DOWNHOLLAND
Holand, Dom. Bk.; Holland, 1258; Doun- or
Downholland from 1290.
Bartune, Dom. Bk.; Barton, 1246.
This is a composite township, Barton in early
times having been separate. It lies on a very gradual
slope from a slight ridge reaching 70 ft. above sea
level down to fenland only 11 ft. above that level.
The three villages, Downholland, Haskayne, and
Barton are situated on the higher ground. The
lower ground is of a marshy character, but mostly
reclaimed and converted into fertile fields, drained by
ditches in the lower parts and divided by spare
hawthorn hedges in the higher portions of the
township. There is a natural dearth of plantations
and hedgerow trees in a district swept continually
by sea-breezes, and what trees there are are stunted
and bent by the prevalent westerly winds, whilst the
many picturesque thatched cottages in the villages
also seem to turn their backs to the west. The
principal crops produced in the township, grown on
the sandy soil, are potatoes, cabbages, wheat, and oats.
The area of the township is 3,472½ (fn. 1) acres, of which
Downholland has 1,378 acres and Haskayne 908.
In 1901 there was a population of 692.
The principal road is that going northerly from
Lydiate through the hamlets of Downholland and
Haskayne in succession; a cross-road leads to Barton,
which is close to the northern boundary. The
Leeds and Liverpool Canal winds through the township, crossing the main road at Downholland and
Haskayne; it is the principal means of carriage for
the farm produce of the district. The Cheshire
Lines Committee's railway crosses the mosslands
north, and has a station called Mossbridge. Just at
the southern boundary there is a junction with the
branch line of the Liverpool, Southport and Preston
Junction Railway, which has a station at Barton
village.
The township is governed by a parish council.
Near this village there was 'a remarkable fountain
of salt water,' a quart producing 'near half a pound
of good white granulated salt.' (fn. 2) There is abundance
of brine under Barton Moss, but though a company
was formed to pump it, nothing was done.
Chisnall and Warnshaw brooks run through the
township. Sander Lane, the Quarters, Hallaso Carr,
and Stake Hey are mentioned in the Alt Drainage
Act of 1779.
An amphora of Samian ware was found here in
1712. (fn. 3)
MANORS
Two thegns held six oxgangs of land
for two manors in Holland, and Teos
held Barton as one plough-land, at the
death of Edward the Confessor, the values being 2s.
and 32d. All were in the privileged three-hide
district. (fn. 4) After the Conquest, HOLLAND and half of
Barton were granted in thegnage together with Aintree and Ribbleton, while the other half of Barton
was annexed to the Warrington fee, together with
Halsall and Lydiate.
In 1212 it was found that Henry de Holland held
the thegnage portion—three plough-lands and two
oxgangs in all—by an annual service of 26s., an
average of 1s. an oxgang. He had granted out Ribbleton, most of Aintree, and his half of Barton to
undertenants, but retained all or most of Downholland, and from it the family took their surname. (fn. 5)
Henry was the son of Alan de Holland, who had held
these manors in the time of Henry II. (fn. 6) He had a
brother Adam, and probably a sister or daughter who
married Robert son of Wronou. (fn. 7)
Roger son of Henry de Holland gave Haskayne to
the Hospitallers. (fn. 8) On the other hand his cousin
William son of Adam de Holland resigned to 'his
lord' Roger, all claim he might have to lands in Old
Holland and Barton Wood, and 20 acres in Murscough. (fn. 9) Roger was followed by his son Henry, who
gave to Robert son of Roger de Eggergarth land in
Downholland by Oldfield. (fn. 10)
In 1297 the heirs of Roger were found to be
holding Downholland and its appurtenances by the
service of 18s. (fn. 11) Roger de Downholland was in 1324
lord of the place. (fn. 12) At Michaelmas 1323 the abbot
of Merivale as lord of Altcar and Richard de Downholland had a dispute as to a messuage, mill, land, and
wood in Downholland. (fn. 13) Richard de Holland is
