WEST DERBY HUNDRED 



This township has a total area of 2,137 acres; 1 

 of which 1,395^ acres belong to Melling proper, 

 or the south-western half, and the remainder to 

 Cunscough ' in the north-east. The ground rises 

 gradually from the Alt, the western boundary, to- 

 wards the north-east, reaching 1 20 ft. near the centre 

 of the township, where is the hamlet of Melling 

 Mount. The hamlet of Waddicar is to the east of 

 Melling village. The church and its few attendant 

 buildings stand upon a slightly elevated knoll of 

 sandstone rock, whence the surrounding country 

 appears in a level panorama. Fields of corn, potatoes, 

 and varied market-garden produce make patches of 

 different colours on every hand, whilst trees and bushes 

 are of the scantiest description. The country in the 

 northern portion of the district is rather richer in ap- 

 pearance ; there are a few more trees than in the south. 

 The soil throughout is sandy and loamy and fertile. 



The principal roads are the main road from Liver- 

 pool to Ormskirk, passing from Kirkby through Melling 

 Mount, and another but circuitous road connecting 

 the same places, coming from Aintree through the 

 village and thence to Maghull. The Leeds and 

 Liverpool Canal winds through the township. The 

 Lancashire and Yorkshire Company's railway from 

 Liverpool to Preston crosses the western corner. 



The population in 1901 numbered 947. 



There are stone pottery works and a gun-cotton 

 factory. 



The township is governed by a parish council. 



A cross is marked on the 1 848 map at Waddicar. 



Among the field names here in 1779 were Knots- 

 field, Cannock, Meakins Hey, Dyers Carr, and 

 Poolers Meadow. 



Godeve held MELLING in 1066 ; it 



MANORS was rated at two plough-lands, and valued 



at lo/. There was a wood a league in 



HALSALL 



length by half a league in breadth, measurements 

 agreeing fairly well with those of Cunscough. It was. 

 part of the privileged three-hide area, though physic- 

 ally separated from the main portion. 3 



A century later it was held in thegnage, paying a 

 rent of io/. to the king. Siward de Melling seems to- 

 have been tenant about that time ; his son Henry 

 was in possession in 1193, and having shared in the 

 rebellion of John count of Mortain, next year made 

 peace with King Richard, his fine being a mark.* 

 Several grants by Henry son of Siward de Melling 

 are recorded in the Cockersand chartulary. 5 The 

 manor seems to have been divided with his brother 

 Thomas, who at the petition of his wife Maud made a 

 grant to the same house. 6 



The survey of 1212 records that Henry de Melling 

 held four plough-lands 7 of the king. Thomas held one of 

 the plough-lands the moiety of Melling referred to 

 in charters just cited ' and the said Henry and 

 Thomas have given Northcroft and Hengarth and 

 Routhwaite, small cultures, to St. Mary of Cockersand 

 in alms.' 8 



The notices of Melling in the thirteenth century 

 are scanty. Randle son of Adam de Quick, with the 

 consent of Alice his wife, granted the homage and 

 service of William son of Robert de Lund ; s Thomas 

 de Routhwaite quitclaimed all his right in three 

 selions lying between the land of St. James of Birken- 

 head and that of Amery son of the chaplain ; 10 William 

 son of Alan de Melling gave two ' lands ' to Cocker- 

 sand, one between the land of Robert de Molyneux 

 and the other in Melling Wood." 



Henry de Melling died in or before 1225, when 

 his son Thomas paid the king 22/. as relief on succes- 

 sion to the four plough-lands." Besides Thomas his 

 ' heir ' he mentioned his ' son ' Roger in one of the 

 Cockersand charters." 



