Bowdon

"BOWDON, a parish in the hundred of Bucklow, in the county palatine of Chester, 8 miles to the S.W. of Manchester. It is a station on the Manchester, South Junction, and Altrincham railway. The parish, which lies on the border of Lancashire, on the south bank of the river Mersey, where the Bollin falls into it is of great extent, and comprises the market town of Altrincham, the chapelries of Carrington, St. Margaret's, Dunham-Massey, St. George's Altrincham, Ringway, and Timperley, and the townships of Agden, Ashley, Baguley Bollington, Hale, and Partington. Part of Agden and of Bollington are in the parish of Rostherne. The Bridgwater canal passes through the parish Since the opening of the railway, many good residences have been erected in the vicinity, which are occupied by Manchester merchants and manufacturers. The living is a vicarage* in the diocese of Chester, of the value of £600, in the patronage of the bishop. The church, which is dedicated to St. Mary, and formerly belonged to the Priory of Birkenhead, has been rebuilt and enlarged at great expense in 1860; the present church being the fifth which has occupied the same site. It is in the perpendicular style, with a mixture of the Tudor in the aisles and clerestory. The glass is stained through out, and there are several fine subject windows. The building is entirely lined with stone; and upon the whole it is one of the most beautiful and imposing of modern parish churches. It was annexed to the see of Chester at the Dissolution. It stands on high ground, and commands from the tower an extensive prospect over the surrounding level country. In the church are many handsome monuments of the Booth family, and among them one to the first Lord Delamere, who espoused the cause of Charles II. and took arms for him, but was defeated by the parliamentary forces under Lambert. Here is also a monument by Westmacott to Thomas Assheton, who died in 1759. The Wesleyan Methodists have a large and handsome chapel here, which was erected in 1857. Schools were founded and endowed by Edward Vawdrey in the 17th century, the income of which is now about £70. The charitable bequests for the benefit of the poor are numerous, and produce above £400 per annum. A Roman road passed through Bowdon. The parish extends over an area of 17,971 acres."

"AGDEN, a township in the parishes of Bowdon and Rostherne, in the hundred of Bucklow, in the county palatine of Chester, 4 miles S.W. of Altrincham."

"ALTRINCHAM, (or Altringham), a market town and chapelry in the parish of Bowdon, and hundred of Bucklow, in the county palatine of Chester, 28 miles to the N.E. of Chester, 8 miles S.W. of Manchester, with which it is now connected by a railway, and 197 miles by rail from London. Its pleasant and healthful situation near Bowdon Downs has long made it attractive to invalids from Manchester, and since the construction of the railway, many of the business men of Manchester have gone to reside at Altrincham, for whose convenience trains are run frequently through the day. The town, which is neat and clean, lies near the river Mersey, and the Bridgwater canal from Manchester to Runcorn passes through it. The living is a perpetual curacy* in the diocese of Chester, value £210, in the patronage of the vicar. The church, which is dedicated to St. George, was built by subscription in 1799. There are chapels belonging to the Unitarians, Roman Catholics, and Independents, and two to the Methodists, besides a floating chapel, in connection with the Church of England, on the canal. The jubilee school for eighty girls was established in 1810, and is supported by voluntary contributions. The principal occupations of the place now are the weaving of linen thread, and turning of bobbins for the cotton and worsted spinners. Vegetables and fruit are grown in the neighbourhood for the Manchester market. The Earl of Stamford has lately erected a townhall here. The market is on Tuesday, and fairs are held on the 22nd April, the 5th August, and the 22nd November, for the sale of cattle and sheep. A county court is held here. By a charter granted in the reign of Edward I. by Hamon de Massy, lord of Dunham Massy, Altrincham was made a free burgh, and the burgesses had power to choose a guild merchant and a bailiff. A mayor is still elected in the autumn, but his office is nominal, the only duty in connection with it being that of opening the fairs. The charities of the place amount to £57.

"ASHLEY, a township in the parish of Bowdon, and hundred of Bucklow, in the county palatine of Chester, 2 miles to the S. of Altrincham. The river Bollin runs near it. Ashley Hall is the principal residence. It was the seat of the Asshetons, and has a collection of portraits of county gentlemen who resolved not to aid the Pretender."

