Hankelow is a village and civil parish in the borough of Crewe and Nantwich in Cheshire. A civil parish in the United Kingdom is a unit of local government. Crewe and Nantwich is one of six local government districts in the non-metropolitan county of Cheshire, England. Cheshire (or archaically the County of Chester) is a county in North West England. It used to be a township within the township of Audlem, one mile from Audlem on the Nantwich Road. Audlem is a large Village and Civil parish located in the Borough of Crewe and Nantwich, Cheshire in the north west Audlem is a large Village and Civil parish located in the Borough of Crewe and Nantwich, Cheshire in the north west According to the 2001 census, the parish had a population of 272. ^[1]

History

Hankelow Green during the Audlem Festival of Transport, July 2006

At the time of Domesday, the estate was part of the Barony of Wich Malbank (i. The Domesday Book (ˈduːmzdeɪ bʊk also known as Domesday, or Book of Winchester) was the record of the great survey e. Nantwich), and was owned by Richard de Vernon. Nantwich is a market town in south Cheshire, England, in the Borough and parliamentary constituency of Crewe and Nantwich. It was held under the Vernons, as early as Edward I's reign, by a family who acquired the local name of Hunkelowe - William, son of Richard of Hunkelowe, was bailiff to the Hundred of Nantwich in the reign of Richard II, and again in Henry IV's reign. Edward I (17 June 1239 – 7 July 1307 popularly known as Longshanks, was a King of England who achieved historical fame by conquering large parts of Wales and almost Richard II (6 January 1367 &ndash ca 14 February 1400 was King of England from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399 Henry IV (3 April 1367 &ndash 20 March 1413 was King of England and Lord of Ireland (1399&ndash1413 He appears to have spent some of the time between these two periods of office imprisoned in Chester Castle as a King's Debtor. Chester Castle is in the city of Chester, Cheshire, England. It is sited at the southwest extremity of the area bounded by the city walls.

In the reign of Edward III, the Hassalls appear to have had considerable estates in "Honkelowe", which they held until the 17th Century. Edward III (13 November 1312 &ndash 21 June 1377 was one of the most successful English monarchs of the Middle Ages. As a means of recording the passage of Time, the 17th Century was that Century which lasted from 1601 - 1700 in the Gregorian calendar These were no doubt acquired through marriage or sale from Richard Hunkelowe.

In the reign of Henry VI, the main part of the estate passed, through the marriage of an heiress of Richard de Hunkelowe, to one of the Wettenhalls of Wettenhall, who settled in Hankelow, where they remained until the latter part of the 18th Century. Henry VI (6 December 1421 &ndash 21 May 1471 was King of England 1422–1461 (though with a Regent until 1437 and then 1470–1471 and a claimant to the kingdom The 18th century lasted from 1701 to 1800 in the Gregorian calendar, in accordance with the Anno Domini / Common Era numbering system After this the estate passed to the family of Bayley, then to the Greaves. The estate is now split up and owned by various people.

During the Civil Wars, the Parliamentarians and the King's Men met at Hankelow, and the place was ravaged. A civil war is a War between a State and domestic political actors that are in control of some part of the territory claimed by the state

In the centre of the village is Hankelow Green, where there is a good sized pond, on which swans are often to be seen. When there is a frost, this is the favourite place for children to slide and skate. The Cheshire Hounds used to meet on Hankelow Green twice a Season, but this part of the country has now been handed over to the North Staffordshire Hunt. The Meet is always a popular affair, people following on foot and on bicycles.

At the corner of the Green there stands a house that is said to have been built (that is to say, far enough to raise smoke up the chimney) in a single night, on stolen ground - the tradition being that in such circumstances the builder could claim the land on which the house was built. In those days the house had no deeds, but some have since been drawn up.

Close to Hankelow Green there is a very old house known as the Ball Farm, built in 1510. Richard Hassall occupied it, and he was made a Sergeant-in-Law in 1511, and Justice of Chester in 1540. Chester is the County town of Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77040 It is probable that the Ball Farm was used as a Court of Justice for the district. There are two large balls on the front gate-posts, and these were a symbol of authority. Some parts of the old house still remain, but a new part has been added. There is some very old wood panelling, oak beams, and oak stairs, and all the floors in the old part are very uneven There is one very small room called the Powder Closet, where the ladies went to have their hair dusted when powdered hair was the fashion.

Hankelow Hall is a handsome 18th Century brick house situated in a park containing some very fine trees. The 18th century lasted from 1701 to 1800 in the Gregorian calendar, in accordance with the Anno Domini / Common Era numbering system It was at one time the home of the Wettenhalls, who disposed of it to the Richardsons; in 1817 it was sold to Thomas Cooper. Year 1817 ( MDCCCXVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Since then it has had various owners.

The lectern in the Church was Given in memory of George William Cooper, his wife, and all his children, except one, who were drowned in Lake Windermere 1873.

The estate passed to T. G. Bellyse Cooper, who accidentally shot himself just prior to his marriage.

References

Audlem Women's Institute, The Audlem Scrapbook (1951) http://www.hankelow.net/village_history.html [link accessed 2007-04-9]

External links

• Hankelow village website

Coordinates: 53°00′N 2°30′W / 53, -2.5