Beeston

"BEESTON, a township in that part of the parish of BUNBURY which is in the first division of the hundred of EDDISBURY, county palatine of CHESTER, 3 ¾ miles (S.S.W.) from Tarporley, containing 441 inhabitants. On a rocky eminence, affording a fine view over the Vale Royal, are the massive ruins of Beeston Castle, comprising part of a tower which guarded the principal entrance, flanked by semicircular ones, which formed the inner ward, occupying nearly an acre of ground, and protected by a moat excavated in the solid rock; the outer walls were guarded by eight round towers irregularly placed, and are now, for the greater part, romantically covered with ivy and other foliage: in the outer court is a considerable stone quarry. This fortress, founded by Ranulph de Blundeville, about 1220, was made a royal garrison in the war between Henry III. and the barons; and, in 1643, it was held by a detachment of the parliamentary forces. Having been subsequently taken by the royalists, it was surrendered by them for want of provisions, after a long siege, in 1645, and, early in the following year, was demolished. Courts leet and baron are held here. There is a small endowment for the instruction of poor children. A mineral spring was discovered about fifteen years ago." [From Samuel Lewis A Topographical Dictionary of England  (1831) ©Mel Lockie]