| Witton-cum-Twambrooks (1850, 1857, & 1892) |
| 1850-Witton-Cum-Twambrooks is a parochial chapelry and township, which forms the populous, eastern suburb of the township of Northwich, and contains 588a. 1r. 25p of land; and, in 1841, had 733 houses and 3,338 inhabitants. Population in 1801: 1531; in 1831: 2,912. Rateable value, £9,152. The principal landowners are Lord de Tabley, Rev. Richard Greenall, Mr James Gipson, John Dunn & Co., Mr William Broadhurst, Executors of the late Samuel Dean, and Swinford Jervis Esq., the former lord of the manor. This manor, and that of Le Crosse, were vested in the Barons of Kinderton, and it continued in their descendents for many generations. In 1757, Lord Vernon sold them to Sir Peter Leycester. They are now the property of his descendants, who hold a court at Witton-cum-Twambrook, Marston and Wincham. The rectorial tithes are commuted for £20 10s., and the vicarial tithes for £13. A Free Grammer School, situated on the south side of the churchyard, was founded by Sir John Dean in 1588, who endowed it with lands in Wirral, and certain houses in Chester, which although then of comparatively small value, now produce an income ammounting to £269 12s. per annum. There is also a pew in the chapel worth about £3 3s. per annum. The venerable founder in the statutes made by him, appears to have had due attention to the bodily health and recreation, as well as the mental improvement, of the pupils: he orders that "a week before Christmas and Easter, according to the old custom, they barr and keep forth the schoolmaster, in such sort as other scholars doe in great schools; and that as well in the vacations as other days aforesaid, they use their bowes and arrowes only, and eschewe all bowleing, carding, dyecing, quiteinge, and all other unlawful games". He also ordered that if the receipts of the estate exceeded the annual income of £12, then an usher should be appointed. It is deeply to be regretted that misunderstandings should have a risen to such a height as to have induced a suit in chancery, at the relation of Mr Hand, the master, against the trustees. This suit is still pending, and the school has been in abeyance since Christmas, 1835. It may be observed that the stipend of the master on his appointment to the office was fixed by the trustees at £60 per annum; but that it was to be increased to £300 on the expiration of two leases, one in 1830, and the other in 1831. The master, however, received £100 a year from the time of his appointment, till September 1825, at which time one of the leases was surrendered, and the revenue of the school considerably increasing, the stipend was fixed at £150, and so continued till Michaelmas, 1831. At the Lady-day following, the stipend was not paid, because Mr Hand would not subscribe a receipt in the form required by the trustees. He considered that by acknowledging that the sum of £75 was a "half-a-year's salary due to him as master of the Witton school," he might make an admission which would preclude him from claiming in a court of equity the full ammount which was promised, viz.,£300. Charities :- Thomas Kaye, in 1768, left certain premises, now let for £10 per annum, and directed the yearly income thereof to be appropriated towards educating six children of Witton, and an equal number of Northwich. Elizabeth Formosson, in 1791, bequeathed £200, in trust, to apply the interest for the benefit of six poor widows and six poor housekeepers of Northwich and Witton; and she gave a further sum of £100 towards the support of the Sunday schools in Northwich. Henry Frodsham, in 1817, bequeathed £50 for a distribution of bread. Thomas Beswick, in 1807, gave £100, the interest to be distributed among the poor of this chapelry. Lost Charities:- A book of accounts, entitled "A True and Perfect Table of the Benefactions of the Chapelry of Witton," was found in a house in Northwich, in 1830, wherein is enumerated various charities left for the use of the poor, amounting to £70 13s. 4d. ; and also an account of certain monies left for the benefit of the preaching minister, amounting to £133 ; but there is no person living in the chapelry who has any recollection of a distribution of money from the poor's fund. The abstraction of this book from the parish chest, accompanied or followed by the total loss of the charity money, which appears by the accounts to have been lent on bond to different persons in the town and neighbourhood, is a circumstance calculated to excite suspicion of gross misconduct. The first entry in the book has the date 1692, and the last entry relates to money left to the minister, and is dated 1741. |
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| In 1892 Witton Free Grammer School is described as: standing close to the church, and rebuilt in 1868, ... founded in 1557 by Sir John Dean, clerk, who endowed it with certain lands in Wirral and certain houses in Chester, now producing about £570 yearly; adjoining the school is a house for the headmaster; there are at present about 86 boys; the Rev. Arthur Charles Whitley MA, late scholar of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, headmaster. [Ed:The above link also provides some family detail on the donator of the photograph]. Other schools in Witton:- Witton National, Timber Lane; rebuilt and enlarged in 1881 for 850 children; John Wood, master; Miss Mary Jenkins, mistress; Miss Elizabeth Hoyle, infants mistress. Witton National (Infants), built 1874 for 207 infants; Miss E Johnson, mistress. 'British', Witton Street, built 1874 for 200 children. Arthur Firth, master. Catholic, Witton Street, (mixed) for 300 children. Miss Clara Rainforth, mistress. Wesleyan, Leicester Street, (mixed), rebuilt 1880, for 300 children. George Edward King, master. |
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| The Old Vicarage, Danefields. |
| Witton Lodge |
| In 1857 :- WITTON-cum-TWAMBROOKS is a township & chapelry, in the parish of Great Budworth, and forms a populous eastern suburb of Northwich. It contained a population, in 1851, of 3,493 inhabitants, and comprises 588 statute acres, with a rateable value of £7,716. This township is situated in the Northwich hundred and union, in the deanery of Frodsham, and archdeaconry and diocese of Chester, York archbishopric, South Cheshire. The church of St. Helen is a noble structure, in the Early English style, and consists of nave and chancel, north and south aisles, with embattled tower containing 6 bells; in the interior is an organ, and a handsome stone pulpit; over the aisles are galleries; on a beam underneath the tower are inscribed the figures 1041, but it is doubtful whether that date bears reference to the period when the church was erected. The Living is in the patronage of the Rev. Richard Greenall, and held by the Rev. George Gibbons MA. The parsonage house is situated near the church. The Wesleyan Association Methodists have a large and well built chapel in Witton-Street, erected 1854, the Rev. William Reed, minister. The Primitive Methodist chapel, situated in John Street, is a brick building, erected in the year 1848. The Witton Free Grammer school, situated in the church-yard, was founded in 1588, by Sir John Dean, who endowed it with certain lands in Wirrall, and certain houses in the town of Chester. This school has been closed since Christmas 1835, owing to misunderstandings between Mr. Hand, the late master, and the trustees, which led to a suit in Chancery; this, like most other charities, has been seriously abused. The school has again opened, under the superintendence of a new master. The National school, in Timber Lane, was built in 1818, and the average attendance at which is respectively, 100 boys, 80 girls, and about 100 infants. The Wesleyan school in Leicester-Street, was established in 1787; it has an average attendance of about 150 children. In Witton are several private establishments, which combine to furnsih instruction to a great number of children of both sexes. The Public Institution and Reading Room in Timber Lane is well supplied with periodicals. There are two breweries in the township. The salt-works, for the manufacture of white salt, are numerously situated here, and belong to various individuals. Rock salt is found in large quantities. Flat and boat building is extensively carried on; also, and iron and brass foundry, in the occupation of Messrs. Gibson. This manor, together with that of Le Crosse, was vested in the Barons of Kinderton, and it continued in the possession of their descendants for many generations. In the year 1757, the manor was purchased by Sir Peter Leycester from the Vernons. The manorial rights are now the property of his descendants, who hold a court at Witton, Marston, and Wincham. Witton House, pleasantly situated here, is the residence of Miss Yates. |
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