Malpas combines striking architectural history with walking routes through its streets, fields and surrounding countryside. St Oswald's, Castle Hill and other historic buildings reveal different facets of the place. The routes also vary considerably in duration, course and scenery—useful to know when planning your stay around your interests and the time available.
Medieval Architecture in Malpas
St Oswald's is a Grade I listed building and is considered one of the finest medieval buildings in Cheshire. The church dates from the late 14th century and was largely rebuilt above sill level in the late 15th century. Red sandstone and lead roofs define its historic appearance. As a result, it brings together several building phases rather than representing just one period.
St Oswald's houses the Brereton Monument, erected around 1522. On a chest tomb, naturalistic effigies depict Sir Randal and Eleanor. The monument adds a specific example of early 16th-century funerary sculpture to the architectural history.
Other buildings make their own mark: the Old Printing House is a Grade II* listed building of architectural significance. Its neoclassical design is unusual for a small building. The Tithebarn, in turn, is a 17th-century timber-framed building in the typical Cheshire style. The present Gothic, crocketed cross in Malpas was erected in 1877 as a memorial to Rev Charles Thurlow. Together, these buildings represent different forms and periods of local architectural history.
Castle Hill and the Countryside
The motte at Castle Hill is an early monument from the period after the Norman Conquest and is dated to around 1100. It belonged to a group of mottes that formed a defensive system intended to curb constant Welsh raids on the fertile agricultural areas of South Cheshire. The motte survives as a truncated mound on a spur of the Broxton Hills. It overlooks Malpas and much of the surrounding countryside.
The wider area also gives the place a historical and scenic setting. Malpas lies on the section of the Old Roman Road known as Watling Street, which ran between Chester and Wroxeter in Shropshire. The countryside around Malpas offers panoramic views of Wales as well as South Cheshire and Shropshire.
Three Walking Routes with Different Highlights
Walk Number 1 is a circular route through the streets and fields of Malpas. Allow about 30 to 45 minutes. Access to all fields is via kissing gates, which are narrow gates for livestock. As conditions on the route may change, it is advisable to check the latest path information before setting out.
Walk Number 2 is a longer circular route between Overton Heath and Cuddington Heath; it starts at Malpas Cross. Allow about 1.5 to 2 hours. The route offers views of the Clwydian Hills, including the summit of Moel Fammau. Compared with Walk Number 1, this is a considerably longer option and looks beyond the heaths towards the hills.
Walk Number 3 stands out for its uphill course: the circular route crosses the fields east of Malpas Cross and follows the Marches Way. The three routes therefore complement one another not through a shared sequence of paths, but through different experiences: streets and fields in the village, a longer route between two heaths with hill views, and an uphill route along the Marches Way.
Discover more destinations: Kelsall, Frodsham, Handforth, Wrenbury, Barthomley, Willaston, Preston Brook, Knutsford.
For the overarching travel guide: Cheshire.
