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Domesday Survey
During
Saxon times the manor of Upton was part of the "immemorial
lordship" of the Earls of Mercia. We know very little about life here in
those days. The Abbot and Convent of St. Werburgh had "in ancient
times" a park at Upton, which, according to the legend (see under
Legends), was to prove a place of refuge from marauding Danes.
It was not until after
the Norman Conquest that we get definite information about Upton when in
1086 the Domesday Survey of Cheshire was compiled. This ascertained the
amount at which each estate was assessed. Upton was mentioned twice.
The township of Upton
first belonged to the Wilaveston (Wirral) Hundred, and was owned by Earl Hugh
Lupus. Then it became part of the Dudestan (Broxton) Hundred. Earl Hugh in the
Dudestan Hundred .held OPETONE (formerly in the Wirral Hundred.
“Erni, a free man, held (it). There is 1
hide that (pays) geld. There is land (enough) for 2 ploughs. It is waste. There
is wood (land) 1 league long and 2 acres wide."
In Wilaveston (Wirral)
Hundred, Earl Hugh held OPTONE.
"Earl Eadwine held (it). There are 4 ½ hides that pay geld. There is land (enough)
for 12 ploughs. In the demesne is (4) 1 (plough) and 2 oxmen and (there are) 12
villeins and 2 radmans with 5 ploughs. Of this land of this manor Hamon holds
two thirds of 1 hide, and Herbert halt a hide, and Mundret 1 hide. There are in
the demesne 4 ploughs and 8 oxmen; and (there are) 2 villeins and 2 bordars
with 1 plough. There is 1 acre of meadow. The whole manor was worth 60
shillings T.R.E. (in the reign of Edward the Confessor) now the earl's demesne
is worth 45 shillings and (the land) of his men 40 shillings."
(From the Domesday Survey 1086)