Brereton cum Smethwick

"BRERETON-CUM-SMETHWICK, a parish in the hundred of Northwich, in the county palatine of Chester, 2 miles to the N.E. of Sandbach. Its post town is Congleton. It is situated on the river Crock, and is crossed by the London and North-Western railway. The manor was formerly held by the Brereton family. The living is a rectory* in the diocese of Chester, of the value of £681, in the patronage of Mrs. E. Royds. The church, an ancient and handsome edifice, is dedicated to St. Oswald. It is in the perpendicular style of architecture, with a carved roof, and contains monuments of the Breretons and Smethwicks. Brereton was a chapelry to the parish of Astbury till the reign of Henry VIII., when it was constituted a separate parish. There are three chapels belonging to the Dissenters. The charitable endowments, consisting of bequests by Mr. Jepson and the Breretons, for the relief of the poor, amount to about £28 per annum. Brereton Hall is an ancient mansion, formerly the seat of the Brereton family, by one of whom, Sir William Brereton, afterwards Lord Brereton of Leighlin, it was erected about 1586. It has been partly taken down. Near the hall is a sheet of water, called Bagmere Pool, with which is connected the romantic tradition that the death of an heir of the Brereton family was foreshadowed by the appearance of trunks of trees floating on its surface."

"SMETHWICK, a township in the parish of Brereton cum Smethwick, hundred of Northwick, county Chester, 4 miles N.E. of Sandbach."