If I r* i t -**-' .^- •' v» __ -.-w- A HISTORY OP ALTRINCHAM & BOVVDON. HISTORY ALTRINCHAM AND BOWDON, 3!rrounf of f!jp {Parong anb J^ousf of Qunljam. BY ALFRED INGHAM. " Jumping o'er times. Turning th" accomplishment of many years Into an hour-glas^."— Shakespeare. % lit x it t h a m : MACKIE, BREWTNALL AND CO.. GUARDIAN OFFICE. 1879. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE 6f0rcic i);trri}. EARL OF STAMFORD AND WARRINGTON, LORD OF THE MANOR OF ALTRINCHAM, THIS VOLUME IS (BY HIS LORDSHIP'S PERMISSION) dcBpcrtfuUi) DrtJicatrD, BY THE AUTHOR. ,nv^) PREFACE, In accordance with ancient custom, the author indites a few lines by way of preface. This work has been the outcome of that little leisure which falls to the lot of those connected with the press, and as such has occupied him for a period of over three years. His hearty acknowledgments are due to many gentle- men for the perusal of valuable books and documents, and also for the kindly encouragement he has received during the compilation of its pages. His earnest endeavour has been to make everything so plain that even " he who runs may read." There has been no display of learning, and there are no footnotes or other aids to bewilder- ment and confusion. It is an honest attempt to set forth the facts connected with a district singularly rich in historical associations. In this respect it appeals to a much wider constituency than that for which it is intended. While the description of Bowdon Parish Church, and its numer- ous monuments, will be only valuable locally, the House ol Dunham, man}' of whose members have been conspicuous viii Preface. at various critical periods of our country's history, will possess an almost national interest. Altrincham. too, as one of the oldest towns in the kingdom, is well deserving of a permanent record. It is amongst the few which have preserved intact their ancient charters of incorporation under the feudal system. Its customs were embalmed only in the memories of one or two old inhabitants, and they are now reproduced for the first time. The fac simile of the Altrincham charter which appears in the following pages is a reproduction in photo-lithography. It therefore gives the document as it actually appears, with its age-worn blots and creases. As a whole, the work is intended not only to form a book of reference, but also a local history in which the progress of the district is depicted from the earliest period to the present day. F — CONTENTS. CHAFIER I. PAGE Bowdon, a peep at the past, geological, historical, and romantic—Boaden Downs—Watling Street, signs of Roman occupation—The tumulus in the Park—An old Saxon coin—The Barons of Dunham, their position and power—The Crusader's Cedar—The legend of the Seven Sisters " The last of the barons" - - - - - - - - 1-15 CHAPTER II. The Parish Church, its claims to antiquity—The yew trees, a relic of Saxon Christianity —The wakes, their origin and use—An old bead roll and its record— Description ot the old church —Value of the living six centuries ago—The ringers' orders—A law suit—Another bead roll and its record—Memorials of old families —The Brereton monument—The Dunham Chapel, &c. ......... 16-27 CHAPTER III. Description of the old church, continued—The tales told by the tombstones and the tablets —A curious old stone ^S-34 CHAPTER IV. The Parish Church, its restoration — Reminders and relics of antiquity Description of restored edifice— Tablets to the Ven. Archdeacon Pollock, and to the first Vicar of St. Margaret's—The stained glass windows and their donors--A run through the registers — Curious and interesting extracts—the Bowdon proverb— Notices of Vicars, with list —The ancient rating valuation, or mize, list of benefactions, &c. - - 35-55 CHAPTER V. Altrincham 600 years ago —The ancient charter— Sanjam fair—Election of Mayor, form of an oath and proclamation —The Court of Pye Powder Importance of the bellman—A Mayor's wisdom —The Earl's Christmas box—Sayings regarding the Mayor—Election of burgesses— Progress oi the trust and its disposal —List of Mayors 56-75 CHAPTER VI. A retrospect— Sundry lawsuits —The first Booth of Dunham Massey; his supposed death at th» Battle of Blore Heath —A Booth knighted by Queen Elizabeth— Interesting wills —Dame Booth's Charity—Contribu- butions to the defence of the Kingdom — Dr. Dee's reference to Sir Geo. Booth— Purchase of the town of Warrington ; the instructions thereon — Death of William Booth - 76-S6 — \ Contents. CHAP! IK VII. paoi Birth of Sir George Booth, first Loid Delnmer— Description of Sir William Brcreton— Indictment against Sir George ; his part in attempting to pacify the county— Its failure—The siege of Nantwich— Spirited de- fence—Defeat of the Royalists— Sir George elected member for Che- shire ; his exclusion by Colonel Pride's purge— Royalist attempts at a Restoration — Sir George's celebrated rising—The Battle of Winning- ton — His betrayal and arrest ; his committal to the Tower— Release and re-election — His improvements at Dunham— Description of the old mansion— His