SATURDAY, AUGUST 6TH, 1881. Notes. HISTORY OF LINDOW. [450.] The following extracts from Mr F. Moore's little pamphlet entitled "History of Lindow" published i 1872, may be of interest to many readers :"Lindow is a small portion of land covering an area of about one square mile, situate in the north-east of Cheshire, and lies between Stockport, Altrincham, Knutsford, and Macclesfield, being about nine miles from Stockport, eight from Altrincham, seven from It is also Macclesfield, and six from Knutsford. situate about two miles from Alderley Edge, in the parish of Wilmslow, and is chiefly enclosed by portions of Warford, Falshaw, and Morley. About fifty years ago it presented a far different aspect than at present, the Common and waste land extending from Warford to Morley, and the borders of Wilmslow, but since large portions have been cultivated, the Common has been divided, one part-as at present-being joined to Lindow, and is generally known as Lindow Common; while the other parts on the Morley side are often known as Morley Common or the Race Ground, and the Rifle ground; although the name of Lindow Common was formerly and is sometimes now applied to the whole. The Common adjoining Lindow yields a good supply of turf, and at various depths below the ground are found fir, oak, and birch trees, which have fallen and lain there probably for ages; when got out the firs are useful for laths, and the oaks for beams, also with the turf they afford a fuel supply for various families around, the livelihood of some partially consisting in their sale. The early history of Lindow is one of uncertainty, but from the age of some of the farms, and the fact of its lying so near to Macclesfield and other places of ancient origin, we may suppose it to have been inhabited for many generations. From Saxon times little is known of it, until the seventeenth century, but we may suppose it to have been very thinly populated, and the inhabitants somewhat uncivilised, while their dwellings would consist chiefly of mud huts with sod roofs, and wood or brick dwellings thatched with rushes or straw. In the seventeenth century there stood here and there a farm or cottage, some of which are standing at the present day, while the natives gained their support principally from agriculture. In the year 1665, owing to the ravages of the great plague, a lady left Londou and came to a farm opposite the Row of Trees out of the way, but becoming a victim herself, she was supplied with food from the end of a hay fork, which failed to keep her.alive; she was buried in an adjoining field, and a stone with the inscription "E. S., 1665," placed over the spot, as it is in pa.t to this day. Judging from their appearance, and the many years they have maintained their freshness and beauty, it would be about this time that the Row of Trees were supposed to have been planted by a man named Moore, they at first numbered 30, but one was carried away and planted in Mottram (Cheshire), since which time it has grown quite conspicuous, and seems lost from the other 29. In the year 1745, Lindow would be disturbed by news from Macclesfield, which place 100 men had taken possession of for the Pretender, who the same night arrived with 5,000 men and his train of artillery, which then marched towards Derby, but on the advance of the Royal troops again retired to Macclesfield, &c. It may be remarked that if Lindow then possessed such efficient yeomanry as it now possesses riflemen, it would have been a consideration which side they had decided to take, whether with the Crown or with the Pretender, but as history is silent on the subject, we may indulge in the thought that they would be far behind, and extend their valour chiefly to that of their own security. ED. (To be continued.) SINGULAR INSCRIPTION AT SANDIWAY. [451] At Sandiway, Northwich, near which are the kennels of the Cheshire Hunt, the sign of the Blue Cap Inn is taken from an obelisk at the back of Mr Cossin's stables, which was erected about two cen turies ago to the memory of the celebrated foxhound of that name, the property of the Hon. John Smith Barry, and bears the following inscription: This obelisk, reader, is a monument raised To a shade, tho' a hound, that deserves to be praised; J. HENSHAW. POPULATION OF STOCKPORT PARISH A CENTURY AND A QUARTER AGO. J452.] In May, 1824, the Stockport Advertiser published the following census of the town and parish of Stockport, taken in 1754, saying it was indebted for the same to a valuable correspondent : : AN OLD STOCKPORT RACES BILL. [453.] The Stockport Advertiser for February 20, 1824, has the following:-"We were wont to consider that horse racing in Stockport was a new feature in the annals of sporting, but accidentally seeing a Manchester paper of 1764, in which a meeting was announced, we find that these races took place annually, and were sanctioned by the nobility and principal gentry of the county, and that the balls in the evening were of the most elegant and fashionable description. To some of our readers a copy of it may be considered a curiosity, and we therefore give it :'Stockport Races, 1764.-On Tuesday, the 10th day of July, will be run for £50 by any horse, &c., four years old, that never won £50 (matches excepted) carrying 8st. the best of three two mile heats.