James is the history columnist for Warrington Worldwide magazine and also presenter and producer of his own youtube history channel 'Tvpresenter4history' featuring over seven hundred history features and documentaries written and presented by James covering historical places of interest across Cheshire and beyond.
Deep in the heart of Cheshire, in the grounds of Dunham Massey park, once home to the Earls of Warrington, stands a stunning and mysterious archaic building hidden away amongst tall, mighty oak trees that have stood for over five hundred years in what was once a Medieval deer park.
Today Grappenhall village is a leafy suburb of Warrington tucked away just off the A50 Knutsford Road, but Grappenhall has an ancient past with a firm foothold in the history of Warrington.
On a steep embankment shaded by archaic yew trees in the quiet backwater of Warburton Village close to nearby Lymm stands an ancient religious timber framed structure that has been associated with worship and prayer since as far back as the 11th century.
The Bridgewater canal has often been described as Britain’s first canal. Built under instruction by its owner and creator the 3rd Duke of Bridgewater Francis Egerton it was opened on the 17th July 1761.
It was in the year of 1827 when Charles Dodgson of Daresbury, Warrington was to marry Frances Jane Lutwidge. Frances went on to give birth to seven girls and four boys during their marriage.
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’.
As I travel around Cheshire I come across many places like Winwick with great stories to tell about their rich historical past.
Anyone visiting Warrington today cannot fail to see the towering spire of St. Elphin’s church that is visible for many miles around and dominating the landscape.
