The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-06-23 00:00:00

HALTON.

The village was once a market town, and was called Haw-ton
(signifying in old English the " town on the hill"), but now
Normanised to Halton. The barony of Halton was given by
Hugh Lupus, nephew of William the Conqueror, and second
Earl of Chester, to Nigel, on condition that he should, ac-
cording to one account, be constable of Chester. Another
account states that he received the barony, in conjunction
with the constableship of Cheshire, on condition that he
should lead the earl's army in the wars in Wales. Nigel had
two sons, one of whom (William) founded the priory at Run-
corn in 1133. There is nothing peculiarly remarkable-in the
village itself. It contains good houses, some of them of re-
cent erection, and neat cottages, with thriving gardens. It
is exceedingly clean, and, from its elevated position, airy and
cheerful. The population of the township may be about 2000.
Although there is on parts of the hill a considerable depth of
good soil, the freestone is in others close on the surface, and
I was shewn a house, on the west side, the kitchen, some
back apartments, and the cellars in which are dug out of the
solid rock, and are perfectly dry. There are several inns,
including the Castle Inn, the Norton Arms, and the Elephant
and Castle.
After passing through a portion of the village, the visitor,
by a road or avenue about 300 yards in length, and of great
width, leading to the left, ascends to Halton Castle.
There are several good houses, particularly on the west
side of the avenue, with gardens, shrubberies, and forest trees
of considerable growth. The finest is the parsonage, a good
two story building in the Grecian style with a porch, and
surmounted by a small pediment containing a coat of arms in
the tympanum.
Beside it is a small antique isolated stone building within a
space enclosed by a parapet wall, and having two arched win-
dowsto the road. This is a Public Library, founded in 1733,
and furnished with books, chiefly, folios, by the late Sir John
Chesshyre, of Hallwood. Admission may be obtained by
strangers on application to the Rev. R. Tweddell, A.M., at
the parsonage, it being placed under the care of the minister
of the chapel for the time being. Over the door is the fol
lowing Latin inscription :
"Hann HIDLIOTHECAM pro commtmiLITERATORUM
sub cura curati Capellee de HALTON, Proventibus ter feliciter
Augmentatm JOHANNIS CHESSHYRE miles Serviens D'ni
Regis at Legem. D. D. D. Anno troccxxixr."
The visitor may here pass a very agreeable hour amongst
the tomes both in English and in the languages of the ancient
classics bequeathed for the use of posterity, by the benevo-
lent knight of Hallwood.
Behind the library there is a row of Alms Houses, "for
six poor, decayed, and honest old servants," who are ap-
pointed by Sir Richard Brooke, of Norton Priory. These
laave trees and gardens in front.
A little further westward, and immediately behind the
Vicarage, stands the chapel of Halton, in a small enclosed
green field or yard, bounded on the west by a precipitous
portion of the hill. It is an old plain stone building with two
long windows at the west end and a small belfry. This is a
Chapel of Ease to Runcorn, but has a separate endowment
granted by the late Sir John Chesshyre, who held the pre-
' sentation. From the church-yard a charming and extensive
view is obtained of the country below. On the south, Frod-.
sham, surrounded by fine enclosed fields fringed by trees,
and backed by the dark wooded Helsby and Overton hills,
while the Weaver winds its way through the rich low grounds
in front, is here seen to very great advantage. The Mersey
speckled with vessels, and the Lancashire shore equally fill
up the view in front and to the right. There is also a gram-
mar school close by for the children of the parish of Run-
corn.
Returning to the road, and passing the parsonage, the
visitor in ascending passes the Elephant and Castle, a small
but neat inn on the left with a garden behind • and several
ancient office buildings amongst the trees on the right. A
short walk of about 100 yards brings him !o the Castle Inn,
in front of which the avenue widens out into a sort of lawn,
sloping to the east. This was in former times included within
the pleasure grounds of the Castle, and was laid out in ser-
pentine walks. Below the parsonage, too, in the palmy days
of Halton, there stood a cross, which the hand of innovation
has long since removed.
HALTON CASTLE.

