MAGHULL
Magele, Dom. Bk.; Maghul, Maghyl, Maghale,
Maghal, Mauhale, 1292; Maghhal, 1303; Mauwell,
1351; Maghull, Maghell, 1353. These last two
forms and Maghale most general. In the xv cent. the
name was contracted to Maile or Male, which shows
the local pronunciation. Sometimes the article was
prefixed, 'The Maile.'
Maghull is an agricultural township, situated in
flat country fairly well supplied with trees, generally grouped about the villages and farmsteads. The
land is divided into arable and pasture, the latter
mostly to the west, whilst numerous market gardens
thrive on a light sandy soil. Crops of potatoes
and other root crops, wheat and oats are successfully cultivated. The Leeds and Liverpool Canal
crosses the township from north to south-east; the
upper end of Maghull village, with its sett-laid roads
and gaily painted houses, is a typical canal-side settlement. The River Alt drains the low-lying ground
to the west, and forms the boundary of the township
in that direction. The total area is 2,098 acres. (fn. 1)
There was in 1901 a population of 1,505.
The principal road, leading from Liverpool to
Ormskirk, passes through the village from south to
north, and is joined on the east by the more circuitous
route through Melling, and on the west by the road
from Sefton. The Lancashire and Yorkshire Company's line from Liverpool to Preston crosses in a
north-easterly direction, and has a station called
Maghull. The Cheshire Lines Committee's railway
to Southport passes along the western border, where
there is a station called Sefton.
The township is governed by a parish council.
Three ancient crosses are known to have existed.
The pedestal of the 'Woodlands Cross' is visible
above the footpath at the junction of Green Lane
with the Liverpool and Ormskirk road. Others are
at Clent Farm (removed in 1890) and Back Lane. (fn. 2)
A sundial on the lawn in front of the manor-house
has the motto and date, 'Volvenda dies, 1748.'
Another in the churchyard is dated 1781. (fn. 3)
The Alt Drainage Act (1779) has the following
field names: Chew, Pushed Meadow, Lower Mean
Hey, and Lowest Alter.
A writer in 1823 says: 'From the chapel yard is
an extensive view of the high land near Liverpool,
on which Everton church is a very prominent object;
of Ince Hall and park; and in the distance the two
landmarks of Formby.' He characterizes the village
as 'pleasant.' (fn. 4)
The wakes are held on Advent Sunday.
There was a racecourse here for one of the Liverpool meetings until the Aintree course superseded it.
Maghull manor-house is now used as an epileptics'
home.
MANORS
MAGHULL was one of Uctred's six
manors in 1066; its rating was half a
plough-land. (fn. 5) Afterwards, like four others
of the group, it formed part of the Widnes fee held
by the barons of Halton in Cheshire, and this tenure
is regularly stated in the inquisitions down to the
seventeenth century. In 1212 it was found that Alan
de Halsall held half a plough-land of Roger the constable of Chester by knight's service. (fn. 6)
The Halsall family continued to be regarded as the
superior lords of Maghull, holding it for the twentyfourth part of a knight's fee, where 12 plough-lands
made such a fee. So it was recorded in the Gascon
scutage of 1242–3, (fn. 7) and in the Halton Feodary, the
relief being stated as 5s. (fn. 8) In the fourteenth century
the lordship seems to have passed from Halsall.
In 1355 the heir of Gilbert de Halsall was lord; (fn. 9)
afterwards it was held by the Hulme family, as will
be seen later.
Simon de Halsall, the son of Alan, made two grants
in Maghull. By one he gave to his son Richard the
whole of his land in the vill, (fn. 10) the service to be that by
which Simon himself held it—the twenty-fourth part
of a fee. (fn. 11)
Simon's other grant was made about 1240. By it
he gave to William de Maghull and his heirs the
fourth part of all his vill of Maghull in demesne with
all its appurtenances, reserving two parcels of 40 acres
each in the woods. The service was to be that of a
judge or doomsman, acting as deputy of Simon and
his heirs, in the court of the chief lord at Widnes;
2¾d. annual rent was also to be paid. (fn. 12) This was the
origin of the holding of the Maghull family.
