Papers, in three volumes, from A.D. 1247 to 1812; Accounts, in one volume, from A.D. 1621 to 1670; Accounts and memorandum book of Philip Moreton, 1647-1663 ; 384 deeds, relating chiefly to the county of Chester, temp. Henry III-George III. The bulk of the correspondence consists of letters from Peter Moreton, and is highly important and interesting. In the side chapel on the north of the chancel in Astbury Church, situated a mile or more away from the hall, are several monumental inscriptions relating to the Moreton family; whereby it is concluded that this portion of the church was formerly the chief burying place of the Moretons of Moreton. Originally there stood here at the east end a plain altar tomb belonging to the family. This erection, which was about four feet high, with no pretensions to either beauty or ornament, was removed, by permission of the owner, some thirty years ago, and the slabs let into the floor exactly over the spot the tomb had occupied. inscriptions are to the memory of Sir William Moreton, Recorder of London, who died in 1763; Dame Jane Moreton, died 1758; and Dame Mary Jones, died 1743. The This Astbury side chapel, it has been suggested, belonged jointly to the families of Rode and Moreton; both of whom, it is thought, were descended from the Lostocks of Lostock Gralam, and to whom the quoted allusion by King refers. Amongst the Moreton correspondence are several records of the feuds which existed between the two houses, one of which, between William Moreton and Thomas Rode, in the time of Henry VIII, was over a matter of precedence-" whiche of theym should sit highest in the churche, and "foremost goo in procession." The decision of Sir William Brereton and Justice Bramley, to whom the arbitration was submitted, is printed by Lyson in his Magna Britannia, p. 492:-" That "whither of the saied gentylmen may dispende in "landes by title of inheritannce, ten marks or above, more than the other, that he shall have "the pre-eminence in sitting in the churche, and "in gooing in procession, with all other lyke causes "in that behalfe." 66 Sir William Moreton, named on the tombstone, was the only son of the Right Reverend William Moreton, Bishop of Kildare, and subsequently of Meath. Sir William, who was knighted on the 19th of September, 1755, was the last of the male line who held the manor of Moreton, as already mentioned. Dame Jane, his wife, was the widow of John Lawton of Lawton. Dame Mary Jones, his mother, was the widow of Sir Arthur Jones at the time of her marriage with Bishop Moreton. Before I describe the old hall, it should be noticed that the present owner, Miss Elizabeth Moreton, who resides principally at. Torquay, directly she succeeded to the estate, commenced the blessed work of restoration-restoration, that is, as far as was possible. In the year 1893 this work was completed, under the instructions of Mr. James Myott (Miss Moreton's agent), and his deputy, Mr. Carswell, of Capesthorne. Messrs. Isaac Massey and Sons, of Alderley Edge, were the contractors, the superintendent of the work being Mr. T. Callwood Massey. The glazing of the windows was done by Mr. W. Gee, of Congleton. The work was of great importance, signs of decay and subsidence having appeared in many parts of the ancient building. The following are some of the details of what was carried out :-The stone parapet walls of the |