In 1388 the Prior of Norton was charged with making two fish-yards in the Mersey, one called Gracedieu and the other Charity, which obstructed the passage of the lord’s boat of eight oars from Fresh Pool to Thelwall.
In 1598 the jury found that Robert Dutton of Preston did fish in Thomas Dutton’s pit and did take his fish in the daytime without leave or licence from him, and therefore they did amerce him.
In 1605 the court complained of the number of the fish-yards at Thelwall and of the encroachments they made on the river.
On October 8, 1655, the old complaint of the river being obstructed by fish-yards was again renewed.
In 1655 a number of persons were presented and fined for keeping up their weirs and fish-yards in the mid-stream of the Mersey so that the Lord of the fee could not pass by the “key” of Thelwall with boats and barges.
It will thus be seen that the Court in former days had a wide and extensive jurisdiction and dealt with a variety of matters. Nowadays, as before stated, the court has no powers, but the court is held by the deputy steward at the Castle, or rather at the Castle Hotel adjoining the ruins, once every three years, simply to keep up the old custom, and for the sake of past memories. A jury summons signed by the Bailiff of the Court in the following form:—
| Manor and Fee } | By Virtue of a Precept to me directed, I hereby |
| of Halton, } | REQUIRE you personally to be and appear at a Court |
| in the County } | Leet and View of Frank Pledge and Court Baron |
| of Chester, } | to be held at Halton Castle, according to the custom there |
| TO WIT. } | time immemorial used and approved, on Saturday, the day of at the hour of to be upon the Jury there. |
| Herein fail not at your peril. |
Witness my hand at Halton aforesaid, this day of 19
Bailiff of the said Court.
is sent to the Overseers of the following townships:—