Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• de Castello 1172 Facs

• castrum de Haulton, castellum de Haulton, castellum de Hawelton' 1240 Pat

• : 1295 Lacy

• falda castri de Haltone 1295 Lacy

• camera vocata Erleschaumbre 1422 MinAcct

• purifaldum Regis 1422 MinAcct

• orreum infra castrum 1422 MinAcct

• le Bordehous 1422 MinAcct

• porta Castri 1422 MinAcct

• noua turris ad introitum Castri de Halton 1452 MinAcct

• murus Castri 1507 MinAcct

• Earles House 1695 Chol

• parcella terre supra Halton hull, Halton hill infra antiquos muros de Halton' 1443 MinAcct

• Old Castle 1811 Sund 1843 TA

Etymology

Halton Castle, de Castello 1172 Facs (p), castrum de Haulton , castellum de Haulton , castellum de Hawelton '1240 Patet freq with spellings as for Halton supra , Haulton castel c.1536 Leland, the Castell of Halton 1564Rental , the Old Castell 1661Surv , v. castel(l), ald . This was the seat of the constables of Chester, barons of Halton, and an honour of the Duchy of Lancaster, cf. Halton Hundred 2supra . Various parts of the castle are recorded as follows: in 1295 Lacy, falda castri de Haltone 1295 Lacy, 'the castle fold', probably the bailey, v. fald ; in 1422MinAcct (DL 29, 5, 58), camera vocata Erleschaumbre 1422MinAcct , 'the Earl's room'; purifaldum Regis 1422MinAcct , 'the King's lavatory'; orreum infra castrum 1422MinAcct , 'the barn within the castle'; le Bordehous 1422MinAcct , 'the boarded house'; porta Castri 1422MinAcct , 'the castle gate'; in 1452MinAcct (DL 29, 7, 84), noua turris ad introitum Castri de Halton 1452MinAcct , 'the new tower at the entrance of the castle'; in 1507MinAcct (DL 29, 10, 136), murus Castri 1507MinAcct , 'the castle wall'; in 1695Chol , Earles House 1695Chol , 'the Earl's house'. Here also belongs parcella terre supra Halton hull , Halton hill infra antiquos muros de Halton '1443MinAcct , 'a piece of land on Halton hill within the ancient walls of Halton', which suggests older works than the medieval castle's curtain-wall, enclosing a space of land. It may in fact be Old Castle 1811Sund , 1843TA (109–535823, marked Camp in O.S. 1″).