In 1292 Richard son of Robert de Maghull claimed
from Gilbert de Halsall 5 acres of land and 2½ acres
of wood as his inheritance,
from his grandfather Richard
son of William, who had held
it in the time of Henry III.
Gilbert raised the technical plea
that his brother Henry ought
to have been joined with him
as defendant, since he held
1½ acres of the disputed land. (fn. 13)
Maghull of Maghull. Argent, a balista azure loaded with a stone or.
In August, 1301, Richard
son of Robert de Maghull
gave to his son Richard and
his wife Emmota, daughter of
Robert de Rydings of Sefton,
all his lands in Aintree and
in Melling; he and his wife Alice giving warranty. (fn. 14)
Gilbert de Halsall, Richard son of Robert de Maghull, Richard son of Simon de Maghull, and others
were in 1304 defendants in a claim made by Thurstan
de Maghull in right of his wife Margery, formerly
the wife of Adam de Crosby, regarding common of
pasture in 100 acres of moor, wood, and pasture.
Gilbert de Halsall and Richard de Maghull were
lords of the vill; and their defence was that the
approvement made was lawful according to the statute
of Merton. (fn. 15)
In 1336 Richard son of Richard de Maghull
granted his son Richard land in the township, with
remainders to Adam and to William, brothers of the
grantor. Three years later the same Richard made a
similar grant to his brothers William, Adam, and
Henry in succession. (fn. 16) Between these grants (in
1338) Thomas son of Ellen de Maghull (with whom
his son Simon was joined) brought a claim by writ of
novel disseisin, against Richard son of Richard son of
Robert de Maghull and Emma his wife, Thomas son
of Richard son of Simon de Maghull and Alice his
wife, Richard son of Simon de Maghull and Margery
his wife, and Robert and Henry sons of the first
defendant. (fn. 17) In another suit in 1334 it was stated
that Gilbert de Halsall was lord of one moiety;
Thomas son of Richard son of Simon, and Richard
son of Richard son of Robert being lords of the other
moiety. (fn. 18)
It thus appears there were two families taking their
name from Maghull, one descending from Robert and
the other from Simon, and probably both from the
above-named William de Maghull. (fn. 19) This comes out
again in 1350 in a claim by Gilbert de Halsall in
which the defendants were the grandsons abovenamed—Richard and Thomas. (fn. 20)
Gilbert de Halsall in 1346 prosecuted Thomas son
of Richard de Maghull for breaking his mill, to the
loss of 100s. profit. (fn. 21) William son of Thomas de
Maghull was a grantor in 1361. (fn. 22) Six years later
Thomas de Maghull complained that John the
Mercer and others had attacked him with bows and
arrows, and that he dare not go to church or visit
anyone in the town without protection; but the
jury acquitted the accused. There were counter
charges against Thomas, his son John and brother
William. (fn. 23) Thomas was living in 1358.
At this point there is a defect in the evidences. (fn. 24)
Richard de Maghull occurs as one of the lords of
the vill in 1395. (fn. 25) The name of Thomas de Maghull
occurs in 1418 and 1423 and again in 1447. (fn. 26) The
series of Maghull charters begins again in 1421 with
a grant by Hugh de Bretlands and Margery his wife
to Thomas de Maghull of Aintree, of all the messuages and lands in Maghull, Melling, and Aintree
which had belonged to Emmota the widow of Henry
del Crosse. (fn. 27)
William Maghull is said to have been lord of this
portion of the manor about 1420, and to have granted
a right of turbary to Robert Molyneux in 1422. (fn. 28)
He occurs as witness to a charter in October, 1403.
