LITTLE MORETON HALL
Grid Ref. SJ 833 589
13 July 2002, 4 April 2010 and 24 May 2012
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| The Hall in 2012 |
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| Little Moreton Hall as one approaches from the car park |
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Approach to the entrance across the moat bridge |
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| The entrance across the moat |
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Entrance to house from the courtyard |
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| The gardens behind the house |
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Inscription over a window facing the courtyard |
Little Moreton Hall belongs to The National Trust and there
is a booklet on it that can be obtained at the shop on the premises.
In Ormerod's History of Cheshire, this property is indexed under
Moreton cum Rode and the area is also known as Odrode. The site
is mentioned in the Domesday Survey, where it is stated that it was two manors in Saxon
times. Ormerod regards it as two manors, Moreton and Rode in one vill. Those
taking possession at the Norman Conquest were Hugh de Mara, ancestor of the
barons of Montalt and William FitzNigel of Halton. There is evidence that
Stephen de Swettenham held Moreton by knight's service under Hugh de Mara
and that he subsequently relinquished the property in favour of Gralam de
Moreton. In a document of 3 Henry IV (1401) the Baron of Halton is mentioned
as being the overlord of the Moreton share of Oddrode. Little Moreton and
Rode were taken as surnames by early Norman landlords.
At the Norman Conquest, Hugh de Runchamp was granted a moiety
of the manor of Lostock, between Knutsford and Northwich. His great-grandson
was Gralam de Lostock. He had three sons, Richard, Geoffry and Robert de Lostock,
and as Richard's sons died without issue, Geoffry became Richard's heir and
inherited his interest in Little Moreton. Geoffry died between 1278 and 1280,
whereupon his son, Gralam de Lostock succeeded. Gralam is mentioned in deeds
including one in which he is referred to as Gralam son of Geoffrey de Moreton.
Thus the surname became established.
We pick up the story in the Tudor period with William Moreton.
The Moreton male line ended in generation 7 shown below and the estate passed
to the son of Annabella Moreton, who had married a barrister, William Taylor.
This male line failed on the death of William Moreton Moreton in generation
9.
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1. William Moreton of Moreton, Esq., aged 15 in 1505, died
in 1525.
+ Alice, dau. of Sir Andrew Brereton of Brereton, Knt.
- 2. William Moreton of Moreton, Esq., aged 16 in 1526, died 1562.
- + Anne, dau. of Sir Robert Fulleshurst, of Crewe, Knt.
- 3. John Moreton of Moreton, Esq., aged 24 and married in 1564 and
alive in 1580.
- + 1st wife, Elizabeth, dau. of Richard Sutton of Sutton, Esq. She
had no issue.
- + 2nd wife, Anne, dau. of John Davenport of Davenport, Esq., and
coheiress of her mother, Jane, dau. and heiress of Richard Massey
of Tatton.
- 4. William Moreton of Moreton, Esq., born 1577, living in 1639.
- + Jane, dau. of Thomas Lancaster of Rainhill, Lancashire.
- 5. John Moreton of Little Moreton, Esq., aged 17 in 1613,
died without issue before 1639.
- 5. William Moreton, died without issue before 1639.
- 5. Edward Moreton, fellow of King's College, Cambridge,
rector of Tattenhall, Barrow and Sephton and prebendary of
Chester cathedral, died 28 Feb 1674, aged 76 and buried at
Sephton in Lancashire.
- + Margaret dau. of Sir William Webb, Knt., and neice of
William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury.
- 6. William Moreton of Moreton, born 1641, baptised at
Chester Cathedral, bishop of Kildare in Ireland and then
Meath. He died in Dublin on 21 Nov. 1715.
- + 1st wife of William was Mary, dau. of Sir Richard Atkins, Bart.,
of Clapham, buried at Clapham in Surrey.
- 7. Richard Moreton, in holy orders, died without
issue.
- 7. Annabella Moreton, died at Lewes in Sussex in
May 1774, aged 86.
- + William Taylor of Dublin, barrister at law, married
at St. Werburgh's in Dublin.
- 8. Richard Taylor, clerk, rector of West Dean
and vicar of West Firle in Sussex, assumed the
name of Moreton in compliance with the will of
his uncle, Sir William Moreton.
- + Frances, dau. of William Scrace of Brighton,
Esq.
- 9. William Moreton Moreton of Little Moreton,
clerk, M.A. born 2 April 1759.
- + 1st wife, Louisa, dau. o William Board
of Paxhill, Sussex, married at Cranford in
Middlesex on 14 June 1787. No issue.
- + 2nd wife, Elizabeth, dau. of Henry Hutton,
D.D., rector of Beaumont in Essex. Married
about 1818.
- 10. William Pepperhill Frewen Moreton,
born 6 March 1817, died under age and
unmarried.
- 10. Edward Moreton, born 1 March 1819,
died under age and unmarried.
- 10. Frances Annabella Moreton, eldest
daughter and coheir, married 1852 to John
Craigie, Esq., of Jedbank in Roxburgh
who died 1871 without issue.
- 10. Elizabeth Moreton, youngest daughter
and coheir, sister of mercy at Clewer
near Windsor in 1879.
- 9. Annabella, died unmarried, buried 12
April 1787, aged 35.
- 9. Sally, married Rev. Edward Frewen, D.D.,
of Sussex in June 1789
- +2nd wife of William was Mary Harman of Ireland, widow of Sir Arthur
Jones. She died on 19 April 1743 and is buried at Astbury.
- 7. Sir William Moreton, Knt., recorder of London,
knighted 19 Sept. 1755, died without issue on 14 March
1763, aged 67. Thus the Moreton line died out.
- 7. Mary, married Lieut. Col. Howard, brother to
Francis, 5th Lord Howard of Effingham.
- 5. Peter Moreton, ambassador for Charles I to Genoa and
Tuscany.
- 5. Philip Moreton, aged 51 at the time of the visitation
on 14 September 1663.
- 5. Ralph Moreton.
- 5. Mary Moreton, married Jonathan Woodnoth of Shavington
- 5. Jane Moreton
- 5. Anne Moreton
- 5. Elizabeth, married Randle Rode of Odd Rode, Esq.
- 4. John Moreton
- 4. Tobias Moreton
- 4. Mary Moreton
- 4. Alice Moreton, married John Warde of Monks' Heath.
- 2. Ralph Moreton, 2nd son.
- 2. Elizabeth, married William Yardley, of Yardley.
- 2. Margaret, married Sir Geo. Calveley of Lea, Knt, no issue.
- 2. Alice, marrried Thomas Rode of Odd Rode.
- 2. Anne, married William Golborne, no issue.
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Introduction to Cheshire Gentry
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