| Shipbrook : 1850 & 1892 |
| 1850-Shipbrook is a small township and scattered village, 2 and 1/2 miles SE by S from Northwich, which contains 525 acres of very superior land, let for upwards of £7 the Cheshire acre. In 1841 there were 14 houses and 89 inhabitants; population in 1801: 90; in 1831: 83. Rateable value, £1,528. This place was anciently the seat of the Baron Vernons. Richard de Vernon, the first of the family, who settled at Shipbrook, was one of Hugh Lupus's Barons. Warin Vernon, the fifth Baron in succession, son of Warin who had married one of the co-heiresses of the Baron of Wich-Malbank, left three daughters, co-heiresses, married into the families of Wilbrahan, Stafford and Littlebury. Ralph Vernon, rector of Hanwell, younger brother of Warin, had a long suit with his neices concerning the Barony; and at last determined, by award, that Ralph should have one half of the baronial estate, including Shipbrook the seat of the barony, and the manor of Minshull Vernon. This estate is said to have been settled, by deed, on his illegitimate son, Sir Ralph, who lived to the age of 150 years, as appears by various law proceedings, respecting the estates, he is called, in the pedigrees of the family, Sir Ralph Vernon "the old" and "the old liver". This Ralph married Mary, daughter of Lord Dacre, and Maude Grosvernor, widow of John Hatton, who on one side is described as his second wife, and on the other as his concubine. In the year 1325 he made a settlement upon the marriage of Sir Ralph, his grandson, with Agnes, daughter of Richard Damory. By this deed, in the event of failure of male issue from Sir Ralph and Agnes, the Vernons estates were settled upon Richard, eldest son of the above-mentioned Sir Ralph"the old", by Maude Grosvenor; passing by Thomas, a younger son, by Lord Dacre's daughter, whose descendent, James Vernon, some years afterwards, contested the validity of the deed, and after considerable litigation, there seems to have been a compromise; and, at a subsequent period, a moiety of the barony, with the manor of Shipbrook, was carried in marriage to the Savages, which were sold in the early part of the last century, to Richard Vernon, Mr Vernon having procured an act of parliament for the sale of this estate, in 1764. (For a detailed look at the Vernons' family tree try this link. Use your 'back' button to return here) It was purchased by Mr Tomkinson, of Liverpool. From this family it was purchased by William Harper, Esq., and is now possessed by John H Harper Esq. The resident Farmers in this township are:- John Holland, George Saint, and Jonathan Thompstone. Land agent: Mr Richard Carter. |
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| 1892:- Shipbrook (or Shipbrooke) is a small township, comprising only a few farmhouses, 2 1/2 miles south-south-east from Northwich and about 3 from the station at Hartford on the London & Northwest railway. According to Ormerod, the historian of Cheshire (1819), this place was formerly the seat of the Barons Vernon; Richard de Vernon, the first of the family, who settled at Shipbrook, being one of the barons of Hugh de Abrincis, surnamed Lupus, created by the Conquerer in 1070, Earl of Chester: Warin Vernon, 5th baron, who had married one of the co-heiresses of the barons of Wich Millbank, Nantwich, who left three daughters, co-heiresses, married into the families of Wilbraham, Stafford, and Littlebury: Ralph Vernon, rector of Hanwell, younger brother of Warin, had a long law-suit with his nieces concerning the barony, and it was eventually determined that Ralph should have on half of the baronial estate, including Shipbrook, the seat of the barony, and the manor of Minshull Vernon, which estate is said to have been settled, by deed, on his illegitimate son, Sir Ralph Vernon, who lived to the extraordinary age of 150 years, as appears by various law proceedings bearing on the estates, in which, and in the pedigree of the family he is styled "the old" and "the old liver", and he was one of the witnesses in the famous Scrope and Grosvenor controversy (Note: see 'Lostock Gralam'), in the reign of Richard II. This Ralph married, first Mary, daughter of Lord Dacre, and secondly, Maude Grosvenor, widow of John Hatton, who on one side is described as his second wife and on the other as his concubine : in the year 1325, he made a settlement, upon the marriage of Sir Ralph, his grandson, with Agnes, daughter of Richard Damory : by this deed, in the event of failure of male issue from Sir Ralph and Agnes, the Vernon estates were settled upon Richard, eldest son of the above mentioned Sir Ralph "the old", by Maude Grosvenor, passing by Thomas, a younger son by Lord Dacre's daughter, whose descendant, James Vernon, some time afterwards contested the validity of the deed, and after considerable litigation appears to have effected a compromise. At a subsequent date, a moiety of the barony, with the manor of Shipbrook, was transferred in marriage to the Savage family, and in the early part of the last century these were purchased by Richard Vernon esq. who procured an Act of Parliament in 1764, for the sale of this estate, which he disposed of to Mr Tomkinson, of Liverpool, from whom it was purchased by William Harper esq. Colonel CH France-Hayhurst DL, JP, of Bostock Hall, is the present lord of the manor and sole proprietor of this township, which is divided from the township of Davenham by the river Dane. Shipbrook Hall is now a farmhouse. Shipbrook contains 539 acres, chiefly applied to pasture; a little grain is also cultivated here. Rateable value, £1,270. The population in 1881 was 67. Letters through Northwich; Davenham is the nearest money order and telegraph office. |
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