Walton-on-the-hill (detached). Why?

[Mike Paice]

Hi all,

I have received a letter from one of our members in Australia, raising a very valid question. She has asked it before (in 2005) but nobody seems to have been able to answer, so she thought that she would try again. The member in question doesn't have a computer/email, so I thought I would ask here on the Forum and maybe include the answer with her letter in the next edition of the journal.

The question is: Why does our map of the West Derby Hundred (and it's not the only one) show Walton-on-the-hill in two places (the more northerly location shown as "detached")? I have seen reference to one being a village and the other a "township" but cannot easily see an explanation for why the two places bear the same name, despite a significant distance separating them.

Does anybody know the answer to this curio?

Cheers.

Mike.

[MaryA]

Good question, most people will know that the large area of Walton on the Hill covered the area of Liverpool because, like the West Derby Hundred itself it was in existence well before Liverpool was. But quite what that other area is, which looks like it would be Birkdale/Southport ..... perhaps our Education Officer may have an answer for you. Meantime I will be seeing our President tomorrow and will ask her, she is usually the fount of all knowledge.

[VicMar1]

I think paragraph 4 of this page may hold the answer
http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report ... mpid=41280

Formby was a fishing village belonging to the same feudal lord ???

[MaryA]

Nice one Vic, definitely lists Formby, I never knew that.

[Hilary]

Formby is the detached part of the parish of Walton on the hill. The church in Formby was a chapelry to the mother church of St Mary Walton on the hill.

[MaryA]

Knew she'd know that

[Mike Paice]

Thank you all for your help with this query. I have prepared the following answer to the query our member raised:

Susan - It appears that the parish of Walton-on-the-Hill was considerably larger in times before our map was drawn. It included, for example, the areas that we now consider to be Childwall and Sefton. The detached part of the parish of Walton-on-the-Hill is recognisable as Formby and the church in Formby remained a chapelry to the mother church of St. Mary, Walton-on-the-Hill. In fact, St. Peter’s church in Formby reminds us that “the Rector of Walton is to this day the Patron of the living”.

With thanks to Hilary (5334) and Vic (8508) for their help with this answer – Ed.

[Hilary]

I think you should stress how long ago it was that Childwall and Sefton became parishes in their own right almost a 1000 years ago! Liverpool only became a parish in 1699!

[Mike Paice]

Good point, Hilary. I will include that detail in the reply that goes into the journal.