Grappenhall

A number of findings dating from the bronze age, suggest that Grappenhall saw a lot of activity during this period. These finds included a flat tin-bronze axe, remains of a burial cairn and a flint implement. 

Although Grappenhall is recorded in the Domesday book as 'Gropenhale', and also makes an appearance in records in 1288 and 1291, there was a settlement at the site 2,000 years before. The name originates from the Old English combination of 'grop', 'grep', or 'grepe' (meaning ditch/drain), with halh (meaning flat land by a river). 

Grappenhall was a good site for travellers and tradesmen, etc, as it is situated close to the Mersey. It was also thought that there were two water mills in the area, these being "The Herr (higher) Milne" and "The Lagher (lower) Milne", which were powered by two brooks which ran through Grappenhall. 

The parish church of St Wilfred's is thought to be of Norman origin and in the graveyard there are village stocks, a sundial and a column dating from 1714. One of the buttresses of the church has a scratch dial, which is one of only five to be recorded in the whole of Cheshire. These were used up until the 16th century, until they were replaced by clocks.

Thelwall

Thelwall is the only name recorded in Warrington before the Domesday survey. The name itself is derived from Old English and means 'a pool by a plank bridge'. It is believed that Edward the Elder erected a 'burh', in an attempt to protect the area from the invasion of Norse settlers around 914–915 and a fort was built to hold a garrison. 

Until the Manchester Ship Canal was constructed, a ferry crossed the Mersey at Thelwall. Thelwall also had a fine Georgian hall, like many other districts in Warrington. This one was built by the Pickering family sometime after 1662 but was allowed to deteriorate especially after 1940s. 

In 1924, a war memorial was unveiled in the form of an imitation Anglo-Saxon cross. Thelwall church has a stained glass window in memory of Sir Peter Rylands which appeared in 1950.  Sir Peter and his wife, Lucy, are also buried in the graveyard.