Ellen the daughter of Thomas de Maghull, late of
Aintree, was in January, 1425–6, contracted in
marriage to Gilbert de Maghull, Thomas de Maghull
of Maghull, apparently the father of the latter, being
joined with him in the contract. (fn. 29) Thurstan de
Maghull of Aintree made a general feoffment of his
lands in 1441; and he is mentioned again two years
later. (fn. 30)
From the witnesses to a deed of 1442 it appears
that there were in Maghull at least two families
bearing the local name, and possibly a third; for
Thomas de Maghull of the Clent, Thomas de Maghull of the Carr, and Richard de Maghull attest it. (fn. 31)
The succession is again uncertain; but in March,
1462–3 John Maghull, chaplain, granted to his
brother Nicholas all tenements in Maghull; the
latter was son and heir of Thomas of the Carr. (fn. 32)
Matthew was the son and heir of Nicholas, and in
the next year he (an infant) received Mollington
Yard from his father's feoffees; it had formerly been
held by Richard Maghull of the Clent. (fn. 33) He lived
to a great age, and in 1508 enfeoffed Hugh Aughton
of North Meols and others of his lands. (fn. 34) His
grandson William (eldest son of Thomas Maghull of
Aintree) was contracted in marriage with the daughter
of one Stananought, but died before marriage. (fn. 35)
Matthew's son Thomas, who had in 1514 sold
lands to Sir William Molyneux, (fn. 36) was 'riotous and
unthrifty and evil disposed, and liked to sell all the
inheritance if it should descend to him'; after
William's death therefore he settled the succession
on Thomas's second son Robert. (fn. 37) It had in 1507–8
been settled on Thomas, who married Isabel, daughter
of William Formby. (fn. 38) The new arrangement was
secured by a recovery at Lancaster; (fn. 39) and in 1535
the feoffees transferred to Robert Maghull and Alice
his wife certain lands in Maghull, Melling, and
Aintree. (fn. 40)
Robert Maghull died 11 August, 1543, leaving a
son and heir Richard, who being a minor, became
the king's ward, until in 1558 livery was granted
to him. (fn. 41) The inquisition (fn. 42) states that Robert held
the manor of the king as of the duchy of Lancaster
by knight's service and the yearly rent of 2¾d.; the
clear value was £4.
This family seems to have gone with the times in
religion, the name being absent from the list of
recusants in the parish. Richard Maghull purchased
some property in Liverpool in 1560, and soon afterwards sold land in Aughton to Thomas Bootle of
Melling. (fn. 43) He joined in the partition of Maghull
made in 1568, (fn. 44) and afterwards became Sir Richard
Molyneux's bailiff for the manor of West Derby,
appointing a deputy in 1587. (fn. 45) His eldest son
Richard died early, and the succession fell to the
second son Andrew. (fn. 46) Richard died on 27 July,
1606, holding the fourth part of the manor of
Maghull, with a capital messuage there called the
Carr House. (fn. 47) His son Andrew having died before
him leaving a son Richard, this last was heir to his
grandfather and 10½ years of age. (fn. 48)
This Richard married Alice daughter of William
Clayton of Leyland, and had with her certain lands
in Leyland. (fn. 49) He recorded a pedigree at the visitation
of 1664–5. Of his sons, Richard, William, and John
died without issue, and Robert, who succeeded him,
is called a citizen of London in 1664, and said to be
thirty-nine years of age. (fn. 50) Robert Maghull died in
1674; his son William, who married Cecily, daughter
of Thomas Bootle of Melling, (fn. 51) died in 1709, and
the inheritance was ultimately divided between his
daughters Ellen, who married Joseph Yates of Peel
in Little Hulton, (fn. 52) and Elizabeth, who married
Edward Aspinwall. (fn. 53) The manor was purchased by
Thomas Unsworth of Liverpool, and descended to
his grandson William Gillibrand Unsworth, after whose
death it was sold to Hugh
McElroy. The present owner
of the manor-house, by purchase from H. McElroy's executors, in September, 1880, is
Mr. Thomas Curry Mather of
Lydiate, but no manorial rights
belong to it. (fn. 54)
Mather of Lydiate. Barry of six azure and argent, two flaunches ermine, on a chief of the second an escallop between two mullets of six points of the first.
