Monument record 1660 - Snelson

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ87 SW 19 (Index). SCH2487.

Over Peover Chapelry, Snelson, a possible deserted medieval village, first mentioned in 1086 in the Domesday Book (see 2). [TPW 05/11/1980].

<2> Cheshire County Council, 1974-2004, Cheshire Sites and Monuments Record, 1660 (Digital Archive). SCH8893.

<3> Dodgson J McN, 1970-2, 1981, The Place-Names of Cheshire, Vol.I p.93-94 (Book). SCH3228.

The Domesday Book (1086) is the source of the first documentary reference to this settlement (Senelestune). There are further references to Snelson through the thirteenth century (Snelleston) to the sixteenth century (Snelson). The hamlet was known as Snelson Lane in White's Directory of 1860. See also (4) for a more detail on the documentary references.

<4> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, Vol.III p.564 (Book). SCH1389.

<5> Bryant, A., 1831, Map of the County Palatine of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH2114.

This map depicts Snelson at SJ80157350, though the text style indicates that this is the label for the township. The settlement now know as Snelson is labelled as, or adjacent to, Snelson Heath.

<6> Burdett, P. P., 1777, A Survey of the County Palatine of Chester (Maps and Plans). SCH113.

This map depicts Snelson at approximately SJ80377355. Snelson Heath is unenclosed. Notably this map doesn't record individual townships.

<7> See map for surveyor, c.1837-51, Cheshire Tithe Maps and Awards, EDT 360/2 1848 (Maps and Plans). SCH3266.

The field names which include Snelson as a element are predominetly located in the easter and south-eastern pasrts of the township.

<8> Ordnance Survey, 1871-1882, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire (Maps and Plans). SCH2462.

<9> Various, Various, Oral communication to the HER, Edwards R, 25/08/2020 (Oral Communication). SCH2330.

A difficult and confusing record due to the existence of a settlement known as Snelson located at the boundary of the township and partially within the townships of Peover Superior and Marthall cum Little Warford. Historic maps clearly indicate that this settlement was established following the enclosure of Snelson Heath in the early nineteenth century (see 5, 6, 7, & 8). It is possible that this is the Snelson Lane mentioned by (3) in the source of 1860, howver, there are two Snelson Lanes in this area.

Although far from conclusive, the evidence does suggest that Snelson (Senelestune) was located in the south-western part of the township along Snelson and Peover Lane and, in particular, in the vicinity of Manor Farm, Wood End Farm and Ainsworth Farm. However, it must also be noted, that in common with many Cheshire townships, Snelson (Senelestune) may never have had a nucleated settlement, rather, the name being applied to an area of dispersed houses and farmsteads. Therefore it is probably erroneous to consider this a deserted or shrunken village.