demand from the Sovereign why he was
absent from his attendance in the House. Newcome, in his
diary, speaks of the unexpected prorogations of Parliament
which took place at this period, and tremblingly awaited the
issue of these things, if possible, to rescue Lord Delamer.
Matters were thus brought to a crisis, and he was put on
his trial on a charge of high treason, " the violent and
inhuman " Jefferies being appointed Judge. Fortunately,
he had the right of being tried by a jury of his peers, and
although Parliament was then existing by prorogation, he
was not tried by the whole House, but by 27 specially sum
moned for that purpose.
This remarkable trial took place in Westminster Hall,
on January 14th, 1685, his Lordship the previous day
having only completed his 34th year. The formalities
of the opening of the Court were gone through with
much solemnity. Sir Edward Lutwich, one of His Ma
jesty's Serjeants-at-law, and Chief Justice, put in his writ and
H

g8 History of A Itrincham and Bowdon.
return, which were read in hcec verba, and the Lieutenant
of the Tower delivered in his precept, and also brought his
prisoner to the bar.
The following Peers then answered to their names, each making a reverence
to the Lord High Steward : — Laurence, Earl of Rochester, Lord High
Treasurer of England ; Robert, Earl of Sunderland, Lord President of His
Majesty's Privy Council ; Henry, Duke of Norfolk, Earl Marshal of Eng
land; Charles, Duke of Somerset; Henry, Duke of Grafton; Henry, Duke
of Beaufort, Lord President of Wales ; John, Earl of Mulgrave, Lord Cham
berlain of His Majesty's Household ; Aubrey, Earl of Oxford ; Charles, Earl
of Shrewsbury ; Theophilus, Earl of Huntingdon ; Thomas, Earl of Pembroke ;
John, Earl of Bridgewater ; Henry, Earl of Peterborough ; Robert, Earl of
Scarsdale; William, Earl of Craven; Lewis, Earl of Faversham ; George,
Earl of Berkeley; Daniel, Earl of Nottingham; Thomas, Earl of Plimouth;
Thomas, Viscount Falconberge ; Francis, Viscount Newport, Treasurer of His
Majesty's Household; Robert, Lord Ferrars ; Vere Essex, Lord Cromwell;
William, Lord Maynard, Comptroller of His Majesty's Household ; George,
Lord Dartmouth, Master General of His Majesty's Ordnance ; Sidney, Lord
Godolphin ; John, Lord Churchill.
Three of the Peers called, viz., James, Duke of Ormond, Lord Steward
of His Majesty's Household; Christopher, Duke of Albemarle; and Richard,
Earl of BurUngton, did not answer to their names.
Then the Lord High Steward addressed himself to the Lord Delamer,
the prisoner at the bar, in this manner : My Lord Delamer, the King being
acquainted that you stand accused of high treason, not by common report
or hearsay, but by a bill of indictment found against you by gentlemen of
great quality and known integrity within the County Palatine of Chester,
the place of your residence, has thought it necessary, in tenderness to you,
as well as justice to himself, to order you a speedy trial. My Lord, if
you know yourself innocent, in the name of God do not despond, for you
may be assured of fair and patient hearing, and in proper time free liberty
to make your full defence ; and I am sure you cannot but be well convinced
that my noble lords that are here your peers to try you will be as desirous
and ready to acquit you, if you appear to be innocent, as they will to convict
you if you be guilty ; but, my Lord, if you are conscious to yourself that you
are guilty of this heinous crime, give glory to God and make amends to His
vicegerent, the King, by a plain and full discovery of your guilt, and do
not by any obstinate persisting in the denial of it provoke the just indignation
of your Prince, who has made it appear to the world that his inclinations
are rather to show mercy than to inflict punishment. My Lord, attend with
patience and hear the bill of indictment which has been found against you
read. Read the bill of indictment to my Lord.
Clerk of Court. — Henry, Baron of Delamer, hold up thy hand.
Lord Delamer. — My Lord, I humbly beg your Grace would please to answer
rae one question, whether a peer of England be obliged by the laws of this land
to hold his hand up at the bar as a commoner must do ; and I ask your Grace the
rather, because in my Lord Stafford's case it was allowed to be a privilege of the
peers not to hold up their hands.

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 99
Lord High Steward. — My Lords, this being a matter of the privilege of the
peerage, it is not fit for me to determine it one way or the other ; but I think
I may acquaint your lordships that in point of law, if you are satisfied this is the
person indicted the holding or not holding up of the hand is but a formality that
does not signify much either way.
Lord Delamer. — I humbly pray your Grace's direction in one thing farther ;
whether I must address myself to your Grace when I would speak, or to your
Grace with the rest of these noble lords, my peers.
Lord High Steward. — ^You must direct what you have to say to me, my Lord.
Lord Delamer. — I beg your Grace would please to satisfy me whether your
Grace be one of my judges in concurrence with the rest of the Lords.
Lord High Steward. — No, my Lord, I am Judge of the Court, but
none of your triers. Go on !
The Clerk of Court then read a formidable indictment to the effect that Henry,
Baron Delamer, stood indicted in the County Palatine of Chester, by the name of
Henry, Baron of De la Mer of Mere, in the City and County of Chester, for that
he, as a false traitor against the most illustrious and most excellent Prince
James the Second, by the grace of God, of England, Scotland, France, and
Ireland, King ; his natural lord, not having the fear of God in his heart, nor
weighing the duty of his allegiance, but being moved and seduced by the
instigation of the devil, the cordial love and true duty and natural obedience
which a true and faithful subject of our said Lord the King ought of right to
bear; did plot against the tranquillity of the kingdom, &c., &c.
At the request of his Lordship, the indictment was read a second time,
whereupon he raised the point that his cause was one which should be
wholly determined in the House of Peers, but not elsewhere, as in cases
formerly brought ; and that as he could not be tried during the continuance
of Parliament, except in the said House of Peers, he pleaded that he was not
bound to make any further answer. He disclaimed any distrust of their
Lordships, and added, " I cannot hope to stand before any more just or noble,
nor can I wish to stand before any others ; but you will pardon me if I insist
upon it, because I apprehend it a right and a privilege due to the peerage
of England, which as it is against the duty of every peer to betray or forego,
so it is not in the power of anyone or more to waive it or give it up with
out the consent of the whole body of peers, every one of them being equally
interested." Attorney-General Sawyer urged that there was very little in the plea
under the circumstances, whereupon Lord Delamer asked to have counsel to
put his plea into form and argue it.
Judge Jefferies ruled against him, and after some further legal wrangling on
the question of privilege, he was formally charged and pleaded " not guilty,"
agreeing at the same time to be tried by " God and his peers."
The Serjeant-at-Arms having made proclamation, the Judge gave his charge
to the Peers. The indictment was opened by Sir Thomas Jenner, one of His
Majesty's Serjeants-at-law and Recorder of the City of London.-
The Attorney-General, in the course a long speech, explained that the
prisoner stood indicted for conspiring the death of His Majesty, and in order
thereunto to raise rebellion in the Kingdom. Cheshire was one of the stages

100 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
where the rebellion was principally to be acted, that preparatory to it great
riotous assemblies and tumultuous gatherings were set on foot by the con
spirators, and that the late Duke of Monmouth looked upon Cheshire as one
of his chief supports, and my Lord Delamer as his principal assistant there.
Lord Howard of Eskrigge was first called, but he gave no evidence
concerning the prisoner. Lord Grey, who said he had been subpoenaed by
both sides, also did not know anything of his own knowledge against him,
but said that Lord Delamer was to be applied to in connection with Monmouth's
rising. This was confirmed by Nathaniel Wade, Richard Goodenough, Jones,
and Story. Jones was sent to give notice to Lord Delamer (amongst other
persons) of this rising, the latter stating that he heard the Duke of Monmouth
say that his great dependence was upon Lord Delamer and his friends in
Cheshire ; but that he was afraid he had failed him or betrayed him, or some such
word, and that he could have been supplied otherwise but placed his dependency
upon them. Vaux and Edlin swore that Lord Delamer left town under the name
of Brown, and that he went into Cheshire to see a sick child. Tracey, Paunceford,
and Thomas Babington deposed to the fact that Lord Delamer was constantly
known as Brown in that business by his party. One of these, however, admitted
in cross-examination there was " a discourse " about a Mr. Vermuyden going in
the name of Brown. Hope was called to prove the frequent journeys into
Cheshire to stir up the people there, and that Lord Delamer had said " he
feared there would be many bloody noses before the business was at an end."
The most formidable witness, and one on whom the prosecution relied, was
Thomas Saxon, a tradesman of Middlewich, who sought to persuade the Jury
that he had been specially sent for to the house of Lord Delamer, at Mere
(Dunham) ; and in the presence of two or three gentlemen whom he named,
the question of Monmouth's rebellion was discussed, and Saxon was selected,
he being acquainted with the common people, to spread insurrection amongst
them. He equivocated grossly in his evidence, and was asked by the noble
prisoner the name of the messenger who came for him ; but this he said he did
not know.
As a great deal had been said, Lord Delamer asked for an adjournment, but
this the Judge would not permit. He then proceeded with his defence, and
in the course of an eloquent address said he could with great comfort and
satisfaction say that those crimes wherewith he was charged were not only
strangers to his thoughts, but also to what had been his constant principle
and practice. He also said that few had more heartily conformed to the
practices of the Church, and urged, (and it must be admitted with some truth)
that there was little or no legal evidence affecting him, and ridiculed the idea
that the particulars of such an important adventure should be communicated
by him to a perfect stranger. He called several witnesses to speak to the
ill-repute of Saxon. A witness named Hall said that Saxon had forged a
note to obtain money from him.
The Lord High Steward acknowledged that the objection carried a great
deal of weight, and if fully made out would prove him to be " a very ill man
indeed." Francis Ling said that Saxon had received money in the name of Mrs. Wilbra-
ham, and Richard Shaw also said he had been guilty of receiving money which

History of Altrincham and Bowdon, loi
was not his own. Peter Hough said he should have given him a bond for ^7, but
by trusting him he found it was only made out for £6. Edward Wilkinson had
been more illused still. He said Saxon hired a horse from him for three days
at twelvepence a day, but he had neither seen horse nor money since Saxon
took it.
William Wright said he had had some dealings with him, and never found
him to perfect his word in anything. He added, " I met him one evening,
after evening prayer, and said to him, Thomas Saxon, if I cared no more for
keeping my word than thou dost, it were no matter if I were hanged, for
to be sure if thy mouth open thy tongue lyes ; and he turned away from me
and would not answer me a word ; and since that he owed me some money,
and when I asked him for it he told me if I did trouble him for money it
should be worse for me, whereof all the town knows as well as I that I
cannot set him forth in words as bad as he is."
Lord Delamer called several other witnesses in this way, and also to prove
that he was not at Mere at the time deposed to by witnesses for the
prosecution. Mr. John Edmonds, sworn, said : On the 5th of May my Lord Delamer did
me the honour to come to my house, and he stayed there a little while and
desired me to be a witness of his taking possession upon a lease of my Lord
Bishop of Chester, and we went into the house which is next to mine, and
there he took possession.
The Lord High Steward. — Where is your house ?
Mr. Edmonds. — At Boden, in Cheshire.
Mr. Henry was called and sworn.
Lord Delamer. — Pray, will you give his Grace and my Lords an account
whether you were not an attorney and delivered me possession upon the lease
of my Lord Bishop of Chester ?
Mr. Henry.— My Lord, I was attorney by appointment, and the 5th May
last I delivered possession to my Lord Delamer at one of the most remarkable
places of the land that belonged to that lease of the Bishop.
Lord Delamer hoped that this was a satisfactory reason for his going down
at the time, the Bishop being ill, and the lease worth ^5,ooo or £'7,000. The
next occasion he had to speak to was the 27th May. He said, "I had taken
up the resolution before to go and see my child which was not well, but I
had not taken my journey so soon nor with such privacy but that I had notice
that there was a warrant out to apprehend me, and knowing the inconvenience
of lying in prison I was very willing to keep as long out of custody as I could
and therefore I went out of the way and under a borrowed name."
At his request his Lordship's mother, who sat by him at the bar during
the trial was examined. She said that this child of his was more than
ordinarily " pretious " (precious) to him in regard it was born to him at that
time " when he was an innocent honest man (as he was then a prisoner in the
Tower for high treason) above two years ago, and she thought it had increased
his affection to that child that God had given to him when he was in that
affliction." While he was at Dunham, her daughter sent word that it had
pleased God to visit his eldest son in London with a. grievous distemper, and
thereupon he made all the haste he could back.

102 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
Witnesses were called to prove that persons said by Saxon to have been
present on a given date were in London at the time, and, altogether, conclusive
evidence was forthcoming to show that his testimony was not at all of a reliable
character. Amongst these witnesses were two brothers of the noble prisoner.
In the course of some further remarks he denied that he ever wrote or sent any
message, or had had any correspondence for three years past with the Duke of
Monmouth. He pointed out circumstances in the evidence for the prosecution
not borne out by facts, and concluded by reminding their Lordships that the eyes
ofthe nation were upon their proceedings that day. " Your Lordships are now
judging the cause of every man in England that shall happen to come under
like circumstances with myself hereafter : for accordingly as you judge me now,
just so will inferior courts be directed to give their judgments in like cases in
time to come. Your Lordships know very well that blood once spilled can
never be gathered up again, and therefore, unless the case be very clear against
me, you will not, I am sure, hazard the shedding of my blood upon doubtful
evidence. God Almighty is a God of mercy and equity. Our law, the law of
England, is a law of equity and mercy, and both God and the law require from
your Lordships tenderness in all cases of life and death ; and if it should be
indifferent or doubtful to your Lordships (which upon proofs that I have made
I cannot believe it can be) whether I am innocent or guilty, both God and the
law require you to acquit me. My Lords, I leave myself, my case, and the
consequences of it with your Lordships, and I pray the All-wise, the Almighty
God, to direct you in your determination.''
No wonder after such an eloquent appeal, Lord
Churchill, the spokesman of the Jury, should declare
upon his honour, with uncovered head, and hand upon
his breast, that the noble prisoner was not guilty. Lord
Delamer retired to his seat at Dunham, and abstained
for the time being from any active participation in public
affairs. The proceedings of a papistical Court were soon,
however, to call him from his voluntary seclusion.
Scarcely three years passed away ere the Prince of
Orange, afterwards William III., " of glorious and im
mortal memory," arrived in England. Lord Delamer
then expressed himself as feeling that the deliverance of
the nation must be worked by force or miracle, and that
as it would be presumption to expect the latter, he very
wisely levied a large force of men. On the i6th December,
1688, he took up arms in Cheshire. He convoked his
tenants, called upon them to stand by him, and promised
that if they fell in the cause their leases should be re
newed to their children, and exhorted everyone who had

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 103
a good horse either to take field, or to provide a substitute.
He appeared at Manchester with 50 men armed and
mounted, and his force had trebled before he reached
Bowdon Downs. So says Macaulay. He soon afterwards
joined the Prince of Orange, and his forces. On the
arrival of the Prince at Windsor, he despatched Lord
Delamer, the Marquis of Halifax, and the Earl of Shrews
bury, with a message to King James, commanding him
to quit the Palace. His Majesty was in bed at the time
of their arrival, it being one o'clock in the morning, but
they were introduced to him by the Earl of Middleton,
then Secretary of State. This has been justly described
as a remarkable instance of the vicissitudes of fortune. By
one writer it is spoken of as an instance of Divine re
tribution. Here was a subject whom he had seen ar
raigned, not three years before as a culprit at the
bar, appearing now with an order, which would have
the effect of virtually dethroning him. To his honour it
is recorded that the generous conduct he displayed on
that occasion made such an impression on the fallen
Sovereign that after his retreat into France he said the
Lord Delamer, whom he had illused, had treated him
with much more respect than the other two Lords to
whom he had been kind, and from whom he might better
have expected it.
With this reign ended that great crisis in English history
— the struggle between King and people ; and the people,
led by those whose patriotism was above reproach,
triumphed. Amongst the leaders was Lord Delamer, and as a
result, he was now very fully rewarded. He was made
a Privy Councillor in February, i68g, which office
he held for life; in the following April he was made
Chancellor and Under Treasurer of the Exchequer, and
subsequently Lord-Lieutenant of the County of Chester,
and Custos Rotulorum. In i6go, he was created Earl of
Warrington, in acknowledgment of his peculiar services,
and a pension of £2,000 per annum was settled upon him.

104 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
This was only paid for the first half-year, and the arrears
are stated in a list of King William's debts, drawn up by
Queen Anne. Many minor honours were also conferred
upon him, amongst them the Mayoralty of the ancient
City of Chester, in i6gi.
His Lordship's works were published in the year i6g4,
being edited from his own MS., by J. Dela Heuze, tutor to
his son, afterwards Earl of Warrington.
A review of his writings would absorb too much of our
space. It may, therefore, be sufficient to record some of
his sayings and opinions. His language, particularly against
the Papists, as they were termed, is marked in some places
by great extravagance and warmth of tone, perhaps per-
missable by the circumstances in which he had been placed.
The country too was unsettled, and although not out of
place then, it would sound oddly now to hear a justice of
Chester haranguing the Grand Jury to give information
of any plot, if they were acquainted with it, for dethroning
the reigning monarch. Most of the charges take a strong
political tinge, but in others are suggested a consideration
of domestic matters. . We are admitted by them to a peep
at the manners and customs of that age. In one of his
speeches, when Earl of Warrington, he encourages the
magistrates to strictly inform themselves of such as offend
in the matter of swearing, " the horrible prophanation of
God's name," and give them the punishment which their
offence deserved. He also harangues at length against
the sin of drunkenness, that till then this vice was not
grown to considerable size.
He was as a patriot proud of the Government of his
country under William III., and praised it as beyond
all others. He shows that while all manner of taxes and
impositions are laid upon the people at the will and
pleasure of the King, in England they could not be taxed
but by their own consent in Parliament. Although the
King had the sole power of making peace and war, " the
sinews of war," meaning the money, were with the
people, and the people were not bound to support every

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 105
war that the King might engage in ; " for methinks
" it's all the reason in the world that a man should be
" satisfied with the catise before he part with his money ;
" and I think that man is very unworthy of honour to
" serve his country in Parliament who shall give away
"the people's money for any other thing, but what shall
"be effectually for the good and advantage of the people
" and nation." There are few who will not admit that
his Lordship's words, spoken nearly 200 years ago, hold
good in the present day.
The prayers which his Lordship used in his family
bear the marks of close application, and breathe a truly
devotional and earnest spirit throughout. Although he
did not die "in a good old age, full of days," he possessed
" both riches and honour." His death took place in London
on January 2nd, i6g3, on the same memorable day on
which eight years before his trial had been. His funeral
sermon was preached in Bowdon Parish church by the
Rev. Richard Wroe, Warden of Manchester Cathedral.
On his monument in the same Church is inscribed a
record of his life in brief, which is well worthy the
attentive perusal of all interested " in perpetuating the
remembrance of so much virtue till that great day come
wherein it shall be openly rewarded." For in these words
concludes the epitaph which a reverent son inscribed to a
noble father.

CHAPTER IX.
The House of Dunham, continued — The Second Earl of Warrington;
his character and literary attainments — The union of the
House of Dunham with that of Stamford — The Honorable Booth
Grey — " Domestic happiness, a family picture'' — The revival of the
lapsed titles of Baron Delamer and Earl of Warrington —
Biography of the present Earl.
^FTER the great political crisis through which the
house of Dunham had passed, it may easily be
imagined that the quiet repose of a country gentleman's
life would be most compatible with the feelings of the
heir succeeding to its now consolidated honours. It is,
therefore, to his many literary works, completed in periods
of uninterrupted leisure, that we are most indebted for the
character of George, the second Earl of Warrington. He
was the second son of the first Lord Delamer, and was
born on the second of May, 1675. He was married in 1702,
to Mary, eldest daughter and co-heiress of John Oldbury,
of London, merchant, by his second wife Mary, daughter
and co-heiress of Thomas Bohun, Esq., of Dartmouth, and
descended from the ancient Earls of Hereford. The issue
of this marriage was an only daughter named Mary, who
was born about the year 1703. His Lordship died August
2nd, 1758, and was laid in the tomb of his ancestors at
Bowdon, having passed the allotted "span" of life by 13
years. Amongst his contributions to contemporary litera-

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 107
ture, was " Considerations on the Institution of Marriage ; "
a letter to the writer on " The present State of the Republic
of Letters," in which he vindicated his father from some of
the reflections cast upon him by Burnet in the " History of his
Own Times," and which seem to have been copied more or
less by the great historian, Macaulay. With his decease,
the Earldom of Warrington became extinct, and the barony
of Delamer descended to his first cousin, Nathaniel Booth,
of Hampstead, Esquire.
An event had, however, occurred before this, which had
marked an epoch in the history of this noble house. Mary,
the only daughter and sole heiress to the estates of her
father, had married in 1736, the Right Honorable Harry
Grey, Earl of Stamford. This family, according to Collins,
"has been the most ancient, the most widespread, and most
illustrious in the English peerage, the house of Stamford
being derived from the most illustrious branch of it."
Lord Stamford was thus descended from the first Lord Grey
of Groby, the grandfather of the first Earl of Stamford,
who was distinguished in 1628 by his efforts in the ranks
of the Parliamentarians, and who was nephew of the great
Duke of Suifolk, the father of Lady Jane Grey. There are
few who have not noticed the prominent part the Greys
have played in history ; and what schoolboy has not melted
at the touching recital of the execution of the unfortunate
lady, whose little attempt at Queendom was attended with
such fatal results ? He was thus placed at the head of the
younger branch of the house of Tudor, whose claim to the
throne of England rested rather on the despotic will of
Henry VIIL, than on the inherent right which belonged in
failure of direct inheritance to the Scottish branch of the
same Royal line. To this may be added the fact that the
family, on both sides, is of Norman origin, and was first
summoned to Parliament in 1446 in the person of Lord
Ferrars of Groby, whose elder daughter-in-law, Elizabeth,
became the wife of Edward IV.
Lord and Lady Stamford had a family of three sons
and two daughters. The eldest, George Harry, succeeded

io8 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
to the earldom; the second. Lady Mary, who assisted
the Princess Augusta in supporting Queen Charlotte's
train at her coronation in 1761, and who married, 24th
February 1761, the Honourable George West, second
son of the Earl Delawar, died March ist, 1783. The
third son, the Hon. Booth Grey, was born August 15th,
1740: he was admitted a nobleman of Queens' College,
Cambridge. He was one of the Mayors of Altrincham,
and was member for Leicester 1768-1774. He died on
the 4th March, 1802. His Lordship died at Enville Hall,
June 24th, 1768, and was succeeded by his eldest son,
George Harry, the fifth Earl of Stamford, born October
ist, 1737.
In a curious work published about the latter end of
1700, entitled " Characteristic Strictures or Remarks," is
a sketch of the family of this Earl. It is headed
" Domestic happiness, a family picture," and proceeds :
" What satisfaction must a sentimental artist experience
when he has only one unhappy countenance to copy in
so numerous a family, especially as the varied features
which express felicity will free his performance from the
imputation of sameness ? The piece not only comprehends
the parents and their posterity, but the brother and sister of
the principal figure. The junior members of the family are
of too tender an age to be distinguished by features that
prognosticate either tempers or manners, except the
eldest youth (Lord Grey) who is the very picture of his
father, and in neither of whose features is there a fault.
The father is a perfect example of integrity, filial affec
tion, and tender husband ; and the mother, from her
prudent, virtuous and sweet tempered disposition, every
way worthy of so honourable a mate. Two brothers make
up the group (the Hon. Booth Grey and the Hon. John
Grey). The elder on a distant view seems of a morose
and sour temper ; but when you examine the features
more closely you are agreeably disappointed to find those
of sullenness not only expand with freeness, but discover
themselves to be the strongest signification of a solid

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. log
understanding. The younger is in every point of view
a pleasant, lively, generous figure, that seems to give
spirit to the whole society." This quaint picture is only
a reflex of a certain school of criticism which obtained
at that period. The " unhappy countenance " referred to
is that of Lady Mary West, and is probably an allusion to
her death, which would have taken place a short time
previously. The fifth Earl was elected Knight of the Shire
for the county of Stafford, 1761, and at the coronation of
George IIL, was one of the six eldest sons of peers who
supported the King's train. His lordship, on the 20th May,
1763, married Lady Henrietta Cavendish Bentinck, second
daughter to William, the late Duke of Portland, and had
issue four sons and six daughters. He was created Baron
Delamer and Earl of Warrington, thus reviving the lapsed
titles of his ancestors ; and in addition to his other offices,
was Lord Lieutenant and Custos Rotulorum of the County
of Chester. He died in i8ig at Dunham, and was buried
at Bowdon. He was succeeded by his eldest son, George
Harry Grey, Earl of Stamford and Warrington, born Oc
tober 31st, 1765, married December 23rd, 1797, to Henrietta
Charlotte Elizabeth Charteris, eldest daughter of Francis,
Lord Elcho, and had issue two sons and three daughters.
He died at Enville Hall, Staffordshire, April 27th, 1845, and
was buried at Bowdon. George Harry, Lord Grey, his
eldest son, died November, 1837, i^ the lifetime of his
father. We now come to the biography of the seventh and present
Earl of Stamford. At his father's death he was only ten
years of age, and he then succeeded to the Barony of Groby.
In 1845, upon the death of his grandfather, he became the
possessor of the princely inheritance he continues to enjoy,
and the representative of one of the most distinguished
families in the county. His lordship's education has
differed in no respect from that of most gentlemen of his
rank. He was educated at Eton and at Cambridge, with an
interval between the public school and University life passed
under the care of a private tutor of distinguished ability

no History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
and character. Dr. Augustus Short, then Vicar of Ravens
thorpe, in Northamptonshire, and subsequently Bishop of
Adelaide. During those early years he was remarkable for
his love of athletic exercises, and in cricket matches in the
different counties in which he lived, and at Lord's, he was
one of the fastest and most effective bowlers and hardest
hitters amongst the gentlemen of England. His love of
this truly national game has clung to him through life,
and many of the celebrities of the cricketing world have
had his patronage, and enjoyed his hospitality.
Lord Stamford's Cambridge career was a short one ; for
his grandfather dying, his prospects, which, as Lord Grey
of Groby, pointed to a military opening in one of the house
hold regiments, were suddenly changed, and he was thus
early called upon to assume his present position. At this
period (1845), he was still a minor, but he attained his
majority, January 7th, 1848, and in the same year he
graduated as M.A., of Trinity College. The coming of age
was celebrated with every demonstration of joy on his
lordship's estates.
As a British sportsman no name is more celebrated
than that of Lord Stamford. In 1857 he undertook the
Mastership of the Quorn hounds, and his establishment
there was on a scale of great magnificence. He succeeded
in bringing it to a state of efficiency never excelled before,
which is saying a great deal for the first hunting county
in England. In fact, it is said that Lord Stamford spoiled
the Quornites for any other mastership. His lordship
had in 1862 an establishment at Newmarket ; and at this
time he resided during the winter months at Bradgate Park,
one of the most beautiful places in the Midland Counties,
and specially noteworthy as being the birthplace of the
unfortunate Lady Jane Grey. With the gun, his lordship
has distinguished himself not only on his own moors, but
also in Scotland.
Lord Stamford began his turf career about the end of 1859,
and was for some time prominently connected with it ; but
of late years his interest in racing seems to have diminished.

