A look now at the darker side of ancient Mid Cheshire, in this case, the beautiful village of Great Budworth, but this time the date is 1593, long ago. A young lady, living in the village in a house next to the ancient church of St Mary and All Saints, named Elizabeth Duncalfe. Her family had lived there for generations and were part of what was known as Cheshire society.
Great Budworth 1890
Great Budworth in 1890 As was the practice then, her father sought a suitor for her and decided upon a local man called John Caldwall whom he awarded a settlement fee of £10 a year (today £1,716), quite a large sum in those days.