-On Wednesday, the 11th, will be run for £50, Give and take, 14 hands, aged, to carry 9st., higher or lower weight in proportion, allowing 71b. for every year under seven, the best of three four mile heats.-On Thursday, the 10th, will be run for, £50 free for five and six years old, and aged horses, &c.. that never won £50 (matches excepted) five years old to carry 8st. 71b., six years old 9st. 3lb., aged 10st., free also for any horse, &c., carrying 5lb. extraordinary, the best of three four mile heats.-A subscriber of two guineas to pay oue guinea entrance, a subscriber of one guinea to pay two guineas, and a non-subscriber to pay three guineas ntrance, and 10s 6d to the Clerk of the Course for weight, scales, &c.-Double entrance to be allowed at the post. No less than three reputed running horses to start for the above plates. If only one horse, &c., enters to have 10 guineas, and if two seven guineas each, and the entrance money returned. To enter at Jepson's Barn, near the distance post, on Saturday before the Races, between the hours of two and six in the afternoon. Certificates of the age of each horse, &c., to be produced under the hands of the breeders at the time of entrance, otherwise to be deemed aged horses. All the above plates to be subject to the King's Plate Articles, and to be paid without any deduction whatsoever.-Ordinaries and assemblies as usual. Sir George Warren, Knt., John Chetwode, Esq., Stewards."" J. R. REMARKABLE CASE OF LONGEVITY. [454.] In the Manchester Mercury of Tuesday, January 26th, 1819, I find a memoir of George Wainwright, the father, I believe, of the author of the music of the Christmas hymn "Christians, awake." "The following memoir has been written by a descendant of the venerable subject to whom it alludes, who, on the 28th of this month, will have completed his 105th year. It has been usual of late for several gentlemen of Sheffield to raise subscriptions for the purpose of providing a dinner on the occasion of George Wainwright's birth, who, with the whole of his descendants, are regularly invited. It is a peculiarly-gratifying occasion to the modern patriarch, who never fails to betray a very proper share of feeling and becoming satisfaction, that is witnessed with much pleasure by his friends and regarded for its sincerity by his acquaintances and benefactors. Memoir of George Wainwright, who, on the 28th of January, 1818, completed the 104th year of his age. "Is there in nature a more striking object than a venerable man, sinking under the weight of years, surrounded by his children and his children's children. Such an object in a get measure is the man whose natal day we are 1. to celebrate, and who, approaching to a patriarc lage himself, sees his sons old men by his side, and his sons' sons flourishing in the strength of man. hood, whilst vigorous shoots from various branches of his stock are springing up around him to perpetuate his memory and his name. George Wainwright was born at Bamford, in the county of Derby, in 1714, of parents who both died at a very advanced age. From a brother George learned the trade of a linen weaver, which he followed till disabled by infirmities of age in the year 1810. He married about 1744 a young woman from Dronfield, of the name of Camm, who bore him 12 children. After his marriage he became an inhabitant of Totley, which place he left on her death in 1791, and went to reside at Whiteley Wood, from whence a few years back he removed to Dore to make part of the family of one of his daughters. Of his 12 children five are now living, whose united ages amount to 303 years. He has 20 grandchildren of great, and great, great, great grandchildren-upwards of 100 linneal descendants-besides an uncommonly great number of collateral relations as nephews, nieces, grand nephews, &c. He has borne during his lengthened days that noblest of all characters-an honest man." E. H. Replies. "OLD HOB." (Query No. 18. February 12.) [455.] The custom referred to I was told about by Mr John Sanibach, who resided at Oak House Farm, Mottram-St.-Andrew, near Prestbury, some 50 years ago. His father remembered the custom in his youthful days. It resembles in many respects a curious custom called "Going a-hodening," which is practised in Kent, and is thus described in a book entitled "Customs for the curious," published in 1824:-"At Ramsgate, in Kent, they begin the festivities of Christmas by a curious procession. A party of young people procure the head of a dead horse, which is affixed to a pole about four feet in length; a string is affixed to the lower jaw, a horse cloth is also attached to the whole, under which one of the party gets, and by frequently pulling at the string keeps up a loud snapping noise, and is accompanied by the rest of the party, grotesquely habited, with handbells. Thus they proceeded from house to house ringing their bells and singing carols and songs. They are commonly gratified with beer, cakes, or money. This curious ceremony is always observed in the Isle of Thanet on Christmas eve, and is supposed to be an ancient relic of a festival to commemorate our Saxon ancestors landing in Thanet, as the term hoden seems to imply." I should think this practice has been discontinued 50 years ago. SALT SILVER. (Query No. 444.