"BAGULEY, a township in the parish of Bowdon, and hundred of Bucklow, in the county palatine of Chester, 3 miles N.E. from Altrincham. The chief residence is Baguley Hall, the seat of T. Tatton, Esq."

"BOLLINGTON, a township in the parish of Bowdon, hundred of Bucklow, in the county palatine of Chester, 5 miles to the N. of Knutsford. The Bridgwater canal and the river Bollin pass through this township The Wesleyans have a chapel here."

"CARRINGTON, a chapelry in the parish of Bowdon, hundred of Bucklow, in the county palatine of Chester, 3 miles to the W. of Altrincham. Manchester is its post town. It is situated on the banks of the river Irwell. The living is a perpetual curacy in the diocese of Chester, value £375, in the patronage of the Earl of Stamford and Warrington. The church is dedicated to St. George."

"DUNHAM MASSEY, a township in the parish of Bowdon, hundred of Bucklow, in the county palatine of Chester, 3 miles S.W. of Altrincham, and 10¾ from Manchester by the Manchester and Garston railway, on which it is a station. It is situated on a branch of the river Mersey and the Bridgwater canal, and contains the hamlets of Dunham Town, Dunham Woodhouse, Oldfield, and Sinderland; the two last being the Doneham of Domesday Book. A castle was built here by the Masseys, but there are no remains of it. The living is a perpetual curacy in the diocese of Chester, value £80, in the patronage of the Earl of Stamford and Warrington. The church is built in the form of a cross, with tower containing a peal of ten bells. It is dedicated to St. Margaret. The Baptists and Independents have each a chapel, and there is a National school for both sexes. The seat of the Earl of Stamford and Warrington, called Dunham Massey, contains a valuable collection of paintings. The park is of great extent, beautifully laid out, and abounds with deer. In the neighbourhood various ancient remains, such as tumuli, urns, &c., have been found."

"HALE, a township in the parish of Bowdon, hundred of Bucklow, county Chester, 2½ miles S.E. of Altrincham, and 10 from Manchester. It contains many scattered farmhouses, forming a considerable village. The land is clayey and chiefly arable. The Earl of Stamford and Warrington is lord of the manor, and chief landowner."

"MORLEY, a hamlet in the parish of Bowdon, county Chester, 6 miles S.E. of Altrincham. It is situated near the river Mersey and Bridgwater canal."

"OLDFIELD, a hamlet in the township of Dunham-Massey, parish of Bowdon, county Chester, 1½ mile W. of Altrincham. It is situated on the Bridgwater canal, and a branch of the river Mersey."

"PARTINGTON, a township in the parish of Bowdon, hundred of Bucklow, county Chester, 4 miles N.W. of Altrincham, and 9 from Warrington. The village, which is small, is situated on the navigable river Irwell, a branch of the Mersey. There is an extensive paper-mill, a millboard manufactory, and two tanyards, which give employment to a large number of hands. The Independents, Wesleyans, and Primitive Methodists have each a place of worship. The Earl of Stamford and Warrington is lord of the manor and principal landowner"

"SINDERLAND, a hamlet in the township of Dunham Massey, and parish of Bowdon, county Chester, 3 miles W. of Altrincham, on the Bridgwater canal, near a branch of the river Mersey."

"TIMPERLEY, a township in the parish of Bowdon, hundred of Bucklow, county Chester, 1½ mile N.E. of Altrincham, its post town, and 1 W. of the Timperley station on the Manchester, South Junction, and Altrincham line of railway. The village is on the Bridgewater canal. There are market gardens and a stone quarry. The soil is chiefly clay, with a subsoil of marl. The living is a perpetual curacy* in the diocese of Chester, value £200, in the patronage of trustees. The church, dedicated to Christ, is modern, with a painted E. window by Wailes of Newcastle. The parochial charities produce about £20 per annum. There are an endowed school for boys, and a National school for girls, including infants, and at which a Sunday-school is also held. The Wesleyans have a chapel. Ridings Hall and Pickering Lodge are the principal residences."

"WOODHOUSES, (or Dunham Woodhouse), a hamlet in the parish of Bowdon, county Chester, 3 miles from Altrincham, and 1 mile from Dunham Massey station on the Warrington and Stockport railway.