Gazetteer Home Page

CHESHIRE

[A] [B] [C] [F] [H] [K] [M] [N] [O] [S] [T]

Last updated: 12 April 2010

NB: Updates/additions since the printed Gazetteer was published in 2003 are given in red

ALDFORD 3417 3590.
M (Charter) Tues; mercatum, gr 22 Mar 1254, by K Hen III to Wakelin de Arderne (Roles Gascons, 1242–54, no. 4151; CPR, 1247–58, p. 339).
F (Charter) v+2, Holy Cross (14 Sept); feria gr 22 Mar 1254, by K Hen III to Wakelin de Arderne (Roles Gascons, 1242–54, no. 4151; CPR, 1247–58, p. 339). It is assumed that the feast of the fair was the Exaltation of the Cross.

ALTRINCHAM 3771 3882. Borough c.1290 (BF, p. 73). Market town c.1600 (Everitt, p. 470). Fair 1587, 25 Jul (Harrison, p. 395; Smith, Vale-Royall, p. 44).
M (Charter) Tues; gr 10 Jul 1290, by K Edw I to Hamo de Mascy (CChR, 1257–1300, p. 370). To be held at the manor.
F (Charter) vfm, Assumption of Mary (15 Aug); gr 10 Jul 1290, by K Edw I to Hamo de Mascy. To be held at the manor (CChR, 1257–1300, p. 370). On 4 Jul 1318, K Edw II granted Hamo de Mascy a fair on vfm James (25 Jul) in lieu (CChR, 1300–26, p. 411).

AUDLEM 3662 3436.
M (Charter) Thurs; gr 13 Jul 1295, by K Edw I to Thomas de Aldelym (CChR, 1257–1300, p. 460). To be held at the manor.
F (Charter) vfm, James the Apostle (25 Jul); gr 13 Jul 1295, by K Edw I to Thomas de Aldelym (CChR, 1257–1300, p. 460). To be held at the manor.

BROMBOROUGH 3353 3819.
M (Charter) Mon; gr 5 Feb 1278, by K Edw I to A and C of Chester (CChR, 1257–1300, p. 207). To be held at the manor.
F (Charter) vfm, Barnabas (11 Jun); gr 5 Feb 1278, by K Edw I to A and C of Chester (CChR, 1257–1300, p. 207). To be held at the manor.

BURTON 3317 3742. In Wirral. See P.H.W. Booth (ed.), Burton in Wirral: a History (Burton, 1984), esp. pp. 10-12; the market and fair had probably ceased to operate by 1500.
M (Charter) Thurs; gr 18 Sept 1299, by K Edw I to Walter de Langeton, bp of Coventry and Lichfield (CChR, 1257–1300, p. 479). To be held at the manor.
F (Charter) vfm, James the Apostle (25 Jul); gr 18 Sept 1299, by K Edw I to Walter de Langeton, bp of Coventry and Lichfield (CChR, 1257–1300, p. 479). To be held at the manor.

CHESTER 3404 3667. Borough 1086 (BF, p. 73). Mint 924–1154. Roman fortress and town and probably an important British centre in the seventh century. It was ‘restored’ in 907 and by the time of Domesday Book was a prosperous commercial civitas with some 500 houses. Market town c.1600 (Everitt, p. 470).
M (Prescriptive: borough, mint). No further information for the market.
F (Prescriptive) recorded twelfth century, held by St Werburgh’s abbey (G. Barraclough ed., The Charters of the Anglo–Norman Earls of Chester, c.1071–1237, Record Society of Lancashire and Cheshire, 126 (Gloucester, 1988), pp. 6, 9). The M of St Werburgh claimed that they had been granted a three day fair, the feast of which was not given, by Earl Hugh of Chester in 1093. However, this claim is probably spurious. It is more likely that the grant was made in the time of Earl Ranulph I, between 1120 and 1129.
F (Prescriptive) nundinae recorded 1295–6, held by Henry de Lacy, earl of Lincoln (Rev. P.A. Lyons, ed., Two ‘compoti’ of the Lancashire and Cheshire manors of Henry de Lacy, earl of Lincoln, Chetham Society (1884), p. 45). The feast of the fair was not given.