-July 30.) E. H. [456] The penny referred to as being paid as "Salt Silver" was an ancient silver coin, in fact the silver penny was the only coin of that name the Saxons had, consequently the custom referred to of a tenant paying a penny as "Salt Silver" in lieu of carrying salt from the market to his master's larder must be a very old one. The silver penny was equal In weight to our threepenny piece. Five of these silver pennies made one Saxon shilling, and 30 pence a mark, which weighed about the same as three halfcrowns. This penny was made with a cross in the middle, and so broke into halfpence and farthings. Hazel Grove. J. P. SHEEPWASH MILL. (Query No. 446.-July 30.) [457.] I remember well, some 30 years ago, seeing at different times at the edge of the river men employed washing sheepskins, which they held in the river on poles for the purpose of cleansing them previous to being stripped by the tanner. As this was near the mill referred to by "Jacques," I am inclined to think the mill took its name from this practice. J. W. STOCKPORT COMMON LANDS. (Query No. 378.-June 25.) [458.] In addition to what is stated by your correspondent "Semper " I respectfully call attention to the following, published in one of our local papers by me in 1870. In the year 1805 an Act of Parliament was passed "for dividing and selling, or otherwise disposing of the common lands and waste grounds in the Manor Barony Town, and township of Stockport, in the County Palatine of Chester, and for applying the money to arise thereby for the benefit of the poor of the said town." The ostensible object of this Act was the allotment and sale of waste land to the extent of 125 acres. The following is copied from an old document printed in 1838: MEASUREMENT OF WASTE LANDS IN THE TOWNSHIP OF STOCKPORT IN THE YEAR 1808. The Act provides for the sale of this land and the application of the proceeds, first to the erection of a house of industry or workhouse, and second the investment of the surplus and annual payment of its proceeds on the 25th March in every year to the Overseers of the Poor of Stockport, in the reduction of the assessments of the poor rate on the ley payers. The Commissioners sold the waste land and made their award. The whole of the land, statute measure, 124 acres 2 roods and 20 perches, realised the sum of £7,127 58 6d. The late Alderman Thomas Steele, who was Mayor of the Manor and Barony of Stockport in 1830, and again after the borough being incorporated in 1835, is named among the purchasers of 2 acres 2 roods 10 perches for £120, and a second lot, 2 acres 22 perches, for £132. The particulars of these purchases will be given shortly. E. H. Queries. [459.] PEEL MOAT.-Not far from Heaton Chapel there is a place with this name which bears unmistakeable evidence of having been at some time an isolated plot of land, with a moat filled with water surrounding it. Can any local historian tell us anything respecting its early history? Common report speaks of a castle having been there, but the view is not sufficient I think. J. CARSTAIRS. At [460.] SINGULAR CUSTOM IN CHESHIRE. Northwich, in the county of Cheshire, a whimsical privilege is ascribed by the charter of the Church to the senior scholar of the grammar school-namely, that he is to receive marriage fees to the same amount as the clerk, or in lieu thereof the bride's garters, "Relicts for the Curious," vol. 2, 1824. This grammar school was founded in 1554, and handsomely endowed by Sir John Dean, as seen in a short history and description of Chester, 1787. Can any of your correspondents let us know who he was, and what was the origin of this remarkable custom ? E. H. [461.] PENANCE.-A book in Ecclesiastical law tells me that originally penance was a punishment imposed for a crime by the Ecclesiastical law. As an acknowledgment of the offence the person was required to stand in some public place in order to satisfy the Church for the evil example. This was particularly so in the cases of adultery, for which the offender stood in the church barefoot and bareheaded, in a white sheet. For lesser offences the expiation might be made in the court, or before the minister and churchwardens. Have we any record of this having been done in Cheshire? Stockport. T. TAYLOR. A most devastating tornado has visited the district of New Ulm, a pretty German town in the MinneBota Valley, demolishing some 200 houses and killing many people. The information, which is dated the 19th of July, says the wind blew from the west, bringing with it a peculiar darkness that prevented friends recognising each other even at a distance of but ten feet. The northern portion of the town was visited with the greater severity. In this district the poorer people lived, and in the short space of two minutes all the dwellings were swept down and laid level with the ground. The scenes of terror and confusion were described as terrible, which was added to by horses and other animals breaking loose from their fastenings and tearing through the city mad with fright. The Lutheran church, and the Catholic church and schools were totally demolished. The wind was also accompanied by vivid flashes of lightning, which struck about a score of buildings. The tornado lasted about