WEST DERBY HUNDRED 



The monks of Merivale on being established at 

 Altcar began improvements, in particular by draining 

 their land. This brought them into conflict with 

 their brother Cistercians of Stanlaw on the southern 

 side of the river, whose lands and mill might be 

 damaged by any alteration of the course of the Alt. 1 



The monks also made an agreement with John de 

 Lea of Raven Meols by which he granted them for 

 their cattle a road next to the Alt over his land, the 

 road being 3 perches wide (each of twenty lawful 

 feet) and extending from the King's way between 

 Raven Meols and Alt Bridge, as far as the pasture on 

 Alt Marsh. On the other hand he obtained leave to 

 embank and enclose Herdebreck Pool.' 



In 1292 the abbot was called upon to show by 

 what right he held a messuage and a plough-land in 

 Altcar. In reply he cited the above grants by 

 William de Ferrers and Agnes his widow. For the 

 king it was urged that he should also show some 

 royal confirmation, and that being unable to do so 

 his tenure was bad. The abbot retained Altcar. 3 In 

 the eyre of the forest of Henry earl of Lancaster in 

 1329 the abbot and convent were again called upon 

 to show their warrant for holding the manor in alms. 4 



The abbot seems to have sent two or three monks 

 from Warwickshire to farm the land. 5 



In January, 1383-4, Sir Thomas de Stafford 

 surrendered to the monks the grange of Altcar which 

 he had held from them, together with the mill and 

 crofts of the Gore, &c. In 1389 the abbot and 

 convent leased (for his life) to Thomas Heton of 



ALTCAR 



Lydiate a moiety of the Gore, with hall, barn, and 

 appurtenances, for a rent of 33^. 4^., the tenant to 

 pay all tithes and other dues as might be levied. At 

 the same time they leased (also for life) to Robert 

 Colon of Lydiate a messuage called Long Houses and 

 a meadow called Priest Meadow lying next to the 

 Gore, paying yearly to their warden (' custos ') of 

 Altcar 1 8/., as well as tithes, &c. 6 



In June, 1429, Abbot John Ruggeley and the 

 convent of Merivale leased to Edmund Lord Ferrers, 

 Thomas Mollesley and William Donyngton the 

 manor of Altcar for the life of the abbot, an annual 

 rent of 50 marks to be paid. The abbot and convent 

 undertook also to send one of their monks to celebrate 

 divine services in the chapel of St. Mary ' in the said 

 manor, at the cost of the tenants. It was provided 

 'that if Robert Molyneux, Roger Wyrley, and 

 Richard Lowe should die before the abbot' the 

 monks might re-enter. 8 



About ten years after this, Sir Richard Molyneux of 

 Sefton, brother of Robert the lessee of Altcar, 

 endeavoured to make an exchange with the monks. 

 He would give them two acres in Sefton with the 

 advowson of the parish church, which they might 

 appropriate, appointing a vicar ; in return he was to 

 have the manor of Altcar, and so much land there as 

 would bring in the same amount of money as the 

 rectory of Sefton would be worth to the monks. 

 This scheme for making a profit out of Sefton church 

 was not carried through ; but it shows that the 

 family of Molyneux had already cast eyes upon Altcar.' 



223 



