Monument record 1968 - Figdale

<1> Ormerod, G., 1882, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, Vil.II p.838 (Book). SCH1389.

Figdale, the site of which is in the park at Eaton, was formerly a hamlet in the township of Eaton, near the banks of the Dee. It s alternatively referred to in documents as Fykedene and Fikeden.

<2> Chester Courant, 1878-1990, The Cheshire Sheaf, 3rd series vol.XL, p.51 (Newspaper-Magazine). SCH3105.

The hamlet of Figden is mentioned in the Survey of the Hundred of Broxton, dated 1671.

<3> Ordnance Survey, 1870-1982, Ordnance Survey Archaeological Record Card, SJ46SW14 1986 (Index). SCH2487.

Eaton Stud appears as Figdale on the 2 inch drawing no. 316 1819 and as a group of four buildings on a map of Littleton Township, 1737 (see 4). Air photographs failed to reveal any trace of a deserted or depopulated hamlet, but the area is covered with by ornamental pasture, a golf course and some modern buildings. Includes sketch of (4).

<4> Unknown, 1737, Map of Part of Littleton Township Belonging to Sir Robert Grosvenor in Tenure of I Setter (Maps and Plans). SCH7640.

<5> Dodgson J McN, 1970-2, 1981, The Place-Names of Cheshire, Vol.IV p.150-151 (Book). SCH3228.

<6> Chester Courant, 1878-1990, The Cheshire Sheaf, Vol.i p.88, 101 (Newspaper-Magazine). SCH3105.

(p.88) “There was in the fifteenth century a property in Cheshire bearing this name..... A witness on a trial in the Exchequer Court of Cheshire, in 1481, is made to state in his evidence that "he was Cheshire through and through, and had lived all his life within bowshot of Figdale.”

(p.101) “The Village of Figdale was situated in Eaton Park, near the bank of the river Dee, not far from the Machine Lodge (the Eccleston Village entrance to the Park), and, so far as I can learn, was a small straggling one; but in 1481....may have been larger in dimensions and of more importance. It must have been demolished at the latter part of [the] last century [eighteenth], or the commencement of the present [nineteenth]; but still, the late Home Farm and Stud House.....are on the site of Figdale, if they did not also form part of it. I have seen the name described as Figden.

Before the Ferry at Eccleston was in existence, one crossed the Dee near where the present engine house and gas works at Eaton stand; this appears to me to have been the extremity of Figdale, and near it was the ‘Boat House’ Inn, bowling green.....There were also a mill, blacksmith's shop.....there. There are several stones in Eccleston churchyard to the memory of persons once resident at Figdale.”

<7> Ordnance Survey, 1881-2, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 6 inch to 1 mile - Cheshire, SJ46 SW 1881-1882 (Maps and Plans). SCH2474.

The Eaton Stud is labelled as Figdale.

<8> Ordnance Survey, 1893-96, Ordnance Survey County Series (Epoch 1) 25 inch to 1 mile - Lancashire, SJ4161 1873-1875 (Maps and Plans). SCH3847.

The Eaton Stud is labelled as Figdale.

<9> Royal Air Force, 1944-1947, 1940s RAF Aerial Photographs from Operation Review (Aerial Photograph). SCH8041.

Aerial photographs show a pronounced earthwork which may correspond to the western part of road depicted in the sketch accompanying (7). Directly adjacent is are two or three possible small rectangular earthworks which may be the former locations of buildings depicted on (7).

<9> The GeoInformation Group, 2005, 1940s RAF Aerial Photographs from Operation Review (Aerial Photograph). SCH4608.

Aerial photographs show a pronounced earthwork which may correspond to the western part of road depicted in the sketch accompanying (7). Directly adjacent is are two or three possible small rectangular earthworks which may be the former locations of buildings depicted on (7).

<10> Various, Written Communication to the HER, Edwards R 02/05/2014 (Written Communication). SCH3756.

Comparing the sketch map in (7) with the late 1940s aerial photographs (9), would suggest that the east-west road, which crosses the main northern Eaton approach road, was located to the immediate north of the Eaton Stud. At this location there is leading west from the approach road with a pronounced dog leg north. It is not depicted on either the tithe map or the OS 1st edition (see 8), but is on later maps. The aerial photographs (9) show a pronounced earthwork at this location and is very similar to the east-west road depicted on the sketch map accompanying (7), which also has a pronounced dog leg north on the western side.