CONGLETON 3854 3631. Borough 1272x74 (BF, p. 73). Market town c.1600 (Everitt, p. 470). Fair c.1587, 1 May, 2 Jul; Saturday market (Harrison, pp. 393–4; Smith, Vale-Royall, p. 45).
M (Charter) Sat; gr 4 Jan 1282, by K Edw I to Henry de Lacy, earl of Lincoln. To be held at the manor (CChR, 1257–1300, p. 260). Market held by Henry de Lacy, earl of Lincoln in 1295–6 (Rev. P.A. Lyons ed., Two 'compoti' of the Lancashire and Cheshire manors of Henry de Lacy, earl of Lincoln, Chetham Society (1884), p. 54).
F (Charter) vfm, Holy Trinity (Easter dep); gr 4 Jan 1282, by K Edw I to Henry de Lacy, earl of Lincoln (CChR, 1257–1300, p. 260). To be held at the manor.
F (Charter) vfm, Martin the bp (11 Nov); gr 4 Jan 1282, by K Edw I to Henry de Lacy, earl of Lincoln (CChR, 1257–1300, p. 260). To be held at the manor.
A fair, the feast of which was not given, was being held by Henry de Lacy, earl of Lincoln in 1295–6 (Rev. P.A. Lyons ed., Two 'compoti' of the Lancashire and Cheshire manors of Henry de Lacy, earl of Lincoln, Chetham Society (1884), p. 54). Presumably, this could relate to either of these two fairs.

FRODSHAM 3520 3774. Borough 1208x15 (G. Barraclough ed., The Charters of the Anglo- Norman Earls of Chester, c.1071–1237, Record Society of Lancashire and Cheshire, 126 (Gloucester, 1988), no. 371). K Edw I granted the manor to David son of Griffin for life on 28 Sept 1278 (CPR, 1272–8, p. 279). Market town c.1600 (Everitt, p. 470). Fair 1585x88, 10 August (Smith, Vale-Royall, p. 47).
M (Prescriptive: borough) Sun; recorded 14 Oct 1278, held by David son of Griffin (CCR, 1272–9, p. 478). Mandate to the justice of Chester to proclaim a Tues market as he was wont to have on Sun, to be held at the manor.

HALTON 3538 3823. Borough 1351x61 (BF, p. 74). On the death of Alice de Lacy, countess of Lincoln in 1349, the Lacy lands passed to Henry, earl of Lancaster (GEC, vii, p. 688). Fair 1587, the three Lady days [presumably 25 Mar, 15 Aug and 8 Sept] (Harrison, p. 395); fair 1585x88, 8 Sept (Smith, Vale-Royall, pp. 47-8).
M (Prescriptive: borough) recorded 1351x61, held by Henry, duke of Lancaster (BF, p. 74).
F (Prescriptive) nundinae, recorded 1241 (PR, 26 Hen III, p. 121). In 1295–6, Henry de Lacy, earl of Lincoln was holding a fair. In 1296, the toll of the fair, the feast of which was not given, was £16 11s. 6d. (Rev. P.A. Lyons ed., Two 'compoti' of the Lancashire and Cheshire manors of Henry de Lacy, earl of Lincoln, Chetham Society (1884), p. 47). Fair held by Henry, duke of Lancaster recorded in 1351x61 (BF, p. 74).

