Monument record 1689/0/0 - Malpas

Malpas - referred to as Depenbech in the Domesday Book in 1086. The ancient nucleus of Malpas may have been towards Hough Farm and Bradley Brook and Depenbech may have been identified with Hough and the medieval townsite may have been created by the castle. The route along a Roman road and the proximity of the Welsh frontier would account for the medieval importance of Malpas (1). Malpas was a place of importance long before 1066. It belonged to Earl Edwin, the core of whose holdings was formed by a group of large estates focused on ancient administrative centers, including Depenbech (2). The first Norman Earl, bestowed Malpas on Robert Fitzhugh, his bastard son. Fitzhugh's grant consisted of the forfeited estates of the Saxon Earl Edwin and formed the Barony of Malpas. Within the bounds of the Barony, the Barons of Malpas possessed capital jurisdiction (3). Fitzhugh had a castle at Malpas and three ploughteams in demesne and a church dedicated to St Oswald - the mother church of a large ancient parish. The core of his holdings was formed by a group of 6 manors and assessed at 36 hides including the great block of Depenbech, Burwardestone, Bettisfield and Worthenbury, comprising south-west Cheshire and the detached portion of Flintshire known as Maelor Saesneg. They contained 8 of Robert's 12 demesne ploughteams and on them he had enfeoffed 11 'milities' who between them held 8 ploughteams (2).

<1> Dodgson J McN, 1970-2, 1981, The Place-Names of Cheshire, 4/39 (Y) (Book). SCH3228.

<1> Dodgson J McN, 1970-2, 1981, The Place-Names of Cheshire, vol .IV p.39 (Book). SCH3228.

<2> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, 1/306-334 1987 (Book). SCH3556.

<3> Chester Archaeological Society, Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society, Kenyon W T 1890 3/163-4 (Journal/Periodical). SCH1595.

<4> Cordon, M, 1979, Archaeological Implications: Malpas, /4-11 Cordon M 1979 (Unpublished Report). SCH337.