Malpas

"MALPAS, a parish, post and market town, chiefly in the hundred of Broxton, county Chester, but partly in the hundred of Maylor, county Flint, 5 miles N.E. of Whitchurch, and 10 S. of the Beeston station on the Chester and Crewe railway. It is situated on an eminence near the river Dee and Ellesmere canal, and contains Beckley, Broxton, Bickerton, and 21 other townships. Malpas was anciently called Depembech, signifying a bad pass or road, and was given by Hugh Lupus, the first Norman Earl of Chester, to Robert Fitzhugh, who had a castle here, but no traces of it are now visible, except a circular mound on which the keep stood. The ancient barons exercised capital jurisdiction within the limits of the barony. It has descended through the Sutton, St. Pierres, &c., principally to the Cholmondeleys, who take hence the title of viscount. It is a polling-place for the election of members for the southern division of the county, and petty sessions are held in the town. Courts leet and baron are held annually, at which constables are appointed. The town is situated on an eminence near the Shrewsbury and Chester road, and commands extensive prospects over a great part of North Wales, Stafford- shire, and the Vale Royal. It consists of four streets, which diverge at right angles from a common centre. It is amply supplied with water from a public well, and is well paved. The magistrates meet monthly at Broxton. The excise-office is held at the Red Lion inn. The houses are in general low and irregularly built. The living is a rectory,* in two medieties, called the higher and lower, in the diocese of Chester, value £1,000 and £910 respectively. The church, dedicated to St. Laurence, has a tower containing a clock and six bells. The interior of the church was restored and beautified at great expense in 1841. It forms a grand appearance with its richly clustered pillars supporting six lofty pointed arches, and a gallery at the W. end. The ceiling is of dark oak, empanelled and richly carved, and the floor inlaid with encaustic tiles. The E. window is ornamented with glass medallions of great antiquity, the gift of the present Marquis of Cholmondeley. There are richly carved screens, enclosing the two ancient chapels of the Cholmondeley and Brereton families, in which are several stained windows, with tombs and effigies of those families. In addition to the parish church, there are two endowed chapels, at Tushingham and Bickerton, the livings of which are perpetual curacies,* value £144 and £120. The parochial charities produce about £302 per annum, oil which £119 goes to Alport's school, £25 to the free grammar school, and £34 to Brereton's almshouses. An infant school has been recently added to the Alport school. Fairs are held on the 5th April, 26th July, and 8th December, for cattle and pedlery."

"AGDEN, a township in the parish of Malpas, in the hundred of Broxton, in the county palatine of Chester, 2 miles to the S.E. of Malpas. It is on the Duke of Bridgewater's canal."

"BARNHILL, a hamlet in the parish of Malpas, and hundred of Broxton, in the county palatine of Chester, 10 miles to the S.E. of Chester. Petty sessions for Broxton hundred are held at this, place. In the neighbourhood is an ancient encampment named Maiden Castle."

"BICKERTON, a township in the parish of Malpas, hundred of Broxton, in the county palatine of Chester, 4 miles from Malpas. Its post town is Chester, and it is included within the Poor-law Union of Nantwich. The living is a perpetual curacy* in the diocese of Chester, value £120, in the gift of the Rector of Malpas. On Bickerton Hill, which commands an extensive prospect, there is an ancient entrenchment, and Roman relics have been found."

"BICKLEY, a township in the parish of Malpas, and hundred of Broxton, in the county palatine of Chester, 3 miles to the N.E. of Malpas. It was the scene of an extraordinary occurrence in July, 1657, when a piece of land covered with large trees suddenly sank with a great noise, and was overwhelmed with a flood of water. The chasm, long dry, is called the Barrel Fall. In 1812, two ancient copper tablets were found in a field in this township, on which was inscribed a decree of the Roman emperor Trajan. They are now in the British Museum. The Wesleyans have a chapel here."

"BRADLEY, a township in the parish of Malpas, and hundred of Broxton, in the county palatine of Chester, 2 miles to the S.E. of Malpas."

"BROXTON, a township in the parish of Malpas, hundred of Broxton, in the county palatine of Chester, 4 miles to the N. of Malpas. This township has given name to the hundred It contains the hamlet of Bolesworth, and Bolesworth Castle, a mansion of modern date, pleasantly situated, and commanding a good prospect. Broxton Hall, the ancient seat of the Dods, Tannatts, and Egertons, is now a farmhouse. The view from the terrace is very extensive and beautiful."

"BULKELEY, a township in the parish of Malpas, hundred of Broxton, in the county palatine of Chester, 5 miles to the N.E. of Malpas.

"CHIDLOW, a township in the parish of Malpas, in the higher division of the hundred of Broxton, in the county of Chester, 2 miles S.E. of Malpas. The owner and lord of the manor is G. C. Goodwin, Esq."

