I have recently been sent more information on the Medicine House which seems to have had a few past uses.

I have been informed that the Medicine House was not 'demolished' as such.  The following information comes form a blog by ROWAN forwarded to me recently who posted about her visit to Goostrey to research her family history and came upon the Medicine House now located at Blackden.  Her version of the story was that the building (built as an apothecary) had fallen into serious disrepair and was about to be demolished (not sure by whom) when it was purchased (thankfully) for £1 and saved by Alan Garner and his wife Griselda, removed piece by piece and rebuilt next to their own home Toad Hall.  The two buildings are now connected by a 'passage'.  ROWAN attended  a 'herb day' there.  She noted that the quatrefoils on the gable end were there to repel witches. It was also noted that in the Spring and after the building had been reconstructed various wild flowers began to grow around it, their seeds having been dislodged from the cracks in the old timbers.  Subsequently the owners have planted a herb garden around it.    

The story so far.  Then I received an email from another local resident pointing me n the direction of the Blackden Trust which adds more flesh to the above historical bones.  The account from the Trust is more detailed and states that the building was first a home then a tavern (the Red Lion) and finally as a 'manufactory of patent medicines'.  This is substantiated by a white ceramic pill box with   a black lithograph of the building together with the name of the manufacturer - Samuel Johnson - on the cover, which was found when the foundations were being dug for the new development.  The business ceased in the 1960s and the building was removed to be rebuilt in 1971.

It is also stated that the house originated on the estate of  Ralph Egerton (1500-1579).  The Egerton archive suggests that Wrinehill was a place where 'recusant travellers' were monitored by the Elizabethan secret service.  All this might explain a lot about Betley and Wrinehill.

Now that the advertising boards have been erected on the perimeter fence of the former garage site in Wrinehill,  it seems that the new housing development is not going to be called Sixpence Terrace or (Lord) Nelson Row, but Egerton View.

There also some paintings/drawings and prints of the Medicine House, the Toll Booth and the Lord Nelson pub by PR Rushton.  These were emailed to me but I was unable to  upload them, and certainly not without the copyright holder's permission.  If someone has that copyright then it would be interesting to see them in the public domain.

If anyone has anymore information (I am led to believe that the Betley History Society has some) to add to this narrative then please get in touch.   Thanks to those who have already done so.   

Further information on the Medicine House can be obtained the blackdentrust.org.uk  or the Blackden Trust, The Old Medicine House,  Blackden, Holmes Chapel, Cheshire CW4 8BY.  It is hoped that the archive associated with this building will be digitised for public access.  

 


  

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