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CHESHIRE. 



CHESHIRE. 



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date. Beaton, 10 miles E.S.E. from Chester, population of the 

 township, which is in the parish of Bunbury, 397, is celebrated for its 

 castle, which has been already noticed. The ruins have a picturesque 

 appearance, and a very extensive view is obtained from them. Sol- 

 lington is an extensive village and chapelry in the parish of Prestbury, 

 40 miles E. by N. from Chester and 3 miles N. from Macclesfield : 

 population of the chapelry 4655. The inhabitants are employed in 

 cotton factories and silk mills ; there are also some collieries. The 

 Macclesfield Canal passes by the village. There is a chapel of ease, 

 erected at the cost of the late Mr. Turner. The Wesleyan and Primi- 

 tive Methodists have places of worship. Bowdon, 29 miles N.E. from 

 Chester, population of township 1164, is pleasantly situated on an 

 elevation about 1 mile S. from Altringham. From the church tower 

 there is a very extensive and pleasing prospect. The church is in 

 part of Norman date. In it are some good monuments. There is an 

 Endowed Grammar school. New Brighton, population included with 

 that of Wallasey parish, 24 miles N.N.W. from Chester, is situated 

 at the mouth of the Mersey. The village has increased rapidly in 

 population within the last few years. Several large hotels have 

 been constructed, and numerous good villa residences. The beach is 

 well adapted for bathing, and the sea views are very fine. By the 

 steamer it is only 4 or 5 miles from Liverpool. Bromborouyh, 11 

 miles N.N.W. from Chester, population 538, was formerly a market- 

 town, but is now a place of little consequence. A station of the 

 Chester and Birkenhead railway is at Bromborough. There was 

 formerly an abbey here. The church is small but ancient. Great 

 Buftworth, population of the township 643, of the parish 17,990, is 

 pleasantly situated near Pickmere Mere and Budworth Mere, about 

 2 miles N. from Northwieh. The parish comprises an area of 35,920 

 acres. Besides the parish church there are a chapel for Wesleyan 

 Methodists, and Parochial and Infant schools. The Wilton Free 

 Grammar school, founded in 1556, has an income from endowment 

 which amounted in 1837 to 269 J. a year. It is now conducted as a 

 National school, the schoolmaster receiving only 151. a year from the 

 endowment, jsuylawton, 84 miles E. from Chester, population of 

 the township 2052, is a short distance from Congleton, with which 

 town it is pretty closely connected. The inhabitants are chiefly 

 employed in the manufacture of cotton and silk. A new church was 

 erected here in 1829. Bunbury, 12 miles S.E. from Chester : popula- 

 tion of the township 931. The church is a very fine one of the per- 

 pendicular style. In the interior are several interesting monuments. 

 The Wesleyan Methodists have a place of worship. The Free 

 Grammar school, founded in 1594, is free to children of the parish. 

 The number of scholars in 1852 was 72. There is also a National 

 school. Burton, population 467, on the right bank of the Dee oestuary, 

 9 miles N.W. from Chester, possesses a Free school with an income 

 from endowment of 37J. a year. Cheadle Bulteley, population of the 

 township 5489, and Ckcadle Hfoteley, population of the township 

 2319, are two contiguous villages, about 3 miles W.S.W. from Stock- 

 port. The inhabitants are occupied in calico-printing and silk-weaving. 

 On the Mersey are some corn-mills. The parish church, which is 

 ancient, contains some good monuments. Compstall Bridge, 5 miles 

 E.S.E. from Stockport, in the parish of Stockport, is a busy and 

 populous village. The inhabitants are chiefly employed in cotton- 

 spinning and calico-printing. Besides the church, there are places of 

 worship for Wesleyan and Primitive Methodists. DarnhaU, popula- 

 tion of township 186, about 8 miles W.S.W. from Middlewich, 

 possesses an Endowed Grammar school, founded in 1681, which is 

 free to 26 boys in DarnhaU and Swanlow ; the income from endow- 

 ment is 70<. a year ; the number of scholars in 1852 was 94. Dtiley, 

 or Diiley Stanley, about 6 miles S.E. from Stockport, on the eastern 

 border of the county : population of the township 2225. Cotton 

 factories and print works give employment to the inhabitants ; 

