Spotlight on Local History with James Balme
Warrington is a town steeped in history dating back to the earliest times. Indeed, throughout the centuries members of the Mainwaring family were prominent landowners across Cheshire including owning land in Warrington.
But travel just thirty minutes to the south east of Warrington and you will find yourself in Over Peover once the manor held from the 13th century by the Mainwaring family who were lords of the estate.
Peover Hall that we see today was first built in 1585 by Sir Randle Mainwaring. This beautiful Elizabethan house remained the ancestral home to the Mainwarings for almost 340 years before it was sold to a private buyer in 1919. Today the hall is a family home but is open to the public on selected days of the week.
But the story of the Mainwarings goes back much further and many believe this influential Cheshire family had its roots in Cheshire from as early as the Norman conquest. The family themselves claimed that they were descended from Sir Ralph de Mesnilwarin born in 1155 AD who was to become the Justice of Chester in later life.
Next to Peover Hall stands the ancient church of St Lawrence believed to have been first built in the reign of King Edward III between 1327 to 1377. This beautiful church only a stones’ throw away from Peover Hall became the burial place of the Mainwarings from as early as 1410 AD. Inside this building stand the alabaster and marble tombs from many generations of the Mainwaring family and they are believed to be some of the finest examples in Cheshire revered by historians since at least the 18th century.
Historical records show that in 1456 Sir Randle Mainwaring died and was buried in the churchyard, however his wife Margery decided that she wanted something so much more special to remember him by and she duly commissioned a chapel to be built over his grave on the south side of the church. This was completed and today if you visit St Lawrence’s church you will see a resplendent canopied tomb inside the church complete with carved stone effigies of Randle and Margery lay side by side.
But the jewel in the crown of this wonderful ancient building has to be the north chapel housing the marble tomb-chest of Sir Philip Mainwaring and his wife Ellen for it is here where we find not only the beautifully carved effigies of the couple but also weapons and armour believed to have belonged to Sir Philip having been worn by him during his life. Today these are to be found mounted on the walls of his chapel. Also suspended above the tomb-chest are relics from the English civil war including helmets and armour.
But St Lawrence’s will always be proud that the late General George Patton of the American Third Army and his staff worshipped at the church in 1944 during the time that they occupied Peover Hall. Today you can see the American flag presented by General Patton to the church mounted on the wall alongside a bronze plaque and two photographs of the General. Over Peover has certainly played its part in British history from the 14th century right through to today.
My film, The Mainwarings and St Lawrence, shot at Over Peover, can be viewed for free with many other local history films by visiting my channel, youtube.com/@Tvpresenter4history
