Middlewich

"MIDDLEWICH, a parish, post and market town, in the hundreds of Northwich and Eddisbury, county Chester, 20 miles E. of Chester, 6 from Northwich, and 2 from the Winsford station on the London and North-Western line of railway. It is supposed to be the site of the Roman station called Condate, but the earliest notice of it is in the reign of Edward the Confessor, when it was held by the Earl of Mercia under the king. After the Conquest it was annexed to the earldom of Chester, and subsequently to the crown, under which it is held by the present lessee. The parish comprises the chapelries of Kinderton, Newton, Minshall, Vernon, Byley, and twelve townships. It is watered by the rivers Weaver, Wheelock, Croes or Crooke, and the Dane, which last here crosses the Grand Trunk or Trent and Mersey canal. The town of Middlewich is situated in the centre of the wiches or salt towns, hence the origin of its present name. It is lighted with gas, and contains several narrow streets with many thatched houses, although of late years it has been much modernised. The townhall is a modern erection. The upper part of the building is used for the holding of petty sessions and for public meetings, also by the literary and scientific institution and the savings-bank, while the lower part of the hall is used for provisions on market days. There are silk and cotton mills giving employment to a large number of hands, also corn mills. In the vicinity of the town are several brine springs, from which salt is made. About three parts of the land is in pasture and one-fourth arable. Constables are appointed at the court-leet of the lessee of the manor. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Chester, value £150. The parish church, dedicated to St. Michael, is a noble structure, with a tower containing six bells. The interior of the church contains tombs of the Venables. The parochial charities produce about £11 per annum. There are also two district churches, viz: Byley with Lees and at Minshull Vernon, the livings of which are perpetual curs, value £100 each. There is a large National school for both sexes, erected in 1854. The Independents and Wesleyans have each a chapel. Market day is Tuesday. Fairs are held on the last Tuesday in the months of February, April, and October."

"BYLEY-CUM-YATEHOUSE, a township in the parish of Middlewich, hundred of Northwich, in the county palatine of Chester, 1 mile from Middlewich. The Trent and Mersey canal passes near it. The living is a perpetual curacy in the diocese of Chester, value £40, in the patronage of the Vicar of Middlewich."

"CLIFF, (or Clive), a township in the parish of Middlewich, in the hundred of Northwich, in the county of Chester, 2 miles W. of Middlewich, its post town. It is situated on the Grand Junction railway, near the river Weaver.

"CROXTON, a township in the parish of Middlewich, hundred of Northwich, in the county of Chester, 1 mile N.W. of Middlewich, its post town, and 5 miles from Northwich. It is situated on the Grand Trunk canal and the river Dane, which bounds it on the S. and W."

"KINDERTON, a township in the parish of Middlewich, hundred of Northwich, county Chester, 2 miles E. of Middlewich. It is joined with Hulme, and is connected with the parish of Middlewich by a bridge over the canal. The village is considerable. The powerful barons of Kinderton exercised the right of inflicting capital punishment for crimes committed within the barony until the end of the 16th century."

"MINSHULL-VERNON, a township in the parish of Middlewich, hundred of Northwich, county Chester, 4 miles S.W. of Middlewich, its post town, and near Wimboldsley. It is a station on the London and North-Western railway. The village, which is irregularly built, is wholly agricultural. It anciently belonged to the Vernons, from whom it derives the suffix to its name, and has since passed through several families of distinction; it is now partly held by the Frances of Bostock Hall. The land is chiefly in pasture. The living is a perpetual curacy in the diocese of Chester, value £100, in the patronage of the bishop. The church is a small edifice. There is a National school. Newfield Hall is the principal residence, and seat of Edward Loyd, Esq., who is lord of the manor."

"MOORESBARROW-CUM-PARME, a township in the parish of Middlewich, hundred of Northwich, county Chester, 3 miles S.E. of Middlewich. It is situated on a branch of the river Dane near the Manchester railway."

"NEWTON, a township in the parish of Middlewich, hundred of Northwich, county Chester, 1 mile from Middlewich, its post town, and 4 miles from Sandbach. The village, which is considerable, is situated on the Grand Trunk canal, on the banks of which are extensive salt works. The inhabitants are chiefly engaged in agriculture. There are brick and tile kilns. There is a grammar school. Newton Lodge is the principal residence."

"OCCLESTONE, a township in the parish of Middlewich, hundred of Northwich, county Chester, 1¾ mile S. of Middlewich, its post town. It is situated at a short distance from the Grand Junction canal and railway. The village, which is small and irregularly built, is situated on the river Wenlock, and is wholly agricultural. The manor house is now converted into a farmhouse. E. Vernon, Esq., is lord of the manor."

"PARME, a township in the parish of Middlewich, hundred of Northwich, county Chester, 2½ miles S.E. of Middlewich."

"RAVENSCROFT, a township in the parish of Middlewich, hundred of Northwich, county Chester, 1 mile N.W. of Middlewich. It is situated on the river Dane."

"SPROSTON, a township in the parish of Middlewich, county Chester, 2 miles N.E. of Middlewich, its post town. It is a small agricultural village on the river Dane."

"STUBLACH, a township in the parish of Middlewich, hundred of Northwich, county Chester, 4 miles N.E. of Middlewich."

"SUTTON, a township in the parish of Middlewich, hundred of Northwich, county Chester, 1 mile S. of Middlewich, on the river Wenlock."

"WEAVER, (or Weever), a township in the parish of Middlewich,first division of Eddisbury hundred, county Chester, 4 miles S.W. of Middlewich. The Wesleyans and Association Methodists have each a chapel. G. Wilbraham, Esq., is lord of the manor.

"WIMBOLDSLEY, a township in the parish of Middlewich and hundred of Northwich, county Chester, 2 miles S.W. of Middlewich. It is situated near the river Weaver, on the line of the London and North-Western railway."

"YATEHOUSE, a hamlet in the parish of Middlewich, hundred of Northwich, county Chester, 2 miles N.E; of Middlewich. It is in conjunction with Byley to form a township"