Walton on the Hill History Group - Liverpool

Walton on the Hill (Liverpool)

 

Welcome to the Walton on the Hill History Group. Walton's name.....This is evidently of Saxon origin and assumed to be a corruption of "Welltown" i.e. from "Well" and "Ton".  A name which would correspond to the large number of wells found - or known to be in existance - in and around an extensive area from the Old Church.

 

As nearly all ancient sites of religious edifices appear to have originally had a sacred well, stone or tree connected with them, it seems safe to assume the above conclusion more than probable.

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A Saxon Village

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In Saxon times Walton would consist of a small settlement of wooden houses surrounded by a wooden stockade.  Built on a hill surrounded by forests and marshes and getting its fresh water from one of the many wells in the area.

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St. Mary's Parish Church Walton on the Hill

 

St. Mary's Parish Church.....The first Church on the site was recorded in The Doomsday Book which was compiled under the direction of William the Conqueror, it does not mention Lancashire as a district, nor Liverpool. Walton itself was described as follows: "Winestan Tenebat Waleton" - translation Wynstan held Walton, "Ibe duce carucates terra et tres bovatae valebant octo solides" translation - there are two carucates of land and three bovates - they are worth 8s. The Church was probably built of wood and thatch then four hundred years later the first stone church was built and dedicated in 1326.  In 1651 it was used to house Royalist prisoners taken at the battle of Worcester.