The Freemen Of Hale

Introduction

The village of Hale nestles on the North bank of the River Mersey, bordering on to the city of Liverpool, Hale has a heritage which can be traced back to prehistoric times. There was almost certainly a settlement here during the Anglo Saxon period, it`s name deriving from the Anglo-saxon or Wessex English "healh" - a nook or corner of land.

At the time of the Norman conquest in 1066 hale, along with it`s wood (Halewood), formed one of six berewicks (barley farms) of Edward the Confessor`s Manor of West Derby and was one of several royal hunting parks in Lancashire (the forest of Linall) until it`s disafforestation in the 14th century.

It remained as Royal Demense until 1203 when the manoral rights were granted to Richard De Walton (later de mida) in a charter signed by King John on the 9th of November at Rouen (Normandy). It continued under the manorial jurisdriction of the Ireland family (descendants of of Richard de Walton) throughought the mediaeval period and from the mid-18th century to the early 20th century was under the manorialship of the Ireland Blackburne family who sold the estate with manorial rights in the 1930`s to the Fleetwood-Hesketh family of North Meols (Southport), who retain the title.

Throughought it`s history, and indeed prehistory, the River Mersey must have played a pivotal role for those who lived in Hale, both as a means of communication and a source of food. The land itself, a light sandy and fertile soil, has sustained Hales populations for over a thousand years.

The village was a focus for travellers who passed through with goods and animals to reach the first fording point on the river upstream of Liverpool and whose contact with the local population must have stimulated trade, encouraging it`s development as a trading or market centre.

During the mediaeval period, Hale obtained a Charter granting the right to hold a market and fair and the subsequent appearence of burgage plots in the early 14th century marks it`s status as a mediaeval borough. Although reverting to manorial control for much of it`s history, Hale did not forget it`s burghal period and the manorial courts both valued and recognised its earlier status as a borough by bestowing the Freedom of Hale on its officers and other members of the community.

Today, the Freemen of Hale play a quite distinct role from that of their 14th century forebears, but equally as important. Whereas their mediaeval predeccessors began a process that would ultimately lead to the self-government of our towns and cities, the Freemen of Hale today instill a sense of pride in our local heritage and enviroment by encouraging our community to work together for the benefit of those who live in Hale and it`s future inhabitants, making Hale a congenial places in which to live, work and play.

Contained within the Freemen Of Hale pages here on Hale Village Online, are pictures and text for you to see and read a bout the Mediaeval period, to the present day, of how the Honorable Corporation of Hale was formed and how the current Freemen of Hale came about.

Please note that this section is now a work in progess situation and new pages are being added on a weekly basis

Introduction

Please note that this section is now a work in progess situation and new pages are being added on a weekly basis

Hale Village Online © 2005-2008

The website for the historical village of Hale in Halton