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. in
In private life his lordship possesses a charm of manner
and a courteousness of bearing which endears him to all with
whom he is brought in contact. For some years he has not
resided at Dunham Massey. He has on several occasions
paid flying visits to the district, and the manifest enthusiasm
with which he was welcomed in one instance some years
ago, amply demonstrated the joy with which the tenantry of
all classes would have hailed his return to the home of his
ancestors. Enville Hall, Staffordshire, has been his chief
place of residence, and on this he has lavished everything
that great expenditure and taste can effect. For a long
period he has generously afforded the immense population
of Wolverhampton and its surrounding neighbourhood an
opportunity of visiting the park and grounds on certain days
in every week. Dunham Parks are always open, and in holi
day times form the resort of thousands from Cottonopolis,
anxious to spend " a day in the country."
In politics. Lord Stamford is ardently attached to the
principles of the great Conservative party ; but he has on
few occasions publicly appeared to advocate them, and his
most prominent act of late years was his emphatic disap
proval by his vote in the House of Lords of Mr. Gladstone's
measure for the disestablishment of the Irish Church. He
has, when opportunity has offered, shown that Conserva
tism is not incompatible with true progress ; and while in
former times it was difficult to obtain land on which to build
a dissenting chapel or meeting house, on his estates there
is now no difficulty whatever. His lordship's liberality
is of course more marked towards the Church of England ;
and St. Margaret's, Dunham Massey, which he erected and
endowed at his sole cost, will long remain a monument of
his zeal in this respect. In regard to secular objects,
having for their end the good of the people, he is ever
willing, when they are properly put before him, to lend a
helping hand. The town of Ashton-under-Lyne may be
quoted as an example ; and his oifer of twelve acres of land
on Hale Moss, for a recreation ground for the inhabitants
of Altrincham, will be fresh in the memory of our readers.

112 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
With the increased facilities consequent on the opening of
the Manchester, South Junction and Altrincham Railway,
Altrincham rose from the dimensions of an ordinary village
to those of a thriving country town ; and his lordship, in
striking contrast to many lords of the soil similarly circum
stanced, brought into the market a quantity of land for
building purposes, care being taken in its disposal that no
works or noxious trades should be carried on which would
be prejudicial to the health of the inhabitants. The result
is that Bowdon, with its beautiful situation and its salu
brious atmosphere has come to be looked upon as one of the
most pleasant places of residence round Manchester.
His Lordship's relations with his tenantry have always
been of the most satisfactory character, and this was
evidenced by the fact that when the Agricultural Holdings
Act came into operation, with one consent they elected to
remain as they were, quite satisfied that that justice with
which his lordship had always treated them would con
tinue still to be meted out.
It would exhaust too much space to catalogue the
numerous institutions and associations of which his lord
ship is president or patron. In an ecclesiastical sense,
he is patron of nearly a dozen livings in different parts of
the country ; and the manner in which the vacancies have
been filled point to a sincere desire to maintain that
Protestantism with which the annals of the Church of
England are inextricably interwoven. He is a Deputy
Lieutenant for Staffordshire, and honorary Colonel of the
7th A. B. Lancashire Rifle Volunteers, and the 23rd
Lancashire Rifle Volunteers.
His Lordship has been twice married. First to Ehzabeth,
daughter of John Billige, Esq.. ; and second to Katherine,
daughter of Henry Cocks, Esq.

a HENRY LORD DELAMER, created
Earl of Warrington April 17th, 1690,
d. 1693, aged 42.

Vere, died unmarried i^i?.

m. Mary, d. of Sir

ames Langham.

! I I I I '
I Wm. Bootli, b. 1648, d. i66r-3.
3 Charles d, in France unmarried.
4 George Booth d. in 1726, having had issue bv
his wife Lucy, dau. of Robert, Lord Vis
count Bodmin, Charles Henry, who died
unmarried.
5 Cecil Booth d. unmarried 1711.
6 Neville Booth d. unmarried 1685.

-m. secondly Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Grey, Earl of Stamford and Baron BonviUe and
I [Harrington, d. 1690.

5 Robert Booth, Recttir of Thornton and Arch
deacon of Durham 1691, Dean of Bristol 1708,
d. Aug, Sth, 1730, m. first Anne. d. of Sir Kobt.
Booth, of Salford, Knt., by whom Henry d. an
infant; m. secondly Mary, dau. of Thomas
Hales, of Ho^'lets, co. Kent, by whom Mary,
who died unmarried, Elizabeth, wife of Charl
ton Thrupp*, esquire, and Vere, wife of Geurge
Tyndale, of Bathford, esquire. Robert, George
and Edward, and Nathani^il Booth, of Hamp
stead, esquire, who succeeded to the title of
Lord Delamere, in i7g8, d. Jan. 9th, 1770 

Elizabeth, wife of Edward Conway,
Earl of Conway.
Anne died young.
Jane died young.
Diana, wife of Sir Ralph Delavel, of
Seaton Delavel, co. Northumber
land, afterwards of Sir Edward
Blackett, of Newby, co. York.
Sophia died young.

James died an infant. 2 GEORGE BOOTH, Earl of Warrington,
b. at Mere Hall, May 2nd, 1675, d. Aug.
2nd, 1758, m. Mary, eldest dau. and coheiress
of John Oldbury.

I I .
3 L.angham Booth, Groom of the Bedchamber to King George II.,
M.P. CO. Chester, 4 and 7 Anne, and ist George I., b. 1684,
died (unmarried) 1724.
4 Henry Booth, b. 1687, d. at Rotterdam, 1726.

I

I I
Elizabeth, wife of Thomas, eldest son
of Sir Thomas Delves, Dodington,
Bart., d. 1697.
Mary, wife of Hon. Russel Robartes,
d.'i74r.

MARY. b. 1703, d. Dec. 1752, m. May 1736, to HARRY GREY, fourth Earl of Stamford,
.  I  d. Mav J768, buried at Enville.
I'

GEORGE HARRY, b. 1737, M.P. co. Staff. 1761, succeeded as
fifth Earl of Stamford, &c., May 1768, Lord Lieutenant of the
County of Chester, 1783, created Baron Delamer of Dunham Mas
sey and Earl of Warrington April 30th, 1796, d. 1819, n:. 1763
to Henrietta Cavendish Bentinck, second daughter of William
second Duke of I'ortland, b. 1736, d. 1827.
I

I
Booth Grey, b. 1740, M.P. for Leicester, 1768,
d. 1802, m. 17S2 Elizabeth, daughter of
Charles Mainwaring, of Bromboruugh,
esquire. She died in 1823.

John Grey, b. 1743, d. 1802,
1773 Susanna, fourth
dau. of Ralph Levcester,
of Toft. '
I 

I I I
m. Mary b. 1739, d. 17S3, m. 1764
to George West, second son of
George Earl of Delawarr,
Anne b. 1741-2, d, 1743.

I
GEORGE HARRY, Sixth Earl, b. 1765,
d. April 26, 1845, m. 1797 to
Henrietta Charlotte Elizabeth Charteris,
eldest dau. of Francis, Lord Elcho,
b. 1773, d. 1838.

Ml
William Booth Grey b. 1773, d. 1853, m. first, 1802, Annie,
only dau. and heiress of Thomas Pryoe. of Dutlryn, co.
Glamorgan— she died in 1737 ; m. secondly, 1838, Frances
Somerville, sister of Lord Someiville.
Anchitel Grey b. 1774, d. a bachelor 1873, Prebendary of
Durham.
Henry Grey, Captain R.N. , b. [776, d. 1799, being ship-
wrecked on board the Weasel in Barnstaple bay.

Henrietta b. 1764, d. 1826, m. 17S5 Sir John
Chetwode, Bart., of Oakley Hall, Staf
fordshire.
Maria b. Nov 2nd, 1767, d. Nov. 21st, 1767.
Maria b. 1769, d. 1S38, m. 1794 to John
Cotes, of Woodcote, co. Salop,
Louisa b, 1771, d. a spinster 1830.

I I I
Sophia b. 1777, d. 1849, m.
1809, Booth Grey, of Ashton
Hayes.
Amelia b. 1779, d. 1849, m.
1800 to John Lister Kaye,
of Grange, near Wakefield,
esquire.

GEORGE HARRY BOOTH GREY,
b. 1802, d. 1835, summoned to Parliament
as Lord Grey of Groby, 1832,
m. Katherine, fourth dau, of Francis,
7th Earl of Wemyss.

Henry Booth Grey b. 1S07, d. 18^7, an
ofl[icer in the army.
Hen' ietta Charlotte' b. 1798, d. 1866, m.
1S20 the Rev. Jas. T. Law, son of the
Hon. Dr. Law, Bishop of Bath and
Wells.

I I I
Maria b. 1800.
Jane b. 1804, m. 1835
John Benn Walsh.

I
Booth Grev. of Ashton Hayes,
b.'i783, d. 1850,
m. Sophia Grey, dau. of George
fifth Earl of Stamford.

Elizabeth Kynaston b. 1786, d.
1853, m. 1828
Rev. Chas. Mj-tton, who assumed
the name of Thornycroft.

I
GEORGE HARRY GREY b. 1827, succeeded
in 1845 as seventh Earl of Stamford and
Warrington, &c.,
m. first Elizabeth, dau. of Mr. John Billige,
of Wincanton -she died Oct. 1854 ; also to
Catherine, dau. of Mr. Henry Cocks,
Aug. 39th, 1855.

Margaret Henrietta Ma
ria m. 1846 to Henry
John, son of Mark
Millbank, esquire, and
died March 7th, 1852.

Harry Grey, in holy orders, b. 17S3, d.
1S60, m. first Frances Elizabeth, dau.
of Hugh Ellis, of Carnarvon, esquire ;
secondly to Mary Her\'ey— by latter no
I issue.

I I I I
1 Henrietta b. 1775, m. 1802 to Chas. M}-tton, M.A., after
wards Thorneycroft, Rector of Eccleston.
2 Mary b. 1778.
3 Emma b. 1782, d. iS^i, m. to Thomas William Tatton, of
Wythenshawe, esquire.
4 Anna Maria b. 1791, d. 1827, m. Rev. T. Clarke.

I
HARRY GREY, formerly in holy orders, b.
Feb. 26th, 1812, m. 1844 firstly, to
Susan, dau, of Mr. Gaydon ; secondly in
1872, to Miss Macnamara, who
died 1874.

I i
2 John Grey b. 1815.
3 Wm. Grey, in holy
orders, b. 1819. m.
Harriet, dau. of Rev.
F. H White. I 

IMI
4 George Grey, i
orders, b. 1821.
5 Reginald Grey b 1823
d. 1831.
6 Emma d. a spinster.
4 Ann.

I

holy 5 Frances Charlotte Eliza
beth m.
Rev. Jos. Rhodes, Vicar
of Elstead, Surrey.
7 Mary, m. 1834 ^o J^^s.
G. Lumsden, esquire,
E.I.C.S.

William Grey b. 1850.

^encalostcal ^atilf of i%t ^ousc of ^uni^am.

I .

ROBERT DEL BOOTH or BOTHE, yr Son of John Booth of Barton, Lancashire, d, 1460, m. Douce, yr dau. and coheiress of Sir Wm. Venables, d. 1453.

I WILLIAM BOOTH, Son and Heir,
d. 1477, m. 1442 Maud, dan. of John
Dutton, of Dutton, Esquire.

I
2 Raufe m, Margaret, dau,
of 1 homas ^ibell,
Sandwich, Co, Kent.

I I
3 Geffrey.
4 Hamond or Hamon,
Clerk, LL.D.

IIMI
5 Lucy, m, to John Chantler, of Bache.
6 Ellen, m. to Robt. Legh, of Adlington.
7 Alice, m. to Robt. Hesketh, of Kulford.
8 Joan, m. to Hamon Massey, of Kixton.
9 Margery, m. to fames Scareb ick.

I

10 John Bishop, of Exeter, warden of
Manchester College, d. 1478.
u Robert, Dean of York.
12 Edward or Edmond, Archdeacon of
13 Peter,  [Stow.

I I I I I
I GEORGE BOOTH, Son and Heir, b. 2 Richard,
1443, d. Mar, 35th, 1484. 3 L'-^wrence.
Mar, Katherine, dau. of Robt. Montfort, Lord 4 John,
of Bescote, Staff., and Monkspath, 5 William.
Warwickshire.

MII
6 Douce, m. to Thomas I.eph, Westhall, High Legh, 1461.
7 Anne. m. to J('hn Legh, of Booths, after to Gefl'ery Shakerley,
of Shakerley. Lane.
8 Ellen, m. to Sir John Legh, of Bagiley, 1466.
9 Margery, m. to John Hyde, of Haghton, Lane.

I I I
10 Alice, m. to John Ashley, of Ashley.
II Elizabeth, m. to Thomas Fitton, of Pow-
nail.
12 Joan, m, to William Holt, of Lane.

I WILLIAM, Spn and Heir, b. 1473, d, i^ig.
Mar. first, Margaret, coheiress of Mar. second, Ellen, dau, of
Sir Thomas Ashton, Ashton- Sir [ohn Montgomery,
under-Lvne. 'Throwley, Staff.
'I I

I I
2 Lawrence.
3 Roger.

I I I
4 Alice, otherwise Anne, m. William Massey, of Denfield Rostherne.
c; Ellen, m. Thomas Vawdrey, afterwards Trafford, of Bridge Trafford, in Cheshire.

I
1 GEORGE, Son and Heir, b. 1490, d.
1531. Mar. Elizabeth 'iau of Sir
Thomas Butler, of Bewsey,
nr. Wan ington.

I Mill
2 John Booth, i William.
2 Hamnett.
3 Edward, from whom the Booths of
Twamlow, Cheshire.
4 Henry,
 g Andrew, 

6 Jane, m. to Hugh Dutton, son and heir of Sir Piers Dutton, of Hatton and
Dutton (1520), afterwards to Thos. Holford, of Holford, nr. Nether Tabley, esq.
7 Dorothy, m, to Edward Warren, son and heir of Laurence Warren, of Pointon,
esquire 151^),
8 Anne, m. to Sir William Brereton, of Brereton.

GEORGE, Son and Heir, b. i^i^, d. 1543,
m. Elizabeth, dan, of
Sir Edmund Trafford, of Trafford,
esquire. j

IIIII
2 John
3 Robert.
4 Ellen, m. to John, son and heir of John Carrington, of Carrington, esquire
(1537^
5 Anne, m. to Wm. Massy, of Podington, Wirrall, esquire.
6 Margaret, m, to SirWm. Davenport, of Bramhall.

IMI I
7 Ehzabeth, m. Richard Sutton, of Sutton, esq. (i^oi).
S Dorothy, m Robert Tatton, of Wythenshawe, esquire.
g Alice, m. Peter Daniel, cf Over 'labley (ifSoj.
10 Ciceley died without issue.

WILLIAM, Son and Heir, b. 1^40,
d. 1579. m. Elizabeth, d, of
Sir John Warburton, of Arley.

Ml I
3 Elizabeth, m. Sir William Chantrell, of Bache.
3 Mary, m. Randle Davenport, of Henbury.
4 Anne, m, — Wentworth, of Yorkshire.

I
GEORGE, Son and Heir, b, 1556, d. 1653.
m. firstly jane, daughter of
John Carrington -(no issue.)
m. secondly Katherine, daughter of
Sir Edmund Anderson, d. 1638.

II I II I
Edmund, second son, a lawyer, died without issue.
John, m. a daughter of — Prestwijh, of Hulme, Manchester, d. 1644.
Robert, b. 1570, was a so dier in Holland.
Peter, b. April 1576, d. September 1576.
Richard, b. 1578, m. — Massy, of Cogshall.
William, d. 1572.

I II I M I
Mary, eldi,-st daughter.
Elizabeth, second daughter, twice married,
Dorothy, m. Rafe Buningham, of Barrowcock, Derbyshire.
Alice, m. one Panton.
Elinouror Elinor, b, 1573,
Susan, b. 1577, twice married.

WILLIAM, d, T636.
in, Vere. d. and co-heiress of Sir Thomas
Egerton.

I II I
Francis, b. 1G03, d. i6i6.
Thomas b. 1604, d 1632.
Edmund, b, 1608, d. 1G17.
John, knighted 1660,

Thomas', b. 1620, d. 1633.

GEORGE BOOTH, Knt. and Bart, b. 1621. d. Aug 
8th, 1684. m. firstly Katherine, dau of Theophilus I
Fiennes, Earl of Lincoln.

I I I I I I I
Mary died unmarried.
Alice m. George Vernon, of Haslington, esquire, d. 1633.
Francis d. 1669,
Susan m. Sir William Brereton, of Hondford or Handford, died 1637.
Katherine unmarried.
Ciceley died young
Elizabeth, second wife of Richard, Lord Byron, of Newstead. (No issue.)

ffiS^^s

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i

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p

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CHAPTER X.
The Alaceys of Altrincham — A rebellious subject — The Bowdon
family — Disposal of lands — Some old district names — Bowdon
free school — Bull and hear baiting — Guy Faux at Altrincham—
A witty Bowdon Curate — The Unicorn Hotel three hundred
years ago — An Altrincham landlord and landlady of the olden
time — Sir Peter Leycester's description of the town in 1666 — The
story of the " Bloody field" — Adam Martindale at Dunham; his
duties there — Bowdon Dissenters troublesome — Dick Turpin; his
exploits at Newbridge Hollow and Hoo Green.
^^HE house of Macey, or Massey, which settled at
^kP Dunham, in course of time had numerous branches,
so much so as to give rise to the uncomplimentary pro
verb already quoted in these pages. There is no doubt,
however, that their connection with Altrincham is as ancient
as it is honourable. We find them coming into prominence
in the troublous times of Richard II., and they appear to
have held the town by military service for a long period.
In 1397 it is recorded that William Massey was the lessee
of the King of the beadlery of the Hundred of Bucklow,
for the year, at the sum of £'j 6s. 8d., he taking by his
lease all the pleas and profits of all the townships within
the aforesaid hundred, and in that year he also received a
grant from the King of an annuity during pleasure of one
hundred shillings. He was evidently a favourite with the
I

114 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
King; and as a zealous supporter must have made his
povyer felt, for in the General Act of Pardon which Henry IV.
issued in the opening portion of his reign, he was specially
exempted on account of his adherence to the fallen monarch.
His offence was not probably very severely visited; as in
the year 1399, a William Macey, probably one and the
same person, was given a protection on his departure for
Ireland to do service for the King.
About the year 1400, for reasons best known to himself,
a Massey assumed the local name of Bowdon, and the Bow
don family has been traced by the Lysons down to the reign
of Elizabeth. It held a fourth part of the lands in the
township until Urian Bowdon, in 1565, sold to William
Booth, of Dunham Massey, Esquire, certain portions of
land in Bowdon, as also in Hale and Dunham. In 1569,
Thomas Vawdrey, of Bowdon, and George his son, sold
several parcels of land to Hugh Crosby, of Over Whitley,
who, in turn, sold them to Sir George Booth at a later
period for £220. These parcels were in the several holdings
of Thomas Vawdrey, Robert Massie, Thos. Nelde (or
Neild), and Alice Hardey. William Brereton, in the reign
of James I., became, by purchase from Sir Thomas Holcroft,
owner of one fourth of the lands in the township ; but these,
as also all the others, have long since passed by gift, sale
or lease to the present Earl of Stamford and Warrington.
The foregoing reference to names prevalent three or
four centuries ago will make the reader curious to know
more. There are allusions to a family of Oldfield, no doubt
a branch of the Massey family, who assumed that name,
and from plea rolls relating to a few of the lesser holdings
in Altrincham, it is shown that in the 22nd year of Edward
IIL, Emma, wife of John Howell, was against Robert Drake,
of Altrincham, for a dower of three messuages and three
acres of land ; that in the 19th of Henry VIL, Edward
Walker conveyed to Thomas Deyne, and Margery his wife,
the fee simple of three burgages of land, " of which one
was situated between the burgage of Edward Massey, and
that late of Richard Chadurton, of Tympyrly, called Flax-

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 115
yarde, and two burgages called Tayntre Crofts in the same
town;" that in the 13th year of Henry VIIL, Stephen
Atkynson was against Thomas Massy, son and heir of
Robert Massy, for the recovery of two messuages, five bur
gages, ten acres of land, one meadow, and one dove cote.
The names of Birche, Coppok, Royle, Bekke or Beck, Neuton
or Newton, Kyncy, &c.,, are also to be found. In Dunham
Massey there were Heskeths, Ashtons, Hazlehursts, John
sons, &c., and we believe their descendants are still to be
found there. The allusion to the Flaxyarde shows that
the manufacture of linen was an old Altrincham industry,
quite as much as woollen was at a later period.
A Free School was founded at Bowdon about the begin
ning of the year 1600. In 1640 a " presentment " was made
to the Commissioners for Pious Uses, against Mr. Richard
Vawdrey, of the Banck, gentleman, for denying to pay £4.
per annum, left by his grandfather, for the schoolmaster of
Bowdon. It is said, in Gastrell's Notitia Cestriensis, that
although he may have been presented, the endowment was
not made by his grandfather, but by Edward Janny, of
Manchester, merchant, who, in 1553, devised certain lands
to his " kynseman, Robert Vawdrey, to keep a ffre scole
at Bowdon, to instruct youthe in vertue and lernynge."
This Robert Vawdrey was one of ' the executors, and it
may probably have led to his being spoken of as. the
founder. Janny, the testator, had the advowson and lease
of the vicarage of Bowdon, for a term, and this he also
devised to Robert Vawdrey, whose family held it for sev
eral years. The schoolhouse was rebuilt at the expense
of the parish in 1670, again in 1806, and up to a recent
period served for the purpose of teaching the young ideas
of the neighbourhood, when, on the new National Schools
being built, it was converted into a showroom for furni
ture, &c.
We read in one of Harrison Ainsworth's novels that
Guy Fawkes was carried through Altrincham, on his way
to Ordsall Hall, after having been wounded in '¦' a little
affair " at Malpas. This was not long before he attempted