KNUTSFORD 3753 3783. Borough c.1292 (BF, p. 74). Market town c.1600 (Everitt, p. 470). Fairs at Low Knutsford 1585x88, 29 Jun, 23 Oct; Saturday market (Smith, Vale-Royall, p. 44).
M (Grant: other) Sat; gr 3 Aug 1292, by K Edw I to William de Tabbeleye. To be held at the manor. On 14 Feb 1332, K Edw III confirmed the market to William de Tabbeleye son and heir of the grantee (CChR, 1327–41, p. 263).
M (Charter) Fri; gr 14 Feb 1332, by K Edw III to William de Tabbeleye son and heir of the said William. Granted as ‘another’ weekly market, implying the Sat market was still in use (CChR, 1327–41, p. 263).
F (Charter) vfm, Peter and Paul (29 Jun); gr 3 Aug 1292, by K Edw I to William de Tabbeleye. To be held at the manor. On 14 Feb 1332, K Edw III confirmed the fair to William de Tabbeleye son and heir of the grantee (CChR, 1327–41, p. 263).

KNUTSFORD BOOTHS 3764 3779. Borough 1292 (BF, p. 74). Presumably High Knutsford, with the parish church and in 1555x58 a fair on Tuesday in Whit week (Smith, Vale-Royall, p. 44).
M (Prescriptive: borough). No further information for the market.

MACCLESFIELD 3909 3736. Borough 1237–8 (BF, supplement, p. 61). Market town c.1600 (Everitt, p. 470). Fair c.1587, 11 Jun; 2 Nov (Harrison, pp. 394, 396; Smith, Vale-Royall, p. 45).
M (Prescriptive: borough). No further information for the market.
F (Prescriptive) nundinae, recorded 1241 (PR, 26 Hen III, p. 121); being held on f All Saints (1 Nov) in 1301-2 and 1354-5 (Accounts of the Chamberlains and other Officers of the County of Chester, 1301-1360, ed. R. Stewart-Brown, Record Society for the Publication of Original Documents relating to Lancashire and Cheshire 59 (1910), pp. 7, 223).
F (Prescriptive) f, Barnabas (11 Jun) by 1356-7 (Accounts of the Chamberlains and other Officers of the County of Chester, 1301-1360, ed. R. Stewart-Brown, Record Society for the Publication of Original Documents relating to Lancashire and Cheshire 59 (1910), p. 223).

MALPAS 3492 3476. Borough c.1280 (BF, p. 193). Market town c.1600 (Everitt, p. 470). Fair c.1587, 8 Dec and Monday market (Harrison, p. 397; Smith, Vale-Royall, p. 4).
M (Charter) Mon; gr 13 Jul 1281, by K Edw I to Philip Burnel and Isabel his wife and their heirs (CChR, 1257–1300, p. 254). To be held at the manor.
F (Charter) vfm, Oswald the king (5 Aug); gr 13 Jul 1281, by K Edw I to Philip Burnel and Isabel his wife and their heirs (CChR, 1257–1300, p. 254). To be held at the manor.

MIDDLEWICH 3703 3662. Given the salt works, tolls and active trade in salt here and at Nantwich and Northwich, Middlewich was probably a de facto market by 1086 (Darby and Maxwell, pp. 362-4). Borough 1288 (BF, p. 75). Market town c.1600 (Everitt, p. 470); a 'great town' but 'no market town', with a small Saturday market 1585x88 (Smith, Vale-Royall, pp. 45-6). Fairs c.1587, Ascension Day (Smith, Vale-Royall, pp. 45-6) and 17 October (Harrison, p. 396) or 18 October (Smith, Vale-Royall, pp. 45-6).
  M (Prescriptive: salt works, borough) Sat (in 1585x88: Smith, Vale-Royall, 45-6); market hall for merchants erected 1334-5 (G. Ormerod, The History of the County Palatine and City of Chester, 2nd edn, rev. T. Helsby, 3 vols. (London 1882), vol. 1, pp. 173-8).
  F (Prescriptive) f, Luke (18 Oct); by 1349-50 (Accounts of the Chamberlains and other Officers of the County of Chester, 1301-1360, ed. R. Stewart-Brown, Record Society for the Publication of Original Documents relating to Lancashire and Cheshire 59 (1910), pp. 145-6, 183-5).
  F (Prescriptive) f, Ascension Day; by 1350-1 (Accounts of the Chamberlains and other Officers of the County of Chester, 1301-1360, ed. R. Stewart-Brown, Record Society for the Publication of Original Documents relating to Lancashire and Cheshire 59 (1910), pp. 183-5).

