It was in the year 923 AD, deep in the mists of time when a fortified village was founded close to the borders of Lymm. So important was this settlement that it even got a mention in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles. The Chronicles stated ‘AD 923 King Edward went with an army late in the harvest and ordered that the village be inhabited and fortified’.
Having read this many times before I decided that it was time to put some meat on the bones and go and take a look for myself, after all I love the challenge of investigating such stories and trying to add some substance to them.
Armed with my video camera it was time to set out on my latest quest to search out evidence behind this story for myself. As I wound slowly down the country lanes towards Thelwall I couldn’t help but notice how tranquil the area was and my imagination began to wander filling my mind with images of Saxon soldiers who would have once roamed the area jealously guarding the now fortified village under the command of King Edward.
But what do we know of King Edward during the turbulent times of the tenth century?
Edward was the son of Alfred the Great and he became King of the Anglo Saxons between the years 899 until his death on the 17th July 924. In the year 910 his armies inflicted a decisive defeat on an invading Viking army ending for good the threat from the North. With this knowledge now firmly in my head I arrived at the quaint and unassuming village of Thelwall located close to the banks of the Manchester ship canal and It wasn’t long before it became clear that the history books did indeed reflect what is clearly an ancient village complete with a picture postcard Post Office and chocolate box cottages.
All Saints Altar
But the Jewel in the crown of this historical village has to be the 16th century timber framed building known today as the Pickering Arms, for it is this building that gives us the biggest clue for the history of the village. Upon the outside timbers it states ‘In the year 923 King Edward the Elder founded a city here and called it Thelwall’. During the time of Edward a Burh was built at Thelwall in the year 919 to guard an important strategic crossing point of the river Mersey. Whilst the exact location of this crossing point is heavily disputed today there is no doubt that it existed. However with the Mersey shifting its course over the centuries since the crossing was constructed its highly likely to have been eroded and washed away over time thus removing any evidence of its exact position in the landscape.
Also in Thelwall stands All Saints church. This was an ancient place of worship first built in 1663 by Richard Brook but was rebuilt in 1843 with the costs being met by William Nicholson of nearby Thelwall Hall. A chancel was added to the church during the 1890s. An interesting feature of the church is the stained glass windows being dedicated to the Rylands family amongst other notable families in the area. Why not take a trip out to Thelwall and see the history of this picturesque village.
Two films ‘Edward the Elder’ and ‘All Saints Church Thelwall’ shot at Thelwall, can be viewed for free by visiting my channel Youtube.com/Tvpresenter4history