Ti6 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
that horrible enterprise which will ever make his name
memorable to the small boys of the land. If the enterprise
was horrible it has been embalmed in still more horrible
verse. It was done by a worthy parish clerk, who had an
insatiable desire to distinguish himself; and on one occa
sion, when service was being celebrated for providential
deliverance from this plot of plots, he fairly electrified the
congregation by giving out the following verse : —
This is the day that was the night,
When wicked men conspire.
To blow the Houses of Parliament up,
With g-u-n-pow-&>«.
It is unnecessary to say that this parish clerk was not
connected with Bowdon ; but it may be mentioned that
a witty curate once gave a most remarkable certificate of
publication of banns. A worthy couple had been "asked,"
as the local phrase has it ; and the Vicar of Wilmslow,
where the woman lived, had the following addressed to
him : — John  and Jane Cooper were,
Thrice in my church announced this year
To tie the knot of beauty.
So John and Jane I trust hereby,
May without shame together lye,
When you have done your duty.
Jenks, Curate of Bowdon Church.
It is to be hoped that the Wilmslow Vicar did his duty,
as well as Mr. Jenks, and that this worthy couple lived a
long and happy life in the married state.
In May, 1644, Prince Rupert had a rendezvous for his
army on Bowdon Downs. According to a Royalist, William
Davenport, of Bramhall, " he marcht up to Cheadle, where
the parliaments forces ran away." In May, 1648, at a
meeting of the Lieutenancy, held at Bowdon, " it was
resolved that three regiments, consisting each of 600 men
strong, should be raised;" but the country people as a rule
refused to join. With the Downs is associated the story

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 117
of the " bloody field," the scene of a combat between Sir
Samuel Daniel, of Tabley, and Captain Robert Ratcliffe,
of Ordsall Hall. A brawl had ensued at a party; and,
according to an old rhyme : —
The next day Robert out a shooting went.
And still his mind upon revenge was bent ;
By accident he met Sir Samuel
On Bowdon Downs, for so the people tell ;
And fight he would, and one of them should die,
Ere they did part, and that immediately.
Sir Samuel says, " I see how discord ends,
I never thought but sleep had made us friends."
" No parley, now," says Robert, " fight I will.
Or with my gun I here now will you kill."
" Well," says Sir Samuel, " if to fight I must.
My sword is not the sword I wish to trust."
Then fight they did, and on the sandy Downs
Rash Robert fell, covered with blood and wounds.
He was buried at Northenden, and the inscription on his
gravestone states that he was " of illustrious descent, of
comely appearance, pious towards God, and unfailing in
His worship ; loyal to the King, faithful to his friends,
courteous to all, and a vigorous combatant. But the age
being unworthy of such a hero, and heaven permitting it,
he perished, strange to say, in a sword fight in the presence
of a few spectators, ... on the 20th of February, in
the year of our Lord, 1685, in the 30th year of his age."
It is a matter for surmise whether Guy Fawkes, after
having been wounded in the "little affair" at Malpas,
stopped at that ancient and still celebrated hostelry, the
Unicorn, to refresh the inner man. Most probably he did,
and drowned the sense of his injuries in libations of choicest
canary. At all events, the Unicorn stood at Altrincham
for centuries on very nearly the same site ; but if we are to
believe the traditions which have come down to us, it was
then a very different place to what it is now. It was a
delightfully rural roadside " public," environed with a pro
fusion of vegetation ; and a purling stream, of which there
is now only a mere trace, flowed past until it joined the
brook which has its rise on Hale Moss, and which fed the

ii8 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
lake and moat at the Hall of Dunham. Subsequently, this
stream turned the water wheel by which the landlord of
the old original Unicorn eked out his livelihood; but the
wheel is hushed, the stream has long since disappeared,
and an advancing civilization has caused a structure more
in accordance with the wants of the age to be erected in its
place. It is also believed that Sir Walter Scott, in his " Peveril
of the Peak," has given the name of the Cat and the Fiddle
to the Unicorn, when he speaks of JuHan Peveril's journey
from Liverpool to his ancestral home in Derbyshire. The
picture which the great novelist draws of that period is an
excellent one. Sir Walter says : —
At length near Altringham, a halt became unavoidable, and a. place of
refreshment presented itself in the shape of a small cluster of cottages, the best
of which united the characters of an alehouse and a mill, where the sign of the
Cat (the landlord's faithful ally in defence of his meal sacks), booted high as
Grimalkin in the fairy tale, and playing on the fiddle for the more grace,
announced that John Whitecraft united the two honest occupations of landlord
and miller; and, doubtless, took toU^from the public in both capacities. Such
a place promised a traveller who journeyed incognito, safer, if not better
accommodation than he was likely to meet with in more frequented inns ; and
at the door of the Cat and Fiddle, Julian halted accordingly.
In the succeeding chapter, the narrative is continued, and
the manner in which the jolly miller and his wife manage
the business is humorously depicted.
If the great Scotch novelist had read the quaint description
given of the town by Sir Peter Leycester, who says in 1666,
" there are so many cottages erected here by permission of the
Lords of Dunham Massey that it has now become a nest of
beggars; " he could not have been nearer the mark. While
this character is given to Altrincham, Bowdon bore a very
different one ; and at a somewhat later period, it is spoken of
as " one of the most remarkable places in the land." Sir
Peter mentions that in the rental of Dunham Massey in
1402, there were about forty freeholders or charterers in
Altrincham, the rest of the tenants not above eighteen
in number being tenants at will. He also speaks of the
increasing value of land and other commodities; and adds

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. iig
that at the period at which he wrote there were above
twenty charterers, which would tend to show that the
number of tenants at will had increased, while the number
of freeholders had diminished. Of these holdings, Robert
Parker's, of Oldfield Hall, Altrincham, gentleman, was of
the greatest value ; next to which was that belonging to
William Leycester, of Hale Lowe, gentleman. The rest
were very small parcels, " not worth the reckoning up."
Adam Martindale, one of the many puritan divines who
experienced the sad effects of the long political tempest of
the seventeenth century, found an asylum at Dunham on
his ejectment from the living of Rostherne, under the
Act of Uniformity of 1663. He was a prominent character
of that period, and his avowed hatred of superstitious cus
toms, as he thought, brought him into most unpleasant
collision with his parishioners. In his autobiography, he
gives us one or two glimpses of Bowdon, which show that it
was not entirely free from the religious bickerings and
theological hair-splittings of the period. The Quakers, as
they were then called, really had sound reason for " quak
ing " sometimes. The " Separatists," as the Dissenters
were termed, were numerous and troublesome in the parish,
and being a fierce ecclesiastical champion, Martindale in
forms us that he was engaged in " a paper scuffle" with
their teacher, much in the same way no doubtthat news
paper controversialists cut each other up now-a-days. He
tells us also that in 1663, the Bishop ol Chester, Dr. Hall,
" preached fiercely against non-conformists at Bowdon,
and as one that had a notable faculty of extracting salt
water out of pumice upon the words. We are not ignorant of
his devices, 2 Corinthians ii. 11, made even the most harm
less practices of the non-conformists, devices of Sathan,
soe farre as his Episcopall authoritie would authenticate
such doctrine." At Dunham he devoted himself to study,
in which he was greatly assisted by Lord Delamer, who
gave him many excellent books, lent him his choicest
manuscripts, and "imparted freely any knowledge he had,
¦\vhich 'was as useful as anything else,"

120 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
While chaplain here his salary was £^o per annum, and his employment,
" besides accompanying my Lord abroad, was family duty twice a day, which
after dinner was a short prayer, a chapter and a more solemn prayer, and before
supper, the like ; only a psalme or part of one after a chapter. When it was my
Lord's pleasure that the Lord's day or any of the King's days should be kept
at home, I officiated, and when on the Lord's day we went to Bowdon, I
catechised in the evening, and expounded the catechism in a doctrinal and
practical way, so as it was of as much pains for me, and as profitable to the
auditors as though I had preached." A pleasant picture truly of family life at
Dunham, two centuries ago.
From "pulpit to prig" is a great step downwards, but
it is the one we now take. Knutsford can boast of a
highwayman of some celebrity "born and bred" within
its limits. Altrincham cannot ; at all events, there has not
been one ofthe "gentlemen ofthe road" who was proud of
the place of his nativity, and who has made for himself name
and fame in history by his so-called exploits. As a very
efficient substitute we find the renowned Turpin — for he has
got "renown" in " Rookwood " (though his life shows him
to have been both blackleg and coward) — often taking up
his quarters in the neighbourhood and levying illegal toll
on travellers. The scene of his adventures was principally
New Bridge hollow. "What!" no doubt exclaim readers
acquainted with the magnificent road to Chester, " how
could a man pounce out on anyone and rob him there ? " Wait
a little, my impetuous friend. There was no wide road then.
It was an apology for one, in fact, a mere bridle-path, and
then, as now, primroses and wild flowers bloomed in bewil
dering profusion around. The river was not spanned by a
bridge, but forded at a convenient and shallow point.
Flanked on each side by tall trees and umbrageous foliage,
the poet of to-day can draw inspiration therefrom for his
glowing pages ; but then, when dangers were thought to
be hidden behind every tree, the aspect of the road to
most travellers would be stripped of its picturesqueness.
On one occasion the daring Dick had a narrow escape from
paying the extreme penalty of the law for a robbery commit
ted in the hollow, and this escape was attributable, it is
said, to the legendary speed of " Black Bess." A lawyer
was travelling from Chester to Manchester, when he w£^s

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 121
attacked by Dick, and relieved of his cash. Turning the
head of Black Bess, he put her to her extreme speed, and
on arriving at the Kilton, Hoo Green, he accosted the
hostler with, " Holloa ! what o'clock is it, my cockolorum,
eh ? " With a view to receiving a speedy reply, he
accompanied the question with a sharp blow on the shoul
der, and, singular to say, he got the required answer. We
use the word "singular," because a modern knight, "of
more breeches than brains," would have replied with a tor
rent of well-selected Billingsgate, and summoned him before
a magistrate, with a view to having him fined. As it was,
Dick strolled calmly on to the green, where a number of
country gentlemen were playing bowls, taking care, of course,
to remark about the time. An investigation into the circum
stances took place, and Dick found out the advantages to
be derived from what Samuel Weller's " paternal parient "
in "Pickwick," chose to call a " halibi." The groom was
called, and as the difference between the time of the rob
bery and Dick's appearance in the inn yard was so small,
only a few minutes, although the distance from the place
was over three miles, the magistrates discharged him,
under the impression that no horse could carry him in
the time that Black Bess did. Turpin appears to have
gloried in the feat that he then accomplished, for it is
made the subject of a song, which is given in "Rook
wood."

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CHAPTER XI.
Indications of growth and enterprise — The cutting of the Bridge-
water Canal — A few figures — Manufacture of woollen and cotton
yarn — Obsolete punishme7its : penance, cucking stool, scold's bridle,
public whippings in the Altrincham Market-place — Executions
for burglaries at Bowdon — A man hanged for poaching near
AUrincham — The ancient custom of souling — The entertaining
play of St. George and the Dragon — Wassailing and Christmas
carols — The harley hump and Dunham ale — The lions of Dunham
— Altrincham races — Dunham Parks and the Hall — De Quincey's
description of Altrincham.
"HE first indication of an era of enterprise in this

district was the cutting of the Bridgewater Canal,
which commenced about the year 1760, and its opening six
years or so afterwards gave a great impetus to the town of Al
trincham. In 1778 there were in the town 185 houses, which
taken at the usual average of five persons to a house would
give 925 inhabitants. In 1801, this number had increased to
340 houses, occupied by 346 families, numbering 1,692 souls.
There were then three large factories for the manufacture
of woollen and cotton yarn, as also a mill for bobbin turning,
which were worked by water power. Two of these mills
were situated on the north-west side of the town, near the
present Altrincham station. The dam or reservoir was only
a few yards down Stamford-road, and was fed by a stream
which flowed hard by. Up to a recent period this danj

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 123
remained ; but it is now filled up, and streets, notably Mill-
street, occupy its site. An old map of the town shows that
at this time the houses were clustered about the Market
place and the Unicorn. Within fifty or sixty yards on the
Dunham side were hedgerows and trees of the most
approved agricultural type. Dunham-lane, as it was then
called, was scarcely a cow road, and had not even the sem
blance of a footpath. The social customs of the inhabitants
were quite as primitive as its appearance.
Readers of history are familiar with the penance which the
unfortunate Jane Shore did in St. Paul's, before the people,
three or four centuries ago. They would be surprised to
hear that this form of doing penance — not so much from a
religious as from a legal point of view — was carried out at
Bowdon not 150 years since. Women of light character, or
those who had been guilty of spreading scandal, were the
subjects. A white sheet was kept at the Parish Church,
the condemned woman was enveloped in it, marched along
the aisles of the sacred edifice; after which she had purged
her offence. One of the last, or about the last who did
penance, was clever enough to make a witty, though very
indecent rhyme ofthe circumstance. A much more ancient
and common form of punishment was the cucking stool — a
field formerly existing in Altrincham called Cuckstool field.
This instrument is described in Domesday Book as cathedra
stercoris. Scolds, cheating bakers or brewers, and other
petty offenders, were led to this stool and immersed over
head and ears in stercore, or stinking water. The " brydle
for a curste queane " was fixed in the mouth of the de
linquent, and tied behind with ribbons. When the punish
ment of the cucking stool was relaxed, the scold's bridle
appears only to have been used, and the Altrincham Cor
poration is credited with being possessed of a "branck,"
or iron bridle, of the most simple form known. Brushfield,
who has written a work on the Obsolete Punishments of this
county, says : —
It is the most rudely constructed, primitive-looking, scold's bridle I have
yet seen ; the workmanship is so rough as to lead one to suppose it ihust

124 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
have been made by some very ordinary blacksmith; in form it is somewhat
similar to the Oxford example ; the gag is a plain flat piece of iron, the
hook is fastened at the back by a plain hook and staple, and there is a sep
arate hook for the leading chain. (Fancy, ye gods ! leading a woman with
a chain, like a bear ! )
Listen, again : —
No compensation whatever exists for the adaptation of the instrument to
heads of different sizes, and, as the bridle is a very small one, a great deal
of additional " scolding " must have been caused during the endeavour to
fix it to any large head. The ascending portion terminated in an enlarged
flat extremity, the base of which appears as if constructed for the purpose
of attaching a cord to secure it more firmly to the head. The gentleman
to whom I am indebted for the loan of this specimen (Mr. Mort, of Altrin
cham) informs me that he saw it used upon an old (?) woman, about 35
years ago, who appears to have been a regular virago, and who, apparently,
abused her more peaceable neighbours, more particularly two very inoffensive
people on each side of her own dwelling. AU means were tried in vain, and
as a last resource she was ordered to be bridled and led through the town.
When the instrument was fixed to her head, she refused to walk ; the
authorities were, however, so determined to make her a public example, and
carry out the punishment, that they ordered her to be wheeled through the
town. She was accordingly placed in a barrow, and, escorted by a great
mob, was wheeled through the principal streets round the market place, and
thence to her own home. It may be as well to mention that this punishment
was attended with the most salutary results, as she ever afterwards kept a
civil and respectful tongue in her head.
Our country cousins at Carrington were far aheard of us
in this respect. Their " branck," which is now in the
Warrington Museum, is designed with greater attention
to mechanical details. Its "gag" is much more neatly
formed ; it has three rings to which the hook or chain
may be attached, and it is made with an adjustment for
the difference in the sizes of people's heads. Probably it
was in greater request at Carrington, and therefore greater
anxiety was manifested lest it should produce needless
" scolding," and thus increase the ill it was intended to
cure. The spectacle of men being publicly whipped for trivial
offences was common, and, generally, the punishment was
inflicted on the unfortunate culprits on market days.
In April, 1801, the town was thrown into a state of ex-

CARRINGTON AND ALTRINCHAM SCOLDS' BRIDLES.

FORMERLY AT CARRINOTON, AND NOW IN THE WARRINGTON MUSEUM.

ro

RMERLY AT ALTRINCHAIVI (LOST.)

cn

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 125
citement in consequence of some opposition to the public
whipping of one Thomas Owen. The subject was discussed at
a town's meeting in July, "convened by publick advertize-
ment and by the bellman, by order of the constables,"
when it was —
Resolved unanimously, that the constables be and are directed at the ex
pense of the town, to prosecute William Coppock, and such other person or
persons as can be discovered to have beaten the horse in the cart when Thos.
Owen was to have been whipped, in Altrincham, on the 28th day of April last,
pursuant to the sentence of the Court of Quarter Sessions, held at Chester in
and for this county, on the 21st day of April last.
It may be inferred from this that Mr. Owen had a large
number of friends, who were bent on preventing the infliction
of the prescribed punishment ; as on that occasion the horse
block at the Unicorn was so seriously damaged that upwards
of thirteen shillings had to be spent by the town on its repair.
On one occasion, probably the last, two men were
whipped, one after the other. One of them, after having
received his portion, begged, with a self-abnegation and
gallantry worthy of all praise, that he might receive his
companiort's lashes, as he was sure he was unable to bear
the punishment. No wonder, that with men made of such
sterling stuff, Wellington won Waterloo. No wonder that
their descendants conquered at Inkermann, and clove
through the Russian hosts at Balaclava! The old spirit
still lives. It is manifested daily in thousands of humble
homes in our land ; but its humbleness is its truest
nobility, and there are numbers who are unconsciously
saying by their actions, to that angel who is inscribing it
in a book of gold, I pray thee, then,
Write me as one who loves his fellow-men.
The dark record of this portion of "the good old times"
is not yet complete. Executions were common, and it is not
unusual to read in the papers of the period blood-curdling
narratives of the wholesale way in which our fellow creatures
were launched into eternity. For instance, on September
25th, 1819, there were executed at Chester, Samuel Hooley

126 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
and John Johnson (a man of colour), for burglary at Bowdon.
In April, 1820, Thomas Miller was executed for burglary at
Bowdon. Some ten or fifteen years after, a man named
Henshaw was executed for poaching near Altrincham. This
caused an intense sensation throughout the whole district,
and is still remembered by a large number of the older
inhabitants. A much pleasanter theme is afforded by an examination
of some of the old amusements, such, for instance, as
" souling " on All Souls' Eve, which is not, however, kept
up as it used to be forty years ago. The observance is
referred to Catholic times, and is undoubtedly one of great
antiquity. Some of the songs which are sung by the
" soulers," are peculiar, and there is an unaccountable play
upon words. One of them opens : —
Soul day, Soul day, Saul,
One for Peter, two for Paul,
Three for Him that made us all.
An apple, a pear, a plum or a cherry.
Anything that will make us all merry.
Put your hand into your pocket and pull out your keys,
Go down into the cellar and bring up what you please ;
A glass of your wine, or a cup of your beer,
And we'll never come souling till this time next year.
We are a pack of merry boys all of one mind,
We have come souling for what we can find.
Soul, Soul, sole of my shoe,
If you have no apples money will do ;
Up with your kettle, and down with your pan,
Give us an answer and let us begone.
Of course this is all very well, and no doubt very
laudable so far as the men and boys of a single village
go ; but when it comes to providing for those of a large
town, split-up into numerous gangs, it must be admitted
that souling is a custom " more honoured in the breach
than the observance." A more enjoyable and artistic
amusement is the " Peace Egg," or " St. George's annual
play for the amusement of youth," which is supposed to
have an entirely Cheshire origin, St. George, representing
in some people's ideas, the Baron of Chester. If this be

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 127
the case, it now obtains little in the county of its
nativity ; but in Yorkshire it flourishes amazingly.
The practice of "wassailing amongst the leaves so green"
has almost died out ; but the singing of carols at Christmas
time flourishes in its pristine power, and oftentimes un
fortunate Christians are called upon to awake at most
unseasonable hours.
Who in this neighbourhood does not remember or has not
heard of the " barley hump " and Dunham ale ? The latter
was given on stated occasions to all comers, and its potency
was often evidenced in those who partook too freely of it.
But round the " barley hump " cling the tenderest memories,
and men and women, whose locks are now silvered with age,
remember the time, when as rosy-faced boys and girls they
scampered over the breezy downs to Dunham Hall, for this
hump, which was a piece of barley bread a few inches
square, good and wholesome, hard nearly as a board, but
not proof against the assaults of a vigorous appetite. The
schools of the neighbourhood were turned out at a given
hour, and an exciting race for the Hall began. It was first
come, first served. The boys were ranged on one side, and
the girls on the other, and down this human avenue, a
barrow filled with these " humps," was wheeled, and a piece
given to each child. Sometimes, the number of little visitors
was so great that the supply ran short, and those who had
not yet eaten theirs had to divide with their less fortunate
brethren. Having had their treat — for such it was always
looked upon — they betook themselves to their homes, joyful
with anticipation of another turn at the " barley hump."
The " Lions " of Dunham, have even a " tradition "
associated with them. They are well known to visitors, and
were once looked upon with awe by the juvenile natives.
In fact, it is implicitly believed, by lovers especially, that
at the hour of midnight, when the spirits of the departed
are attacked with restlessness, these " lions " raise up one
paw, and put down the other, remaining in this position for
twenty-four hours, until a change is again considered
desirable !

128 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
Racemeetings formerly flourished at Altrincham, but
were many years since discontinued, except at rare intervals,
and then they were stripped of their ancient glory. Race-
field, now covered with stately mansions, serves to
perpetuate the fact, but the principal races were held on
Hale Moss. An old newspaper, published in 1753, contains
an advertisement announcing that the races would be held
on the nth day of July in that year, " on a good course,"
and that no person would be allowed to sell liquor on the
Common who had not subscribed two-and-sixpence to the
said races. In this respect the old does not appear to differ
from the new, however much people may be inclined to
lament the decadence of modern horseracing.
A word may now be said of the Parks at Dunham, both of
which have formed appropriate subjects alike for the brush
of the painter, and the pen of the poet. In what is called
the Old Park, the beech avenue, which leads to the Hall, is
a most imposing object. Of the present mansion, which
replaced its predecessor, a description of which has already
appeared in these pages, little need be said, except that it
is a large quadrangular brick building, and was built in
1730. The collection of family plate was of a most exten
sive and valuable character, and there was also a
number of family and other portraits by various eminent
masters. A fitting conclusion to this chapter may be found in the
reference to Altrincham made by Thomas De Quincey,
whose fame in connection with every department of litera
ture is well known. In his autobiographical sketches, he
describes the circumstances under which he left Manchester
to travel to Chester, and he says that on his route (this
would be about the year 1814), the first town that he
reached, to the best of his remembrance, was Altrincham,
colloquially Awtrigem. He goes on : —
" When a child, three years old, and suffering from whooping cough, I had
been carried for a change of air to different places on the Lancashire coast ;
and in order to benefit by as large a compass as possible of varying atmospheres,
I and my nurse had been made to rest for the first night of our tour, at this

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 129
cheerful little town of Altrincham. On the next morning, which ushered in a
most dazzling day in July, I rose earlier than my nurse fully approved ; but in
no long time she had found it advisable to follow my example ; and, after
putting me through my morning's drill of ablutions and the Lord's prayer, no
sooner had she fully arranged my petticoats than she lifted me up in her arms,
threw open the window, and let me suddenly look down upon the gayest scene
I ever beheld, viz., the little market-place of Altrincham at eight o'clock in the
morning. It happened to be the market day ; and I, who till then had never
consciously been in any town whatever, was equally astonished and delighted
by the novel gaiety oi the scene. Fruits, such as can be had in July, and
flowers were scattered about in profusion ; even the stalls of the butchers from
their brilliant cleanliness appeared attractive ; and the bonny young women of
Altrincham were all trooping about in caps and aprons coquettishly disposed.
The general hilarity of the scene at this early hour, with the low murmurings
of pleasurable conversation and laughter that rose up like a fountain to the open
window left so profound an impression upon me that I never lost it. All this
occurred, as I have said, about eight o'clock on a superb July morning.
Exactly at that time in the morning, exactly such another heavenly day in July,
did I leave Manchester, at six a.m., naturally enough finding myself in the
centre of the Altrincham market place. There were the same fruits and
flowers ; the same bonny young women trooping up and down in the same (no,
not the same) coquettish bonnets ; everything was apparently the same ; per
haps the window of my bedroom was still open, only my nurse and I were not
looking out ; for, alas ! on recollection, fourteen years precisely had passed
since then. Breakfast time, however, is always a cheerful stage in the day ;
if a man can forget his cares at any season it is then — and after a walk of seven
miles it is doubly so. I felt it at the time, and have therefore stopped to notice
it as a singular coincidence, that twice, and by the merest accident, I should
flnd myself precisely as the clocks on a July morning were all striking eight,
drawing inspiration and pleasurable feelings from the sights and sounds in the
little market place of Altrincham."
The "bonny young women" were not, however, suffi
ciently attractive to keep the youthful De Quincey from
pursuing his journey. Most of them will by this time have
passed away ; but their descendants will read with interest
of the manners of their grandmothers and great-grand
mothers in days gone by.

