Monument record 438/0/0 - Borough of Warrington

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Summary

Borough of Warrington. The placename is Old English and has two possible meanings. If the first element 'waer' is a personal name, then Warrington may mean 'the tun of Waer's people'. However if 'Waer' can also be identified with the Old English word for weir or dam. Records show that by the time of Domesday survey in 1086 then the district was heavily settled. At the time of the Norman conquest Warrington was the head of a hundred (an administrative district) which covered the parishes of Warrington, Prescot and Leigh and the township of Culcheth, attached to which were the smaller manors of Little Sankey, Orford and Howley. Subordinate to the head manor were 34 landowners, each of whom held a smaller manor. After the conquest the land between Ribble and Mersey was given to Roger of Poitou who sublet the manor and hundred of Warrington, which eventually passed to the de Boteler family in around 1176. During the medieval period Warrington flourished as a town and a borough. The first fair and market were established in 1277. Latchford, Orford, Sankey and Burtonwood were not yet part of town but had close links with it since most of their land was held by the de Botelers. During the Civil War, Warrington fell to the Parliamentarians and suffered severely. Much of it was burnt,trade was at a standstill and two outbreaks of plague reduced the population. From the Restoration, (the return of the monarchy), industrial development began to expand with tanning, sail making, copper smelting, pin making and fishyards. Much of the town centre was redeveloped in 18th and 19th century and cellaring has disturbed the archaeological deposits so there is little evidence of medieval occupation. However a recent evaluation on the west side of Bridge Street has uncovered some medieval and early post-medieval deposits.

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Full Description

Borough of Warrington. Name is Old English. First element 'waer' may be a personal name, so Warrington may mean 'the tun of Waer's people'. 'Waer' may be identified with the OE word for weir or dam(1). By Domesday the district was heavily settled. At Norman Conquest Warrington was the head of a hundred which covered the parishes of Warrington, Prescot & Leigh & the township of Culcheth & attached to which were the smaller manors of Little Sankey, Orford & Howley. Subordinate to the head manor were 34 smaller landowners, each of whom held a manor of 42 carucates & 1 hide & a half. The land between Ribble & Mersey was given to Roger of Poitou who sublet the manor & hundred of Warrington, which eventually passed to the de Boteler family c.1176. During the med period Warrington flourished as a town & a borough. First fair & market established 1277. Latchford, Orford, Sankey & Burtonwood not yet part of town but had close links with it since most of their land was held by the de Botelers. During the Civil War, Warrington fell to the Parliamentarians & suffered severely. Much of it was burnt, trade was at a standstill & 2 outbreaks of plague reduced the population. From the Restoration, industrial development began to expand with tanning, sail making, copper smelting, pin-heading & fishyards(2). A watching brief carried out on a rectangular piece of land about 50m x 30m in 1980 at the corner of St Austin's Lane and Barbauld Street, in the vicinity of the friary (SW corner 60608795) found that the whole area had been very disturbed by 18th and 19th century cellars and no evidence was seen of medieval occupation (3).


Dunlop G & Fairclough B, 1933, The Roman road from Newton Brook to the south of the parish church, Warrington (Article in Journal). SCH7568.

<1> Carter G A, 1971, Warrington and the Mid-Mersey Valley, /67 (Book). SCH3679.

<2> Grealey S, 1976, The Archaeology of Warrington's Past, /18-19 (Book). SCH3046.

<3> Samuels J, 1981, Archive record, Samuels J 1981 (Book). SCH372.

Sources/Archives (4)

  • --- Article in Journal: Dunlop G & Fairclough B. 1933. The Roman road from Newton Brook to the south of the parish church, Warrington. Transactions of the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire. 85 (first series).
  • <1> Book: Carter G A. 1971. Warrington and the Mid-Mersey Valley. /67.
  • <2> Book: Grealey S. 1976. The Archaeology of Warrington's Past. /18-19.
  • <3> Book: Samuels J. 1981. Archive record. Samuels J 1981.

Related Monuments/Buildings (27)

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Location

Grid reference SJ 610 880 (point) 8 Figure Ref
Map sheet SJ68NW
Civil Parish WARRINGTON, WARRINGTON
Historic Township/Parish/County WARRINGTON, WARRINGTON, LANCASHIRE

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Record last edited

Feb 5 2024 3:10PM