Acton

"ACTON, a parish in the hundred of Nantwich, in the county palatine of Chester, 1 mile N.W. of Nantwich. It is situated on the Grand Junction and Ellesmere canals, and contains the townships of Acton Aston-juxta-Mondrum, Austerson, Baddington, Brindley, Burland, Cholmondstone, Cool-Pilate, Eddlestone, Faddiley, Henhull, Hurleston, Newhall, Poole, Stoke, and Worleston, and a part of Sound. It was the seat of the Saxon Earl Morcar, and has descended to the Earl of Dysart through the families of the Levels, Ardens, and Wilbrahams. Here are two almshouses, endowed by Sir R. Wilbraham, and charities producing about £80 per annum, £40 of which is devoted to the maintenance of four poor widows, and apprenticing poor girls. There is a free school. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Chester, value £627, in the patronage of J. Tollemache Esq., M.P., of Tilstone. The church is dedicated to St. Mary, and has some curiously ornamented windows. It is partly in the early. English style, and contains the tombs of the Mainwarings, &c. This church and Dorfold Hall, the seat of the Tomlinsons, were occupied by the royalists in October, 1643, and on their retreat were garrisoned by the parliament. They were taken again by Lord Byron, but the garrisons surrendered to Fairfax after the raising of the siege of Nantwich. In addition to the parish church, there is a district church at Burley Dam, which is now a perpetual curacy, value £100, in the patronage of Viscount Combermere."

"ASTON-JUXTA-MONDRUM, a township in the parish of Acton, hundred of Nantwich, in the county palatine of Chester, 3 miles to the N. of Nantwich. The Chester and Crewe railway passes through it. Braynes Hall, now a farmhouse, is the ancient seat of the Brayne family."

"AUSTERTON, a township in the parish of Acton, in the hundred of Nantwich, county palatine of Chester, 2 miles to the N.W. of Nantwich. It is watered by the river Weaver."

"BADDINGTON, a township in the parish of Acton, and hundred of Nantwich, in the county palatine of Chester, 2 miles to the S. of Nantwich. The Grand Junction canal passes through it."

"BRINDLEY, a township in the parish of Acton, hundred of Nantwich, in the county palatine of Chester, 4 miles to the W. of Nantwich."

"BURLAND, a township in the parish of Acton, and hundred of Nantwich, in the county palatine of Chester, 3 miles to the N.W. of Nantwich. It is not far from the Crewe and Shrewsbury branch of the London and North-Western railway, and is crossed by the Ellesmere canal."

"BURLEY-DAM, a chapelry in the parish of Acton, hundred of Nantwich, in the county palatine of Chester, 4 miles to the S. of Whitchurch. It is situated on the border of Shropshire, near the Crewe and Shrewsbury branch of the London and North-Western railway. The living is a perpetual curacy in the diocese of Chester, value £100, in the patronage of Viscount Combermere."

"CHOLMONDSTONE, a township in the parish of Acton, in the hundred of Nantwich, in the county of Chester, 42 miles N.W. of Nantwich. It is situated on the Over and Nantwich road, and is intersected by the Shropshire canal and the London and North-Western railway (Chester and Crewe branch). The Wesleyan Methodists have a place of worship."

"COMBERMERE, a township in the parish of Acton, in the county of Chester, 3 miles N.E. of Whitchurch. It was the site of an abbey founded by Hugh Malbanc at the commencement of the 12th century. The Cottons, to whom the site was granted, rebuilt the abbey as a family mansion, the present seat of Viscount Combermere, who takes his name and title from the beautiful lake which winds for above a mile through the park."

"COOL PILATE, a township in the parish of Acton, hundred of Nantwich, in the county of Chester, 4 miles S. of Nantwich, its post town and railway station. It is intersected by the Birmingham and Liverpool canal."

"EDLASTON, a township in the parish of Acton, hundred of Nantwich, county palatine of Chester, 1 mile S.W. of Nantwich. The Birmingham and Liverpool canal passes near the township. The Primitive Methodists have a chapel. The Marquis of Cholmondeley is lord of the manor. Edlaston Hall is the principal residence."

"FADDILEY, a township in the parish of Acton, hundred of Nantwich, county palatine Chester, 4 miles W. of Nantwich. There is a chapel for Wesleyans. John Tollemache, Esq., is lord of the manor."

"HENHULL, a township in the parish of Acton, hundred of Nantwich, county Chester, 1 mile N.W. of Nantwich. The Shropshire Union canal passes through this township."

"HURLESTON, a township in the parish of Acton, hundred of Nantwich, county Chester, 2½ miles N.W. of Nantwich. A branch of the Chester canal passes through the township."

"NEWHALL, a township in the parish of Acton, hundred of Nantwich, county Chester, 5 miles S.W. of Nantwich. It is situated near the Birmingham canal. There are charities producing about £2 7s. 6d. per annum."

"POOLE, a township in the parish of Acton, hundred of Nantwich, county Chester, 2 miles N. of Nantwich. It is a small straggling village, situated near the Chester canal. Its chief attraction is Poole Hall, formerly the seat of the Leycester family."

"STOKE, a township in the parish of Acton, hundred of Nantwich, county Chester, 3 miles N.W. of Nantwich, near the Chester railway and the Grand Junction canal."

"WORLESTON, a township in the parish of Acton, hundred of Nantwich, county Chester, 1½ mile N. of Nantwich. It is situated on the river Wheeler, and is a station on the Manchester, Crewe, and Chester section of the London and North-Western railway."