"CHOLMONDELEY, a township in the parish of Malpas, in the higher division of the hundred of Broxton, in the county of Chester, 4 miles from Malpas, and 6 miles N.E. of Nantwich. Cholmondeley Castle, rebuilt in 1804, is the seat of the Marquis of Cholmondeley. It is a fine building in the Norman style, situated on an eminence, and surrounded with beautiful grounds. The old hall was garrisoned by the royalists in 1643, and taken by the Earl of Denbigh the year after. Not far from the castle stands the domestic chapel, which is a neat brick building."

"CHORLTON, a township in the parish of Malpas, in the higher division of the hundred of Broxten, in the county of Chester, 2 miles W. of Malpas. Chorlton Hall, restored in 1847, is a fine building, occupied by the lord of the manor, T. C. Clutton, Esq."

"CUDDINGTON, a township in the parish of Malpas, higher division of the hundred of Broxton, in the county of Chester, 2½ miles W. of Malpas, and 12 from Chester, its post town."

"DUCKINGTON, a township in the parish of Malpas, higher division of the hundred of Broxton, in the county palatine of Chester, 3 miles N.E. of Malpas. Thomas Tyrwhitt Drake, Esq., is lord of the manor."

"EDGE, a township in the parish of Malpas, higher division of the hundred of Broxton, county palatine of Chester, 2 miles N. of Malpas. Edge Hall, an ancient and extensive mansion, has for many generations been the seat of the Dod family; the present occupier and owner is the Rev. Joseph Yates Dod, who is lord of the manor. A part of the Hall has been licensed for divine service. The Higher Hall is a modern built residence."

"EGERTON, a township in the parish of Malpas, higher division of the hundred of Broxton, county palatine of Chester, 4 miles N.E. of Malpas. There are ruins of the ancient hall, which was for some time used as a barn. The Wesleyan Methodists have a chapel. Sir Philip Egerton is lord of the manor."

"GRINDLEY, a township in the parish of Malpas, higher division of the hundred of Broxton, county Chester, 5 miles S.E. of Malpas. It is united with Tushingham."

"HAMPTON, a township in the parish of Malpas, higher division of the hundred of Broxton, county Chester, 2 miles N.E. of Malpas. The houses are very scattered. Mrs. Done is lady of the manor."

"LARKTON, (or Larton), a township in the parish of Malpas, higher division of the hundred of Broxton, county Chester, 3 miles N.E. of Malpas, and 8 N.W. of Whitchurch.

"MACEFEN, a township in the parish of Malpas, higher division of the hundred of Broxton, county palatine of Chester, 2 miles E. of the town of Malpas. Lord Kenyon is lord of the manor and sole proprietor."

"NEWTON-JUXTA-MALPAS, a township in the parish of Malpas, higher division of Broxton hundred, county Chester, 1½ mile S.W. of Malpas. It belongs wholly to T. S. Drake, Esq., who is lord of the manor. There are only two or three farmhouses."

"OLDCASTLE, a township in the parish of Malpas, higher division of the hundred of Broxton, county Chester, 2 miles S.W. of Malpas. It is situated on the river Elf, and once had a castle of Roman origin from whence it derives its present name. The remains of the castle were destroyed about 1580. On Oldcastle Heath an affray took place between the Parliamentarians and Royalists in 1644, in which the latter were defeated, and Colonels Vane and Convers killed. J. W. Dod, Esq., is lord of the manor."

"OVERTON, a township in the parish of Malpas, higher division of the hundred of Broxton, county Chester, 1½ mile N.W. of Malpas. The principal attraction in the neighbourhood is the ancient mansion of Overton Hall, which was formerly surrounded by a moat. S. Gregson, Esq., is lord of the manor and principal landowner. The Wesleyans have a place of worship."

"STOCKTON, a township in the parish of Malpas, hundred of Broxton, county Chester, 2 miles S.W. of Malpas. It is situated on the river Elf. Lord Kenyon is lord of the manor and sole landowner. The Hall is now converted into a farmhouse."

"TUSHINGHAM-CUM-GRINDLEY, a township in the parish of Malpas, higher division of Broxton hundred, county Chester, 3 miles S.E. of Malpas, near the Ellesmere canal. The living is a perpetual curacy in the diocese of Chester, in the patronage of the Rector of Malpas. The chapel is dedicated to St. Chad. The Primitive Methodists have a chapel. The trustees of the late D. Vaudrey, Esq., are lords of the manor."

"WICHAUGH, a township in the parish of Malpas, higher division of Broxton hundred, county Chester, 5 miles N.W. of Whitchurch."

"WIGLAND, a township in the parish of Malpas, county Chester, 2 miles S.E. of Malpas. The inhabitants are chiefly engaged in the salt works at Northwich, where is a brine spring."