CHAPTER XII.
Ecclesiastical Altrincham: The Wesleyan Methodist Churches —
Wesley's visits to Altrincham — St. George's Church; its Schools,
&'c. — An Altrincham Centenarian — The Unitarians; their ear cy
history; description of the new Chapel in Dunham Road — The
Methodist New Connexion — The Independents or Congregational-
ists, with some notices of their Pastors aiid Work — St. Margaret's,
Dunham Massey — St.fohn's — The Old Downs Chapel — The Primi
tive Methodists.
ll^HEN John Wesley, with a lofty enthusiasm which
made the whole world his parish, introduced a new
leaven of religious fervour throughout the land, Altrincham
vvas among the many towns he visited. It is one of the
first places mentioned in his famous Journal ; and it would
appear that the date of his first visit was 1738, which is
prior to the formation of the first Wesleyan Society in
London. In 1751 he again came to the town, and preached
under a pear-tree in Mr. Priestner's garden on Oldfield Brow.
He also preached in Church-street, near the site of St.
George's, and in other parts of the town. The nucleus of
a " church " was thus formed ; but it was not until the 17th
February, 1788, that the old chapel in Chapel-walk, or
Chapel-road, was opened by the Rev. Thomas Taylor, even
then an eminent Methodist minister. The Church of Eng
land Service was read on that occasion ; Abner Partington,
a name well known in the annals of Altrincham, and who

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 131
was probably one of its Mayors subsequently, officiating as
clerk. It is also interesting to state that Altrincham was
one of the first chapels settled under the celebrated deed
poll, in which they are legally specified to be "The confer
ence of the people called Methodists." It was more than
two years after the chapel was opened that Mr. Wesley
preached in Altrincham, about twelve months before his
death. In his Journal he describes the devout and earnest
demeanour of the crowd both inside and outside the chapel,
and expresses a hope that henceforth the Altrincham people
will be less " furious " than they have been. Mr. Wesley,
when he preached at Altrincham for the last time, called
the building a chapel, and not a " house," as was his
wont. Nearly eighty years afterwards the elegant struc
ture in Bank-street was built, and many were the regrets
felt, especially amongst the old supporters of the Metho
dist cause, at leaving what had been their spiritual home
for so long a period. This chapel is in the Byzantine
style of architecture, and was erected from the plans of
Mr. C. 0. Ellison, of Liverpool. Liberal aid for its
erection was given by both Churchmen and Dissenters, and
to some extent it was looked upon as a town movement.
The foundation stone was laid on the 22nd March, 1865,
and it was opened on the loth of May, in the year following.
Its main frontage is to Bank-street, and is of freestone with
a campanile at one of the angles. Its interior is of majestic
proportions, and the moulding of the arches is most im
posing. There is accommodation on the ground floor for
600 people,and 200 in a good gallery across the end of the
building. This gallery is so arranged that it can be con
tinued, if found necessary hereafter, along the sides of the
chapel, giving accommodation to 260 additional or in all
over 1,000 persons. The organ was removed from the old
chapel, and built into the new, with additions and improve
ments; the cost of this, over ^100, being raised by Mr.
John Balshaw, who for a long period acted as organist.
The total cost of the chapel was above ^5,000.
An offshoot of the old chapel was made in the erection of

132 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
the rather cramped edifice off Stamford-road, Bowdon,
which, although no doubt quite adequate at the time for the
wants of the congregation, is not at all calculated to meet
the Bowdon of the future. Its arrangements, including
its high-backed pews, do not at all accord with modern
ideas of religious worship, and strenuous efforts were made
years ago to provide increased accommodation of another
character. It cannot be said that these efforts have been
crowned with the success they deserve, and in this re
spect the Wesleyans of Bowdon will have the sincere
sympathy of all classes. So far back as May, 1874, the
foundation of memorial stones of the new chapel were laid
by Mrs. William Billing, Mrs. John L. Barker, and Miss
Mewburn. The position selected is on the brow of the
gently sloping hill, which may be said to constitute Bow
don proper, and is close to an ancient footpath leading from
the Downs to Stamford Road. The designs are by Mr.
W. H. Brakspear, of Manchester, and the style is the pure
English Gothic of the 13th century. It will have accom
modation for 700 persons on the ground floor, and for 200
more by the erection of galleries in the transepts. The
services of the Wesleyan body are, as can well be imagined,
remarkably simple. There is, however, a grafting on of
the Church service, which undoubtedly adds to their beauty
and dignity. Their Sunday schools are well attended, and
their efforts to found a day school in Altrincham on the
national system have been attended with considerable
success. We now come to St. George's Church, of which, so far as its
architecture is concerned, not even its warmest friends can
boast. By one writer it has been styled the ugliest church
within seven miles of Manchester Exchange ; but probably
he did not look at home, as within a stone's throw of the
place are to be found two churches (St. Ann's and St.
Mary's) which might be placed in the same category as the
one he so mercilessly criticizes. Moreover, we must re
member that the period at which it was built was not one
in which the fine arts were fostered or the sesthetic tastes of

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 133
the people developed to the extent they are now-a-days.
Public taste in matters of church architecture was at a
very low ebb indeed. The clustering ivy with which it is
now overgrown gives it to some degree an appearance of
beauty ; but apart from this outward advantage it com
mends itself for being, so far as its acoustic properties are
concerned, all that can be desired.
It was built as a Chapel of Ease to Bowdon, in 1799, by
subscription, and in 1809 it is stated in the returns of the
Bishop of Chester to the Governor of Queen Anne's Bounty
to be a curacy, not augmented or charged, of the annual
value of ^91 13s. 6d., arising from dividends of stock, seat
rents, and surplice fees. Its first minister was the Rev.
Oswald Leicester, an Altrincham man, and he continued
in the office for upwards of thirty years. He was the son
of a well-to-do shopkeeper in the town, and from his
childhood was very religiously disposed. He attended the
Wesleyan Chapel, and was greatly influenced by a Mr.
Samuel Bradburn, then stationed here. He would in all
probability have joined this body, had not his father taken
the matter into his own hands, and had him educated and
trained as a clergyman. The church has been twice en
larged, first in 1858, when ig8 additional sittings were
obtained at the west end ; and again in 1871, when 268
sittings were added at the east end, at a cost of ;f 1,000 ;
thus providing accommodation for 1,180 persons. There
is a beautiful stained glass window in the east end, and
several tablets in various parts of the interior.
In the window referred to we read that it was erected
" to the memory of Samuel and Ann Hardey, her parents,
George Hardey, her brother, and James Holland, her hus
band, by Sarah Holland, a.d. 1861."
On a brass let into the wall underneath is an inscription :
This memorial window was accompanied by an offering of ;£'i,ooo for the
additional endowment of this church, and ;£'20o to ;,be invested, and the
interest given in bread to the poor attending Divine worship therein.
The inscriptions on the gravestones do not present many
novel features ; but one on the first clerk of the church.

134 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
George Samuel Drinkwater, who filled the post for 33
years, thus records the virtues of his wife : —
She was 
But words are wanting to say what.
Think what a wife should be, and she was that.
She left him, so it is said, an annuity cf ^50 a year ;
hence this extraordinary eulogy.
St. George's remained a chapel of ease from 1799 to
i860, when it was made into a district church. In 1868,
it was formed into a separate parish, of which the Rev.
George London, who was presented in 1S59, was made
vicar. It has been endowed by a Parliamentary grant of
^1,000, and up to 1859 had an income of ^^150 per annum.
This was increased in 1861 by a gift of ;^i,ooo from Mrs.
Holland, of Sandiway House, as already indicated. Con
nected with the church are flourishing day and Sunday
schools, the latter being established in 1783, before the
church was built. The first day or national school was
erected to commemorate the fiftieth year of the reign of
George III., and from this circumstance received the name
of the Jubilee school. It was cramped and ill adapted for
the required purpose ; but, singular to say, it continued to
be used for 50 years, and thus celebrated its own as well as
King George's jubilee. The present spacious schools were
erected in i860, and have since had to be enlarged to meet
the increasing requirements of the neighbourhood. There
are branches at Oakfield-road and Broadheath ; in both
of which Divine service can be held.
The register, which begins with the present century,
contains the name of one centenarian, Catherine Holt, of
Altrincham, who was buried June 30th, 1813, aged 103.
LIST OF THE MINISTERS OR CLERGY OF ST. GEORGE'S
CHURCH :—
lygg. The Rev. Oswald Leicester.
1832. ,, ,, George Ranking.
1834. ,, ,, Wilmot Cave Brown Cave.
1843. ,, ,, Francis Orton, D.C.L.
1856. ,, ,, John B. Honnywill.
1859. ,, „ George London.

History of Altrincham and Boivdon. 135
Not one of the Dissenting bodies in Altrincham possesses
a history so eventful or interesting as the Unitarians. The
Altrincham chapel is an offshoot of the old congregation
at Hale, which at irregular intervals for a long period had
possession of the church at Ringway or Ringey. Ringway
was then the " debateable ground " of dissent, and the
battles ecclesiastical which were waged upon it were both
fast and furious.
" In Hale," writes Sir Peter Leycester in i665, " is an hamlet called
Ringey, wherein is situated, a chappel of ease (far from being an easy one to
hold, by the way), called Ringey chappel; within the parish of Bowdon, of
which I have little to say save that it was much frequented in the late wars
by schismatical ministers, and as it were a receptacle for non-conformists, in
which dissolute times every pragmatical and illiterate person, as the humour
served, stepped nto the pulpit without any lawful calling thereunto, or licence
of authority." For a very long period this chapel remained in the hands
of the Dissenters, and from certain notices which have
been made of it in various documents, would appear to
have been under the protection of the powerful families of
Booth and Crewe, who were at that time strongly favour
able to the Presbyterian cause. It was here that William
Dearnily, who is so disrespectfully alluded to in the Bow
don Parish Register, ministered. He was ordained at
Knutsford in 1692, on which occasion Mathew Henry was
present. He died in May 1701, and in the Cheshire
Minute Book he is described " as a person of great worth,
of very good natural parts, a considerable scholar, of
sober and moderate principles, and a blameless and ex
emplary conversation." The present Hale chapel was
erected in 1723, during the ministry of Mr. Waterhouse,
who being dispossessed of Ringway chapel, took along
with him the bulk of the congregation. There is a tradition
that Mr. Waterhouse was forcibly expelled from Ringway
by a Mr. Assheton, then resident at Ashley Hall. The
version given is that about the year 1721, John Crewe,
Esq., of Crewe Hall, inherited the Lordship of Ringway,
and declared his intention of restoring it to the established
Church, The scene which followed savours more of ^

136 History of A Itrincham and Bowdon .
public-house than a place of worship. Presuming upon
Mr. Crewe's connivance, this resident at Ashley Hall, who
seldom went to a place of worship, and who was reputed
to have been a man of very dissolute habits, went to the
chapel one Sunday, attended by a number of servants,
seized Mr. Waterhouse by the collar, pulled him from the
pulpit, and bundled out both him and the congregation,
" bag and baggage." Having accomplished this operation
to his own satisfaction, he locked the doors, and no doubt
on his way to Ashley Hall was jubilant over this gentle
manly (?) action. The dissenters, however, entered again
the week following, and continued in it without molestation
until a clergyman licensed by the Bishop of Chester took
possession of it. His behaviour on going to his new cure
was in striking contrast to that of his lay brother of Ashley
Hall. On the Sunday when he first c^me, the dissenters
had begun their worship, but instead of displaying his
muscular Christianity, he bade them proceed with the ser
vice and remained a devout hearer to the end. He took
possession of the place in form in the afternoon. Mr.
Waterhouse afterwards preached in a barn at the Ashes
farm, near the chapel, till a dissenting meeting house was
erected ; but he did not live long to enjoy it, as he died
in 1754. Canon Raines, in his notes to Gastrell's Notitia
states that there is a bell at Ringway, with G. B. upon
it ; the initials of Sir George Booth. In 1747, the minister
of this chapel was the Rev. Hugh Worthington, jun., and
from a diary of Mr. Isaac Worthington, of Altrincham, it
appears he was minister of Hale chapel from 1748 to 1767.
Mr. Isaac Worthington took great interest in the affairs
of this chapel, and in 1769 he went to Stockport and en
gaged Mr. Harrop to come to Hale. Mr. Harrop continued
in it for forty-six years, during thirty-seven of which he
held the chapel at Sale, conjointly with that at Hale. He
resigned his charge in 1816, at the age of seventy. He
lived for twenty-one years after, and went down to the
grave at the venerable age of ninety-one, beloved and
honoured by all who knew him. In 1816, the Rev. William

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 137
Jevons was invited to undertake the pastoral charge of the
united Presbyterian societies in Hale and Altrincham, but
he only held the position for about three years. The old
chapel in Shaws-lane, Altrincham, which was built about
this period, has long been given up ; and on the closing
of the burial ground, the remains of the " rude forefathers
of the hamlet " were taken up and removed to Hale. In
the pretty chapel in Dunham-road, there is a good congre
gation, and the descendants of Mr. Isaac Worthington, one
of whom is a flourishing Manchester merchant, still take
a deep interest in the cause. It was opened on Wednesday,
December, i8th, 1872, on which occasion the Rev. Charles
Beard, of Liverpool, preached. It is enclosed on two sides
by a stone wall, in which a handsome covered stone gate
way leads by a flight of steps to the porch on the south
side, which forms the principal entrance to the chapel.
The interior consists of a nave fifty-seven feet long, and
one aisle to the north, separated from it by five arches with
granite shafts, making a total width of thirty-seven feet.
The east end is apsidal, with carved wood pulpit and
reading desk, and communion table, all upon a raised
dais. The exterior of the building is plain, but substantial,
being faced with brick, and stone dressings round the
entrance doorway and windows, the heads of which are
filled with geometric tracery. The west end has two gables,
and the roof is carried round the east end, having a large
cross at the apex of the apse. The chapel is fitted with
pitch pine seats for about 225 adults and 40 children. An
aisle 4ft. 6in. in width leads down the centre of the nave,
and a passage 3ft. 6in. in width along the north side of the
chapel. The cover of the communion table, beautifully em
broidered in needlework, was presented to the chapel by
Miss Nicholson, daughter of Mr. Robert Nicholson, of
Bowdon. The three apse windows are filled with stained
glass, illustrating by means of flowers, the emblems of
Faith, Hope and Charity. They are the gift of Mr. and

138 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
Mrs. James Worthington, of Sale Hall. The large west
window of three lights and the double lights, which extend
along both sides of the chapel, are filled with plain dia
mond quarries. The edifice was erected from the designs
of Mr. Thomas Worthington, of Manchester.
The Methodist New Connexion erected a fairly sized
chapel in George-street about the year 1821. At one time
it was very well attended, and the congregation was a
most important one. The exterior is not prepossessing,
but the interior is cheerful and cosy. A disagreeable
rupture occurred amongst the congregation some years
ago, and it has not made the progress it should have
done. The members have, however, paid off the debt
with which the place was for a long time encumbered.
In point of wealth and numbers, the Congregationahsts or
Independents occupy one of the foremost positions. They
had a most humble origin, and it appears from the Church
Book, of the Bowdon Downs Church, that, in the year 1803,
the Rev. James Turner, of Knutsford, began occasionally to
pass through Bowdon in travelling to Manchester. During
these journeys, states Mr. Joseph Thompson, in his con
tribution to "Non-Conformity in Cheshire,"- it occurred to
him that some measures might be adopted, and ought not
to be delayed, for the introduction into Altrincham or the
neighbourhood of the doctrines and government of Inde
pendent Churches. The usefulness and propriety of this
course appeared the more unquestionable on account of the
frequency with which the members of churches in Man
chester, even then, were observed to visit and reside in the
district. Mr. Turner, fully possessed with his project,
applied to an aged and poor widow of the name of Cox,
or Coe, a member of the Independent church at Gatley,
but resident in Altrincham, and obtained her permission
to preach at intervals in her little thatched cottage near
the Market Place. The humble building has long since
disappeared ; but there, with very slender encouragement,
this self-denying servant of the Gospel first regularly
preached the truth professed by the denomination to which

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 139
he belonged. It should, however, be recorded that other
excellent ministers pursuing a similar " labour of love, "
were also received into the house by this same poor
woman. These efforts of Mr. Turner were afterwards dis
continued for lack of local sympathy and support; and
some time appears to have elapsed before a zealous
person from Manchester, named Whitworth, began to visit
the district, with the like object in view, but with hardly
more success; although the assistance of the Chester
County Union had been enlisted for the benefit of the
neighbourhood. A few years again passed away before anything permanent
or regular was attempted towards the establishment of
Independency at Bowdon. But owing to the liberality of
some Christian friends, the little chapel at the foot of the
Downs, formerly occupied by the followers of a clergyman
who had seceded from the Church of England, v/as purchased
on the 6th May, 1839, for £'^^5- The cost of alteration,
deed of settlement, &c., raised this amount to £588. The
Revs. Dr. Raffles, of Liverpool ; S. Luke, of Chester; and J.
Turner, of Knutsford, preached at the dedication ofthe build
ing on July 4th, 1839. In April, 1840, the Rev. John Earn-
shaw became the first minister of the church, — the first
Christian society consisting of ten members. We believe
that his appointment was the result of the exertions of Mr.
Ibbotson Walker, to whom also belongs the honour of found
ing and carrying on the Sunday school connected with the
church. It was then held in a room in New-street, and only
about 40 children attended. In 1844 the Rev. Flavel Sten-
ner became the second minister; and the first deacons were
chosen in August of that year. Mr. Stenner subsequently
resigned the charge, when it devolved on the Rev. John Wil
kinson, who in the May of the following year "in the youth
of his days " was summoned away by death.
The increase of the population and the growing impor
tance of the neighbourhood having rendered needful a larger
and more commodious place of worship, many genefous
friends aided in the erection of a new church, which is the

140 History of A Itrincham and Bowdon.
one now used by the Bowdon Downs Congregation, and which
was opened in June, 1848. In 1868 it was proposed to build
another chapel at an outlay of £7,000 ; but insuperable diffi
culties arising in the acquisition of a site, it was determined
to increase the accommodation with the means then at their
disposal, which was done at a cost of about ;^3,ooo. The
architecture of the enlargement was Gothic, of the early
perpendicular period, in conformity with the style which
prevailed in the rest of the building. The internal fittings
are of stained wood, the pews are open, and altogether it is
an exceedingly comfortable place of worship. The new
pulpit, which was put in at the time of the enlargement, is
most elaborately and richly carved, and the book rest is
supported by the figure of an angel with outspread wings.
A new organ by Jardine of Manchester was opened in the
same year, 1868, by the honorary organist, Mr. J. Mills. Re
ferring once more to the pastors, in April, 1849, the office
was accepted by the Rev. Henry Christopherson, from New
castle-upon-Tyne. During Mr. Christopherson's pastorate
the church increased both in numbers and energy, and it
was therefore with regret that the church and congregation
learnt from him that he had accepted the invitation to take
the oversight of New College Chapel, London. Mr. Christo
pherson bade farewell to his people at Christmas, 1856. In
May, 1857, the Rev. H. T. Robjohns, B.A., Western College,
Plymouth, accepted the pastorate. In March, 1861, Mr.
Robjohns resigned his charge, proceeding to Newcastle-upon-
Tyne. In the autumn of the year the choice of the church
was unanimously in favour of the Rev. A. J. Morris, of
Holloway; and it determined to welcome Mr. Morris by
clearing off the debt on the chapel and schools, which was
accordingly done. The pastorate of Mr. Morris was, unfor
tunately, of brief duration. He was succeeded by the Rev.
H. Griffith, a man of sound learning and erudition, who
resigned in 1875, after a pastorate of nearly 11 years. The
Rev. A. Mackennal, B.A., received a most unanimous call
and commenced his labours the first week in February, 1877.
His ministry has hitherto received general acceptance,

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 14I
The day and Sunday school had been carried on for nearly
a dozen years in the old chapel at the foot of the Downs,
which was long felt to be most unsuitable for the purpose,
the accommodation being wholly inadequate to the growth
of the population, and the room badly ventilated, small and
without class-rooms. It was therefore determined that new
schools should be built. After great difficulty a site was
secured in Oxford-road, Altrincham, which was then well-
nigh inaccessible ; and the splendid structure known as the
British School, in Oxford-road, was erected in i860, at a cost
of ^2,600, and was opened free of debt in January, 1861. For
a longtime the road to it was known as British School-road.
In June, 1868, the large class-room was added, with benches
for 250 men ; and a class for adults, quite unique in its pro
portions, has for some years been admirably conducted by
Mr. George Wood. Connected with this church, formerly
only partially, but now entirely, is the North Cheshire Rural
Mission, which, as its name implies, is carried on in the
country districts. It has branches at Broadheath, Baguley,
Heyhead, Mobberley, Partington, &c., and does good work
in places where spiritual destitution is found to prevail.
The British Schools were at first opened for preaching,
but this was discontinued, when the Rev. A. Dewar opened
the old chapel at the foot of the Downs. This may, strictly
speaking, be called the commencement of the Altrincham
Congregational Chapel. He was succeeded by the Rev. W.
B. Mac William. The desire for a more comfortable edifice
was soon felt. The old Wesleyan Chapel in Chapel-walk was
accordingly purchased from the Wesleyan body; and on
April loth, 1868, the Rev. C. Aylard was ordained to the
pastorate, which he still holds. Services have been recom
menced in the British Schools, conducted by the Rev. J.
Adamson. " Beautiful for situation " wrote the Psalmist of one of the
most sacred spots on earth. "Beautiful for situation," too,
are many of our own sacred places. Who can contemplate,
without admiration, the beautiful setting which many a little
village spire, peeping modestly out from the tufted trees,

142 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
gives to the English landscape ? This may be appropriately
applied to St. Margaret's. Few travellers as they are
whirled through the valley on the Dunham side, in that
reminder of an advanced civilization, the railway train, but
turn for a moment to look at that clear cut spire,
which appears to be embosomed in a forest of vegetation.
Few there are, as they have passed along the Dunham-road,
who have not had their progress arrested for even a brief
space by one of the most lovely pictures with which nature
has so lavishly blessed this beautiful land. It is one in
which pastoral and sylvan scenery are intermingled in one
huge panorama. Right before us, buried in the valley, is
Oldfield Hall, formerly the abode of perhaps one of the
oldest Altrincham families, and under whose roof more than
one of the members of the noble house of Booth have
breathed their last. A little to the right we try to make out
the ancient hall of Riddings, with its moated grange, sup
posed to have existed prior to the Conquest. Further away
we see the spire of St. John the Divine at Brooklands peer
ing above the surrounding trees, — again to the left, the
villas of Ashton-on-Mersey stud the ground, and the pretty
church of St. Mary Magdalene is distinctly seen. Away
again, and the Lancashire hills form a massive and appro
priate background. Seen on a summer's day, when the
meadows are pied with daisies, and nature has put on her
loveliest apparel, when the sun shines down, and by a con
centration of his rays produces those beautiful tints which
throw a glamour over hill and dale, it is one which a lover
of the picturesque dwells upon, and in its contemplation
discovers new beauties.
St. Margaret's church is certainly the most beautiful, both
as regards exterior and interior, to be found in the district.
Thirty years ago or more the Earl of Stamford and Warring
ton was desirous of having a church erected at Dunham
Massey. We believe the site originally chosen was in Race-
field, but this was subsequently changed and its present
position decided upon. It was contemplated at that time
that the church should be built of white brick, with ashlar

D.

