Welshampton - History

History

According to a small history booklet written by local historian Christopher Jobson, published April 2007 entitled "What was on in Welshampton", a king's "thegn" (a member of a territorial nobility who attended in person upon the king, bringing with him his men and resources) by the name of Aldith may have owned a castle surrounded by a moat situated near a field now known as "Moat Meadow" located in the vicinity of what is now Lyneal Lodge. According to an article by the same author, in the August 2008 edition of "Mere News", the original village was known as 'Hampton' and had been in the barony of lestrange from Knockin since the 14th century. It came into the estates of the Earls of Derby through the marriage of Elizabeth Stanley (the daughter of Sir Thomas Stanley & Joan Gousell) & Thomas Strange in the early 15th century. The Stanley family is reputedley descended from Adam de Aldithley and the origin of the names may therefore be no mere coincidence.

The original site of Hampton was a high & flat hill overlooking a lowland area known as Bradenheath. The oldest known reference with the 'Welsh' prefix is 1587 which mentions two members of local families, the Kynastons and Hanmers.

An African prince, Jeremiah Libopuoa Moshueshue, who died in Welshampton in 1863, is buried at St Michael & All Angels Church. The church is reputedly designed by George Gilbert Scott.

On 11 June 1897 there was a serious railway accident at Welshampton in which 11 people were killed following a derailment. The line has since been taken up.