named in the subsidy rolls of 1327 and 1332, and he
is called 'lord of Downholland' in 1337, retaining
possession in 1346 and 1348. (fn. 14) The assessment is
now stated at 2½ plough-lands (for two and a quarter)
in Downholland, Aintree, and half Barton, and the
service as the fourth part of a knight's fee, with the
ancient 18s. rent. By a charter made in June, 1341,
Richard de Holland granted to Alan his son and
Alan's wife, Katherine daughter of Robert de
Cowdray, various lands. (fn. 15) The fruit of the marriage
was a daughter, and Alan dying a short time afterwards, the father in 1345 granted Downholland to
his eldest surviving son, Roger, with remainders to
Henry and Charles. (fn. 16)
Roger succeeded his father about 1349. (fn. 17) In
1356 he acquired from Emma, daughter of Henry
son of Alan de Holland, and wife of Simon son of
Robert de Wolvesegh of Litherland in Sefton, the
oxgang in Holland formerly held by Alan's son
Robert. Next year Roger Ford of Litherland quitclaimed to him all right in land he had held in Downholland, and in this he was joined by his wife Alice,
daughter of William son of Thomas de Downlitherland. (fn. 18)
His son Thomas, contracted in 1363 to marry
Joan daughter of Richard de Scarisbrick, (fn. 19) did not
possess the manor more than a few years, dying on
20 May, 1387, when his son William was only ten
years of age. He was found to have held two-thirds
of Downholland—his father's widow no doubt having
the other third—by knight's service. The manor of
Aintree was dependent on it, and held by the
daughter of Thomas de Nevill; and the whole paid
annually to the duke 18s. The wardship and marriage of William de Holland were granted to Richard
de Crooke of Whittle. (fn. 20) William did not prove his
age until the spring of 1403, when his lands were
restored to him. (fn. 21)
William had a son Roger, to whom he made a
grant of land in 1423–4, (fn. 22) and who in time succeeded
to the manor. (fn. 23) To William Holland and Isabel his
wife, (fn. 24) Thurstan Holland in 1430–1 transferred all
his lands, &c., in Downholland which he had had
after the death of his father and mother. (fn. 25) Another
William Holland (fn. 26) in 1444–5 settled lands in the
same place upon Peter Holland and his wife Margaret,
with remainders to Richard, Ralph, Nicholas, John,
Henry, and Thomas Holland. (fn. 27)
It is no doubt this Peter who survived till 1513.
He seems to have married a second wife, Ellen, in
1478, when a settlement was made, the remainders
being to his son Robert and heirs male, and then to
a younger son Edmund. (fn. 28) Ellen survived her husband, but some of the lands had been assigned to
Alice widow of Robert, who died without male
issue. Thus Edmund was heir to Downholland at
his father's death, and over forty years of age. The
service was the fourth part of a knight's fee. (fn. 29)
Edmund Holland very soon after his succession
sold his manors to Sir Henry Halsall of Halsall. (fn. 30) He
died about ten years afterwards, and in 1533–4 his
son and heir William released to Sir Thomas Halsall
all his claim in Downholland and Westleigh, Elizabeth,
widow of Edmund, having her dower assigned some
four years later. (fn. 31) From this time Downholland and
the half of Barton have descended with Halsall.
Several disputes followed with the lords of neighbouring townships—Altcar and Formby—as to
boundaries. (fn. 32)
HASKAYNE
HASKAYNE, as stated above, was granted to the
Hospitallers in alms by Henry de Holland. (fn. 33) The
hamlet of Haskayne gave a surname to a family who
prospered until in the seventeenth century they were
reckoned as gentry. (fn. 34) One of them was a benefactor.
The Harkers of Downholland are commemorated
by an inscription in the vestry. The will (1618) of
Thomas Harker of Haskayne, gentleman, mentions
his nephews Richard and Henry, and demises lands in
Aughton and Barton. (fn. 35)
Thomas Johnson, Francis Farrer, and Richard
Moore, of Downholland, registered estates in 1717 as
'Papists.' (fn. 36)
As already stated BARTON was divided between
Downholland and Warrington.