J'

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 143
dressings, but before half the length of the foundations had
been put in the design was abandoned. Afterwards com
petitive designs were furnished by three London and three
Manchester architects. Mr. William Hayley, of Manches
ter, proved successful.
The church, which is estimated to have cost ^20,000, adjoins the turnpike-
road leading from Altrincham to Knutsford, and was consecrated on the 13th
June, 1853, by the Lord Bishop of Chester. The style is the perpendicular, and
prevailed in the fifteenth and the early part of the sixteenth century. The
extreme length is 130 feet, and the width, exclusive of transepts, 60 feet, and
accommodation is provided for about 700 persons. The plan is cruciform, and
comprises a lofty nave lighted from clerestory windows ; the north and south
aisles are lighted by three-light windows, the tracery of which is of different
designs ; and the chancel is lighted by nine windows, varying in size and
design. The exterior is of Yorkshire stone, from the neighbourhood of
Sheffield, with ashlar stone dressings from Hollington, and the stone used in
the interior is also from the same place. The roof of the nave is of oak open
framed, with carved ribs and hammer beams, dependent from which are
carved figures of angels. The spandrils are filled in with ti acery. The whole
of the internal fittings are of oak, and the pews have open ends. The Stam
ford chapel is on the south side, and it is lighted by two two-light vvindows,
and entered by a private door. A lofty tower and spire rise at the intersection
of the nave, transepts and chancel, from four moulded stone piers, to an
altitude of 210 feet. The spire has enriched flying buttresses, and is sur
mounted by a cross. At the east end there is a large seven-light window, with
embattled transoms and bold mullions. This window, which is filled with
stained glass, is 30 feet by 14 feet, and contains beautifully executed repre
sentations. In the upper division is the Saviour, in the centre of a group of
which St. John the Baptist, St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke, St. John the
Evangelist, and St. Peter are the chief figures. In the lower division St. Paul
is the centre figure, and round him are to be seen some ot the principal charac
ters of the old dispensation — Moses, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, and Malachi.
The west window is divided into five compartments, filled in with tracery, and
on the stained glass are depicted many of the prominent female characters of both
Old and New Testaments. In the upper division are figured Mary Magdalene,
Mary mother of James, Mary mother of Jesus, Salome, and Elizabeth. In the
lower division St. Margaret is in the centre, surrounded by Deborah, Ruth,
Esther, and Dorcas. Under this window is a large doorway, with square head
over a moulded arch. The spandrils are filled in with tracery, and finished with
crockets, and finial. The other entrance is by means of a porch on the south side.
The pulpit, reading desk, font,' and reredos are of Caen stone, and the tracery and
carving of all of them are finished in a most exquisite manner. The lectern is of
fine proportions, standing on four lions of iron. It has a massive twisted shaft
of brass, with a boss of iron, illuminated with vine leaves of polished brass ; the
head or desk part is of stained oak. The reredos is divided into seven parts,
answering to the seven light window above, each part has an enriched canopy, and

144 History of A Itrincham and Bowdon.
three of the centre compartments project from and rise above the others, and are
supported by richly traceried buttresses, with crockets and finials, the whole being
surmounted by an enriched cornice, and Tudor flower battlement. At each end
of this reredos is a niche, with rich canopies, crocketed pinnacles and finials, in
which are placed splendidly carved figures on pedestals. The panels of the
communion table are filled in with diapered carving in relief, consisting of
crosses, Tudor rose, fleur-de-lys, &c. The ceilings of the chancel and the Stam
ford chapel are divided into panels, with moulded ribs, and the tracery
in the chancel is elaborately characteristic of the style, having a large
boss in the centre compartment and paterze at the intersection of the
ribs. In the chancel are stained glass windows in memory of the
Rev. John Kingsley, first vicar of the parish of St. Margaret's, which were placed
there by the subscriptions of the congregation ; and with the surplus, augmented
to the necessary amount, the architectural beauties of the chancel were en
hanced by permanent decorations of a costly character. The aisles and the
chancel floors are laid with polished stone and black marble diamond dots ; and
the floor in front of the altar is paved with encaustic tiles of a chaste design.
The arrangements for lighting are novel, and have been perfected with strict
regard to the requirements of the style of the church. The standards for the
nave rise from the floor, with illuminated stems ; from these twisted shafts of
wrought polished brass support four branches enriched with hammered foliage ;
the branches again support groups of lights ; and above these round a central
stem is a corona of metal work, having a circlet of stars of lights. The stand
ards are arranged on each side of the nave, in advance of the piers, and all are
visible, so that they produce a vista of light of singularly beautiful effect,
in harmony with that architectural vista of nave and aisles for which the medise
val buildings are so remarkable. From the nave the eye is carried on to the
chancel, in which are two standards of larger proportion and richer detail,
rising from solid stone bases. The shafts have interlacing fretwork, picked out
with colour, and the branches are entwined with leaves of the passion flower
and buds formed of crystallines. When lighted, each standard presents a group
of 20 brilliant stars. In addition to the memorial windows already noticed,
others have been put in by Mr. Sidebotham, of Bowdon, in memory of his
father and mother; by the Rev. R. Hodgson, in memory of his mother,
Susan Ann Hodgson ; and a third by Charles Heaton Hinde, Esq., in grati
tude to God for restoration from a serious illness.
The tower contains a peal of ten bells, weighing upwards of six tons. The
tenor bell weighs nearly 28 cwt., and bears the following inscription : —
As Queen of queens, Victoria reigns;
I sit as Queen o'er music's strains.
And may her subjects loyal be
As mine ! we dwell in harmony.
The Earl of Stamford and Warrington, who is the patron of the living, for
the purpose of endowing the church with a permanent provision, in addition to
the pew rents, by an indenture dated March 30th, 1855, and made between him
ofthe first part. Her Majesty's Commissioners for building new churches ofthe
second part, and the Rev. George Heron, of Carrington, Samuel Holker Norris,

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 145
David Reynolds Davies, Legh Richmond, of Guilsborough Park, Northampton
shire, and the Rev. John Kingsley, of Dunham, of the third part, declared his
intention to provide £^0 per annum, to be secured upon a competent part of
the Earl's freehold estate in Cheshire ; and in satisfaction thereof, with the con
sent of the Commissioners, he had granted to those of the third part two
several clear rent charges or annual sums of ;^43 15s. and £^$, making together
;£'88 15s; and to provide for the repairs ofthe church a yearly sum of;^2o, he
had by the same indenture conveyed a clear yearly rent charge of ^21 i8s. 2d.
to the said persons. It was directed by the Commissioners that 200 sittings in
the church should continue for ever to be free sittings, subject to the appropria
tion of any part thereof, as the Lord Bishop, for the time being, should
legally direct.
The first Vicar of St. Margaret's, the Rev. John Kingsley,
died on the 13th Nov., 1869, at the age of 60. He came to
Bowdon in 1833 ^s curate to the Rev. W. H. G. Mann,
Vicar of Bowdon, which position he held for about 20 years.
On resigning in 1854 the parishioners, as a mark of well-
deserved respect, presented him with the handsome sum of
;f 1,500. The Earl of Stamford presented him with the liv
ing on the consecration of St. Margaret's, and for a period
of over 14 years he occupied this sphere. Through his efforts
the schools attached to St. Margaret's were established,
while he kept an immediate and vigilant supervision over the
Albert-street school, and that at Oldfield. He was one of
the leading spirits in connection with the Newtown night
school, and one of his last acts was to write a form of prayer
to be used in that school. His death was greatly lamented;
as in the course of a long and active life he had been greatly
beloved by all classes of society, to whom he had endeared
himself by his many good qualities. The Rev. R. Hodgson,
his successor, entered upon his duties in January, 1870, and
he has proved himself in an eminent degree well fitted to
discharge them satisfactorily to all concerned. His style of
preaching is at once clear and convincing. No one can fail
to be impressed by his sincerity and singleness of purpose.
There is a manliness about all he says and does which gains
for him universal respect. His private hospitality is only
exceeded by his open-handed charity in the poorer portions of
his parish ; and in this he is ably supported by his good lady
and a noble band of workers, who feel they have present
L

146 History of A Itrincham and Bowdon.
misery to deal with, and practical philanthropy to
display. St. John's Church, which is situated in Ashley Road,
was built for the working classes, and justly claims the
title of "the Poor Man's Church." The movement for its
erection took an active form in April, 1864, when an in
fluential committee of clergy and laity was appointed for
the purpose of carrying out the object in view. The site
was given by the Earl of Stamford and Warrington, and
had previously been a farmstead. The Senior Curate of
the Parish Church of Bowdon, the Rev. F. Wainwright,
M.A., was appointed its incumbent; and in 1865, while the
church was being built, services were held in the British
School, so as to collect a congregation from the district
around. The school was kindly lent by the trustees, and
was specially licensed by the Bishop of Chester for the
purpose. The church, which was designed by Mr. Medland Taylor,
of Manchester, is in the early English style of architecture.
It has a broad nave of five bays, with north and south
aisles, and north and south transepts. The seats are of
stained pitch pine, and there are 940 sittings, of which
470 in the body of the church are free. There is a large
gallery over the west entrance for the accommodation of
the Sunday scholars. The edifice externally is of free
stone, and the spire is a very handsome one.^ The total
cost, including the endowment, was about £7,500. Near
the church are erected National schools, and a substantial
parsonage ; and in Islington-street, Newtown, is an Infant
School, in which mission services are also conducted.
The boundaries of the parish are as follow : — Taking
Bowdon Station, which is entirely within the parish, as a
starting point, the boundary line travels up the middle of
the Downs for some distance, when it turns down St.
John's Road, and then up Delamer Road, and round by a
new road into Ashley Road, thus surrounding Albert
Square and Culcheth New Hall. It then follows the
middle of Ashley Road right through Peel Causeway and

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 147
over the Railway, till it turns aside at a stile and crosses
the fields into Dob Lane, which it follows up to Hale
Road. Then from the top of the hill it comes back by
the way of Hale Road, till it turns to the right by a road
and footpath leading to Hale Moss, opposite the end of
Broomfield Lane. On the Moss there are two stones set up
on purpose to mark the boundary line, which travels through
the middle of the Moss along the bank of a brook which
formerly ran into Moss Lane. From this last point the line
goes up Denmark-street,- and arrives again at the back of
the station, where it began, by crossing the Goose Green
Bridge. The circuit thus traced includes about 330 acres.
The antiquated structure, nearly facing the Ashley Road,
which had in the first place given the Congregationahsts
a local habitation, if not a name, was destined in 1867,
after the removal of the Altrincham congregation, to become
the temporary home of Presbyterianism, for which good
cause was shown by the residence of many Presbyterian
families at Bowdon, On the 25th January, 1869, the Rev.
W. T. Johnston, B.A., was ordained the first minister.
In the following year (1870) his congregation began to look
about for a site for a new church, which they secured in
Delamer road, and which is known to old Altrinchamites
as the " Radish field." The site was in every respect an
eligible one ; and the work of building, which was forth
with begun, was completed in 1872. The church, which
is an ornament to the neighbourhood, is in the Gothic
style of architecture, without any of the defects which are
usually associated with that style. There is a tower at
the north-west corner, 120 feet high. The interior has a
most comfortable appearance, and is well suited to the
wants of a congregation, which has assumed important
dimensions in the course of a few years. The total cost
of the church, with a spacious lecture hall adjoining, was
between ^^6,000 and ^^7,000.
In 1872, this old chapel was taken in hand by another
religious denomination (Baptist), which was introduced by
the Manchester and Salford Baptist Union. The first

148 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
pastor was the Rev. H. J. Betts, and 26 persons formed
the Church spiritual. Its constitution is " Baptist, with
open Communion," and the seats are free. Its present
minister is the Rev. W. S. Llewellyn, who is distinguished
by great earnestness and practical piety. In 1878, the
number of members having increased to nearly 100, the
foundation stones of a new chapel and schools, to be erected
in Hale-road from the designs of Mr. William Owen, a
rising young architect, were laid. The building will be
Italian in character, and will afford accommodation for
nearly 500 persons.
The Roman Catholic Chapel bf St. Vincent de Paul
is a small Gothic building, in New-street, and will seat
nearly 400 people. There are day schools in connection
with it. For many years the Rev. H. Alcock laboured
most assiduously, but ultimately had to retire in consequence
of failing health. He was succeeded by the Rev. James
O'Brien. The only other important dissenting body is that of
the Primitive Methodists, who for several years worshipped
in the loft over a stable in Newtown. By the exercise of
much self-denial and energy, they erected the neat little
chapel in Oxford-road, and have now a resident minister,
the Rev. J. Collins.

CHAPTER XIII.
More looks into old hooks — Visit of strolling players — Disappearance
of town documents — Appointment of town's attorney — Wages
a century ago — Disturbances in Altrincham — Another Altrincham
industry — The fire engine — The old handcuffs — A jury list —
The expenses of the great well — Altrincham highways indicted —
Hard times ; a display of public spirit — The select vestry —
Extracts from the hooks ; a stray parcel of gloves — How the
town got a sun dial — Substitutes for the Militia — Disrespect for
proclamations — A worthy overseer — Dread of hydrophobia, &c.
II^E have looked at Altrincham in nearly all its
aspects — social, historical, and romantic. We will
now deal briefly with some of the more domestic phases
of its existence as a country town. The general
minute book available for this purpose commences in June,
1795. This appears to be the first kept by the authorities,
but there is some little doubt existing owing to the fact
that a company of strolling players once visited the town.
They were allowed to place the boxes containing their
" properties " in the little building which then served as a
courthouse. When they departed they took along with them
a few of the boxes containing the town accounts, to the
extreme regret of those who had been entrusted with their
safe keeping. That the minute book is the first may be
inferred from the fact that one of the entries at the
opening meeting, records " that a town's meeting be held

150 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
in the Court house till further orders, at ten o'clock in the
forenoon of the first Tuesday in every month, without any
further or any notice." At the succeeding monthly meeting,
the town resolved to indulge in the luxury of a lawyer,
or rather firm of lawyers ; but it appeared afraid of showing
its full blown dignity in perfection, for it states " that
when an attorney is necessary to be employed by the
overseer, that Messrs. Isaac and George Worthington be
employed for Altrincham, when they will undertake to be
so employed." There was then no resident magistrate, and
the overseer had often to journey to Toft and Knutsford
in order to lay informations, ask advice, and get confirma
tion of rates ; or as they are invariably called in the books,
" leys." Soon afterwards, we find a prospect of employ
ment for the Messrs. Worthington. It was "ordered that
as Matthew Davies, though he receives eight shillings a week
wages, refuses to pay one and sixpence towards his wife
and child's support, that the overseer do apply to the
magistrates to compel him to pay the above weekly sum,
or that he be dealt with according to law." At the same
meeting, it was " ordered that ten shillings be paid to
Thomas Slater, for his loss of rent by the house late held
by Wm. Holt standing empty." Those must, indeed, have
been halcyon days for the landlords, and no doubt a few
in our degenerate age will, in this respect, sigh for a return
of " the good old times."
Riots, as minor disturbances were termed, were not
frequent, but the manner in which Saturday night was
sometimes spent is illustrated by the fact that informa
tions were ordered to be lodged before " John Leigh, Esq.,
of Oughtrington, against William Johnson, of Altrincham,
turner, Charles Rowbottom, of Altrincham, shoemaker,
William Royle, of Altrincham, gardener, Joseph Warbur
ton, of Timperley, labourer, Newton Coppock, of Altrinc
ham, labourer, and John Ogden, of Bollington, wool
comber, for rioting and fighting in ye public street in
Altrincham, on Saturday, the 30th day of April last,
(1796) and that the constables do' proceed accordingly."

History of Altrincham and Boxvdon. 151
In the minute book the word " chairmaker " is crossed
out after Johnson's name, and it may be inferred from
this that chairmaking probably formed an Altrincham in
dustry at that period. The prosecution of these men was
not undertaken without due deliberation ; and Mr. Leigh,
of Oughtrington, advised that they be proceeded against,
and the constables were directed to take steps accordingly.
As a further warning, it was ordered that " advertisements
be printed making public this resolution, that others may
be deterred from offending in like manner." The hand
cuffs, however, do not appear to have been called into
frequent requisition, but with a view to eventualities, the
constables were instructed to have them examined " by a
whitesmith, and if they can be properly repaired to get
them so repaired — if not the constables are ordered to
purchase a new pair of handcuffs." The overseers had
not then an assistant who could relieve them of the
drudgery of their duties, and at times much difficulty was
experienced in securing a proper audit of the accounts.
The salary usually allowed was ^20, but in some instances
as much as £25 was paid. There was a fire engine in
the town in 1798, but no regular brigade of firemen. It
was ordered to be worked four times a year, and five
shillings was allowed each time to get men to assist in
working it. At this period we come across a list (the
only one given) of persons qualified to serve on juries in
the township of Altrincham, October ist, 1798, as returned
by Joshua Ashcroft and Walter Watson, constables. It
will form an interesting matter for comparison at the pre
sent time : —
William Rigby, Esq. Robert Twamlow
John Clough Samuel Haslara
Thomas Hancock Josiah Garner
Peter Adshead John Burgess
J. Brundrett Oswd. Leicester
Wm. Pearson Joseph Goulden
John Darbyshire Samuel Hardy
Is. Grantham Wm. Pownall
John Athertoq Jos. Burgess

152 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
John Brierley George Lupton
Willm. Ashley Wm. Grantham
Jams. Brownell Aaron Brundrett
Jams. Cluloe Thomas Ashley
John Austin John Newall
Wm. Smith Isaac Birch
Vernon Poole Michl. Lupton
Robt. Mills Jams. Walthew
Timothy Brownell Frederick Boardman
Thos. Royle John Holden
Wm. Howard James Gratrix
Samuel Howard Peter Bayley
Geo. Eccles Samuel Lucas
Thomas Slater David Gatley
James Broom Willm. Seddon
Samuel Royle James Potter
For a long period subsequently there appears to have
been nothing but routine business transacted at the town's
meetings; but in the year 1800 the constables were ordered
to " cause three painted boards to deter vagrants from
harbouring in the town, to be fixed upon John Burgess's
house, John Pickstone's house, and the Unicorn Stables,
and that the constables do search and examine the lodging-
houses, and use their best endeavours to prevent their
harbouring in the town." This had only a temporary
effect, and on several occasions various measures were
devised for ridding the town of the vagrant nuisance, and
lodging-house keepers were threatened with indictment if
they offended. The deputy constables were empowered
where necessary to relieve vagrants provided with passes,
prevent them acquiring settlement, or take them before
the magistrates as they might deem necessary. At a later
period, watchmen paraded the streets in the day time to
prevent these unwelcome strangers from coming into the
town. The meetings were convened by the various officials.
For instance, if the constables required any authority to
take proceedings, they requested the bellman to convene
a meeting, and so with the overseers. It is seldom we
find the surveyors of highways doing this, but it was
obvious that at times the inhabitants were required to
" mend their ways." At a town's meeting held in July,

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 153
1802, it was "resolved that the surveyors be desired to
purchase stones to pave the road to Ashley and the Long
Lane as far as lies in Altrincham division, and that they
procure a ley of sixpence in the pound to be allowed at a
privy sessions, and to be assessed on ye inhabitants and
owners and occupiers of land in Altrincham for the pur
chasing stones for such paving, and that when the said
ley is expended, a further ley of threepence in the pound
be assessed and got allowed, and that the remainder of the
money wanted for the above purpose be borrowed on a
note, to be signed by some of the principal inhabitants of
Altrincham, which shall be repaid out of the next money
raised for the repairs of the highways." It took upwards
of four years to do the work, and it must have been much
more expensive than at first contemplated, several rates
having to be obtained for that purpose. The accounts of
the surveyor at this period contain a list of payments
"respecting the great well." This was situated in Well
Lane, (now Victoria Street), at the corner of Springfield
Road, and was a spring of running water, clear as crystal,
and from this the inhabitants derived the greatest portion
of their supply, although there were two or three other
wells in different parts of the town. The " great well "
was, however, of some importance, as the amount paid for
its repairs to vario"us parties at one time was £13 os. 4d.
The lands of the poor house were at this time pro
ductive; and Mr. Leicester, as tiustee, having a balance
in his hands " of ;^i6, or thereabouts," it was resolved
that he be desired to pay the same to Mr. Robert Twem-
low, the overseer, for the use of the poor of Altrincham.
In the course of the next few years the entries of dis
turbances in the town are more frequent, and in some cases
the constables were assaulted. The offenders were in
variably ordered to be indicted, after the advice of a
magistrate had been sought thereon. Several cases were
compromised on their paying certain amounts ; entering
into recognizances to keep the peace for stated periods,
and signing acknowledgments to be "advertised in the

154 History of Altrincham and Bowdon,
public papers." the latter fact indicating that nearly ninety
years ago, the press was beginning to be looked upon as
a power in the land. Something out of the ordinary
course of things occurred in June, 1814, when a public
meeting was summoned in hot haste, with the following
result :¦-
" Whereas, several persons made a great noise and dis
turbance in the town last night, and in several instances
did considerable mischief, ordered that the constables do
use their best exertions to discover who the parties were,
and that they do prosecute them at the expense of the
town in case sufficient evidence can be obtained ; and
the constables are hereby authorized to give a reward of
five guineas to any person or persons who will come^
forward to give evidence that shall lead to a conviction
of the offenders — it being understood that such reward
shall be in lieu of that which has been offered by Mr.
Salmon and Mr. Lupton this day."
It was just probable that this was the outcome of a
drunken frolic in which the participators went much
further than they intended. There does not appear to be
any paj'ment of any reward made, so that the perpetrators
of the mi.schief escaped scot free.
In 1815 a presentment was made at the Quarter Sessions
on the shocking state of the roads in .\ltrincham. A largely
attended town's meeting directed the Surveyor to appear
and submit to the presentment, and " that he request
the attendance of two of the magistrates to view the roads
and to approve of the mode to be taken for their amend
ment, and that Mr. Barratt, Mr. Hardey, Mr. Gratrix, Mr.
Hugo Worthington, and Mr. Isaac Harrop, with the sur
veyor, be appointed a committee to meet the magistrates
and to advise on the best mode to be taken for the repair
of the said roads," &c. This would seem to imply an ex
haustion on the part of the town which it has not probably
experienced since. Taxes of all descriptions were oppressive,
as also were the rates levied for the relief of the poor.
The succeeding winter was " a hard one," and a meeting

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 155
was specially called in December, 1816, to consider the
position of affairs. Occasionally it had been found necessary
to subscribe for periods of scarcity. The Rev. Oswald
Leicester, minister of St. George's Chapel, as it was then
termed, presided, and the first resolution affirmed "that
the pressure of the times renders it necessary that relief
should be extended to the resident poor within the town
ship of Altrincham, in addition to the usual payments
from the poor rates." The second resolution gave it as
the opinion of the meeting that the best mode of affording
such relief would be to provide as much work as possible
for such of the poor as were out of employ, " and also by
purchasing provisions out of a fund to be raised by public
subscription, and selling the same to the aforesaid poor at
a reduced price, care being taken in avoiding as much as
may be those articles of food which are the dearest."
Other resolutions provided for the appointment of a com
mittee to superintend the raising and distribution of
subscriptions, for the employment of the poor "in opening
the drains and making good the roads on Hale Moss,"
and in the repairing of the highways, and each individual
in the town was recommended " to create as much em
ployment for the labouring poor as possible." Four years
afterwards the canal was frozen over, and on that occasion,
as the poor could not pay the high price at which coals
were sold which were carted from the pits, the Overseer
was authorized to purchase such coals as might be neces
sary, and to sell them to the poor "at the price of eight-
pence per hundredweight, taking care that no family do
have more than two hundred at one time or within the
same week, unless under special circumstances." It will be
seen from this that there was no lack of public spirit in
the town.
Although at times the authorities having the manage
ment of affairs had to be indicted, or threatened with
indictment, for not having the footpaths kept in proper
repair, there are evidences all through the book of a de
sire for progress and improvement. Considering the diffi-

156 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.

rr-rrsr-r^E

culties under which they laboured, it is not be wondered
at that progress was slow. With a small population the
burthen thrown on the few was heavy, and often the funds
raised by the leys proved inadequate for attaining the
object in view. The discretion allowed the officials was
such as could not always admit of being wisely exercised,
and for some years prior to the formation of a Select
Vestry for dealing with the poor, a special committee was
appointed to superintend the overseer, investigate his
accounts, and to regulate the relief given to the poor.
The overseers were ordered to make up their accounts
quarterly and lay them before the committee, which was
empowered to publish the names of all persons receiving
relief in such manner as might be deemed proper. This
was only the prelude to a more regularly constituted body,
a Select Vestry, alluded to in the next chapter, which was
formed in 1822. Their accounts were settled at different
town's meetings. The town progressed to such a degree
in the course of a few years that it was enabled to engage
a qualified man as surveyor, and the salary of the deputy
constable was made up to £30, out of which he had fo
pay an assistant. The latter portion of the book is taken
up almost entirely by records of the proceedings of the
Select Vestry, but there are scattered up and down
characteristic entries which will be read with interest : —
"7th June, 1796. Ordered that the overseer of the poor
with John Burgess's assistance do immediately take an
exact inventory of a parcel of gloves, &c., directed for
the Overseer of Altrincham, and this day produced to the
meeting, and that the overseer do take care thereof until
he receives further directions from a town's meeting."
" 6th December, 1796. Ordered that the overseer do ad
vertise the parcel of gloves in his hands suppos'd to be
the property of Mr. Thomas Taylor, and if not owned,
that he dispose of them for the town's use."
"23rd July, 1797. Ordered that Aaron Brundrett be directed
to sell a quantity of gloves now in his hands, supposed
to belong to Thomas Taylor, now in the poor house, and

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 157
that he place the produce to the credit of ye town in
his accounts."
" 29th April, t8o2. Ordered that James Potter having in
his hands as a former constable i6s. id., he do pay over
ye same to the overseer of the poor. — Ordered that as
the late constables have applied to John Leigh, Esq.,
respecting their accounts, that Mr. Leicester, Mr. Hardey
and Mr. Burgess be requested to wait on Mr. Leigh to
state what they know respecting their accounts, and do
get Mr. Leigh to settle the same. — Ordered that in future
the constables do not collect money by a ley, but that
orders be made at town's meetings upon the overseer
for what money may be proper for the constables."
" 7th June, 1803. Resolved that the constables be directed
to take the necessary steps to apprehend any person who
may be guilty of tearing or pulling from the Court House
any proclamations or papers affixed thereto by or by order
of the constables."
" 2ist April, 1807. Resolved that the thanks of the meet
ing be given to Mr. Robert Twemlow for his essential
services to the township as overseer of the poor for four
years past, and that he be requested to instruct Thomas
Bradbury in the said office, and that Thomas Bradbury
be allowed for the ensuing year the salary of ten pounds,
and that it shall depend upon his activity and good con
duct in his office, whether he shall be allowed a further
sum of five pounds or not, and that Mr. Twemlow is not
to have any salary."
" 8th June, 1813. The overseers having laid before this
meeting the accounts of the expenses of providing two
substitutes in the Cheshire militia in the place of Ballan-
tine and Parker, to whose families large sums were pay
able weekly by this township, which expenses and the
bounty paid to the substitutes amount to ninety-one
pounds and eightpence, towards which Mr. Twemlow
has advanced the sum of ^79 2s. 8d., ordered that the
overseers be allowed the said expenses in his accounts,
and that he do repay to Mr. Twemlow the money ad-

158 History- of Altrincham and Bowdon.
vanced by him with interest thereon until the same shall
be repaid."
" 15th July, 1813. John Boardman having proposed to make
a new sundial on the Court House upon a mahogany
inchboard for two pounds ten shillings, and to be in
spected when done by any competent judge, and if
defective in any respect, nothing to be paid for it,
ordered that John Boardman's proposal be accepted."
"31st January, 1814. It appearing that one man is wanted
for this town in the Royal Congleton Regiment of Local
Militia, ordered that the constable do provide a substitute,
provided one can be obtained, for two guineas, which the
overseer is hereby directed to pay."
" 1816. Agreed at a public town's meeting held this ninth
day of December, 1816, in the Court House, Altrincham
. . . that such persons within the said township, who
are liable to be balloted for to-morrow, to serve in the
militia, and who shall subscribe ten shillings a piece,
to be deposited in the hands of Mr. William Ashley, to
be applied by him, with the assistance of Mr. Nathaniel
Pass, in hiring substitutes for such of the said sub
scribers of ten shillings a piece, as may then be balloted,
shall be freed from any further sums on that account ;
and that the surplus money, if any, wanted to hire such
substitutes of ten shillings a piece shall be paid by the
overseers of the poor, and be allov/ed by them in their
accounts."
" 5th February, 1822. It having been stated to this meet
ing that the surveyors of the highways are repairing
with hard material the back lane leading from the
Navigation Inn to Jeremy's o' th' Brook, ordered that the
surveyors are hereby instructed not to proceed in re
pairing that road with hard materials."
" 23rd April, 1822. It is the unanimous opinion of this
meeting that it is expedient to appoint a select vestry
for managing the concerns of the poor of this township,
pursuant to the provisions of the 59th George the Third,
chapter 12."