The Castle Inn, through which alone the visitor Call ar-
rive at the ruins of the ancient edifice, is itself known by the
appellation of Halton Castle, and is situated close to the
principal portion of the ruins, facing the avenue leading from
the village, and onthe south side of the table Land or somewhat
circular area on the top of the hill, formerly occupied by the
fortress. It is a comparatively modern and plain building,
of two stories, with square projecting wings, in which are
some of the principal rooms. The landlord is Mr. Bolton,
an intelligent man of 68 years of age. The worthy hostess
(who is highly spoken of as a most charitable person) is an
old lady of 78. She has lived here in the same capacity for
44 years, and still moves about attending to the domestic ar-
rangements of the house with the activity of a young women
of twenty. As the inn stands on the site of a portion of the
castle, and a baronial court and court legit are still held within

its walls, it may be proper, before noticing it further,
to fur-
nish some historical reminiscenes of the original edifice itself.
The precise date of the foundation of Halton Castle is not
known, all existing records on this point being defective ;
but it is supposed to have been erected soon after the Con-
quest. Although it was a strong military post, but little of
historical event connected with it has been handed down to
posterity. Tradition states that it was, at a very early pe-
riod, much, infested by gangs of robbers, who here secured
themselves after their marauding excursions in the plains be-
low. It is stated, indeed, that in the reign of Edward H.
these freebooters became so bold as to steal the armour and
accoutrements from the Castle itself. It was a favourite
place of recreation (we also learn from Fowler's Historical
Account of Runcorn, &c.) with the celebrated John of
Gaunt, who therein showed his good taste. In the reign of
Elizabeth it was converted into a prison for popish recusants.
Here, in ]536, the abbot of Norton priory, and three of the
canons, were immured by Sir Piers button, sheriff of
Cheshire, for opposing the king's commissioners. During
the civil wars it fell occasionally into the hands of both par-
ties, and in 1644 the parliament forces held possession. It
subsequently became a prison for debtors, and eventually
fell into its present ruinous condition. A. survey was made
of it in the time of Cromwell, at which time it had fallen into
dilapidation. It was then described as consisting of " a gate.
house, with five rooms over; a great ball, with two ranges of
buildings over it containing nine rooms, and a prison for the
Honour of Halton. At this time Colonel Henry Brooke was
the steward." It is now, and has for years been (like the
castles in Wales) the property of the Crown, but is held, by
royal tenure, by the Marquis of Cholmondeley, a homely
gentlemen, who domiciled here for two days, about three
years ago, with the marchioness.

The landlord of the inn has an old print of the castle, as
seen from the ground in front some hundred and odd years
ago. It represents little more than the entrance-gate, and
two adjoining and loftier buildings, of angular form, in a
state of ruin,—the whole being what is termed the gatT-
house, on the site of which the inn is built. There was a
portcullis, and a drawbridge over the fosse, which last pro-
bably at one time encircled the whole castle. At the
bottom of this print, on one side, is engraved :—" De-
dicated to the most noble, John, Duke of Rutland,
Marquis of Ganby, &c. &c. &c., this prospect is hum-
bly incribed. by S. and IV. Buck." On the other side
is the following historical notice :—" This Castle was built
by Hugh Lupus, Earl of Chester, who gave it, wth ye
Barony, to Nigel, a Norman, on condition that he would be
Constable of Chester. From his posterity it came to ye
Crown, and is a considerable Member of ye Duchy of Lan-
caster, which maintains a large Jurisdiction in ye Country
round it, by ye name of Halton Fee, the Hr of Halton having
a Court of Record, Prison, and many other privileges within
themselves." There was here also some years ago an inte-
resting print of the whole village and castle, taken from an
original painting in 1656, but it is now lost.
Here there are still held four Courts a year, namely, three
Courts Baron, in April, September, and December, and one
Court Leet, held in October. I need scarcely add, that, in

a spot so comparatively secluded the prison is no longer
used; but that ancient instrument of terror to evil doers in
remote villages—the stocks, is still extant, opposite to the
Public Library before noticed. The present Court Room (in
the inn) is about thirty feet in length, and has an outside
stone stair entrance, with railings, from the front of the
house. Over the chimney-piece is the following inscription,
on an antiquely carved stone, resembling a mural monu-
ment:—

"7th Dec., 1737.—At a Court of Revenue held for the
Duchy of Lancaster, before the Rt. Honble George Earl of
Cholmondeley, Chancellor of ye same Court, it was ordered
by them that 500 lb. be forthwith raised and paid for the re-
building this Court House, Gaol, and Court Yard.
" Commissioners to survey the same.—J. S. Cotton, J.
Lee, N. Leal, R. Leicester, P. Davenport, and W. Tongue,
Esqrs.