Gilbert de Maghull, above
mentioned, had a daughter and
heir Joan, who married Ralph
Molyneux. (fn. 55) Ralph left sons—
Richard, who married Isabel,
Thomas, and Geoffrey. (fn. 56) Richard
had two sons, Robert and Edmund. The elder married
Margery daughter of Robert
Gore, about 1498, (fn. 57) and they had two daughters,
Elizabeth and Anne, who were co-heirs of Kennetshead and other property. Elizabeth married
(i)——Melling and (ii) Humphrey Ley, (fn. 58) and Anne
married Henry son and heir of Thomas Pye of
Lydiate. (fn. 59) Elizabeth and Humphrey Ley and their
son Edmund sold their land in Maghull to Richard
Maghull in 1570. (fn. 60) Nevertheless at the inquisition
after the death of Edmund Ley (made in 1589) it
was found that he died on 17 January, 1587–8, seised
of a house and lands there, held of Richard Hulme;
and that his son Richard was his heir. (fn. 61)
It has been convenient to narrate the history of
the Maghull family first, as it bore the local name.
The superior lordship of the Halsalls was replaced some
time between 1370 and 1380 by that of the Hulmes,
it is supposed by marriage. The first of this family
to appear in connexion with Maghull is Richard de
Hulme, who contributed to the poll tax of 1381. (fn. 62)
David de Hulme, who was probably his son, died
6 December, 1418, seised of the manor of Maghull, (fn. 63)
and holding it of the king as of his duchy of
Lancaster, viz. of the honour of Halton, by knight's
service and a rent of 15d. per annum. It was worth
clear 10 marks. (fn. 64) His son and heir, Lawrence, was
nine years of age, attaining to his majority before
March, 1432, when his lands were delivered to him.
It was proved that he was baptized in Maghull
chapel; Henry Blundell of Crosby, aged forty-three
and over, was in the church on the same day, being a
'love day' or settlement between Sir Thomas Gerard
and Sir John Bold. (fn. 65)
Lawrence Hulme in 1442 gave certain lands to
his son Richard on his marriage with Joyce daughter
of Robert Molyneux. (fn. 66) He lived on until 1483, (fn. 67)
in July of which year he settled various lands in
Maghull (held by his son and heir Richard and others),
Scarisbrick, and Ainsdale on Ellen daughter of Henry
Becconsall, who was to marry his grandson Edmund. (fn. 68)
This Edmund died on Christmas Eve, 1525, holding
the manor of Maghull and messuages, land, &c., in
Maghull, of the duchy of Lancaster by the twelfth
part of a knight's fee. He also held lands in
Lydiate, Halsall, Barton, and Aspemoll in Scarisbrick, and the manor of Ainsdale with lands there.
His son and heir Richard was aged thirty-five and
more in 1529. (fn. 69) Richard Hulme died on 21 November, 1539; (fn. 70) Edmund Hulme, the son and heir, was
nearly thirteen years of age.
Edmund Hulme after coming of age complained
that his mother Anne, who had married for her
second husband Richard Bradshaw, had neglected to
keep the mansion-house of the manor in good repair. (fn. 71)
Soon afterwards the steward of the fee of Halton
(Sir John Savage) accused him of wilfully absenting
himself from Widnes court and assaulting the bailiffs
when they demanded the fines for absence. (fn. 72) Edmund complained that Sir Richard Molyneux, John
Molyneux, and others had been digging turves upon
his moss, carrying away 500 cartloads. (fn. 73) Sir Richard
retorted by alleging that Edmund, Henry, and
Thomas Hulme and others attacked him in the
Lower Meadow, Edmund Hulme having a javelin in
his hand and there being a 'privy ambushment' in
the wood adjoining. The dispute was as to which
of the two parties should take the hay in the meadow;
the Molyneux party arrived first, but the others
carried off the hay. (fn. 74) Edmund sold his rights in
Halsall and Ainsdale to the Halsalls in 1555. (fn. 75)
Richard Hulme (or Holme), his son and successor,
had livery of the manor of Maghull and the rest of
his father's lands in November, 1575. (fn. 76) He had his
share of litigation. He claimed from Thomas Bootle
of Melling certain services, including ½ lb. of wax
yearly, due from a holding in Maghull; the reply
was that some small works and boons had been done
for the plaintiff, but only 'by courtesy. (fn. 77) Richard
died 18 February, 1614–15, seised in fee of the
manor of Maghull, held of the king by the hundredth
part of a knight's fee; also of lands in Kirkdale and
Maghull. His son and heir Edmund was forty years
of age, (fn. 78) but by his father's dispositions did not
succeed to the manor.