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 159
" i8th May, 1824. ^t a public meeting of the inhabitants
of the township of Altrincham, held in the Court House,
for the purpose of considering the best means of putting
a stop to the alarming increase of mad dogs in this
neighbourhood, and which meeting was convened by public
notices affixed upon public places within the town, and
also by proclamation by the bellman ....
resolved that in the opinion of this meeting that all
dogs kept by the inhabitants of Altrincham should not
be permitted to go at large, but kept confined within
the buildings or yards of the owners until the first
September next, and that all dogs found at large after
due notice subsequent to this day and until first Sep
tember next should be destroyed,
There are two other volumes of minute books, one of
which is taken up entirely by the proceedings of the
Select Vestry, and the other by the operations of the In
spectors under the Lighting and Watching Act, both of
which will be found referred to in the next, and concluding
chapter.

CHAPTER XIV.
Description of Altrincham and Bowdon 50 years ago — The old
Market Place; its ancient cross, lock-ups, and star chamber —
Higher Town hoys v. those of Lower Town — The town field — An
Altrincham Carnival — The loyalty of the town — The first Altrinc
ham undertaker — Altrincham woolcombers and their Bishop Blaize
festival — Bowdon bull baiters, and Altrincham cockfighters — Salt
works at Dunham — The destruction of small birds — The church
wardens and their duties — Formation of the Altrincham Poor Law
Union; the old workhouse and its management — Cutting of the
Bowdon line — Lloyd's Hospital — Introduction of coal gas into
Altrincham — Formation of the Gas Company; negotiations for the
purchase of the works and their results — Altrincham and Bowdon
Literary Institution ; the Altrincham and Bowdon Local Boards
— Concluding remarks.
|HIS chapter, as it brings us down to the present
time, may be appropriately opened with a sketch
of Altrincham and Bowdon half a century ago. The reader
will therefore take a walk with us in imagination, while
some of their peculiarities are described. Meeting, say,
in the old Market Place, we find that it is called the Market
Place still, though most of its landmarks have disappeared.
In the centre formerly stood a small " public," known to
posterity aa the Roundabout House ; and almost under its
shadow were the old lockups, or dungeon, through the
barred windows of which the prisoners confined therein
could be seen. These unfortunates were objects of great
curiosity to the children, who, with bated breath and

u

ID

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. i6i
timid mien, peered in at them on their way to school ;
while to their intimate friends they were the objects of
much tender solicitude, as they frequently received, through
the medium of pipes and straws, surreptitious supplies of
beverages, which were supposed to lighten the gloom of
their prison house, and raise their spirits for the hour of
trial. Those more favoured by wealth and position, who
might by mischance come within the clutches of the local
Dogberry, could, by the judicious bestowal of a small sum,
avail themselves of the privileges of the " star chamber,"
which was an upstairs room in an adjacent public-house,
and where they could have the creature comforts they
required. Usually, the zealous constable removed the
clothes of the prisoners while confined in the " star
chamber;" but they in some cases have been known to
effect their escape in the garb which nature provided for
man in his state of innocency, to the great consternation
of the not overwatchful gaoler. Near the lockups were
the stocks, an old form of punishment which might be
revived to advantage in some cases in the present day ; and
near this again was the ancient Market Cross, which was
approached by five or six stone steps, similar to those
in the other market towns of Cheshire. This cross stood
for about lOO years after having been rebuilt and made
new in 1730, by order of the Right Hon. George, Earl of
Warrington, who gave five pounds towards this object.
On pain of a fine of 3s. 4d., all sellers of cheese and butter
were compelled to bring their produce to the Cross before
selling, and no shopkeeper or forestaller was, in any instance,
to buy any in his or her shop, and not at the Cross before
two o'clock in the day, when the townsfolk had supplied their
wants. Shopkeepers have been fined for breaches of this
regulation, and others ordered to be indicted at the sessions.
But roundabout house, lockups, stocks, and cross are all
gone. The old lockups were succeeded by a more secure
building, in George-street (now used as a meeting house)
which, in its turn, gave place to the more convenient
and conspicuous edifice in Dunham-road. M

i62 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
Church-street took its name from the fact of St. George's
Church being built in the vicinity ; and a little way down
were the Town Fields. These fields were then more appro
priately named, as they were used for a variety of purposes.
Here the youthful sons of Altrincham met to settle their
little differences. They were divided into two factions —
Higher Town boys and Lower Town boys — and they were
animated with deadly animosity, the battles royal which
often ensued being long and loudly contested. It was in the
immediate neighbourhood, too, some 60 or 70 years ago,
that an outburst of loyalty worthy of the good old town took
place. It occurred at a time when Wellington had driven
the French out of the Peninsula, and Napoleon had been
overthrown by the allies at the battle of Leipsic. A town's
meeting was called, and it was the unanimous opinion
that a—
General rejoicing should take place in consequence of the recent glorious news
and the present state of public affairs, and at the adjournment of this meeting it
be considered what mode shall be adopted for that purpose, so as to give the
most general joy and satisfaction.
At the adjournment it was decided that —
A subscription be opened for a bon-fire and fireworks, on the evening of Mon
day next, in the Bowling Green field ; and that Mr. Race, Mr. Collier, Mr. Red
dish, and Mr. Barratt be requested to undertake the management of them, with
the assistance of the constables ; and that the bon-fire be Ughted at five o'clock
in the evening and be extinguished at ten o'clock, and that the fireworks begin
at seven o'clock.
That a public dinner be held at the Bowling Green Inn, on Monday next, at
two o'clock, for which tickets shall be taken at 12s. each, on or before Saturday
next, and that Mr. Race, Mr. Collier, Mr. Reddish, and Mr. Barratt, be re
quested to undertake the management ofthe dinner.
That a subscription be now opened for the purposes aforesaid (exclusive of
the dinner), and be paid to Mr. Barratt, with whom the paper shall be left for
further subscriptions.
That the Rev. Oswald Leicester be requested to take the chair at the dinner.
The town was justly entitled to celebrate this red-letter
epoch in our country's history in a manner befitting the
occasion. It had always done its duty loyally. So
early as 1796 we find the inhabitants meeting in pursuance
of an Act of Parliament for "raising a certain number of

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 163
men in the several counties in England for the service of His
Majesty's army ahd navy." Altrincham had to provide,
jointly with Agden, three men ; and it was decided that a
general subscription should be entered into for the relief of
any poor man who might be drawn in the ballot, the balance
required being paid out of the town's rates. Any person not
entering the subscription was not entitled to any rehef. In
1803, seven men were required, "five and a half" from Altrin
cham and "one and a half" from Ashley. Five men were hired
at a cost of £25 i8s. 6d. each, and two by John Mills and
John Barratt at a cost of ;£"2i los. each. Towards the total
amount, Ashley paid ^36 19s. lo^d., John Mills and
John Barratt ^43, and Altrincham the balance. In some
towns each person had to find a substitute out of his own
purse, or go to the wars himself ; so that in this town a
very sensible course was adopted whereby the rich came
to the aid of their less favoured brethren. The lieges
of Altrincham thoroughly enjoyed themselves on the
occasion. An old inhabitant now, but a boy then,
remembers the ends of several barrels being knocked in, in
order that the beer might the more readily be got at, and
become the means of diffusing "general joy and satisfaction."
The Bowling Green has long since been converted into a
private dwelling.
Returning to the town proper, the visitor would have
looked for Stamford-street in vain. The site was covered
with gardens. A short cut into Lower Town was effected
by means of a narrow roadway near, known as the
"Hollow Bonk" or Bank; but the thoroughfare was by
Windy harbour, (afterwards called King-street, then High-
street, finally Market-street,) and down Shaw's-lane. In
those days news had to be carried by post chaise, and it was
no uncommon thing for the shafts of some rapidly driven
vehicle to be sent into the door of one of the large mansions in
Market-street in the attempt to get into Church-street. It
was not until a fatal accident occurred that the more direct
route into Dunham-road was made by Brooks's Bank.
Persuing our way through the " narrows " and down Shaw's-

164 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
lane we arrive in George-street, then a cobble or kidney
paved length, containing a number of thatched cottages and
two or three farm houses. What is now Moss-lane was then
styled Ham-lane. Lower down was Well-street, so called
from a large well which was situated near the Literary
Institution, and from which the inhabitants pumped a
portion of their daily supply of water. The Malt Shovels
Inn was a barn, and the not very salubrious region of
Police-street is still familiarly known as back o'th' barn.
Retracing our steps into George-street, we pass Beggar's
Square, which consisted of one or two neat-looking white
washed cottages. A little higher up was a farm house, the
occupier of which has some claim to the notice of posterity.
He was named Michael Drinkwater, and may fairly be set
on a pedestal of his own as the first Altrincham undertaker !
He had three horses — Bobby, Mettle, and Boxer, and he
very generously gave the services, when required, of one of
these valuable quadrupeds to draw the parish hearse, the
only one which the town possessed — to Bowdon. " Goose
Green," as the name will imply, was formerly the assembling
place for numerous flocks of these toothsome creatures, which
were allowed to roam at large on Hale Moss, and the feeding
of which formed a very profitable branch of business to
several of the inhabitants.
The mention of business leads us to digress a little to
describe a custom once kept up in Altrincham, but which,
like many others, has long since died out. This is the festival
of St. Blaise, or more properly Blasius, and it will enable us
to realize to some extent the meaning of the phrase we meet
with in directories that "Altrincham formerly enjoyed a con
siderable trade in woollen yarn." St. Blasius was a bishop of
Sebaste, in Armenia, and suffered martyrdom a.d. 316.
He is the patron saint of the craft of woolcombers, and his
name was once considered potent in curing sore throats.
There were a large number of woolcombers in Altrincham,
some of the masters employing as many as 30 men, and the
Bishop Blaise festival was often celebrated with great splen
dour. The procession was headed by a band of music, and.

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 165
surrounded by guards, were a King and Queen, Jason, and
the princess Medea, the principal figure being the Bishop
himself, furnished with a pastoral crook, and attended by his
chaplain. Following these were shepherds, shepherdesses,
swains attired in bright green, and woolcombers wearing
old-fashioned and full-flowing wigs of combed wool. At
some convenient point, a piece written for the occasion was
recited to the following effect : —
Hail to the day, whose kind auspicious rays.
Deigned first to smile on famous Bishop Blaize !
To the great author of our combing trade
This day's devoted and due honours paid
To him whose fame Britain's isle resounds, —
To him whose goodness to the poor abounds.
Long shall his name in British annals shine.
And grateful ages offer at his shrine !
By this, our trade, are thousands daily fed.
By it supplied with means to earn their bread.
In various forms our trade its work imparts ;
In different methods and by different arts
Prevents from starving, indigents distressed ;
As combers, spinners, weavers and the rest.
We boast no gems, nor costly garments vain,
Borrowed from India or the coast of Spain ;
Our native soil with wool our trade supplies,
While foreign countries envy us the prize.
No foreign broil our common good annoys.
Our country's product all our art employs ;
Our fleecy flocks abound in every vale.
Our bleating lambs proclaim the joyful tale.
So let not Spain with us attempt to vie.
Nor India's wealth pretend to soar so high ;
Nor Jason pride him in his Colchian spoil.
By hardship gain'd and enterprising toil ;
Since Britons all with ease attain the prize,
And every hill resounds with golden cries.
To celebrate our founder's great renown
Our shepherd and our shepherdess we crown ;
For England's commerce, and for George's sway,
Each loyal subject give a loud Huzza I
Bishop Blaise is remembered by few, and machinery has
superseded hand combing, and has long had the best ofthe
race. Having disposed of our friends the woolcombers, we pass on.

i66 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
and leaving Goose Green come to the Cock Ring near to
Denmark-street, where on Shrove Tuesday and at Easter
the people of Altrincham "enjoyed" the game of cock fight
ing. Pinfold Brow is now Lloyd-street ; and Ashley-road was
but a lane from which an uninterrupted view of the country
to Hale Carr could be obtained. At the foot of the Downs
was an old white house surrounded by a large garden, called
the Dog Kennels, where a pack of harriers was kept. By
way of the Downs, where the first houses were built (near
the entrance to New-street,) by Manchester merchants, who
were not slow to discover the advantages of this suburban
retreat, we pass Turf-lane, now St. Margaret's-road, and
reach the aristocratic Firs, then familiarly known as "Bury-
ing-lane," with its projecting trees forming an umbrageous
avenue on either side, through which the old church of
Bowdon could be seen in the distance. Up this roadway,
which a cart could scarcely pass over, once rumbled the old
stage coach, the sand trickled down its sides, and the chil
dren from the town resorted thither for the purpose of
gathering the blackberries, which grew in tempting pro
fusion in the thick hedgerows. One or two of its splendid fir
trees still remain, but their gradual disappearance and the
more modernised style which prevails has robbed what was
once a lovely picture of its arcadian simplicity.
In a field near the Firs races were held at Wakes time, in
which women took an active part. A common prize was a
smock or shift, and in a programme of Bowdon Wakes pub
lished in the early part of the century there occurred the fol
lowing : — " The same day a race for a good holland smock by
ladies of all ages,the secoiid best to have a handsome satin rib
bon. No lady will be allowed to strip any further than the smock
before starting." There must surely have been a good deal of
competition to have rendered such a rule necessary, to say
the least of it. While cock fighting was congenial to Altrin
cham, bull baiting was the recognized pastime at Bowdon.
The noble tree which up to a few years ago stood in front of
the Griffin Inn, has at times had its branches crowded with
venturesome spectators, who gazed with great delight on the

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 167
scene below. There, tied to a stake, was the poor animal,
and forming a circle round it were men with ferocious bull
dogs, which were let loose upon it. The dog which oftenest
" pinned" the bull, that is gripped it until it went down on
its knees bellowing with agony, was awarded the palm of
victory — a brass collar. It was owing to the efforts of one of
Bowdon's good Vicars, the Rev. Jas. T. Law, that the
brutal custom was abolished.
There will be little difficulty in distinguishing Higher from
Lower Bowdon ; and Stamford-road is still well known as
Sandy-lane ; but few will remember Heald or Yeald Com
mon, near Heald-road, with a sheet of water in the centre,
while fewer still will recognize Bowdon Moss, as being
only a stone's throw of the splendid College near Langham-
road, and where within a few years many specimens of bog
oak have been found. These specimens are in an excellent
state of preservation, and the possessor of a quantity, Mr. Eli
Morgan, of Stamford Cottage, had it made up into two neat
hall chairs, which were shown at one of the exhibitions of
works of art, &c. held in Altrincham. Rose Hill was then
a play-ground for the Bowdon children, and Richmond Hill
was unknown. Having made a fair circuit, which will
enable the reader to form an idea of the rustic appearance
of the place at that period, we proceed to deal with other
matters associated with its rise and progress.
Salt works once existed at Dunham Massey, where
there is probably one of those isolated springs of brine
which are to be found in some formations in different parts
of the country, and which, so far as the brine is concerned,
is as strong as that at Northwich or Winsford. Those who
know the dreary aspect imparted to the face of nature by the
establishment of these works, leaving out of the question the
damage to property by subsidence, will scarcely crave for
active operations in this district.
This period, too, was the one when farmers looked upon
small birds as determined enemies to their crops : and the
small boys of the place received a large amount in the way
of head money, the constable awarding certain sums for

i68 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
sparrows and for eggs. Sometimes this was done by proxy,
as at one of the public town's meetings,- —
It was ordered that the constables do pay out of the constable rates, such
sums of money as may be paid by Mr. Leicester for sparrows killed and brought
to him, and that he be aUowed to pay such sums for sparrows as he may think
proper and necessary.
While the small boys were busy with the birds, the
churchwardens on Sundays were busy with the boys, or
rather with the loiterers, who preferred the public-house to
the church. These functionaries were often seen with their
staves of office to issue from the sacred fold, and drive any
wandering sheep in. For this purpose they scrupulously
searched the pubHc-houses, and there are cynics in the pre
sent day mean enough to insinuate that this was not their
only object.
The Altrincham Union for Poor Law purposes was formed
in 1835. For a long time prior to this attempts had been
made to deal with the constantly increasing pauperism of
the country. The system of out-door relief had led to oppres
sive poor rates. For Altrincham the workhouse was situ
ated at Broadheath, having been built in 1756. This was
carried on for a great number of years under the direction
of trustees, although the inhabitants in public meeting
appeared to influence their course of procedure to a great
extent. At times there were sinister rumours as to its
management, and on one occasion several gentlemen were
appointed to make an investigation. They reported "that
the woman who acts as governess says she is well acquainted
with every article received into the house. She says all in
the house have great plenty of what is good and useful, they
have butchers' meat three times a week ; that which was in
the house was very good, and so also was the butter. The
bread is very good, and the gentlemen so appointed are fully
satisfied that the provisions are good and sufficient." In
1822 a Select Vestry was formed in Altrincham, and the
administration of the Poor Law progressed another stage. In
their first report the members express considerable satisfac
tion that they have reduced the amount paid in relief. They

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. i6g
indulge in a hope that a still further reduction will be made,
and that the sentiments of honest independence by which
the poor of this country were once characterized will
gradually revive amongst them; and "that their own
exertions, aided by the occasional advice and assistance
of their richer neighbours " (a nice way of putting a pauper
izing principle) " will always remain their surest support in
the hour of distress and sickness." This pleasant piece of
moonshine is concluded by an appeal to the members of the
Select Vestry to attend in large numbers for the future. In
the course of the following year the business of manufactur
ing was commenced at the workhouse at Broadheath, when
five looms were started, and the net earnings which
accrued in this way and the labour of one of the inmates
reached the sum of ^^20 15s. in about five months. " In a
word," continues the report (this was the second issued), "the
workhouse promises under good management to be a source
of profit to the township ; and as none of the inmates who
are capable of work are suffered to be idle, but, on the con
trary, are encouraged to be industrious, the hope may be
entertained, that should the number of them increase the
advantage will be augmented in the same proportion." The
accounts for this period, therefore, show an indiscriminate
mixture of warps and weft, of healds, and shafts and shut
tles, with buttermilk, salt, smocks and frocks, and crockery ;
but in spite of these glowing accounts, there was, not many
years afterwards, a rate of three shillings in the pound laid for
Poor Law purposes, the assessment of the town at this time
being £3,500. Probably the expenditure was greatly
reduced in subsequent years ; for in an abstract of the
receipts and payments concerning the workhouse of the
township of Altrincham, in 1831, the expenditure for 30
weeks is given at ^^52 is. 4d. Another entry shows the
average number ot inmates to have been 14 1-15, the cost of
victualling per week is. 6|-d., clothing is. 8id. ; and these
with other incidental expenses, made a total of 3s. 5id. per
head per week. For this amount, as we have already seen,
the paupers ^vere. allovyed the luxury of " flesh mate," as

170 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
butcher's meat is spelled in the accounts, three times a
week. Speaking of " flesh mate" reminds us that on one
occasion the visitors appointed by the Vestry were directed
to purchase a piece of beef, not exceeding 12 pounds, to be
sent down to the workhouse for a feast on New Year's day,
" and that a glass of ale be allowed to such of the inmates
as the governor may think fit to allow such an indulgence."
For some time, however, matters did not work smoothly
in local bumbledom. The governor, notwithstanding his
numerous privileges and handsome salary (£ro a year) was
a man of hasty temper, as governors of the old stamp are
said by tradition to have been. At one of the meetings of
the select vestry, Mr. John Lupton informed his fellow
members that he had been grossly insulted by the governor,
who had threatened to strike him ! Such conduct could not
of course be permitted. He was ordered to appear before
them, and produced Mr. John Warren, who, he said, was
fully acquainted with the circumstances. Mr. Warren, how
ever, knew nothing of the matter, beyond that the governor
was in a state of " extreme intoxication " at the time. The
tables being thus unexpectedly turned, the governor ad
mitted what was said to be correct, and added that " he did
not know how the thing began or ended," and having
apologized his offence was overlooked.
But this governor was soon in greater difficulties than
ever. At a meeting held on the 21st May, 1828, the over
seer of the poor intimated that the governess of the work
house had fled, " taking her clothes with her, that her hus
band does not know where she is gone, or whether she
means to return." The vestry was very accommo
dating. The overseer was directed "to keep an eye to
the workhouse," the governor in the meantime to go in
search of his runaway spouse, — if he should so feel inclined.
Whether he departed on this mission or not does not
appear ; but a week afterwards it is reported that the
governess has not yet returned, " nor is there any probability
she will return." This was more than the vestry could sub
mit to. The governor was instantly discharged, and when

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. lyt
appointing a successor great cautiousness was evinced,
inasmuch as it was stipulated that if the new governor and
governess did not come up to expectation, they would be
expected to quit the house and give up the situation in a
month. They gave satisfaction; for soon afterwards it was
" Resolv'd that this meeting is of opinion that the governor
of the workhouse be allowed to occupy and use one of the
looms in the weaving shop for the purpose of weaving in
himself, and that he be allow'd to take to his own the earn
ings therefrom, he having requested that such hberty should
be allow'd to him." This governor was Mr. George Dean,
for many years a postman, and is still living.
We will now draw a veil over the difficulties of the Select
Vestry in respect of workhouse management ; and on turn
ing to the outdoor system, we find it was not distin
guished by that economy which is usually looked for.
The rents of different parties were paid, and to such an
extent was this carried, that on several occasions it
became a question of compounding with the landlords in
a body. This was not, however, confined to the town.
The overseers had often to go great distances to extricate
Altrincham men and women, who were unable to meet
their engagements. The entries, too, are sometimes myste
rious. For instance, the Government Auditor now-a-days
would probably require to have the meaning of the fol
lowing fully explained : —
Resolved, upon the application of (name given) that a donation of ^^3 be
made to him to enable him to liberate himself from some difficulty under
which it appears to this meeting he is at present labouring.
For some time after the formation of the Union, the
meetings of the Guardians were held at Altrincham, which
place was considered the most central and convenient, and
from this circumstance the Union obtained its name. Diffi
culties, however, arose, more particularly in the acquisition
of a proper site for the Union Workhouse which was ulti
mately built at Knutsford. Altrincham is represented by
three Guardians; Bowdon and Dunham Massey by two

172 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
each. There are 39 townships in the Union, returning 45
Guardians. In July, 1845, the Act for making the Manchester, South
Junction, and Altrincham Railway was passed. It
authorized the raising of -£'400,000 {£133,333 by loans) for
a length of nine miles thirty chains. By this ¦ Act the
Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway Company
were authorized to subscribe ;^i75,ooo, and subsequently
the same Company, in conjunction with the London and
North-Western Railway Company, purchased the Earl of
Ellesmere's original share in the South Junction and Al
trincham line — the Earl undertaking to stop the plying of the
" swift " passenger boat on the Bridgewater Canal, when
the railway was opened. Hitherto this packet boat had
formed the only means of " swift " — as it was certainly
thought then — communication with Manchester, and judg
ing from the remarks made at that time concerning the
canal, which was described as " black and filthy," winding
like some huge snake amongst the meadows, emitting an
exceedingly offensive and noisome stench, the formation of
the new line would no doubt be hailed with joy and gladness.
The railway is divided into two portions, the South Junction
line and the Altrincham line. The first-named is one and
three quarter miles in length, commencing at London-road
Station, curving from west to east along the south side of
the town, and connects every railway, having its terminus in
Manchester, the one with the other. Ground for the con
struction of both lines was broken near Knott Mill, about
six months after the passing of the Act, but for a period
of a year and a half the works were paralysed, chiefly owing
to want' of funds, the commercial crisis, and the state of
the money market. The line was, however, opened on
July 20th, 1849, for both goods and passenger traffic. The
Altrincham line proper, with which we are more immediately
concerned, commences in Castle Field, about 200 or 300
yards fronj the Knott Mill Station. Here it diverges from
the South Junction line, passing through Castle Field close
to the canal, and goes under the Altrincham turnpike-road