The four thegnage oxgangs of land appurtenant to
Downholland were divided by 1212 between Adam
the brother of Henry de Holland (fn. 37) and an unnamed
sister or daughter on her marriage with Robert son of
Wronou. Robert son of Wronou de Barton gave to
Cockersand Abbey a selion of his land, extending
from the vill towards Harewer, in pure alms, for the
soul of King John in the first place, and then for his
own soul and those of his relatives. (fn. 38) These two oxgangs seem to have returned into the possession of
the superior lord. (fn. 39)
The Halsall family early acquired an interest in
Barton and Downholland, and in 1292 Henry son of
Robert de Holland claimed tenements in Barton from
Gilbert de Halsall, with whom in one plea Robert
son of Alan de Holland was joined. The defence,
which was accepted, is noticeable: Barton was not
a vill, but a member of the vill of Downholland. (fn. 40)
Thus it had lost its ancient independent status.
A local family took a surname from the hamlet.
In 1314 Richard son of Adam de Barton gave to his
son Roger land which the grantor had previously
purchased from his sister Anabel, formerly wife of
Robert the clerk of Halsall, except the house which
Richard's son and heir inhabited. (fn. 41) Robert son of
Richard de Barton gave to Robert de Cowdray some
arable land and meadow in the Flats in 1344. (fn. 42)
Roger son of Robert de Barton in 1375 gave to his
son Robert and Margaret his wife and their heirs 4 acres
with a chamber built in the garden. (fn. 43) About 1388
Robert son of Roger de Barton was refeoffed of his lands,
with remainders to Richard the son of Robert, and then
to Alice and Maud, his daughters. (fn. 44) The son appears
to have died without issue, so that the inheritance
came to the daughter Alice, who married Richard
Fazakerley; while in September, 1404, Maud, still
unmarried, quitclaimed all her right in the property
to Alice. (fn. 45)
The next in possession was William Fazakerley, (fn. 46)
probably the son of Alice and Richard, and his son
Henry in 1495 enfeoffed Henry Molyneux, chaplain, (fn. 47) of a tenement in Barton then occupied by the
grantor's brother John. (fn. 48) He had in 1491–2 arranged
for the marriage of his son Robert with Cecily,
daughter of John Ireland, of Sefton or Maghull,
brother of Richard Ireland. (fn. 49)
The son and heir of Robert and Cecily was
Thomas Fazakerley, who soon after the acquisition
of the Holland manors by the Halsall family, and
while still a minor, was 'pulled forth' of his holding
by divers men acting by order of Thomas Halsall.
Thereupon his relatives in Great Crosby and Thornton took possession of the disputed lands (including
the Peck and the Hook) by force in April, 1525, and
'bette and hurted' the tenants who had been intruded therein. (fn. 50)
Thomas Fazakerley seems to have died childless,
and Henry Halsall was in 1566 able to purchase
(through Gilbert Halsall of Barton (fn. 51) ) the share held
by Alice, wife of Peter Snape of Formby, and one or
the sisters and coheirs. (fn. 52)
A branch of the Norris family also had some
holding here. (fn. 53) Part at least of their estate was the
acre belonging to Cockersand Abbey, which was held
in 1501 by John Norris. (fn. 54)
The half of Barton held by knight's service by the
lords of Warrington was by Pain de Vilers granted
together with Ince Blundell, and the mesne lordship
was long considered to be in the hands of the lords
of this place. (fn. 55) They quickly created subordinate
manors. One oxgang was granted to Simon Blundell;
but this was about 1240 given to William Russel
and Amabel his wife, probably as the latter's dowry.
Thereupon Benedict the son of Simon made his
claim in the king's court against Richard son and heir
of William Blundell, and it was decided that the
latter must compensate Simon by an equivalent grant. (fn. 56)
This oxgang in Barton descended regularly with
the manor of North Meols. The other three oxgangs
also came into the possession of the lords of North
Meols, and at the inquisition after the death of
William de Aughton in 1388, the jury were unable
to say of whom he had held a portion of Barton
rendering £2 13s. 10d. A further inquiry being
ordered, at first it was found that it was held of
John le Boteler of Warrington by knight's service
and the service of 10d. yearly; but after yet another inquiry the mesne lord was found to be John
Blundell of Ince. (fn. 57) The later inquisitions of the
North Meols family describe their tenement as
held of the crown, in right of the duchy of Lancaster, by knight's service, viz. the sixth part of a
fee. (fn. 58)
John Waring and William Shepherd of Croxteth,
as 'Papists,' registered estates here in 1717. (fn. 59)
The rector of Halsall has established a mission
room in Barton.