Monument record 1791/0/0 - Farndon

Farndon was almost certainly a royal estate in early C10, since Edward the Elder died there in 924. It was also probably an important early administrative and ecclesiastical center. By 1066, Farndon was divided between Earl Edwin and the Bishop of Chester, each of whom had a 4-hide manor there. The ancient estate seems originally to have been very large. The core of the estate centered on Farndon was the 8 townships of the 2 later parishes of Farndon and Aldford. It also included the chapelry of Holt and Shocklach and possibly even Tilston, Coddington and Handley. In 1086 there were 2 priests with substantial holdings of 1.5 hides and 'a priest of the vill' with half a plough team, a mill and a fishery (1) & (2). The position of Farndon at a crossing point of the River Dee and the curvilinear course of the High Street, which mirrors the curvilinear churchyard, may suggest an even more important role as a burh (3).

<1> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, 1/240-316 1987 (Book). SCH3556.

<2> Morgan P (ed), 1978, Domesday Book - Cheshire, /B.3&14.1 (Y) (Book). SCH1061.

<3> L - P Archaeology, 2006, Tudor House, Farndon: Archaeological Watching Brief., R2646 (Client Report). SCH4766.

<4> Cheshire Historic Environment Record, 1989, Jill Collens' Aerial Photographs, 6.0555 (Aerial Photograph). SCH9711.