Mortimer's statement is supported by the fact that the wall of the ancient burh or manor house was often identical with the wall surrounding the churchyard. It was the duty of certain tenants of a manor to make the rampart of the manor house, each contributing a specified portion. This custom appears to have survived to recent times in the obligation of each owner of a farm to make a specified share of the churchyard wall.1 At Shotwick the churchwardens were presented in 1677 for not repairing the church walls, their excuse being that " every one knows his own parte." Similarly at Prestbury, also in our county, the inhabitants of each township had a certain portion of the ground in the churchyard reserved for their exclusive use, they undertaking to keep it fenced and in order; and at the end of the first extant register is a copy of an agreement made

33

Anno dni 1608 decimo Decembris. . . in the behalfe of all the tennts in Falibroome [one of the townships in the parish] "for and concerninge the Repayringe and the continuall upholdinge for euer of that part and porcion of the Church yard walle of Prestburie belonginge to the foresaide townships of Upton and Fallibroome."

The entrance gates are on the north side of the hall between two stately pillars of red sandstone surmounted by the crest of Whitmore and much weathered; and as, through the iron railings, the eye travels across the greensward bordered by bright flowers one tries to picture the long series of generations for whom this has been the centre of their little universe. Warriors in chain mail and their followers must often have trod the spot, later in plate, later still in half armour, they rode hence in soldierly pride with rattle of weapon and clink of bit and spur, to the wars. Through the hall gates the ladies of the household in their lumbering coach, gay hunting parties, the

1 Church and Manor, by S. O. Addy (1913), p. 132.

2 The Register Book of. Prestbury (Record Soc. Lancs. & Ches. v), Intro.

xiv-xv.

county gentleman on courting bent, the messenger on foundering horse, the beggar on weary feet, all passed, each soul with its hopes and fears in the world it wove about itself; and all are gone. For them as for us rose the summer sun, for them as for us the dew sparkled on the grass, around the hall little eager hands were stretched to gather daisies and buttercups, and some alas! themselves were gathered ere another summer came. But now the bare names of old and young, squire and parson, yeoman and peasant may be read in neglected records, and that is all. Beside the gate where we have been dreaming is a stone horse-block, part of which may be seen in our illustration of the hall. The gateposts are said to bear the inscription I W 1733

but the writer has been unable to find it.

The front of the hali probably dates from about the year 1700, of which period the main entrance with its classic pillars is characteristic;1 over the door are the crest and coat of Whitmore with helm and mantlet. The east wing is modern.

Mr. Irvine tells us that one portion of the hall may be as early as the fifteenth century, but that the rest is much later, the west wing being built about 1680.2 The initials and date on the wall outside the drawing room window3 W W D 1680

bear out this statement and stand for William Whitmore and his wife Dorothy, daughter of Henry Hockenhull of Tranmere. William's father Valentine dying in 1656 was succeeded by his eldest son John; who dying in his turn in 1671 unmarried, was succeeded by his younger brother William, above mentioned, then 22 years of age.

1 Notes on the Old Halls of Wirral, by Wm. Fergusson Irvine.

2 Ibid.

3 J. P. Rylands, MS. of M.I.S.