Monument record 557/0 - Burtonwood

The original name of Burtonwood was 'Burton' which means the 'tun' by a burh or fortified manor.The burh could have been the borough of Warrington.The wood was an extensive royal forest early in the 13th century.So name of Burtonwood means the wood by the tun or farmstead, near a fortified place or burh.Earliest mention of Burtonwood occurs in a charter of King John of 1199 (1). Probably known as 'Burtun' before the conquest and held as a dependent manor of Warrington, the manor was subsequently held by the lords of Lancaster and was included by Henry I in the royal forest between Ribble and Mersey, when it probably acquired its name of Burtonwood. In 1228 it was perambulated and was retained in the King's forest within boundaries extending from Hardsty on the west to Sankey Brook on the east and fron Bradley Brook on the north to Ravens Lache on the south. About 1229 it passed to the earl of Chester and then to the Earl of Derby. In 1251 a messuage in 'Harderesley' in the Hey of Burton was granted to the abbey of Tiltey in Essex.. The manor was probably purchased by William le Boteler (of Bewsey) before 1280 (2).

<1> Carter G A, 1971, Warrington and the Mid-Mersey Valley, /11-12 (Book). SCH3679.

<2> Farrer W & Brownbill J, 1906-14, The Victoria County History of the County of Lancaster, 4/324-325 1911 (Book). SCH3636.