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 173
to Old Trafford by a slightly curved tunnel, the only one on
the line of 1,144 yards in length. After leaving Old Trafford,
which is just two miles from Oxford-road, the line pursues
a straight and nearly level course until Edge-lane, or what
is now better known as Stretford Station, is reached.
Hence the line is carried through the level vale of the
Mersey ; and Sale, Brooklands and Timperley Stations
appear in succession. At that time, Altrincham, just eight
miles distant from Oxford Road, was the terminal station
of the line. It was afterwards carried on to near the foot
of the Downs, and although the station is called Bowdon
Station, it is really in the Township of Altrincham, and
nearly one mile distant from Bowdon Church. The first
train from Altrincham left the station at eight o'clock, July
20th, 1849, with 65 passengers, and notwithstanding a delay
of several minutes at Stretford, reached Oxford Road
Station before nine o'clock ! The next train, which was the
express, left Altrincham at 8-40, contained 15 passengers,
all first-class, and accomplished the eight miles in 18
minutes. The next train at nine a.m., reached Oxford Road
within the half-hour with 40 passengers. This was all done
in face of the formidable competition of a number of
omnibuses. Since then, considerable modifications have
been made ; and the Bowdon line, as it is now familiarly
called, ranks as one of the best managed in the kingdom.
Prominent among the charities of the town, and probably
the most beneficial to the inhabitants, although not the
niost ancient, is Lloyd's Fever Hospital. The poor and
afflicted we have with us always, and there is a large
amount of human suffering which has to be dealt with
promptly, or the common weal might suffer. Mr. Edward
Jeremiah Lloyd, of Oldfield Hall, was a practical philan
thropist. He left by will a certain sum for the purpose of
erecting and endowing a hospital for the reception and
benefit of the poor inhabitants of Altrincham and Bowdon
afflicted with fever or other diseases of an infectious or
contagious nature. This hospital was erected on a site on
Hale Moss given by the Earl of Stamford and Warrington,

174 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
the total cost being ;;r6oo. The land and buildings were
invested in 12 trustees, of which the Earl of Stamford, for
the time being, is one, new trustees being appointed as
occasion requires. After doing excellent work for a long
period, it was in 1878 handed over to the Altrincham Local
Board for a term of 21 years, at a rent of £50 a year.
The trustees bound themselves to contribute a sum not
exceeding one half the clear income of the said charity in
aid of the funds of the hospital, this, however, being con
ditional on the hospital being carried on by the Local Board
to their satisfaction. The residue of the income was to be
apphed, under conditions, in aid of the funds of any well-
established Infirmary, Hospital, or Institution, including
the Altrincham Provident Dispensary, treating cases of
accident, or receiving convalescent patients.
The Altrincham Provident Dispensary, of which notice is
taken in the preceding paragraph, is a valuable auxiliary
to the Fever Hospital. It was erected out of funds accruing
from the Altrincham Workhouse Charity. This charity
arose out of an indenture of grant dated 22nd December,
1755, between the Right Honourable George, Earl of War
rington, on the one part, and various residents of the town
on the other part, which recites that a certain piece of
ground (being part of the waste in Altrincham) called
Broadheath, belonging to the said Earl of Warrington, as
Lord of the Manor of Altrincham, and containing 4^ acres
of land, Cheshire measure, or 8|- acres, statute measure,
had, with the consent of the said Earl, been enclosed, in
order that a workhouse for the said borough or manor might
be built on part thereof, by voluntary contributions or
otherwise, the residue of the said ground being improved
for the benefit of the said poor. The Earl consented to
vest this land in certain parties for ever, paying a yearly
rent of 5s., upon trust ; the workhouse or poorhouse as
soon as built to be used by the overseers of the poor, for
the poor of the town of Altrincham. In 1831 these
premises became by deed vested in John Mort, Edward
Jeremiah Lloyd, Isaac Harrop, Hugo Worthington, Charles

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 175
Poole, John Barratt, and John Mort, junior ; and a portion
of the land, about two acres in extent, was sold to the
Warrington and Stockport Railway Co. for ;f 2,243 los. lod.,
which was invested under an order in Chancery in the
purchase of £2,343 2s. 8d. Three per Cent. Consols. A
building had been constructed on the land, and was for a long
period used as a workhouse for the poor of Altrincham,
and the rents and profits of the residue of the waste ground
were applied in accordance with the trust. The pre
mises were subsequently converted into cottages, and
occupied by the workmen employed by the Bridgewater
Trustees. Great public apathy existed in reference to this
Charity and its application, but in 1858 a committee of the
Altrincham Ratepayers' Association, of which Mr. Thomas
Partington was the honorary secretary, addressed certain
communications to the overseers, and after a long corres
pondence, in which the assistance of the Charity Com
missioners was invoked, in July, i860 a scheme was
drawn up for the application of the income, or a suffi
cient part thereof, to the establishment and maintenance
of baths and washhouses ; the remainder of the annual
income not required for these purposes to be given for
the benefit of deserving resident poor of the parish. The
Vice Chancellor approved of the establishment of baths
and washhouses ; but no such buildings were erected,
owing to legal difficulties arising, which need not be dis
cussed here. Most of the Trustees having in the mean
time retired or died, new trustees were appointed, who set
to work with determination, and the result was the erec
tion of the Provident Dispensary as being most likely to
be of the greatest use to the poorer inhabitants of the
township. The foundation stone of the new building was
laid in September, 1869 ; in a cavity being deposited a
document, of which the following is a copy : —
The corner stone of this Dispensary and Hospital, erected by the Trustees of
the Altrincham Workhouse Charity, under the sanction of the High Court of
Chancery was laid by Henry Hall, Esquire, the agent of the Right Honourable
the Earl of Stamford and Warrington, the Lord .of the Manor of AUrincham,

176 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
on Tuesday, the 28th day of September, a.d., i86g, in the year of the Mayoralty
of James Southern, Esquire ; trustees, Samuel Barratt (chairman), Joseph
Gaskarth, John Davenport, Matthew Fowden, William Greenwood, John Astle
Kelsall, William Hill Parkes, John Balshaw, John Shelmerdine Mort; treasurer,
Thomas Riley Knight ; secretary, Charles Heaton Hinde ; law clerks, Nicholls,
Sudlow and Hinde ; architect, Peter Pons ; chief contractor, John Douglas ;
sub-contractors, Humphry Davies, brickwork, Isaac Drinkwater, stone work,
and Charles Walton, plumbing, glazing, &c.
The institution has its main front to Bowdon Road or
Market Street, and has a most imposing appearance.
The yearly allowance of £5 from Dame Elizabeth Booth's
charity has been already noticed. There are two or three
other bread charities in the district : John Barratt, Esquire,
left, by will, £200 to be invested, and the dividend to be
given in bread to such of the poor people of Altrincham as
attended Divine service at St. George's Church; and William
Chapman of Hale in 1714, charged an estate in Hale with a
yearly rent charge of £2, payable to the churchwardens at
Christmas, to be laid out in the purchase of bread for the
poor of Bowdon parish, for ever, respect being had to the
poor of Hale especially, to be given to the poor every Sunday
for ever. Robert Twemlow, of Altrincham, in 1826, left
£100 to the Vicar and churchwardens in rather a different
way. He directed that the interest should be " laid out in
the purchase of threepenny loaves, to be made of sound
household flour, and to be distributed on each Sacrament
Sunday." The sum of £267, left by George Norman (£40),
Edward Leigh, Esq. (£100), Mrs. Mary Booth (£5), River
Bellfontaine (£11), Joseph Walton (£40), the Earl of Stam
ford £52 los., and others (£19), was invested in Three Per
Cents., and the annual income is expended in the purchase
of bread and distributed weekly, on every Sunday, among
the poor of the parish of Bowdon, by the churchwardens for
the time being. Mrs. Holland also gave a certain sum for
bread to be distributed amongst the poor attending St.
George's Church. Cooper's charity arises out of a house
and land at Partington, given in 1807, the clear rent being
distributed, on every Christmas day, yearly amongst such of
the poor householders or inhabitants of Altrincham, 50 years

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 177
old and upwards, as the Vicar of Bowdon, the Minister of
St. George's, the warden or wardens of the said chapel, and
the owner of Delahey's farm in Timperley for the time being,
should appoint. Each poor person was not to have more
than 40S. and not less than 20s., and it is generally distri
buted in money to the recipients. The Earl of Warrington
left in 1754 the sum of £5,000, the annual proceeds to be
yearly for ever applied in placing out poor children, in the
parish of Bowdon, apprentices, or for sending them to
school, or for the clothing of them, or for the clothing or
other relief of aged or infirm poor inhabitants of the said
parish. The application is restricted to these charitable
purposes only, particular regard being had to the township
of Dunham, and to such chiefly as do not receive relief from
the overseers of the poor. The sum of £5,610 2s. belonging
to this charity has for a long period been invested in the
Three per Cent. Reduced Bank Annuities, and the interest
received is distributed by such Trustees as the possessor of
Dunham Massey from time to time appoints. In the years
1813 and 1816, Sarah and Elizabeth Cooke, of Altrincham,
by will, gave £200 to the officiating clergyman and wardens
of St. George's, and to the Vicar and churchwardens of Bowdon,
to be invested, and the dividends applied half to the poor, and
half to the education of poor children in the Sunday schools
upon a Sunday. If the Sunday schools in Bowdon or
Altrincham are discontinued, then the whole goes to the
poor. The sum of £2 per annum, left by the Rev. John
Ashton, of Calton Green, Staffordshire, in 1722, is payable
to and is distributed by the overseers ofthe poor of Altrin
cham amongst the poorest inhabitants of that township. A
like rent charge of £2 per annum is paid in aid as a sub
scription by the overseers to Bowdon Parish schools for the
teaching of so many poor children, inhabitants of Altrin
cham, as the Vicar of Bowdon shall think fit. A rather
peculiar charity is that by which the interest on the sum of
£110 is applied as follows : — £1 los. to the Sunday school at
Altrincham ; £1 to the Sunday school at Carrington ; £1 to
be distributed in religious books in Carrington and Partington, N

178 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
and the remainder in Bibles and Common Prayer Books to
be given among the poor of Bowdon parish as the owner of
Dunham Massey may think proper, pursuant to the will of
George Cooke dated 9th Nov. 1790. Further information
regarding other charities will be found in the Appendix.
An important epoch in the town's history was the intro
duction of coal gas, in the year 1844, by Mr. George Massey,
the then landlord of the Unicorn Hotel, who put down a
small works near the present bowling green. It must not
be inferred, however, that there had been no previous attempt
at lighting the town. In 1832 the Lighting and Watching
Act was adopted, and what has been derisively called the
" Charlie " system came into vogue. There had been watch
men before, no doubt, as there had been great men before
Agamemnon ; but henceforth they were to be invested with
more official dignity. They were to be provided with large
"blue coats, with red collars;" they were to carry " Ian-
thorns," and were ordered to call the hours of the night
when on duty. A public subscription set up oil lamps, and
watch boxes, in the latter of which it is no fiction to state —
for the minutes oft record it — the watchmen enjoyed many
a comfortable sleep. At times the calling of the hours
was voted a nuisance. It appears to have been finally
dispensed with in 1852, the watch boxes having been
removed four years previously. The first public gas lamp
was put up outside the Unicorn Hotel ; and Mr. Walton,
then a town's constable, but for many years past the re
spected station master at Bowdon, lighted it amid the most
intense excitement on the part of the towns people. The
superiority of the new light being made manifest, measures
were taken for supplying gas on a more extended scale ; and
in March, 1846, the Altrincham Gas Co. was registered
with a capital of £4,000, in 800 shares of £5 each. This
Company purchased the existing establishment ; but
as it was totally inadequate to their requirements, the
Directors chose the present site on Hale Moss, then
nearly half a mile from the nearest inhabited part
of the town, as being the least objectionable. The

History of Altrincham and Bowdon. 179
new works were opened on the 29th May, 1847 ; and
the price of gas at that time was ten shillings per thou
sand feet. Three years afterwards it was reduced to
8s. 4d., which was said by the Local Government Inspector,
at an enquiry concerning a Local Board, to be much above
the average charge for gas in other towns ; and his report
embodied a suggestion that the Local Board, when formed,
should treat for the purchase of the Gas Works in order that
they might be managed for the benefit of the ratepayers
generally. Efforts were made from time to time with this
object in view; but in each instance have they proved futile.
In 1871 there appeared to be some probability of a success
ful issue, the price named being £57,000 ; but at a town's
meeting held in July 1871, a resolution was passed by a large
majority that no further action be taken. In 1872, several
interviews took place between the Local Board and the Gas
Company's directors, and an offer was made to them of
£52,000 or £13 per share for 4,000 shares ; the directors
offering to sell at £55,000. They had, in the first instance,
named £60,000 as the sum, but subsequently they reduced
this to £54,000. The difference of £2,000 was the rock upon
which the affair collapsed. Firmness to their limits was
maintained by both parties ; and ultimately the Company
intimated that they did not consider themselves bound by
their offer, having left it open for a certain time for the Local
Board's acceptance or rejection. The Company afterwards
obtained an Act of Incorporation, which received the Eoyal
assent June 3rd, 1872. By this Act they art placed under
certain restrictions in regard to the supply of gas to the
inhabitants of the district ; they are amongst other things
bound to keep up the quality to a certain illuminating power,
and the maximum price is fixed by the Act, as is also the
maximum amount of dividend to be paid.
The Altrincham and Bowdon Literary Institution has the
honour of a mention in the new edition of Ormerod's Ches
hire, of which it is in every respect deserving. It was estab
hshed in the year 1847 in most humble premises at the
top of Victoria-street. The promoters intended by " means

i8o History of Altrincham and Bowdon.
of a well- selected Library, a Reading or News-room, Lec
tures and Evening Classes, to supply, to the young men of
the neighbourhood, opportunities of mental cultivation and
improvement, at a cheap rate, at the same time that it
affords to the adult inhabitants a rational and agreeable
mode of spending their leisure hours." It was well supported,
and was so successful that in 1852 the present institution
was erected by subscription, at a cost, including fittings, of
about £800. There was then a large news-room, and three good
class-rooms, land adjoining being left for the future growth
of the institution ; this was taken up by the splendid lecture
hall, which was opened in November, 1866, at a cost of £800.
It promises soon to become a most important educational
centre. For some years past. Art classes have been very
successfully conducted by Mr. H. Meadows ; and others have
been established from time to time for the spread of techni
cal education. Its management is vested in a Board of Trus
tees and Directors, a certain number of the latter retiring
annually, whose election is in the hands of the members.
The Lecture Hall was destroyed by fire in November, 1878,
and measures are now being taken for its re-erection.
With an increasing population the adoption of the provi
sions of the Public Health Act of 1848 was rendered abso
lutely necessary. A Government Inquiry held in 1850 dis
closed the fact that the sanitary condition of the town was
exceedingly defective — typhus fever, dysentery, and other
complaints of the bowels prevailing more or less every year ;
and that the death rate was exceedingly high — 29^ per
thousand per annum of the population. The geographical
position and contour of the town were favourable to the
highest degree of longevity attainable ; but natural advan
tages were counteracted by the want of an efficient system
of drainage, and complete sanitary regulation. The
want of a proper water supply also contributed to
it. A Local Board was formed consisting of nine mem
bers, which held its first meeting on the 4th April, 1851.
Loans were subsequently obtained for drainage purposes,
and a complete system of sewerage laid down. The sewage

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History of Altrincham and Bowdon. i8i
is disposed of by irrigation at the Sinderland farm, at a cost
of about 55-d. per head of the population. In some towns it
is or has been as high as 5s. per head. There is no
doubt that the plan is admirably adapted for such places
as Altrincham. With the water supply the Board did not
deal so successfully, but private enterprise stepped in to fill
the gap. The North Cheshire Water Company, which was
formed in 1857, and incorporated in 1864, conferred upon the
district the priceless boon of a supply of pure water from the
reservoirs of the Manchester Corporation. In 1878 the
Board purchased the market tolls from the Earl of Stamford
and Warrington for the sum of £1,000 ; and in the latter
part of the same year the erection of a new Market House
in Market-street was commenced, the sum of £4,500 being
boiTowed to cover the cost of the tolls, building, and other
charges incidental thereto. The building is being erected
from designs by Maxwell Roscoe, Esq., Mr. M. Stone being
the contractor.
In February, 1864, the Bowdon Local Board held its first
meeting. Its principal work has been the sewering of the
township, which was executed under the superintendence
of John Newton, Esq., C.E., at a cost of £2,493 i6s. 3d. In
December, 1865, the lighting by public gas lamps was car
ried out.
We have now brought the history of the district down to
the present time. Ample statistics as to its progress are
given in the Appendix. For Parliamentary election purposes
Altrincham, Bowdon, and Dunham Massey are embraced in
the division of Mid-Cheshire, which returns two members.
In respect of societies having for their object the moral
and social advancement of the inhabitants, Altrincham
may be said to be exceptionally favoured. Its banking
accommodation is ample, — and one of its banks, which is
one of the finest specimens of the old Cheshire style of archi-
ture to be found in the county, and which was erected from
the designs of George Truefitt, Esq., of London, forms the
subject of an illustration in these pages. It has its news
paper published twice a week, the Altrincham and Bowdon

182

History of Altrincham and Bowdon.

Guardian, of whose substantial progress all connected with
it have good reason to be proud. Altogether, the town
justifies the motto which has been selected for it, "Altrin
cham en Avant." The reader will no doubt have observed
this, and will probably feel thankful, as its ancient landmarks
disappear, that many of its traditions and associations have
been brought to light, which might otherwise, to quote Sir
Peter Leycester once more, have " lain covered and buried
in the rubbish of devouring time."

APPENDIX.

MEMBERS OF THE ALTRINCHAM LOCAL BOARD SINCE
ITS FORMATION IN 1851.

1851.
R. Broadbent (Chairman.) Samuel Barratt
Thomas Marsden. William Warren
John Mort W. Milnes Millington
Officials :
Isaac Turton, Surveyor ; Nicholls and Worthington, Legal Advisers,
1852.
E. Joynson
R. W. Bennett
J. Mort 1853.
John Davenport
S. Barratt
T, Marsden 1854.
John Mort
S. Barratt
T. Marsden

R. Broadbent (Chairman)
Jas. Grange
T. Marsden
R. Broadbent (Chairman)
E. Joynson
W. Warren

R. Broadbent (Chairman)
Alexander H. Paterson
J. Davenport

R. Broadbent (Chairman)
Samuel Barratt
A. H. Paterson
R. Broadbent (Chairman)
A. H. Paterson
Thos. Knight

1855.
Thomas Knight.
J. Davenport
R. W. Bennett 1856.
J. Davenport
J. Mort
W. Warren

Edward Joynson
Robert William Bennett
Jesse Blew

S. Barratt
W. Warren
W. M. Millington

R. W. Bennett
J. Grange
J. Mort

Wm. Warren
Jas. Grange
R. W. Bennett

George Bowden
W. Warren
J. Mort
R. W. Bennett
Geo. Bowden
S. Barratt

1 84

Appendix.

R. Broadbent (Chairman)
John Hethorn
G. Bowden
R. Broadbent (Chairman)
George Bowden
W. Warren

R. Broadbent (Chairman)
J. Mort
S. Barratt

1857.
John Mort
R. W. Bennett
T. Knight 1858.
Samuel Barratt
Isaac Gaskarth
R. W. Bennett 1859.
R. W. Bennett
J. Hethorn
G. Bowden

1860.
R. Broadbent (Chairman) John Mort
John Astle Kelsall Thos. Knight
Jas. Street S. Barratt 1861.
R. Broadbent (Chairman) Thomas Knight
J. Hethorn G. Bowden
J. Mort J. A. Kelsall 1862.
Thos. Knight (Chairman) James Street
James Southern G. Bowden
J. Mort J. Hethorn 1863.
Thomas Knight (Chairman) John Mort
John Hethorn John Davenport
S. Barratt James Street 1864.
Thomas Knight (Chairman) Geo. Bowden
John Davenport James Street
J. A. Kelsall S. Barratt 1865.
Thomas Knight (Chairman) S. Barratt
Joseph Gaskarth Robert Burgess
Jas. Southern J. A. Kelsall 1866.
Samuel Barratt (Chairman) Thomas Dyson
J. Gaskarth William Armitage
G. Bowden Jas. Southern
* In place of the late J. Mort. i Solely nominated in

William Warren
J. Davenport
S. Barratt
Thomas Knight
J. Hethorn
J. Mort
James Street
Thomas Knight
W. Warren
John Hethorn
G. Bowden
R. W. Bennett
Samuel Barratt
J. Street
R. W. Bennett
John Davenport
J. A. Kelsall
S. Barratt
John Astle Kelsall
James Southern
G. Bowden
'Samuel Holker Norris
James Southern
J. Hethorn
S. H. Norris
Geo. Bowden
J. Hethorn
J. A. Kelsall
fM. Fowden
R. Burgess
place of Thomas Knight, resigned.

Appendix.

183

S. Barratt (Chairman)
R. Burgess
G. Bowden
S. Barratt (Chairman)
M. Fowden
John Shelmerdine Mort
S. Barratt (Chairman)
Robert Burgess
J. Gaskarth
W. Armitage (Chairman)
J. A. Kelsall
S. Barratt
J. Gaskarth (Chairman)
R. Burgess
P. Pons

J. Gaskarth (Chairman)
R. Burgess
W. H. Holt
H. Balshaw
J. Gaskarth (Chairman)
R. Burgess
J. Byrom
J. S. Mort
J. Gaskarth (Chairman)
J. Ambler
H. Balshaw
S. Delves
J. Gaskarth (Chairman)
J. Davenport
H. Balshaw
T. Timperley

1867.
J. Southern
W. Armitage
J. A. Kelsall 1868.
J. Southern
J. Gaskarth
W. Armitage 1869.
W. Armitage
J. Southern
M. Fowden 1870.
R. Burgess
J. Ambler
J. S. Mort 1871.
S. Barratt
J. Ambler
J. Byrom 1872.
(Number increased to
S. Barratt
J. Ambler
J. Byrom
J. S. Mort 1873.
S. Barratt
J, Ambler
H. Balshaw
S. Delves 1874.
W. Armitage
J. Byrom
T. Timperley
J. Davenport 1875.
S. Barratt
J. Byrom
P. Kinsey
W. Armitage

T. Dyson
J. Gaskarth
M. Fowden
T. Dyson
J. A. Kelsall
G. Bowden
J. A. Kelsall
G. Bowden
J. S. Mort
J. Gaskarth
H. Davies
J. Southern
W. Armitage
W. H. Holt
J. A. Kelsall
Twelve.) W. Armitage
P. Pons
Thos. Warrington
J. Davenport
W. Armitage
W. H. Holt
Thos. Warrington
Thos. Timperley
S. Barratt
J. S. Mort
T. Warrington
P. Kinsey
J. Ambler
T. Warrington
S. Delves
J. S. Mort

J. Gaskarth (Chairman)
J. Byrom
T. Timperley
H. Kenyon
J. Gaskarth (Chairman)
R. Burgess
J. Byrom
G. Wood
John Ambler (Chairman)
R. Burgess
G. Smith
H. Kenyon

Appendix. 1876.
J. Ambler
J. Davenport
H. Balshaw
S. Barratt 1877.
J. Davenport
P. Kinsey
G. Smith
J. Hamilton 1878.
J. Davenport
J. Hamilton
G. Wood
W. Armitage, jun..

R. Burgess
P. Kinsey
G. Smith
* S. Delves
J. Ambler
H. Kenyon
H. Balshaw
Wm. Smith
P. Kinsey
J. Byrom
W. Smith
H. Balshaw

(* Jas. Cowsill from September, 1S76, vice Delves deceased.)

CONTESTED ELECTIONS,
WITH NUMBER OF VOTES RECORDED FOR EACH
CANDIDATE.
(Those marked with an asterisk (*) declared elected ; those marked (t)
refused to serve.)
1851.
482 *Edward Joynson . . 466
414 -'Robert Wm. Bennett 331
270 *W. Milnes Millington 185

*Samuel Barratt
*William Warren
*John Mort
James Grange
George Bowden
*Edward Joynson
Jesse Blew . .
*Richard Broadbent . .
*Robert Wm. Bennett

William Davies
John Bradford

150 John Davenport . . 135
98 tjohn Woollam . . 36
1852.
i6g -'Thomas Marsden. . 119
114 '*James Grange .. 122
1853,
180 *John Davenport . . 170
151 Wm. Davies .. 137
fWm. Badcock.
1854.
no Henry Service .. no
114 *John Mort .. 205

'Thomas Marsden . . 419
'¦Richard Broadbent 332
*Jesse Blew . . 171
John Barrow . . 124

•* Samuel Barratt .. 135
Charles Balshaw

Charles Houtt
Henry Service

120 137

''William Warren . . ig5
*¦' Alexr. Hy. Paterson 171

Appendix.

