Forums Forums Wirral History : Chasing the Past Wirral History Overchurch Graves Stones

Who are the bold family? What is their relevance to wirral?

The Bolds of Upton must have been a wealthy family. In 1618 Charles son of Peter Bold presented a Chalice to the Church.

I totally agree, just joined this group and am made up to find info about these grave stones. I have been there lots of times when walking my dog and the whole atmosphere of all the surrounding area is very eerie. I used to walk through the wooded area as a child and there were so many stories about a white lady who used to haunt there. Don't know if anyone remembers anything about this, I certainly never saw any ghostly things. But...its very spooky where the stones are, hard to describe, but the whole place, even on the nearby fields has a distinct and unnerving feeling about. I will be very interested to hear if anyone else thinks this or is it my vivid imagination???

As a child I played in the woods around the grave yard. I can remember stories about the white lady but never saw her!

I wonder who she was then, maybe someone on here knows. My dog never seems bothered by any ghostly things and apparantly animals are more tuned into these things....wouldn't like to walk through there at night though....no thanks...!!!

VERY INTERESTING THAT MATE!

Our team walk around cemeteries and spooky places like bidston hill / old buildings /churches right through the night,
Even got a ghost dog in one cemetery

The survey of the site of Overchurch was carried out in 1986 by Dorothy O'Hanlon and K Pealin and reported in Volume 9 of the Journal of the Merseyside Archaeological Society, I have a copy of this if you need any information from it.

A magnetometer survey of the field between the site of Overchurch Hill and the Overton Centre was carried out by the Department of the Environment in 1977, this was inconclusive.



The grave cover with the cross in the grave yard is believed to be considerably older than 1600 it, together with the grave cover found in the wall surrounding the undertakers office at Greenbank, is believed to be medieval (about 670 to 1340). The runic stone also found on the site is believed to date back to about 600 A.D.



The Bolds first came to Upton when Baldwin Bold married the daughter of Sir John Arderne in 1310 and was given the hall and manor of Upton as a wedding present. They remained with the Bold family for six generations until 1614 when they were sold to Robert Davies.

The Overchurch Chalice and paten were presented to the church in 1618. The Bolds also presented a Breeches Bible dated 1599 to the church. The chalice is inscribed:

Carolus Bold, filius Petri Bold de Upton armigeri
dedit hunc calicem ecclesie ibidem codemg
tempore dedit illis Bibliam 1618.

While I'm sure that most of you have translated this already, for those whose latin is a bit rusty, it says:

Charles Bold, son of Peter Bold of Upton gentleman,
gave this chalice to the church there
at the same time he gave his bible 1618.

The bible went missing some time between 1920 and 1940.

Thanks uptoncx for the info on the Bold Family, this would suggest that the grave stone relates to this family for many years. I have information that supports this also.
Wirral records page 16, Spelt as it is in the book.

Ouerchurch 1668 in Wirral
The auncient tombe of the Bolds of Upton who wer all burried under it, but noe writting thereon.
Then it sayes
Drawing of a flat tomb,but nothing depicted on it . The discription in the writer's MS. Is a long rude red sandstone, with a cross upon one step, worn or partly chipped away.

Can you tell me which field was surveyed in 1977, if its the one I think sloping down towards Royden road flats and by pass then I would think it unlikely of any settlement there as this is low lying ground and due to evidence of sand and shells I have found the shore line did actually come as far as kennillworth gardens.
The church has been also refered to as the church on the shore.
Where can I obtain a copy of the graveyard survey, is it via the Historical society?

The paper on the survey can be bought from the Merseyside Archaeological Society's web site here, the paper is included in volume 9, 1995 and it costs £5.00. They will also provide a photocopy of just the paper for 50p.

The field chosen for the magnetic survey is, I think, the one you refer to, it runs from the site of Overchurch Hill (the plateau at the top of the field is the front garden of Overchurch Hill) and Roydon Road. This field was chosen because until recently it showed clear evidence of ridge and furrow (in fact in the recent frosty weather, you could still make out the ridges).

I'm intrigued by your theory that the shoreline was at Kenilworth Gardens, the usually accepted shoreline is the small escarpment which can be seen on contour maps of the area.

With reference to the shore line at Overchurch this is only a theory due to the fact that many years ago I found a substantial ammount of sea shells in a sandy area which was situated by what was the old tennis courts of Overchurch house which is at the end of Kennilworth gardens.
Incidently I think I can recall a small upstanding grave stone outside of the raised area of the graveyard this was located within the wooded area in front of Kennilworth gardens. This area is also surrounded by yew trees which are of the same diameter of those surrounding the grave yard.
Does anyone know how to estimate the age of yew trees who's trunk are 10-12 inches diameter. They may have been planted when Overchurch house was landscaped.

About 1970 this field had a drainage system put in by the local council. This was done to enable it to be used as a recreation field as previously it was very boggy. As I recall the furrows ran from the higher side to the lower end on royden road. The field took years to settel. These could be the furrows which are still visable.
Incidently there was a standing stone in this field which is shown on old maps as to its age I dont know, it was knocked over about 20 years ago.

Several of my families gravestones were removed from the overchurch cemetery and relocated to St Marys in Upton village approx 40 years ago, they are lying flat to the left of the path on the right hand side of the church now, apparently there were many more family graves at overchurch but these were the only ones my dad could find. Last time i was there 25+ years ago the foundations of the church were pretty clearly visable alon with around 30-40 gravestones. Will have to go for a wander one day.

I had a wander there yesterday 12-2-2010 with the dog, who seemed perfectly happy chasing rustling noises. Bright sunlight & very tranquil & peacefull.