Edmund Hulme and Ellen his wife in Maghull
were presented to the bishop as recusants or noncommunicants in 1634, as also Edward and Alice
Hulme. Edmund Hulme and Ellen his wife and
Alice Hulme appear also in the recusant roll of
1641. (fn. 79) By indenture in 1623 he assigned to Richard
his eldest son, and his assigns certain leasehold property in Maghull, in view of his marriage. Richard
married Margery, and died young, leaving a daughter
Mary. The widow married Thomas Wilkinson
(their names appear in the recusant lists of 1635 and
1641), and in 1653 the husband petitioned the parliamentary commissioners for the removal of the
sequestration of two-thirds which had been incurred
by the recusancy of Edmund Hulme, who had died
three years previously. (fn. 80) Mary Hulme was the wife
of Thomas Hesketh in 1659.
Internal troubles in the Hulme family had perhaps been the cause of Richard Hulme's diverting the
natural course of succession; about eighteen months
before his death he assigned the manor of Maghull
and all other of his lands to trustees for the use of
himself for life, and then for William Ley or Lea
and his heirs, and failing these for Henry, Richard,
James, John, and Bartholomew in succession, the sons
of William Hulme by a certain Elizabeth Pimley.
Thus his own son Edmund was removed a long way
from the succession. (fn. 81) This is not mentioned in the
inquisition after Richard's death; but a few months
after this event Henry Pimley alias Hulme sold to
Sir Richard Molyneux the manor of Maghull.
Edmund Hulme and William Ley were also parties
to various agreements in connexion with the conveyance; (fn. 82) and as late as 1659 Mary Hesketh,
daughter of Richard Hulme, joined with her husband
in renouncing all claim to the hall of Maghull, then
belonging to Caryll, Viscount Molyneux. (fn. 83) Edmund
Hulme had had a lease of the hall for three lives. (fn. 84)
The Molyneuxes of Sefton had for some time been
acquiring lands in the township. In 1544 Sir William
Molyneux purchased from Edward and Nicholas
Maghull Carr House and 22 acres of land, and one
or two other tenements seem also to have been acquired. (fn. 85) In 1567–8 accordingly the partition of
the various lands, with moss and turbary, was made
between Edmund Hulme, Sir Richard Molyneux
and William his son, and Richard Maghull, as the
three lords of the place. (fn. 86)
The manor (or three-quarters of the manor) of
Maghull (fn. 87) remained in the hands of the Molyneux
family down to the end of the eighteenth century,
when it was sold for £7,500 (fn. 88) to William Harper
of Liverpool and Dunham in Cheshire; his daughter
and heir Helen married John Formby of Everton and
afterwards of Formby; and these were in possession
at the beginning of 1816. (fn. 89) In 1858 the hall, with
out any manorial rights, was sold by the Formbys to
Bartholomew French, of Liverpool and County
Mayo; he died in 1868, and in 1875 his trustees
sold the hall to Mr. William Ripley, the present
owner. The manorial rights are supposed to be
extinct. (fn. 90)
A branch of the Molyneuxes resided at the Peel (fn. 91)
in Maghull in the first part of the sixteenth century. (fn. 92)
Thomas Bootle of Melling, who died in 1597,
held lands in Maghull of each of the lords—
Richard Hulme, Sir Richard Molyneux, and Richard
Maghull. (fn. 93)
Henry Stanley of Maghull had his small estate
sequestered by the Parliament, but was discharged,
having taken the National Covenant and Negative
Oath in 1646. (fn. 94)
CHURCH
The present church of St. Andrew
was consecrated 8 September, 1880, and
stands near the old site. It is in the
early English style, with chancel, nave, north porch,
and western tower.