death 87-95 CHAPTER VIII. The second Lord Delamer ; his popularity ; his advocacy of the people's rights — Court jealousy— His committal to the Tower on three occasions; his remarkable trial at Westminster Hall ; his eloquent defence and jus- tification ; his retirement to his seat in Cheshire; his support of the Prince of Orange ; his subsequent honourable career and death - 96-105 CHAPTER IX. The House of Dunham, continued —The Second Earl of Warrington ; his character and literary attainments—The union of the House of Dun- ham with that of Stamford—The Honorable Booth Grey— " Domestic " happiness, a family picture —The revival of the lapsed titles of Baron Delamer and Earl of Warrington— Biography of the present Earl 106-115 CHAPTER X. The Maceys of Altrincham— A rebellious subject—The Bowdon family- Disposal of lands—Some old district names— Bowdon free school Guy Faux at Altrincham—A witty Bowdon Curate—The Unicorn Hotel 300 years ago—An Altrincham landlord and landlady of the olden time— Sir Peter Leycester's description of the town in 1666—The story of the " Bloody field " —Adam Martindale at Dunham ; his duties there— Bowdon Dissenters troublesome— Dick Turpin ; his exploits at Newbridge Hollow and Hoo Green 113-121 CHAPTER XI. Indications of growth and enterprise—The cutting of the Bridgewater Canal —A few figures — Manufacture of woollen and cotton yarn—Obso- lete punishments: penance, cucking stool, scold's bridle, public whip- pings in the Altrincham Market-place— Executions for burglaries at Bowdon—A man hanged for poaching near Altrincham—The ancient custom of souling—The entertaining play of St. George and the Dragon — Wassailing and Christmas carols —The barley hump and Dunham ale —The lions of Dunham—Altrincham races— Dunham Parks and the Hall— De Quincey's description of Altrincham .... 122-129 — Contents. xi CHAPTER XII. paof. Ecclesiastical Altrincham : The Wesleyan Methodist Churches—Wesley's visits to Altrincham— St. George's Church ; its Schools, &c.—An Altrincham Centenarian—The Unitarians ; their early history ; descrip- tion of the New Chapel in Dunham Road —The Methodist New Connexion—The Independents or Congregationalists, with some notices of their Pastors and Work— St. Margaret's, Dunham Massey — St. John's—The Old Downs Chapel—The Primitive Methodists 130-148 CHAPTER XIII. More looks into old books—Visit of strolling players—Disappearance of town documents —Appointment of town's attorney—Wages a century ago— Disturbances"^ Altrincham—Another Altrincham industry—The fire engine—The old handcuffs—A jury list —The expenses of the great well—Altrincham highways indicted— Hard times ; a display of public spirit —The select vestry—Extracts from the books ; a stray parcel of gloves—How the town got a sundial—Substitutes for the Militia Disrespect for proclamations—A worthy overseer—Dread of hydro- phobia, &c. .......... 149-159 CHAPTER XIV. Description of Altrincham and Bowdon 50 years ago—The old Market Place ; its ancient cross, lock-ups, and star chamber— Higher Town boys v. those of Lower Town—The town field—An Altrincham Carnival—The loyalty of the town—The first Altrincham undertaker —Altrincham Woolcombers and their Bishop Blaize festival —Bowdon bull baiters, and Altrincham cockfighters — Salt works at Dunham The destruction of small birds—The churchwardens and their duties Formation of the Altrincham Poor Law Union ; the old workhouse and its management—Cutting of the Bowdon line—Lloyd's Hospital Introduction of coal gas into Altrincham—Formation of the Gas Company ; negotiations for the purchase of the works and their results ; Altrincham and Bowdon Literary Institution ; the Altrincham and Bowdon Local Boards —Concluding remarks .... 160-182 Appendix - - - i>3-tSg ~*^w^ HISTORY OF ALTRINCHAM & BOWDON. CHAPTER I. Bowdon, a peep at the past, geological, historical, and romantic —Boaden Downs— Walling Street, signs of Roman occupation — The tumulus in the Park—An old Saxon coin— The Barons of Dunham, thtir position and poiver— The Crusader's Cedar— The legend of the Seven Sisters— " The last of the barons." jijOWDON, eight centuries ago, was spelled Bogedon, or the hill or down by a bog. It was so written in the Domesday Book, and was comprised in the ancient hundred of Bochelau, whence our modern Bucklow, in the eastern division of which it is still included. It has also been written Bodon, Bodeon, Bawdon, Boaden, Bauden, Boden, and Bowden ; but the modernized spelling of Bowdon now prevails. This is derived from two Anglo- Saxon words signifying Bode, a dwelling, and Don or Dun, a plain upon a rising hill or down. Geologists tell us, with the charming uncertainty they " always attach to their periods," that Bowdon has little interest for them,—that it was once an enormous sand- bank, left by the receding waves of a restless ocean, to be at a subsequent time transformed by the God of Nature into a lovely garden, the loveliness of which was to be heightened and enhanced by the ingenuity and art of man, 2 History of Altrincham and Bowdon.