 there is also a large whiting factory. The chapel is of the perpen- 

 dicular date and style. The Wesleyan Methodists have a place of 

 worship. Eautham, 9J miles N. by W. from Chester : population of 

 the township 419. The village, which is pleasantly situated on the 

 Mersey, is much resorted to by the inhabitants of Liverpool during 

 the summer. A steamer plies regularly to Liverpool throughout the 

 season. Ellesmere Port, in Eastham parish, 8 miles N. from Chester, 

 has risen into some consequence since the construction of a capacious 

 dock and extensive warehouses by the Ellesmere and Chester Canal 

 Company. Many good villa residences have been erected by the 

 Marquis of Westminster. Besides a chapel belonging to the Establish- 

 ment, there are a chapel for Wesleyan Methodists, and a National 

 school. Gee Crou, about 4 miles E.N.E. from Stockport, is a popu- 

 lous village : the population is returned with the parish of Stockport. 

 There are extensive cotton-mills here. Besides a chapel of the Estab- 

 lishment, there are chapels for Wesleyan Methodists and Unitarians. 

 Oodlty, 45 miles N.E. from Chester: population of the township, 

 1353. There are several cotton-mills, Halton, 14 miles N.E. by N. 

 from Chester : population of the township 1570. A castle was 

 erected here soon after the Norman conquest ; John of Gaunt, duke 

 of Lancaster, possessed the castle, and resided much in it. A portion 

 of the remains is now fitted up as an inn. Halton is in much favour 

 as a summer residence. The village contains a Grammar school, also 

 almshouses for six poor persons. Hazel drove, 4 miles S. from 

 Stockport, of which parish it is a hamlet. Till 1836 this place was 



called Bullock Smithy. Wesleyan and Association Methodists and Inde- 

 pendents have places of worship. There are National and Infant 

 schools, and a dispensary. The chief occupation is the weaving of 

 silk and cotton. Holmes Chapel, or Church Holme, 24 miles E. from 

 Chester : population of the township 555. The chui-ch consists of a 

 nave, chancel, and aisles, and has an embattled tower with pinnacles. 

 In the village are a Wesleyau Methodist chapel, and an]endowed Blue- 

 Coat school. Fairs for cattle and horses are held in April, October, 

 and November. West Kirby, population of township 435, about 7 

 miles W. from Birkenhead, is situated on the shore of the Dee [estuary, 

 near its outfall. There is here a Grammar school, founded in 1636, 

 which is free to sons of parishioners ; the income from endowment is 

 581. a year. The number of scholars in 1852 was 30. Leftwich, 18 

 miles E. by N. from Chester : population of the township 2528. A 

 Wesleyan chapel and an Infant school are in the township ; salt-works 

 and a tannery are carried on. Liscard, situated at the mouth of the 

 Mersey, 4 miles N. by W. from Birkenhead, population of Liscard 

 township, 4100 ; has a rather handsome church. Lymm, population 

 3156, about 8 miles W.S.W. from Altringham. The church is ancient ; 