Forty years ago the chapel had 'an ancient chancel
with a small aisle or chapel to the north,' divided
from it 'by two very low pointed arches, perhaps
early English, with a circular pillar having a moulded
cap. The western respond had nail-headed mouldings.' The body of the church, built about 1830,
was 'unworthy of notice… . The interior was positively shapeless.' (fn. 95)
The chancel with its north aisle has been preserved,
and is commonly known as the Unsworth chapel, the
owner of the manor-house using the aisle as a mortuary chapel. 'A careful comparison of the mouldings appears to indicate that the building does not
date earlier than 1285 to 1290, in spite of the
Norman-looking round arch, which, oddly enough,
has the most distinct thirteenth-century detail in the
moulding.' On the east wall is a trace of a mural
painting. There are a mutilated piscina and a prismshaped holy-water font. A Georgian baptismal font
is built into the wall over the modern west door. (fn. 96)
'The chapel house nearly opposite is a good example
of early seventeenth-century architecture, with long
square mullioned windows.' (fn. 97)
The origin of the chapel is unknown, but from
what has been said above one must have stood there in
the thirteenth century. (fn. 98) A gift of five acres of land was
at one time made for the finding of a light in the
chapel. (fn. 99) The building in 1550 was valued at 30s. (fn. 100)
About the same time the rector of Halsall complained
that he had been ousted from a close called 'Church
land' at the east end of the chapel of Maghull, another
small piece between the barnyard and Maghull Green,
and four butts on the south side of the chapel. (fn. 101)
Nothing is known of the fate of the chapel for
some time after this. Melling was perhaps used as
more convenient. In 1590 there was 'no preacher'
at Maghull; (fn. 102) about 1610 it was 'without service
or preacher.' (fn. 103) The registers do not begin till
1729.
Under the rule of the Parliament, Maghull was
placed under the charge of a separate minister, who
had the tithes of the township, a tenth being deducted for the benefit of Mrs. Travers, wife of the
'delinquent' rector. In November, 1645, Mr. James
Worrall was appointed to the charge of it. (fn. 104) The
surveyors of 1650 found 'an ancient chapel' with
about a roodland of ground around it, 'fit to be
enjoyed therewith,' and recommended that the township should be made a separate parish. Mr. William
Aspinall, 'a painfull and godly minister,' was then
supplying the cure, his regular stipend being £45
clear. (fn. 105)
Bishop Gastrell records that in 1717 there was
nothing belonging to the chapel beyond £20 a year
paid by the rector, and about £5 surplice fees; (fn. 106) the
rector of course appointed the curate, and now presents the vicar.
Among the curates and vicars at Maghull have
been:—
| | |
|
oc. | 1665 | —Shaw |
| 1670–91 | Zachary Leech (fn. 107) |
| oc. | 1704 | Ralph Sherdley |
| 1777 | Benjamin Whitehead (fn. 108) |
| 1811 | George Holden, M.A. (Glas.) (fn. 109) |
| 1865 | Joseph Lyon, M.A. (Trin. Coll., Oxford) |
| 1869 | James Gerard Leigh, M.A. (Christ Ch., Oxford) (fn. 110) |
| 1884 | John Francis Hocter, M.A. (Trin. Coll. Dublin) |
The Wesleyan Methodists have a chapel.
There is a tradition that during the times of persecution mass was said secretly in an old building in
the manor-house grounds, but the public revival of
the Roman Catholic services dates only from 1887,
when a barn was fitted up and used as a chapel.
In 1890 the school chapel of St. George was
opened. (fn. 111)