Heswall

"HESWALL, a parish in the lower division of the hundred of Wirrall, county Chester, 3½ miles from Great Neston, its post town, and 5 W. of the Spital railway station. The village, which is small, is situated on the river Dee, and commands a view of the estuary of that river, and of the Flintshire coast. The parish contains the townships of Heswall-cum-Oldfield and Gayton. The inhabitants are principally employed in agriculture. About half the land is in cultivation, producing good crops of wheat; the remainder is common and waste. Heswall Common rises to the height of 475 feet above the level of the sea. The substratum is red sandstone, which is quarried for building purposes. The living is a rectory* in the diocese of Chester, value £294. The church is an ancient structure, with a tower containing three bells. In the interior of the church are several monuments to the Glegg family. The chancel and tower of the church are of greater antiquity than the body of it. Here is a parochial school for both sexes, and a Sunday-school. Arthur Devonport and William Lloyd, Esqs., are lords of the manor and chief landowners."

"GAYTON, a township in the parish of Heswall, lower division of the hundred of Wirrall, county palatine of Chester, 2 miles N.W. of Great Neston, and 8 S.W. of Birkenhead. The Spital station on the Chester and Birkenhead railway is about 4 miles E. of the village. It is situated on the estuary of the river Dee, which is here nearly 4 miles broad. John B. Glegg, Esq., is lord of the manor. There is a ferry over the Dee into Flintshire."

"HESWALL-WITH-OLDFIELD, a township in the parish of Heswall, lower division of the hundred of Wirrall, county Chester, 6 miles S.W. of Birkenhead."