Dodleston, Cheshire Genealogy

[[Image:Dodleston_parish_church.JPG|thumb|right|Dodleston St Mary]]History
Dodleston, St. Mary is an ancient parish, originally including Dodleston and Lower Kinnerton (Cheshire) and Higher Kinnerton (Flintshire).

A church has been on this site, adjacent to a former motte and bailey castle, since at least medieval times but only the base of its tower, which dates from the early 16th century, remains. The remainder of the church was rebuilt in 1870 in perpendicular style by John Douglas.

Church Records
Parish registers for Doddleston, 1570-1983 The parish church is known as St. Mary's. Higher Kinnerton is a township in Doddleston parish. Cheshire Record Office call number: P 115/1/1-6, P 115/2/1-2, P 115/3/1-2, P 115/4, P 115/8, P 115/6491/1-2.

Bishop's transcripts for Dodleston, 1584-1872 Cheshire Record Office call number: EDB 78.

Non-Conformist Churches
Dodleston, Methodist Chapel (Primitive). Built in 1867.

Non-Conformist Records
The registers of the Chapel have been indexed by the Dodleston Family History Group and are available on microfiche at the Cheshire Record Office.

Formed in 1985, this is a small research group of some 12 to 15 members who meet at roughly monthly intervals in each other's homes during the winter months and have visits to local places of interest during the summer. In 1994, the Group published Dodleston: the History of a Marcher Parish (now out of print). It has also transcribed and published in printed and microfiche formats the Parish Registers of St. Mary's Church, Dodleston (1570-1970) and All Saints' Church, Higher Kinnerton (1868-1970), as well as a full record of the inscriptions on the gravestones in St. Mary's churchyard. The printed and microfiche copies of these can be referred to at Cheshire County Record Office, Chester. Considerable work has also been undertaken on the Parish Tithe Map of 1839-42, the Eaton Rentals, the Census returns, Churchwardens' Accounts, and Court Leet records for the parish.

The parish includes a part of Flintshire and is of ancient foundation. Within its boundaries lie a Norman motte and bailey castle, the remains of two 17th-century duck decoys, a large mediaeval moated site, and four ancient homesteads. For many years, much of the area was owned by the Grosvenors of Eaton Hall, whilst in the base of the church tower are the graves of Sir Thomas Egerton, who was Chancellor to Queen Elizabeth I and James I, his first wife, and his son Thomas.

Further information from:

Bernard Dennis, M.B.E., 68 Penfold Way, Dodleston, Chester CH4 9NL Tel. 01244 660 102. Mob. 07966 436073

Please enclose a stamped addressed envelope

Poor Law Unions

 * Great Boughton (1837–53)
 * Hawarden (1853–71)
 * Chester (1871–1930)

Registration Districts

 *  Great Boughton (1837–69)
 * Chester (1870–1937)
 * West Cheshire (1937–74)
 * Chester and Ellesmere Port (1974–98)
 * Cheshire West (post 1998) registration events can be searched online at Cheshire BMD