WEST DERBY HUNDRED 



Formerly there was a ford in general use. John 

 Walley of Runcorn in 1423, in attempting to ride 

 across to Weston by it with two horses laden with 

 fish from Formby, was drowned, though the fish-laden 

 horses crossed safely. In 1465 the court rolls record 

 that a certain John Jackson of the north country and 

 some companions crossed by it with horses, cattle, and 

 sheep, and were stopped by the bailiff until they paid 

 the toll called ' stallage.' ' The ford was in constant 

 use in the Civil War period and later, being mentioned 

 in the deeds of the Halsall charity bequest in 1734. 



M. Gregson in 1817 mentions a project for em- 

 banking the Mersey from the marsh at Ditton down to 

 Garston or even to Knott's Hole at the Dingle. 

 ' Opposite the Dungeon two miles of land in breadth 

 might be enclosed before the present salt works, where 

 the river is fordable at low water.' * 



In the early part of the last century a fair for toys 

 and pedlery was held on 19 November, when a large 

 number of persons called freemen, chosen by the 

 manor court, appointed a mayor. A wake was held 

 on the Sunday next to 1 5 August.* The Great 

 Court of Hale used to be held on the Wednesday 

 before St. Andrew's Day, and a court-leet and court- 

 baron on Michaelmas Day, when constables, coroner 

 (for Hale only), 4 water bailiffs, burleymen, aletasters, 

 and house and fire lookers were chosen ; 4 but courts 

 have not been held for many years. 



The lord had a toll (412'.) from every vessel casting 

 anchor within the bounds. 6 It was the duty of the 

 water bailiff to collect this due or to make distraint 

 for it. From the old court rolls it appears that money 

 found on a drowned man brought ashore at Hale, like 

 other things cast up by the river, went to the lord as 

 ' dower of the sea.' ' 



The township is governed by a parish council. 



HALE with HALEWOOD formed 



MANOR one of the six berewicks of King Edward's 



manor of West Derby in io66. 8 By 



Roger the Poitevin its tithes were in 1094 granted to 



the abbey of St. Martin of Seez. The gift was con- 



CHILDWALL 



firmed by John when count of Mortain, and by 

 Henry III in 1227.' 



The manor remained in the king's hands during the 

 twelfth century. 10 Henry II, after his first coronation, 

 placed part of it perhaps that afterwards known as. 

 Halewood within the forest, viz. from the Flaxpool 

 to the Quintbridge ; but it was disafforested in 

 Henry Ill's reign, according to the charter of the 

 forest." The assized rent of 4 los. was increased in 

 1 200 by z los., so that in later years the sheriff of 

 the county answered for j to the treasury. 12 



By charter, dated at Rouen, 9 November, 1 203, 

 King John granted to Richard de Meath 13 the vill of 

 Hale in its entirety, rendering every Michaelmas for 

 all service the increased rent of j above mentioned. 

 The vill was to be held by Richard and his heirs by 

 hereditary right." 



The words as to descent by hereditary right led to 

 trouble. Richard de Meath was a clerk and beneficed, 

 having been presented to Swineford church in 1203 

 and again in 1207," so that he may have been in holy 

 orders. Yet he allied himself with one Cecily de 

 Columbers, 16 and had four sons and two daughters by 

 her. In 1226-7 he granted to Cecily de Columbers 

 and her children begotten by him and their heirs the 

 vill of Hale and its appurtenances, to be held of 

 Richard himself during his life, and after his death of 

 his brother Henry de Walton and his heirs, ' who,' 

 he declared, ' are my heirs.' The remainders were to 

 Cecily's children in turn Richard, Geoffrey, Adam, 

 Henry, Emma, and Cecily ; ' and so to all other 

 children that the said Cecily may have by me.' The 

 holder was to pay annually to Henry de Walton and 

 his heirs the 7 due to the king and I2</., or a 

 pound of pepper, in addition." About the same 

 time (viz. on 19 July, 1227) Henry III confirmed 

 his father's grants to Richard, as well as the latter's 

 charter granting Hale to Henry de Walton and his 

 heirs. 18 



Richard de Meath lived for several years after this 

 charter, 19 dying, it is supposed, about 1235. He was 



141 