 the tower was rebuilt in 1521 ; from the tower is obtained an extended 

 view of picturesque scenery. There is here a Wesleyau Methodist 

 chapel. The Grammar school, established in 1698, has an endow- 

 ment of about 120i. a year, and had 100 scholars in 1851. There is 

 also a National school. Lymm Hall, and other excellent mansions, 

 are in the neighbourhood. A cross, the lower steps of which are cut 

 in the rock, stands opposite the gates of Lymm Hall. Marple, popu- 

 lation of the township 3558, is on the eastern border of the county, 5 

 miles E.S.E. from Stockport. All Saints church has been rebuilt ; hi 

 the tower are placed the old bells of Stockport church. There are 

 chapels for Wesleyan and Primitive Methodists, a Grammar school, 

 and a National school. Cotton-spinning, bleaching, and calico print- 

 ing are extensively carried on ; there is also some boat building. On 

 the river Goyt are coru-mills. A branch of the Peak Forest Canal 

 from Marple joins the Mersey Canal at Lawton. Marple Hall, an 

 interesting old mansion, is in the possession of a descendant of John 

 Bradshaw, who presided at the trial of Charles I. Mottram-in-Lony- 

 dendale, population 3199, is situated near the north-east extremity of 

 the county, about 7 miles N.E. from Stockport, surrounded by rugged 

 and picturesque scenery. In the vicinity are Mottram hill and the 

 Car Tor. The Car Tor is a singular eminence rising abruptly from 

 the plain to a height of about 80 feet. It is composed of regularly 

 arranged strata of rock, freestone, and a kind of slate or coal. 

 Besides the parish church, there are chapels for New Connexion 

 Methodists and Moravians. The Free Grammar school, founded in 

 1610, had an income in 1837 of 651. a year from endowment. 

 Its affairs have been the subject of proceedings in Chancery. Iron 

 foundries, and collieries, with cotton-spinning, calico-printing, and 

 other establishments, give employment to the inhabitants. Great 

 Neiton, on the right bank of the scstuary of the Dee, 104 miles N.W. 

 from Chester, population of the township 1524, is chiefly dependent 

 on visitants during the summer. The parish church, dedicated to 

 St. Mary, is ancient ; the tower was repaired in 1697. There are 

 here a Wesleyan chapel, a National and an Infant school. Northern, 

 population of the township 679, is pleasantly situated on the left 

 bank of the Mersey and north border of the county, about 6 miles 

 W. from Stockport. The church, dedicated to St. Wilfrid, has a 

 nave, chancel, side aisle, and a tower. There is here an Infant school. 

 Over, population of the township 2926, is situated near the left bank 

 of the Weaver, about 4 miles W. from Middlewich. This town, 

 though small, claims to be a borough by prescription, and is governed 

 by a mayor. In the principal street, which forms a part of the high 

 road, are remains of several crosses. The parish church, an old 

 building, has some good specimens of stained glass. There is a 

 chapel for Independents. A small weekly market is held. The 

 annual fair continues for three days. A brewery, and brick and tile- 

 works, afford some employment. Parkgate, a small bathing town on 

 the right bank of the Dee ; adjoins Great Neston, with which town- 

 ship the population is included. The houses, which are neatly and 

 regularly built, command a fine prospect of the opposite Welsh coast. 

 Communication with Flint and Bagilt on the Welsh side is maintained 

 by ferry boats. A saud-bank off the town prevents vessels of heavy 

 burden coming up to the quay. The Independents and Wesleyan 

 Methodists have places of worship here. Preston Brook, or Preston- 

 on-t/ie-Hill, 14 miles N.E. from Chester, population 594, situated on 

 the line of the Liverpool and Birmingham railway, has extensive 

 warehouses for the accommodation of the traffic by the different 

 canals in the district. The carrying trade is here of considerable 

 magnitude. Rosthern, population of the township 388, is pleasantly 

 situated about 4 miles S. by W. from Altringham. By Rostheru 

 Mere, a beautiful sheet of water, is the ancient church, dedicated to 

 St. Mary ; it is partly of Norman date, and has a stone tower, built 

 in 1538. At Hoo Green, a place much resorted to by the neighbour- 

 ing gentry, a bowling-club is established. Seacomue, population of 

 the joint township of Poulton-cum-Seacombe 3044, is on the left bank 

 of the Mersey, opposite Liverpool, with which there is constant com- 

 munication by ferry. There are here large copper-mills, an iron 

 foundry, smelt-works, and a varnish manufactory. The Wesleyan 

 Methodists have a chapel. Tan-in, 6 miles E. from Chester, popula- 



