Monument record 6/0 - Willaston Village

<1> Dodgson J McN, 1970-2, 1981, The Place-Names of Cheshire, Vol IV, p.232 (Book). SCH3228.

The earliest documentary reference to the village dates from 1230.

<2> Bryan E.C. & Morris D, 1997, Willaston's Heritage (Second Edition) (Book). SCH3852.

No evidence of the medieval village survives but the cluster of surviving post medieval buildings around a green suggests its centre. Only part of the green survives but old maps suggest a rectangular green extended over the area now covered by the Memorial Hall, Willaston Green Mews, Cherry Brow Terrace and Pollard Inn. This large green is unique in the Wirral and is possibly the place of assembly for the Hundred of Wilaveston. It is similar to large greens found at other Hundred administrative centres at Munslow and Condover in Shropshire. In the fourteenth century the name of the Hundred was changed to Wirral suggesting relocation of the administrative centre.

In 1120 AD, the manor was incorporated into the new Royal Forest of Wirral and subject to Forest Law. The earliest reference to the village is a deed dating to 1230 AD, in which Fulco de Orreby assigned the manor estate of Willaston to his mother for her life time. The manor passed by marriage to the Ardernes. The manor was then held from the Ardernes by then Mainwarings and then the Trussels. By this piont the Ardernes were a branch of the Stanley Family. In 1317 AD the manor was enclosed off from the Royal Forest and passed out of the durisdiction of Forest Law. At the end of the fifteenth century, after the execution of Sir William Stanley and with the trussel heir a minion, Willaston passed into the hands of the Crown (Henry VII). In 1507 AD Henry granted out the manor to John de Vere, the 14th Earl of Oxford and his cousin. The grant included the wardship and right of marriage to the Trussel heiress. In 1580 AD the manor was sold to discharge debts of the 17th Earl. The manor came into the hands of Sir Christopher Hatton, later Lord Chancellor to Elizabeth I. He died in 1591 AD and the manor was seized to cover debts to the Crown. It was recovered in 1608 AD by Sir Christopher Hatton’s second cousin. The manor was sold in 1619 AD to several tenants who acted as Lord of the Manor in rotation.

(See also source 3)

<3> Bryan, E.C., 1975, Willaston's Heritage (First Edition) (Book). SCH3708.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ3277 & SJ3377, 1872-1874 (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.