Building record 268/1/1 - Church of St Mary the Virgin, Monks Lane

St Mary's Church. Acton had two priests in Domesday. This fact and its rich endowment suggests church originated as Late Saxon Minster (1). In early C12, church and lands presented to Combermere Abbey. Earliest items are Norman font and collection of six carved and figured blocks now in south aisle (2). Earliest fabric of existing church is lower part of tower with its three internal arches of C13. Top of tower 1757 following collapse. Body of church is Perpendicular but with C14 windows in north aisle. Striking C17 chancel parapet. Two phases of late C19 restoration. Interior has screens and rails of C17 date and memorials of same date to the Wilbraham family. Also alabaster recumbent effigy of Sir William Mainwaring (died 1399) (4). Royalist entrenchments at Acton Church are recorded in the accounts of the Battle of Nantwich in 1644 (8).

<1> Harris, B.E. (ed), 1987, Victoria County History - A History of the County of Chester: Volume I, 1/269 Thacker A 1987 (Book). SCH3556.

<2> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ65SW4 Rigg J 1964 (Index). SCH2487.

<3> Richards R, 1947, Old Cheshire Churches, Richards R 1947 /15-18 (Book). SCH2309.

<4> Pevsner N & Hubbard E, 1971, The Buildings of England: Cheshire, /53-4 (Book). SCH3078.

<5> Department of the Environment, 1971-2005, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, /9 (Report). SCH1934.

<6> Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 1883 -, Transactions of the Lancashire & Cheshire Antiquarian Society, 95/31-41 Crossley F H 1943 (Journal/Periodical). SCH3293.

<7> Chester Archaeological Society, Journal of the Chester Archaeological Society, Hall J 1909 15/63-76 (Journal/Periodical). SCH1595.

<8> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, 1981 SJ65SW26 (Index). SCH2487.