187

1855.

Henry Service

. 81

*Samuel Barratt . .

230

*George Bowden . .

193

John Bradford

• 70

*Thomas Knight . .
1856.

210

Henry Service

• 72

?Richard Broadbent

247

*Robt. Wm. Bennett

215

Joseph Smith

¦ 34

*John Davenport . .
1857.
(No Contest.)
1858.
(No Contest.)
1859.

242

(No
Contest, Mark Pierson refusing to
serve.)
1860.
(No Contest.)
1861.
(No Contest,)
1862.
*James Street . .
. 287
tHumphry Davies
William Armitage
213
*John Davenport
. 219
1863,
(No Contest.)
1864.
(No Contest.)
1865.
*James Southern . .
214
*James Southern
. 322
James Street
206
John Davenport . .
221
*Joseph Gaskarth
. 242
* Robert Burgess ..
1866.
229
John Hethorn
. 204
*John Astle Kelsall
242
"'Thomas Dyson
378
James Street
. 121
* William Armitage
341
rt*Matthew Fowden
241
a Nominated solely in the place of Mr. Thomas Knight, resigned.
*Samuei; Barratt
William Paulden
*James Southern
1867.
315 *George Bowden
103 John Ambler
Thomas Partington 1868.
420 '^Joseph Gaskarth
Robert Burgess
247 *Matthew Fowden 260
239 Henry Hough 151
202
407 *J. Shelmerdine Mort 314
310
Appendix.

1869.

*William Armitage . ,
, 605
Thomas Dyson . .
371
John Newton
237
*John Astle Kelsall . ,
¦ 398
*Robert Burgess . .
1870.
413
*Samuel Barratt
. 3S6
Matthew Fowden
373
*John Ambler
. 411
Samuel Delves
• 375
James Byrom 1871.
279
?Humphry Davies.
• 433
Thomas Partington . ,
. 328
Samuel Delves . .
455
Thomas Davison .
. 263
*Joseph Gaskarth
, 679
* J ames Byrom
573
*Wm. Henry Holt
619
•Peter Pons
. 676
James Pearson . .
1872.
307
*John Davenport
, 895
*J. Shelmerdine Morf
: 957
John Siddeley
. 842
*Henry Balshaw
, 960
*rhos. Warrington
966
Samuel Arnold
¦ 792
*Wm. Armitage
• 990
John Astle Kelsall
522
?Robert Burgess .
¦ 932
tWm. Tudor Mabley
5
Samuel Delves
862
Peter Colliver
. 700
George Hodgkinson 635
1873.
*John Ambler . .
¦ 984
*Samuel Barratt . .
850
?Samuel Delves .
• 984
John Davenport
. 808
Henry Dean, jun.
826
Peter Kinsey
• 739
Peter Pons
. 688
*Thomas Timperley
1874.
856
*Joseph Gaskarth
• 970
*James Byrom
963
?John Davenport .
• 830
* Peter Kinsey
¦ 927
Robert Burgess
Wm. Hill Parkes . .
700 602
James Pearson
¦ 659
1875.
No Election, owing to the passing of a new Act of Parliament relating to
Local Boards.
1876.
?H. Balshaw
• 803
?Robert Burgess .
• "75
James Cowsill
•• 714
fThomas Davison
•• 3
Enoch Farr
. 366
Thomas Jackson
.. 617
?Henry Kenyon
.. 719
James Percival .
1877.
. 429
?George Smith
¦• 938
?John Ambler
"43
James Cowsill
.. 685
Thomas Davison .
¦ 492
?James Hamilton . .
lOOI
?William Smith1878.
•• 795
?George Wood
. 1129
*Wm. Armitage, jun.,
.. 968
?James Byrom
.. 958
Wm. Clegg
. . 720
?John Davenport
• 947
Joseph Gaskarth
.. 857
?Peter Kinsey
•• 895
Appendix.

189

ACTING MAGISTRATES,
FOR THE ALTRINCHAM PETTY SESSIONAL DIVISION.

Name.
Egerton, The Hon. Wilbraham, M.P..
Allen, John, Esq.,
Armitage, William, Esq.,
Barton, John, Esq.,
Carlisle, John, Esq.,
Dewhurst, George Charnley, Esq.,
Dewhurst, George Bakewell, Esq.,
Davies, David Reynolds, Esq.,
Fox, John Wilson, Esq.,
Joynson, Edward, Esq ,
Joynson, William, Esq.,
Joynson, Richard Hampson, Esq.,
Leigh, Egerton, Esq , West Hall,
Norris, Samuel Holker, Esq.,
Norris, Thomas Potter, Esq.,
Platt, Robert, Esq., Dunham Park,
Stubs, Peter, Esq., Statham Lodge,
Tatton, Thomas Egerton, Esq.,
Tatton, Thomas William, Esq.,
Worthington, James, Esq.,

.'Vddress.
Rostherne Manor, Knutsford,
Oldfield Hall, Altrincham,
Townfield House, Altrincham
Lymm, Warrington,
High Lawn, Bowdon,
Lymm, Oughtrington Hall, Lymm,
Agden Hall, Lymm,
Lymm,Park Road, Bowdon,
Sale,
Bowdon, High Leigh,
Altrincham, Eagle Brow House, Lymm,
Altrincham; Lymm,
Wythenshawe, Northenden,
Wythenshawe, Northenden,
Sale Hall, Sale,

When Qualified
6th April, 1857
19th Feb., 1867
, 3rd April, 1876
X5th Oct., 1866
19th Feb., 1867
2nd Feb., 1861
i8th Feb., 1868
ist July, 1868
22nd Feb., 1870
ist Jan., 185 1
30th Nov., 1863
6th Jan., 1875
i8th Oct., 1875
19th Feb., 1867
i5th Feb., 1875
14th Feb., 1858
ist Jan., 1872
13th Aug., 1868
17th Oct., 1842
2ist Feb., 1871

LIST OF TOWNS AND VILLAGES
IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD ; ALSO
POPUL.\TION, ACREAGE, DISTANCES FROM CHESTER AND ALTRINCHAM,

RATEABLE VALUE OF EACH TOWNSHIP.

TOWNSHIPS.

Agden 
Altrincham (a) . . . .
Ashley 
Ashton 
Baguley 
Bollington (b) 
Bowdon (a) 
Carrington (b) 
Dunham Massey (a)
Hale 
Partington 
Rostherne 
Sale 
Timperley 

POPULATION.

1831. 99
2,708 3799741
468' 268
458 552
1,105 942
466376
1,104! 752'

1 841.

1851.

1861.

"3

76

P8

3.372

4,488

6,628

377

379

375

1,105

1. 174

1,475

300

570

611

297

300

277

549

1,164

1,827

559

53b

521

1-253

1.255

1,535

974

995

1,160

457

485

445

386

388

393

1.307

1,720

3.031

943

1,008

1.571

I87I. 109
8,478 380
2,359 634253
2,262 469
1,790
1,711 5"
391
5,573 2,112

In

.£ S

., 6

crease. 183 1

mJi rt jn

G "S

j2 0 c

to
1871.

<«|

si"

10

572

26

2

5,770

b57

30

I

2,173

29

2

1.385

1,611

33

4

166

1,769

33

3

597
27
3
1,804
828
30
I
2,266
30
5
685
3,470
30
2
769
3.679
31
2
45
754
28
4
15
1,512
26
4
4,469
1,981
33
3
1,360
1,628
31
2
RATEABLE VALUE.
In
crease. 1841 to
1877-
1841.
4,9322,3403,743 2,456 1,245 1,823
2.271
5.6743.767 1.393 1,845
5.9543,259
1871. 1,540
31,308 3,894
15,998 5.366 1,639
21.317 3.645
17,46211,602 2.955
2,658
34.652 13.581
1872.1.540
34,326 3,894
16,975! 5.420, 1.639'
21,184 3,645
17.96311,602 2,949 2,658
36,033 13,696
1873- 1,540
36,044 3,894
17.333 5.498 1,639
22,251 3,710
18,76811,660 2,9572,646
37,405 13.837
1877. 1,618
49,024 4,180
20,531 6,890 1,774
25.253 4,058
24,108 12,883 3.346
2,897
46,293 15,921
634
44,292 1,840
16,788 4.434 529
23.430 1.787
18,434 9,116 1,9531,052
40.339 12,662
Ca) — The estimated Population of Altrincham is now 11,000 ; of Bowdon, 2,693 ; and of Dunham, 2,040.
(b) — There was a decrease of 82 in Carrington and 18 in Bollington from 1831 to 1871.
ALTRINCHAM AND E
(From the general digest of Endowed Charities

LOCALITY AND DESIGNATION
OF CHARITY.

ENDOWMENTS.

REAL ESTATE.

Houses and Lands.

Acreage of Lands.

Rent of
Real Estate,

PERSONALTY.

Stock.

Securities and
other Personalty.

Dividends and
Interest.

Total Gross
Income.

BOWDON.
Dame E. Booth 
Chapman 
Earl of Warrington 
Various Charities 
E. and S. Cooke 
Twemlow 
G.Cooke 
*Walton 
Bagshaw 
Leicester 
Township of Dunham Massey
*Littleheath School 
Leicester 

Township of Altrincham.

Cooper 
S. and E. Cooke .

Norman
Ashton ...
Ditto . ,
G. Cooke
Barratt .
LeicesterHolland ...

The Mayor's Lands

House, &c., and

Close of Land

House and
6 I 3

Workhouse and
'? 3 31

13 I 26

18 o c
64 5 o

R.

5,610 2

0

C.

478 IS

0

C.C.

104 19
113 19

97

R. c.

5,035 13
108 19

2
10

192 5 2

195

210 o o
!,243 10 10

202 15 9
189 g 6
217 13 9

R.
P.

1,000 ISO

168 14

6 o
7 3
3 II
8 4

£ s d.

200
68 6 o
14 7 3
3 3 II
3 8 4

4 0211 I 4
S 4 j 3 s 4
'3 ¦» I 5 IS 4
I411 6 6
o o

10 o
17 o

6
66

6 o
6 I

50 10 o
5 17 o

56 7 o

iS o o
660

6 I 8
13 8 I 5 13 8
10 7 B 6 10 7
1 70 10 0

243 13 o

Exi'LANATloN OF THF, Terms. — An asterisk (*) denotes prsscssion of property iinproclnctive of income — such as almshouses or school-
bnildings-so far as vet i^nown to the Commissioners. C.R.N, relates to the kind of stocks in which the money is invested,
Consols, Reduced, New .£'3 per cents. ; P. personal security ; Br. bread j F. fuel ; and Cl. clothing.

BOWDON CHARITIES
'.relating io the County of Chester, 1862-3.)

Total
Former
Income.

£ s. d.

2

0

0

168

6

0

14

7

3

1

10

0

3

8

4

5

10

0

137 4 10

i54 6 5

56 o c

:SI o o

OBJECTS OF FOUNDATION OR PURPOSES TO WHICH
THE INCOME IS APPLICADLE.

Education.

Public Uses.

S.

£ ». d.

73 o o

I II 5

131 I 4
3 5 4

2o3 18 I

so 10 o

£ s. d.

Distribution of
Articles in Kind.

Distributn of
iMonev.

Br.
Br.

Cl.
Br.

Cl. Cl.

£ s. d.

Soo 200

I

II

6

3

8

4

80

0

0

5

15

4

IIO 3 5

330

530

*]Q 10 O

Cl.

5 17 o

£ s. d.

F. & Cl.

Br.

Br. Cl.
Br.

330

6 I 8
5 13 fi
6 10 7

10 o o

23 8 II 20 o o

General Uses
of the
Poor.

£ s. d.

95 6 o

9o 6 9

OBSERVATIONS.

See City of Chester.
For apprenticing, educating, or clothin'^ poor children, or
for clothing or other relief of aged or inrirm poor,
2/. applicable exclusively to Township of Altrincham,
Stock transferred to ollicial trustees.
Stock transferred to olficial trustees.
Do. do.
No Returns.

Founded by Will, 1845.
trustees.
Founded by "Will, 1S58.
trustees.

Stock transferred to official
Stock transferred to olTicial

Founded by Will,
trustees.

1858, Stock i'.i name of ollicial

Also 1,237;. in hand. Scheme for estaliHshment of baths
and washhouses by Court of Chancery in 1865 ; not yet
carried out.
Set; various Charities, Parish of Bowdon,
See Chapelry, Calton, Parish of Blore, county of Stafford.
See Parish of Bowdon.
Founded by W'ill 1846. Stock in name of official trustees.
Fouuiled by Will, 1858. Stock in name of official trustees.
Founded by Deed .Poll, 1S61. Stock in name of olficial
trustees,
Founded by Deeds, 1699 and 1716.

N.B -All payments stated to be due to the "Objects of Foundation," are liable to be reduced by deductions on account nf out-
coinVs and expenses of Management. The Table shows thc mode in which the Income would be applicable if received

goin.^s and expeni
in full.

LOANS TAKEN UP BY THE ALTRINCHAM LOCAL BOARD,
UNDER THE SANITARY AND PUBLIC HEALTH ACTS.

Date of AppUcation.

Amount
Sanctioned.

Amount
Borrowed.

Period
Sanctioned-.

Object of Loan,

Date of Borrowing.

Interest per cent.

February iSth, 1853
February i8th, 1853
March 26th, 1861
February 5th, 1863
November 2nd, 1870
November 7th, 1871
July 20th, 1874
October 29th, 1877
December 1878

£
8,000 400300
5,000 1,500
2,300 1,300
4,500
23,300

£
2,000 1,000 300300
4,000 2,500 2,300 1,300
4,500

30 years
30 years
30 years
30 years
30 years
30 years
30 years
30 years
30 years

SewerageSewerage
SeweragePurchase of offices
Sewerage
SewerageSewerageSewerageMarket purposes

June 3rd, 1853
May 3rd, 1854
March 26th, 1861
August 28th, 1863
May 5th, 1871
December ist, 1871
October 2nd, 1874
January 4th, 1878
December, 1878

FourFour
FiveFive
FiveFiveThree and a half
Three and a half
Four and a quarter

18,200

Of this amount there had been repaid up to the end ofthe year 1878, ;£'3,8o8, leaving principal owinp; of ^14,392.
INDEX.

PAGE
A hard winter  154
Advowson, Bowdon  12
Aldermen  45, 47, 48, 64
Altrincham, free traffic granted to 13
Altrincham charter  57, 70, 71
Altrincham ale sellers  49
Altrincham landlord and land
lady of olden time  118
Altrincham, Sir Walter Scott's
description of  118
Altrincham, Sir Peter Leycester's
description of  118
Altrincham, indications of pro
gress  122
Altrincham, manufactures at  122
Altrincham, races at  128
Altrincham, De Quincey's des
cription of  128, 129
Altrincham footpaths indicted . . 154
Altrincham half a century ago.. 159
160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166,167
Altrincham Union  168
Altrincham Provident Dispen
sary  174, 175, 176
Altrincham watchmen  178
Altrincham Gas Company ;  178
Altrincham and Bowdon Literary
Institution  179, 180
Altrincham Local Board, forma
tion of  180
Altrincham Local Board, proceed
ings of  i8i
Altrincham Local Board, list of
members  183, 184, 185, 186
Altrincham Local Board, contested
elections  186, 187, 188
Altrincham Local Board, Loans
taken up by  ('see Appendix.)
An Altrincham carnival  162
Anderson, Sir Edmund  85
Artinstall  23
Ashley  22,27,29
Ashton  23> 80
Attorney first appointed  150

PAGE
Baguley  22
Bakehouse  56,6 6
Baptist Chapel  48
Banns, curious mode of publish
ing  41.42
Barley hump, the  127
Barons of Chester  6
Bead Rolls  17- 19
Beauchamp  12
Beeston Castle, dismantling of . . 90 •
BeUs  18
Benefactions  55
Bequest, Lady Booth's  84
Bewsey, tragedy at  81
Blackburn, Col  92
Bloody field, story of  117
Bloreheath Battle  78
Bodon, Adam  17
Bothe, Robert del  77, 78, 79
Bothe, John del  77
Bouthe  ig, 20
Bowdon, derivation of  i
Bowdon Church  16
Bowdon Church, Restoration of. . 35
Bowdon, family  114
Bowdon, penance at  123
Bowdon Local Board  181
Booth, derivation of  77
Booth, John  78
Booth, William  79, 85
Booth, George  23, 40, 41, 80
Booth, William  20, 79, 80, 83
Booth, Henry  24, 26
Booth, Langham  24, 26
Booth, Sir George  26, 84, 86 to 95
Booth, Robert  83
Booth, Sir George, defeat and
capture of  g3
Booth, Sir George, grant by Par
liament for distinguished ser
vices  g4
Booth, Sir George, death of ... . 95
Booth, Nathaniel  107
Bradshaw, Col  42

Index.

193

PAGE
Brereton  21 , 29
Brereton Tradition  21
Brereton, William, Sir  21, 80
Brereton, Jane  21
Brereton, William  80, 88
Briefs, collected  50
British road  1,3
Broadheath  3
Brooke, Col  92
Burgesses, election of  66
Burying in linen  48
Bull baiting at Bowdon .... 166, 167
Butler  20, 22, 81
Carrington Chapel  19, 28
Carringtons  19,81,84
Carrington, John  80
Chantry Chapel  ig, 8g
Chantry Priests  11
Charters . . . .g, 10, 11, 12, 57, 70, 71
Charities: — Mayor's land, 61; Dame
Booth's, 84 ; Barratt's, 176 ; Chap
man's, 176 ; Twemlow's, 176 ;
various, 176 ; Holland's, 176 ;
Cooper's, 176; Earl of Warrington's,
177 ; Cooke's, 177 ; Ashton's, 177 ;
George Cooke's, 178 ; (see also Ap
pendix.)
Chauntrill  77
Cheshire under Commonwealth . . go
Chester, capture of  gi
Chester, Bishopric  18
Church restored, cost  39
Churchwardens, 18, 2g, 36, 38, 44 47
168
Civil war  88, 89, 90
Cockfighting at Altrincham .... 166
Coin, -Saxon  5
Congregational Churches 138, 139 140,
141
Court Leet  .¦  57 to 70
Court Leet, officers  59163,64
Court Leet, jurisdiction . . 63, 64, 65
Court Leet dinners  67, 68
Cromwell  90
Curfew  18
Customs, explanation of  72
Customs, ancient  126, 127
Delamer, Lord, his views of Mon
archy  104, 105
Davenport or Damport  85
Delamer, Lord  24, 25, 26, 94
Delamer, Henry Lord  g6
Delamer, Lord, animosity against g7
Delamer, Lord, his committals to
the Tower  97

PAGE
Delamer, Lord, trial of, 97, 98, 99, 100,
loi, 102
Delamer, Lord, created Earl of
Warrington  104
Delamer, Lord, his death  105
Destruction of small birds .. 167, 168
Dick Turpin's exploits near Al
trincham  120, 121
Dissenters  44, 45, 46, 48, 49
Domesday Book, entries  7
Doneham  17
Dunham Park  3, 128
Dunham Castle  8, 14
Dunham Barony  12, 13, 76
Dunham Chapel  ig, 24, 28, 37
Dunham Hall  g4
Dunham ale  127
Dutton  13, 20, 7g
Earl's Christmas box  60
Earl of Warrington  66
Egerton, Sir Ralph  81
Egerton, Sir Thomas  86
Executions for burglary, &c. 125, 126
Extracts from old minute books, 156,
157. 158, 159
Fire engine  151
Fitton  20, 76, 77
Gerrard  22
Glass, painted  22, 23
Gore, Rev. A  54
Grants to Mayor  60, 61
Grants, conditions of  60, 61
Grey, Uon. Booth  63
Grey, Harry, Earl of Stamford . . 107
Grey family, its antiquity, c&c. . . 107
Grey, Lady Jane  107
Grey, George Harry, fifth Earl of
Stamford  108
Grey, George Harry, sixth Earl log
Grey, George Harry, seventh Earl
log, no. III, 112
Guy Faux at Altrincham 115, 116, 117

Hale ,

.f  22, 29

Inscriptions on tombstones, 32 to 34,
79
Introduction of gas  178
James II  gg, 103
Jury list  151

Kingsley, J., Rev.

38

Lancaster, Peter  23
Law suits  77
O

194

Index.

PAGE
Lambert  92
Langham  g6
Letter from Queen Jane Seymour 82
Leghs  22
Linen manufacture  115
List of Mayors  73 > 74. 75
Lloyd's Hospital  173, 174
Magistrates, acting  i8g
Manchester South Junction and
Altrincham Railway  172
Manifesto of Sir George Booth . . 92
Mann, Rev. W. H. G  28
Market Place and its associa
tions  i5o, 161
Martindale Adam  119
Martindale, his ejection from
Rostherne  119
Martindale, his life at Dunham . . 120
Masci, Ricardus  i7i 72
Masci, Robertus de  17
Massey, Hamon, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12,
57. 75
Massey, Geffrey  11
Massey, William, Bucklow Hun
dred constable  113, 114
Mayor's oath  58
Mayor, responsibility of  60
Mayor's land  61
Mayor, dignity of  62
Mayor, sayings regarding  62
Mayor's jurisdiction  63 to 65
Mayoral income  69, 70
Mayor's land charity  70
Mayors, list of  73, 74> 75
Mayre  82
Medal  63
Methodist New Connexion Chapel 138
Millington  23
Minute books  149
Mize, or old rate  55
Mobberley  16
Montfort, Robert de  80
Montfort, Catherine  80
Mohtgomery^ John Sir  80
Montgomery, Ellen  80
Monuments, Bowdon .... ig, 20, 21
22, 24, 2g
Monuments, Wilmslow  78, 79
Norman Church, evidences of. . 35, 36
Names, common  50, 114
Names  115
Obsolete punishments — Ducking
stool, &c  123,124
Officials, Court Leet, Duties of 64, 65
Oldfield Hall  3

PAGE
Oldest tombstone  33
Oldbury, John  io5
Organs  28
Pacification of Cheshire at
tempted  88, 8g
Parish clerks  33, 4°
Pedigree of the House of Dun
ham, facing page 112 
Percival  81
Piscina  36
Pollock, Rev. W. . . 36, 38, 52, 53., 54
Poorhouse Lands  153
Presbyterian Church of England
(Trinity)  147
Primitive Methodist Chapel .... 148
Prince Rupert at Bowdon  Ii5
Proqlamation  58
Proverbs  51, 62
Pyepowder Court  58
Rateable values, &c. (see Appendix.)
Registers  39 to 5 1
Registers, index to  39
Ricraft, eulogistic quotation .... 88
Ringers' orders  18
Ringing custom  18
Ringway or Ringey  44, 49, 135
Riots at Altrincham  150, 154
Rising of Sir George Booth .... gi
Roll of Battle Abbey  6
Roman road  3
Roman Catholic Church  183
Salt Works at Dunham  167
Sanjam Fair  57
Saxon Christianity  16
Scold's bridle  123, 124
Select Vestry, proceedings 168, 169
170, 171
Seven sisters, legend  14
Sharpe, John  23
Sinderland  49
Stanley  42, 77
Stretford  12
St. George's Church 53, 132, 133, 134
St. John's Church  146
St. Margaret's Church 141, 142, 143
144, 145
St. Margaret's, Vicar of ... . 145, 146
Tablets  28, 29, 30, 31, 38
Tatton  22, 40, 77, 81
Tombstones  32 to 34
Trades, references to 42, 43, 45, 47, 48
49
Trafford  82
Tumulus  3

Index.

195

PAGE
Unicorn Hotel  117
Unitarian Chapel . . 135, 136, 137, 138
Urns, discovery of  4
Vawdreys  34,43,114,115
Venables, Dulcia or Douce. . . . 77, 7g
Venables, Richard  77
Vicarage, value  18
Vicars  41, 42, 43, 51, 52, 53, 54
Vicar, non juror  52
Vicar, Presbyterian  52
Vicars, list of  54
Wages a century ago  150
Wakes  17,166
Walton or Wolton  80
Warburton  16,21,83
Warrington, Earls of  24, 60

PAGE
Warrington, purchase of  86
Warrington, George, Earl of ... . 106
Watling-street  3
Webb, his Itinerary references . . 85
Wesley's visits  130
Wesleyan 'VIethodist Churches 130
131, 132
Whippings at Altrincham . . 124, 125
Wills, curious extracts. . . . 81, 83, 84
William III., Prince of Orange 102
103, 104
Windows, stained glass 22, 23, 38, 3g
80
Winnington, battle of  92, 93
Woolcombers and their Bishop
Blaize festival  164, 165
Yew trees  16

PRINTED AT THE GUARDIAN OFFICE, ALTRINCHAM.

CORRECTIONS.
Page 30, for metamorphised, read " metamorphosed."
„ 75, in list of Mayors, read " 1867, John Astle
Kelsall."
„ 95, line II, for August loth, read " August Sth."
,, 113, for bull, &c., baiting, see pages 166, 167.

YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

3 9002 08854 3021

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