MURIFIELD 3638 3655. Borough 1330 (BF, supplement, p. 62). A separate borough from Over, Cheshire (q.v.), although extremely close by. The grid references refer to Over.
M (Prescriptive: borough). No further information for the market.

NANTWICH 3655 3521. Probably a de facto market by 1086 (see Middlewich). Borough 1319–20 (BF, p. 75). Market town c.1600 (Everitt, p. 470). Fair 1587, 24 Aug; 27 Aug (Harrison, p. 395). Fair 1555x58 24 Aug (Smith, Vale-Royall, pp. 42-3).
M (Prescriptive: salt works, borough). No further information for the market; said in 1539x45 not to have been a market (Lee, 'John Leland's Itinerary', p. 24). Held on Saturday 1555x58 (Smith, Vale-Royall, pp. 42-3).
F (Charter) vfm, Bartholomew the Apostle (24 Aug); gr 9 May 1283, by K Edw I to Robert, bp of Bath and Wells (CChR, 1257–1300, p. 265). To be held at the manor.

NETHER ALDERLEY 3844 3763.
M (Charter) Sat; mercatum, gr 22 Mar 1254, by K Hen III to Wakelin de Arderne (Roles Gascons, 1242–54, no. 4151; CPR, 1247–58, p. 339).
F (Charter) v+2, Laurence (10 Aug); feria gr 22 Mar 1254, by K Hen III to Wakelin de Arderne (Roles Gascons, 1242–54, no. 4151; CPR, 1247–58, p. 339).

NORTHWICH 3658 3739. Probably a de facto market by 1086 (see Middlewich). Borough 1288 (BF, p. 75). Market town c.1600 (Everitt, p. 470). Fair 1587, 22 Jul, 24 Aug; 6 Dec (Harrison, pp. 394–5, 397). Fair 1555x58 22 Jul (Smith, Vale-Royall, pp. 43-4).
M (Prescriptive: salt works, borough). No further information for the market. Friday market in 1555x58 (Smith, Vale-Royall, pp. 43-4).

OVER 3638 3655. Borough created 1294x1306 by Walter Deaur, A of Vale Royal (J. Brownbill ed., The Ledger Book of Vale Royal Abbey, Lancashire and Cheshire Record Society, lxviii (1914), p. 20; BF, p. 75). See also Murifield, Cheshire (q.v.).
M (Charter) Wed; gr 24 Nov 1280, by K Edw I to A and C of Vale Royal (CChR, 1257–1300, p. 237). To be held at the manor.
F (Charter) vfm, Exaltation of Holy Cross (14 Sept); gr 24 Nov 1280, by K Edw I to A and C of Vale Royal (CChR, 1257–1300, p. 237). To be held at the manor.

STOCKPORT 3897 3904. Borough c.1260 (BF, p. 75). Market town c.1600 (Everitt, p. 470). Fair 1587, 22 Apr, Ascension day, Thurs after Trinity Sunday (Harrison, pp. 393–4).
M (Prescriptive: borough). No further information for the market.

TARPOLEY 3557 3622. Borough 1281x98 (BF, p. 76).
M (Charter) Tues; gr 8 Jun 1282, by K Edw I to Hugh de Thorperle (CChR, 1257–1300, p. 262). To be held at the manor.
F (Charter) vfm, Exaltation of the Cross (14 Sept); gr 8 Jun 1282, by K Edw I to Hugh de Thorperle (CChR, 1257–1300, p. 262). To be held at the manor.

TINTWISTLE 4022 3973. Borough 1358–9 (BF, supplement, p. 62). Tintwistle was in Cheshire until 1974 when it was transferred to Derbyshire (Guide, ii, p. 38).
M (Prescriptive: borough). No further information for the market.

Back to Gazetteer Home

Centre for Metropolitan History Home