Overton

A guided walk to illustrate a century of change in central Overton (prepared for the Cheshire Local History Association Quarterly Meeting – 24.7.2019) A brief introduction to the historic town of Frodsham The settlement of Frodsham dates back to Saxon times. It is recorded in Domesday Book as an agricultural manor (estate) with a small workforce plus a priest and a church. This early medieval estate centre was probably located in Overton close to the site of the Parish Church. Overton grew under the lordship of the Norman Earls of Chester until the powerful 6th Earl, Ranulph de Blundeville, granted a Borough Charter to Frodsham, probably in 1209. The Charter led to the development of the planned medieval borough with burgage plots in Main Street / High Street, now the commercial core of our town.

Notes for a walk around the centre of modern Overton The building known as the Ring o’Bells dates from the 17th century and is a Grade II listed building. Inside there is an altered inglenook, and a number of original small rooms, timberframing and wattle and daub. The property was documented as a yeoman’s house in 1692 and we know that it has been licensed as a public house since 1768. It was acquired by the Bedford Brewery in 1882 and by Greenalls in 1953. It is now owned by J W Lees. Licensees have included John Nield, a veteran of Waterloo, and more recently, the parents of actor Daniel Craig in the 1980s.

The historic image (FDN0567) shows the corner of the Ring o’Bells and the cottages which stood opposite on what is now the church car park. Note that the corner window of the pub has been retained.

Church Cottages was a terrace of four which, at the time of the Tithe Map c.1845 was owned by Richard G Perryn of Trafford Hall.

The location of Church Cottages in relation to the church is shown on the second image. (FDN0203) Two of the cottages were occupied by William Aston, a master stonemason and his son, also William. In one of the middle cottages was James Mercer, an agricultural labourer. When he died, his wife Betty opened a sweet shop and was famous for her humbugs. The business was continued by their daughter, Alice Knight, who died in 1908. Alice’s two sons and their families lived in the cottages after her death. Sadly, all three sons of Thomas and Elizabeth Knight were killed in the First World War. The cottages were demolished in 1927.

From the Ring o’Bells walk up Bellemonte Road to the Bull’s Head public house. The Bull’s Head was rebuilt in the early 20th century.

We know that the inn, also known as the Bull Inn, had a full license from the late 18th century. It was in the hands of Enoch Lightfoot in 1841. Then Thomas Wright held the license from 1848 and lived there at the time of the 1851 and 1861 censuses. Thomas died in 1865 and his stepson acquired the license.

Note the view of the church roof on the two historic images FDN0205 (1850s) and FD03239 (1920s) – the church was restored 1880-82.

Turn left into Hillside Road, which was known as Back Lane in the 19th century. Here you will see one of the oldest cottages in Frodsham.

Flower Cottage, listed Grade II, dates from the late 15th or early 16th century and has been restored recently. It was originally divided into two cottages. In an article about the cottage, in Interact, the Frodsham Civic Society newsletter in November 1976, we find the following: ‘When a wattle and daub inner wall was investigated, a wall safe was discovered. Used to store family valuables, it was covered over to remain undetected until the wall surface was scratched off.’

During the latest restoration in 2014, the builders found a very old coat dating from the turn of the 18/19th centuries which had been hidden in a chimney. The coat has been examined by professionals and carefully preserved. It is now in the safe keeping of Frodsham and District History Society Archives. The thatched roof, which had been covered by a corrugated iron roof, has now been restored.

More than a century ago, Flower Cottage was one of several thatched cottages in Overton. The property has been home to families of wheelwrights since the 1830s: Peter Walker, wheelwright, and his family were living in Flower Cottage at the time in 1891, 1901 and 1911 censuses. Notice the wide gateway to allow entry to the wheelwright’s premises on early images. Peter Walker’s son, John Wilfred Walker, was one of the Frodsham soldiers killed in World War I when an enemy shell exploded near him as he stood outside his dugout on 18 August 1915. Behind Flower Cottage stood Pump Cottage.

Turn left into School Lane and observe Frodsham Church of England Primary School.

Formerly the Frodsham Grammar School it was erected on this site in 1824. After the passing of the 1870 Education Act it became the Frodsham Endowed Boys’ School (C of E). The original grammar school, dating from the 16th century, was situated in the southwest corner of the churchyard.

The historic image (FD03251) shows the school before its rebuilding in 1892. Note the stone plaque above the doorway. The plaque still exists and can be seen to the right of the present entrance.

Next to the school is Overton House (FD04666), listed Grade II, it was built in the second half of the 18th century to provide accommodation for the schoolmaster, his family and probably boys that boarded. It was briefly a boarding school for young ladies in the mid 19th century before becoming the headmaster’s house in the late 1870s. It is now a private residence.

Ref: AR Smith (1992) ‘Schools’ at Overton Historic images can be located on the website: Cheshire Image Bank AJ MacGregor Licensees of public houses in Vale Royal Walk notes assembled by Kath Gee, Sue Lorimer and Heather Powling (2019)