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Samuel Lewis - A Topographical Dictionary of England (1831)

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PRESTBURY, a parish in the hundred of MACCLESFIELD, county palatine of CHESTER, comprising the market-town of Macclesfield, the chapelries of Bosley, Capesthorne, Chelford, Macclesfield - Forest, Marton, Poynton, Pott-Shrigley, Rainow, Siddington, and Wincell, and the townships of Adlington, Birtles, Boilington, Butley, Eaton, Fallybroom, Henbury with Pexall, Hurdsfield, Kettleshulme, Lyme-Handley, Mottram St. Andrew Newton, Prestbury, North Rode, Sutton, Tytherington, Upton, Wildboar-Clough, Lower Withington, Old Withington, Woodford, and Worth, and containing 34,976 inhabitants, of which number, 440 are in the township of Prestbury, 2¾ miles (N. N. W.) from Macclesfield.

The living is a vicarage, in the archdeaconry and diocese of Chester, rated in the king's books at £10, and in the patronage of Thomas Legh, Esq. The church, dedicated to St. Peter, is of great antiquity, and has portions in various styles; on the south side is an ancient low building of stone, now used as a parochial school-house, which is considered to be an ancient Norman church, and consists of a nave and chancel, with an enriched west entrance: in a private chapel, which terminates the south aisle of the church, is a piscina, together with a portion of a carved oak screen. There is a place of worship for Wesleyan Methodists.

A school-house was built in 1720, principally at the expense of John Legh, Esq., and endowed by Mrs. Ann Whittacres, with the interest of £100, for the instruction of ten of the poorest children in the township. In the parochial school belonging to the church, one hundred children are taught.

Fairs for cattle are held on April 28th and October 22nd. A court leet and baron for the township is held in May and December, the jurisdiction of which comprehends all pleas under 40s.

In the township of Butley, in this parish, several ancient tumuli, containing urns and other relics of antiquity, were discovered some years since; in these vessels it is said that oak leaves, and shells of acorns, were found, retaining a freshness of appearance as if recently gathered; stones from several of the tumuli have been used for the repair of the roads in the neighbourhood.

From Samuel Lewis A Topographical Dictionary of England  (1831) ©Mel Lockie