Parson's Court

Parson’s Court Davenham

Church from Parson's Court

Parson's Court from Church Street

The following are extracts from the records of the Episcopal Registry from Chester.
The first extract from 1696 describes the land that the surrounds the church and in particular an area described as Parsonage Court.
The second recorded an exchange of land. Both extract refer to a plot of land called Parsonage Court in which stood the Parsonage itself. The Foot Road (footpath) ran along the one boundary and linked village farms to the church.

1696 Terrier* for the Rectory at Davenham

The Glebe* consisted of 2 acres and a half of land containing 12 rood* called by the name of the Parsonage Court bounded on the East by the Cross of Nables on the South by the Eller acre and long meadow on the West by Royls House and yard on the North by the street and lane. Besides orchard and gardens containing about a quarter of an acre.

1799 Terrier for the Rectory at Davenham

In 1799 an exchange of land took place between (1) RT Reverend William, Bishop of Chester and Henry Tomkinson of Dorfold Hall esq lawful Patron, Reverend James Tomkinson Rector of Davenham and (2) Thomas Bridge of Davenham.
Witness that in common of lands and 5 shillings paid to (1) by (2),

(1) hath given to (2) All the plot etc in Leftwich etc being part of the Glebe land bounded on the East by a way of foot road called Parson’s Court, on the South side by a field called Ellen Acre late belonging to Samuel Barrow esq deceased and on the West and North by land belonging to the said Thomas Bridge containing thirty one and three quarter perches* of the measure there used and now in the procession of James Tomkinson or his undertenants

*A terrier is a written survey, or inventory, of land (the word Terrier comes from the Latin terra, land).
*Glebe is an area of land within an ecclesiastical parish used to support a parish priest. The land may be owned by the church, or its profits may be reserved for the church.
*A rood is a quarter of an acre, or 1,012 sq. metres
*A perch is a fortieth of a rood, or about 25 sq. metres.
*Esquire (Esq) it originally referred to someone just below the rank of knight, but latterly used as a title in much the same was as Mr is.