Poulton Lancelyn

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Poulton Hall

In the civil parish of Bebington. In the historic county of Cheshire (Modern Authority of Wirral, 1974 county of Merseyside).

Supposed site of Medieval castle at Poulton Hall. King writes "some nondescript remains of masonry" There are no traces of earthworks or little evidence of a castle having existed here. Some distance from parish church and isolated, but may be an area of dispersed medieval settlement. This is a site which could have been of some slight strategic value since it overlooks a river crossing and was clearly the home of a family of some importance so it is likely that at during the middle ages it would have been crenellated, but probably not meaningful fortified, beyond its natural position.
Poulton Lancelyn was the home of the Poulton Lancelyn family from C12 "The former hall stood at a short distance from the present one, on a high knoll overhanging the dale below, and within the ancient castle of the Lancelyns, the site of which is still (early C19) indicated by slight traces of earthworks, and was remarkably strong, defended by the dale in front and on the two sides by deep ravines issuing from it" (Ormerod). Sully says that traces of the mound and earthworks could still be seen c.1886, and Ellison in 1955 says there were very few remains, but a few yards of walling at the bottom of the Hall garden were evidently part of the castle. It is to this piece of wall (? part of Ormerod's Old Hall) that the OS publication refers. Mr. Lancelyn Green, a descendant of the Poulton Lacelyn family, pointed out two pieces of walling which are the traditional remains of the castle. They are at SJ 33638159 and SJ 33678163 and are of unweathered red sandstone and Storeton stone. The former portion is incorporated in a garden wall and the latter in a barn. Neither is more than 0.3 m. thick and cannot be assessed as part of the castle. There is no trace of earthworks or any evidence of a castle having existed here. Ormerod's description of the site is generally correct, though he exaggerated its natural strength and the high knoll he refers to does not exist (Field Investigators Comments–F1 JR 20-NOV-64). (PastScape)

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SJ33638159

Air Photo from Air Photo and general mapping	1st edition OS Map from Mid to late 19th century maps
Modern Map from Landscape form and features	Modern Map from General location and route planning
Geograph British Isles occasionally has photos of the site and will usually give an idea of the surrounding landscape.

Sources of information, references and further reading

This site's English Heritage (PastScape) Defra or Monument number is 67354
Further information may be available from the holder of the county Historic Environment Record. In particular 'grey' literature, such as watching brief reports, held by H.E.R.s is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded in this website, or elsewhere.

• Web site links
  • http://www.poultonhall.co.uk/
    http://www.hha.org.uk/HHA/Property.aspx?id=596&vw=1
• Books
  • Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles and Tower Houses of Lancashire and Cheshire (Malvern) p21 [slight]
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p69 [possible]
    Ellison, N., 1956, The Wirral Peninsula p157
    Ormerod, G., 1882 [2edn-original published 1819], History of the County Palatine and city of Chester (London) Vol2 p440
    Sulley, P., 1886, The Hundred of Wirral p314