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Runcorn Superior & Inferior.
THese two Townships, now distinguish'd into Over-Runcorn and Nether-Runcorn, are Mized together in our Common Mize-book, and are very hard Mized.
Here at Runcorn that Magnanimous Virago, Elflede Countess of Mercia, and Widow to Ethelred the Chief Governor of Mercia, and Sister to King Edward the Elder, did build a Town, Anno Domini 916. as Florentius, Huntington, and other our Historians do affirm: A Town and Castle, saith Stow, pag. 81. Probably it was then in a more flourishing condition than now it is: For now it is a very poor Village, and seems to be Waste in the Conqueror's Time; for it is not mentioned in Doomsday-book.
Both these Townships comprehend not fully 300 Cheshire Acres, upon a Survey of the Assessors made by estimation in the Time of our late War.
These little Villages are both of the Fee of the ancient Barony of Halton, and were formerly Copy-hold Land to the Manor of Halton, until the several Owners bought out their Lands in Fee-farm, to hold in Free and Common Soccage of the Mannor of Enfield in Middlesex; the King's Grant bearing date the ninth day of Sep∣tember, 4 Car. 1. 1628. as you may see also above in Moore.
Some Lands in these Townships are ancient Free-hold Land: For Sir Hugh Dutton of Dutton, by Office taken at Frodsham, 22 Edw. 1. 1294. was found to hold seven Bovates of Land in Runcorn, with other Lands, of the Honor of Halton; which are termed The third Part of Over-Runcorn, in the Feodary of Halton: Vide supra, at the end of Halton: But these Lands were sold lately by Gilbert Lord Gerard, unto Savage of Rock-Savage, in the Reign of King James.
Here is seated, on the Bank by the Riverside, an ancient Parish-Church, Alhallowes of Nether-Runcorn, Dedicated to All-Saints.
William Son of Nigell, Baron of Halton, founded here a House of Canons Regular, Anno Domini 1133. And afterwards William Constable of Cheshire the younger, Son of William, Son of Nigell, removed their Habitation unto Norton, about the Reign of King Stephen. All which Donations of William Constable of Cheshire the youn∣ger, and of the Churches of Runcorn and Great-Budworth, and many other things, Henry the Second confirms to the Canons of Runcorn, as you may see the Charter in Monasticon, Vol. 2. pag. 186. Ratified also by the Charter of Edward the Third, wherein he Confirms Donationem, quam Hugo de Duttona Filius Hugonis de Duttona fecit per Chartam suam praedictis Canonicis de duobus Solidis & octo Denariis de redditu de Puls∣eya—ac de Terra de Frodsham cum pertinentiis; & de Terra de Pulles-eya, cum Ca∣pella, & tota Terra Assartata, & Pastura ad sexaginta animalia ibidem, ante Publicationem Statuti praedicti de Terris ad manum mortuam non ponendis editi. Datum apud Glocester, 30 die Augusti, 3 Edw. 3.
See more of the Priory of Norton, of the Order of St. Augustine, supra, in Norton.
The Church of Runcorn seems to be before the Norman Conquest: For we read in the ancient Roll, That Nigell Baron of Halton gave the Church of Runcorn to Wolfaith a Priest his Brother, in the Reign of the Conqueror.
This Church hath now for its Patron Christ-Church College in Oxford: For after the Statute of Dissolution of Abbies, Henry the Eighth gave the Rectory of Runcorn, and the Rectory of Great-Budworth in Cheshire, unto Christ-Church in Oxford, by speci∣al Grant, dated 11 die Decembris, 38 Hen. 8. which before belonged to the Priory of Norton.
This Parish comprehendeth these Villages following, over and besides the Pa∣rochial-Chappelries of Daresbery and Aston juxta Sutton, within the same; which see in their due Places.