History & Heritage
in and around Greater Manchester

Alphabetical Listing - continued...:

Descended from William Fitz-Nigel, who died without male heirs, the family passed through marriage of the female side to the Duttons, Warburtons and Hattons, and possibly the Leghs and the Daniels families. All these were major ruling families of Cheshire throughout several centuries right up to modern times. The township of Tabley was held by William Fitz-Nigel in the time of William the Conqueror and is recorded as thus in the Domesday Book of 1086.

The Eatons (sometimes 'de Eaton' or 'Eyton') were a powerful family during the medieval period and through intermarriage with other Cheshire families accrued wealth and influence throughout the region.
Sometime during the early 14th century Sir Nicholas de Eaton married one of the de Stockport (sometimes 'de Stokeport') heiresses, thus tying the Eaton family into the continuing history of Stockport. And, to demonstrate to the family's long influence and power in the township and the wider county of Cheshire, the coat of arms of Stockport still bears the double-headed eagles from the arms of the De Eaton family.
It is also recorded that In 1311 Nicholas de Eaton and his wife Joan, (daughter and heir of Richard de Stockport), are mentioned as tenants of Birkdale hall in Lancaster ("A History of the County of Lancaster" Volume 3. 1907).
In 1369 Isabel de Stockport (or de Eaton), heir to her brother Richard, died childless and the next in succession through marriage was Sir John Warren, son of Sir Edward Warren, the second husband of Cecily de Eaton, and subsequently family descendants went on through the Warren line. Around 1498 Thomas de Eaton married Anne of the prestigious Cheshire-based Vernon family.

A powerful and influential family, both at national and county level. Sir Philip Egerton (d 1563) married Eleanor Brereton, the daughter of Sir Randle Brereton of Malpas. Sir Thomas Egerton (1540-161) was Chancellor of England and 1st Viscount Brackley. Francis Egerton, 3rd Duke of Bridgewater, known as the 'Canal Duke' held extensive properties and coal mines in Worsley and built the Bridgewater Canal. Maurice, the last Lord Egerton, died in 1958 leaving the country seat at Tatton Hall and its extensive Park to the National Trust. The 3rd Duke of Bridgewater died childless and bequeathed his canal-property to Lord Francis Leveson Gower (who subsequently changed his name to Egerton), who was made Earl of Ellesmere in 1846. In 1784 another Sir Thomas Egerton, of Heaton Hal,l was made Baron Grey de Wilton, and later, Earl of Wilton in 1801. Sir Thomas was responsible for the raising and funding of the Royal Lancashire Volunteer Regiment and died in 1814. His volunteers trained on Drill Field, located between High Bank (now Nazareth House) and Sedgley Park.

The Ellesmere family derives from the Egertons through the 3rd Duke of Bridgewater (see above). They were influential benefactors in several local districts around Salford, including Worsley and Walkden. Ellesmere Shopping Centre in Walkden is named after the Ellesmere family who did so much for the town. Worsley Court House, a grade 2 listed building, was built in by the 1st Earl of Ellesmere to house the manorial court of Worsley - the so-called Court Leet - it last sat in 1888. The 1st Earl also had built the Packet House and endowed the local church which still carries his coat of arms as does the M60 Motorway bridge nearby. Much of character of modern Worsley is defined by Ellesmere's gifts to and building in the township

One of several theories concerning the Entwistle family name has it as of Norman French origin, and that the early family members had acquired their lands as Norman Barons after the invasion in 1066. The name may be derived from 'Estouteville' as some authorities suggest. In any case, the Entwistles married into noble Norman families of the time. Another explanation has it being from the Old English or Norse origin - 'twisle' or 'twisla' meaning 'a piece of land at the confluence of two rivers' - a geographical feature of the local Entwistle landscape. The other portion of the name 'Henn' may have derived from the water fowl that were found in the vicinity - but this is very speculative. Many alternative spellings of the name have existed in early medieval times - 'Antwysell', 'Antwisel', 'Hennetwisel', 'Ennetwysel' and 'Entwissell'.
The small village of Entwistle, consisting of around 1668 acres, is named after the family who held these lands for many centuries. It is located between the towns of Bolton, Darwen and Bury. It is surrounded by the villages of Edgworth, Quarlton and Turton, and is on the main railway line between Manchester and Blackburn.
The Entwistle township dates from the early 13th century, when it was part of the Manor of Entwistle which was held by the Entwistle Family. Their county seat was Entwistle Halland, originally built around the year 1200. Its most famous family resident was Bertine Entwistle, who is said to have been knighted by Henry V on the field at Agincourt in 1415. The present Entwistle Hall was built in the early 17th century. The Entwistle family also inherited the Castleton Hall from Dorothy, daughter of Robert Holt, who married into the Entwistle family in 1649.

First recorded references are made to the 'de Fazakerley' family (infrequently spelled 'Fazakerleigh') in 1276. Later, in 1412, it is recorded that Robert de Fazakerley, who had married Ellen de Walton, arrived at the Manor of Walton, accompanied by a sizeable armed contingent, to dispossess his new father-in-law, John de Walton, of all the goods and chattels in lieu of the dowry which had not, apparently been paid. In the event, the dispute was not settled until 1426, when a third part of the manor was awarded to Robert de Fazakerley and Ellen as her belated marriage portion.
The Fazakerleys were Roman Catholics and supported the Royalist cause during the English Civil Wars, and paid dearly for their convictions.The possessions of both Nicholas Fazakerley and his father Robert Fazakerley of Walton, who were both killed during these wars, were confiscated by parliament after the war and sold. The posthumus charge was that of High Treason.
Many members of the Fazakerley family distinguished themselves over the years. Included amongst them were Thomas de Fazakerleigh who became the Coroner for Lancashire in 1379 and John Fazakerley who was Governor of the Isle of Man from 1418 to 1422. At least two members of the family were Mayors of Liverpool, including John de Fazakerley in 1428 and Roger Fazakerley in 1530.
Sir Henry Fazakerley who died in 1531 is recorded in a brass plaque as having been a priest at the Church of St Mary the Virgin in Drayton Beauchamp. The grave of William Fazakerley of Kirkby, who died in 1600 and is buried at St Mary's Church in Walton, is claimed to be the oldest surviving grave in Walton. Nicholas Fazakerley, born in Prescot in 1682, was the Member of Parliament for Preston from 1732 to1767. John Nicholas Fazakerley (1787-1852) was the MP for Great Grimsby in 1818, for Lincoln in 1826, and for Peterborough from 1830 to 1841.
The family name is nowadays immortalised in the district of the same name, (formerly in Lancashire, now in Merseyside) and by at least 2 local schools bearing the name Fazakerley. Up until 1850, High Street in Prescot was known as Fazakerley Street.

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