fifteen minutes, after which thero was a slight lull, succeeded by another terrible storm. The total extent of the damage could not be ascertained at latest accounts; but the corpses of some 13 people were found. Amongst these were six members of one family named Finly. Only one of the family escaped alive. It was estimated that at least 500 people had been rendered homeless by the visitation, and there was said to be much suffering amongst them in consequence. The town of New Ulm has a population of 3,500. The fury of the wind was fearful, houses being hurled along at a rapid rate and dashed to piece SATURDAY, AUGUST 13TH, 1881. Notes. THE CHESHIRE HILLS. [463.] Those who wander away for their holiday to Belgium, or the Rhine, or Switzerland, often think but little of the delights they leave behind. As Mr Alfred Rimmer says in his new book, entitled "Onr Old Country Towns," "Within a few miles of where these lines are written (viz., Chester) are the Cheshire hills, ne lected indeed by artists and tourists, but almost unsurpassed in beauty. From one of these hills at Broxton no fewer than 10 counties can be seen, and the landscapes on every side are as pleasing as they are broad and rich. The estuary of the Mersey is plainly visible on the north, and to the west are the bends of the Dee, showing themselves at intervals in thin streaks through the dense foliage, like loops of silver thread on thick pile velvet. Chester is easily ɛeen, as also Nantwich and Malpas and Whitchurch, and many church towers besides that have stood the wear and tear of centuries. There are parks and black and white farmhouses scattered over the vast landscape; and in one direction, where a long stretch of road is visible, a coach (for there are a few stagecoaches left) looks only like a speck, and hardly seems to make any progress at all. Again and again the plains we overlook have figured in the civil wars, and we are reminded of monarchs who waded through slaughter to a throne,' while at the same time the woods of Gresford and the tower of Wem are plainly visible-the one gave birth, and the other a title, to the judge who shut the gates of mercy on mankind." Sandbach. W. R. DAVIES. HISTORY OF LINDOW. (In continuation.) [464.] During this century a man commenced his shepherd life on Lindow Common, which then extended from Warford to the borders of Wilmslow, his dress comprised low shoes with large buckles, knee breeches, red vest, brown coat, and a large round hat; he carried also a shepherd's crook, and lived for a few years in the present century, and died at the age of about 100 years, being the only known shepherd who ever confined his pasture ground to that of Lindow Common. It was during this man's life that Lindo w was ruled according to the wishes of two women, who styled themselves "The Heiresses of Lindow," and having each about 10 grown-up sons they were able by waiting to force the inhabitats to comply with their demands. Any land enclosed for cultivation without their consent was sure to be stopped, and any hedges or railings removed. In 1814, Lindow was composed-to a large extentof heath and sand, while Dinger Brow was in such a condition, that it took two or three horses to pull up a ton; the other roads were in a similar state, and there being no bridge in Brook Lane, carts, &c., had to go through the brook. The waste land was in some parts decked with large clusters of gorse bushes, which at one place were so very high that a farm opposite received the name of Gorst House, which is one of the oldest dwellings now in Lindow. In 1815, owing to the war with France, provisions rose very high, wheaten flour being 6s per dozen, and barley flour-which was mostly used-4s per dozen ; a small cob of bread was 1s or 1s 6d, according to quality; potatoes were 2s per score; but milk was cheaper, being only 1d per quart, and butter accordingly. A man named William Sprowson came to live at Dinger Brow, at which place he resided for 56 years, and died December 16th, 1871. About the year 1820, there lived a man on Lindow named Percival, whothrough the habits of his life-acquired the name of Modesty Percival, a name not much merited, but given in ridicule. Modesty being a man of intemperate habits, was going home one evening under the influence of drink, when by some means he fell in a small hole used for geese to drink at, opposite some cottages, now changed for Lime Tree House; the hole was only a few yards in circumference, and about a foot deep in the centre, but poor Modesty falling on his face was drowned. Of course there was much talk about this event, being one of such rare occurrence, and owing to the superstition of the time, it was a matter of supposed danger to talk about him for fear of his ghost appearing, which was also strengthened by a report to put an epitaph on his grave, Lut which, however, was not carried out. The words were as follows: Who lies here? Who do you think? Poor old Modesty, Bring him some drink. Bring him some drink, I tell you for why: When he was living, He always was dry. Children who repeated this after dark were often influenced with a fear that the safest place for them was within doors, and no doubt the older inhabitants would also feel a similar sensation on account of their superstition. |