in that larger area which, on other grounds, I suppose to have been included once in Marford. It was rebuilt in 1661, and I give herewith a reproduction of a watercolour painting of the Upper Mill possessed by Mr. Thomas Lewis, of the Lower Mill, showing its appearance forty or fifty years ago, before later additions were made; also an illustration of the same mill as it now is, from a photograph taken by John Oswell Bury, Esq. I tender my thanks both to Mr. Lewis and Mr. Bury. 6. At this point I may say that on 3rd February, 1402-3, Richard de Strangeways became surety that Mogant (Morgan) le Traunter, of Burton, near Merton Mulne, John de Gresford, of Gresford, Dyo (Deio) Bagh, of Merford, David le Traunter, of Burton, and Jollyn ap Gron' ap Eign' (Iolyn ap Grono ap Einion), Traunters (carriers), would not sell the beer bought by them to the rebels" (Thirty-Sixth Annual Report of the Deputy Keeper of the Public Records). The rebels" here mentioned were, of course those who were "out" with Owen Glyndwr. Also, it is to be noted that "Merton Mulne" is plainly a mistake for "Merford Mulne," since Merton is something like thirty miles distant, while Burton is directly adjoining Marford, and Gresford close at hand. 66 66 During the later part of the eighteenth century Hoseley" was sometimes spelled in the rate-books Horsley" I cannot help thinking that such spelling was due solely to confusion of mind and plain error, being suggested by the name of the large estate of Horsley in Allington, directly adjacent, and partly intruding into the manor. In Domesday Survey it appears under the form "Odeslei," and in 1161 (see fourth volume of the Pipe Roll Society) under that of "Hodeslea," meaning Hoda's lea or Oda's lea. Both in 1087 and 1161 Hoseley was reckoned as part of Cheshire. Hoseley belonged, when we first hear of it, to the Monastery of St. Werburgh, Chester. In the Cartula rium, the foundation grant of King Edgar to St. Werburgh's Abbey is given, and therein, among other lands, those at "Hodeslip" (p here standing for th) are mentioned. Even supposing this charter to be spurious, the forgery was made at an early date, and the reference is interesting. At the time of the Domesday Survey the Monastery of St. Werburgh still held Hoseley (Odeslei). There was a carucate of land there, and the manor was then declared to be in Exestan (Estyn or Easton, that is, Hope) hundred. By 1161 "Hodeslea" was a part of the possessions of the Earl of Chester. In 1398 Richard Fitz Alan, Earl of Warrenne and Surrey, as Lord of Bromfield and Yale, had the advowson of the tithes of the demesne lands in the manors of " M'rford and Hosseley;" and in 1439, Beatrix, widow of Thomas, Earl of Arundel, Lord of Bromfield, held in dower the provostry of "Merford and the park of Merseley." At what precise time, and under what exact circumstances, the manor of Marford and Hoseley came into the possession of the Trevors of Trefalyn, I do not know. In the 12th year of James I, the King appears to have been the Lord of Merford and Hoseley, and the mill to have been in the tenure of Richard and John Trevor, but in the Parliamentary Survey of 1649 we meet with the following statement: "The Lo'pe of Merford in the possession of Sir John Trevor was thone haulf purchased ffor the Earl of Derby and the other haulf was charged with the annual rent of 4li. to the Crowne, but howe answeared and by what graunt we ffinde not." In the same Survey occurs the following statement: "There is a certen mills called Merford Mills for w'ch is paid yearely to the Revenue viiili, or thereabouts in the tenure of S'r John Trevor, Knight, by what graunt held we finde not, alleged to be in ffee ffarme." Where lay the commons of Marford, mentioned in a manorial court resolution of October 19th, 1739, I do not know, except that, according to Edward Lhuyd, they must have been at or near "Bryn Merffordh" (Marford Hill). But the common fields were situate north of Hillock Farm, and along part of the area west of the present Marford Hill Road. Within this area remained in 1843 many quillets of about the size common in this district, and there are still to be found within it large rectangular or parallel-sided fields, which are plainly composed of quillets consolidated and enclosed. The largest house in Marford was that called "Grofft y Castell," or or "Roft Hall." It already belonged to Sir Richard Trevor in 1636, and is mentioned in his will. It stood, Mr. Chancellor Trevor Parkins tells me, above the old turnpike road near the gravel pit, and was pulled down by the late Mr. George Boscawen. The site of it, on the east side of the old road, can in fact be easily recognised if one goes along the disused road past the old Pant Chapel (built in 1822), in the direction of the "Trevor Arms." In the wood on the left may be seen a spot where the trees are comparatively young. Adjoining this spot was Rofft Hall, partly in Marford, and partly perhaps in the detached portion of Allington already mentioned as containing The Rofft Mount. Old people have spoken of the handsome staircase it contained, and have referred to the house as being as good, or almost as good, as Trefalyn Hall itself. In 1668 Mr. Kenrick Edisbury, elder son of Richard Edisbury, of London, and first cousin to Josua Edisbury, Esq., of Erddig, was living there. In 1710, and again in 1712, George Blackborne, gent., occupied the house. He was the agent for the Trefalyn estate, and afterwards lived at Trefalyn Hall. I copy from the Gresford registers the following extracts relating to him : 22 Oct., 1707. George ye son of George Blackborn, Gent., bapt. 22 Oct., 1708. Johu ye son of George Blackborn of Allington, gent., bapt. |