"The Honble. James Cholmondeley, Lord of the Manor.
"J. Pickering, Esq., Steward; Win. Middleton, Deputy."
On the chimney-piece below is added :
"H. Sefton, J. Orme, Undertakers.-10th Nov., 1738,
finished."

There are several good rooms at the inn, and I here found
a number of respectable tradesmen from Manchester, who
had come to spend a few days at the Castle, in place of ex-
posing themselves to the allurements of expense at the races
on Kersal Moor.

There are fewvt lv
eminencesPß °mi
nT
the
north
moEf
England whence
a more extensive series of delightful views can be obtained
and undulated tl e.
Situated in the middle of a rich
country,v.
naturally varied and romantic, and
the beauties of which ha
of agriculture and commerce
erit presents all that is gratifyin
to the eye in wood and wat g
cottage, peaceful hamlet and ,dhill and vale, mansion and
isnt thriving town. A fine
bowling-green is formed behind the inn, and occupies nearly
the whole area within the walls of the
n
from its margin, particularly on the eastascient fortress, and
side, the view is un-
interrupted by the ruins, and forms a se ' panorama. Leav-
ing the inn by an eastern door, the vi ta-
r
a small plantation, and thence, by an archedpa doorwayesthrough
either end of a portion of the ruins, enters the at
bowling-
green. Recessed in this part of the dilapidated
there is an alcove fronted by two arches, above whslrilicture
are various-sized windowapertures in the broken wall. there Here
on the plastered walls and roof, and on the .eat • d
, an table,
are scratched or cut innumerable names of visiters, from'
towns and places far and near, who have thus vainly •
sourrht
a transient reputation. Passing to the eastern margin' of
the green, the view southward embraces the Overton hills,
Delamere forest, the country bordered on the valley of the
Weaver, including Sutton and Aston, Daresbury, and Preston
Brook. Further eastward is a fine wooded country, through
which (though not visible from this point) pssses the Grand
Junction Railway, and the Staffordshire canal. In the back-
ground rise the remoter hills of Cheshire, Alderley Edge
being conspicuous, and farther on, but apparently blended
with them, the loftier mountains of Derbyshire. North
eastward stands Norton Priory, the seat of Sir R. Brooks,

PRIESTS ON THE LOOK-OUT FOR CONVERTS.—A respect-
able correspondent in this neighbourhood has declared his
readiness to restore a girl of the Protestant faith to her eye-
sight if her whole family go to mass. The eye is entirely
destroyed, and attempt at cure would not be entered upon
by the able and attentive surgeon, G. A. Nixon, Esq.—
Another priest recently made his way into the county pri-
son to render sane a lunatic ; but his success was something
more than equivocal, for he next day knocked down his
keepers.—Fermanagh Reporter.
SUNDAY DINNERS. We have been strong, but, we hope,
consistent advocates for preserving the sanctity of the Sab-
bath-day ; and while enforcing the necessity of public-houses
being closed, and Sabbath trading discouraged, have always
pointedly condemned the pernicious practice which prevails,
in what is termed high life, of giving " Sunday dinners."
Each of the great political parties in the State are equally
chargeable with this wanton and unnecessary desecration of
a day which was hallowed at the creation of the world by the
Deity himself. The mechanic or tradesman, who passes six
days in the week in incessant toil, may urge with a show of
plausibility that to him the Sabbath should be reserved for
recreation and enjoyment; but what excuse can possibly
avail the leaders of fashion or Ministers of State, for picking
out the seventh day whereon to give their sumptuous banquets,
and feast their friends and retainers ? Do they once consider
the
evil effects of this practice, or reflect how many thousands
will justify a habitual disregard of the holiness of this day
by their example? If they have lost all feeling in this mat-
ter themselves, let them at least respect the sentiments of
the nation, and listen to the dictates of policy or shame.—
Britannia.