In 1850: Marbury township lies about a mile and a half N. from Northwich, and is intersected by the Grand Trunk Canal. The township contains 362A. 1r. 23p. of land, 6 houses and 37 inhabitants. Population in 1801, 20; in 1831, 26. Rateable value, £810. This manor, as early as the reign of Henry III, was the property and residence of the ancient family of Merbury or Marbury, which became extinct by the death of Richard Marbury Esq., in 1684. In the year 1708, it was purchased under a decree of the High Court of Chancery, by Richard, Earl Rivers, of Rock Savage, whose daughter brought it in marriage to James, Earl of Barrymore; having passed to the Earl's second son, the Hon. Richard Barry, and on his decease, without issue, to the eldest son of his next brother, James Hugh Smith Barry, and is now possessed by his descendant of the same name.
The valuable collection of pictures and antique marbles, purchased chiefly at Rome, by Mr J.H.S. Barry, and originally deposited at his house at Belmont, in Great Budworth, were removed to Marbury pursuant to the will of the late Mr. Barry, who directed that they should remain here as heir-looms, and that a room adjoining the House should be built for their reception. The most remarkable antiques in the above collection, are a statue of Antonius, in the character of Abundance, and a group of Paris equestris, a collossal bust of Lucius Verus, and a fine puteal, surrounded with figures in bas-relief, now converted into a vase. Among the pictures are some fine specimens, chiefly of the Italian school.
Marbury Hall is a spacious and elegant mansion of brick, with stone facings, in the French style of architecture, which has been upwards of seven years in building, and considerable alteration, and additions have to be made to this stately residence before it is completed. Some portions of the old hall have been incorporated with the new mansion, but the external walls are all new. The pleasure ground and shrubberies are laid out with taste, and the east front is approached through a fine avenue of elm trees. The Hall is now the seat and property of James Hugh Smith-Barry Esq.
Budworth Mere, immediately opposite the north front of the Hall, is a magnificent sheet of water, nearly a mile in length, covering about 80 acres.
The principal residents in Marbury are James Hugh Smith-Barry Esq., Marbury Hall, and Thomas Roscoe, corn miller. The dairy farm, the only one in the township, is in the occupancy of William Darlington, of Great Budworth. |
