_Richard Oldham_, 22nd abbot, 1452; about twenty years afterwards he was promoted to the bishopric of the Isle of Man, and dying Oct. 13, 1485, was buried at Chester abbey; a short time before which he was indicted in the portmote court, for removing the city boundaries about the Northgate, and at the same time (21 Edw. iv,) ‘divers wymen’ were indicted, who were the paramours ‘of the monks of Chester.’ _Simon Ripley_, 23rd abbot, rebuilt the nave, tower, and south transept of the abbey, and probably commenced the great plan of alterations and improvements which were interrupted by the reformation. This abbot also rebuilt or considerably improved the great manor-house at Saighton, the embattled tower of which is still remaining. He died at Warwick, August 30, 1492, and was buried in the collegiate church there. On the north side of the north-east large pillar, supporting the central tower, was formerly painted the history of the transfiguration, in which was introduced a figure of this abbot under a canopy, with a book in one hand, the other lifted up in the act of blessing, and the ring upon the fourth finger. _John Birchenshaw_ was appointed 24th abbot by the Pope, Oct. 4, 1493. He is supposed by Willis to have been a native of Wales, from his name appearing in an inscription on the great bell of Conway church. His attention, like that of his predecessor, was turned to restoring the magnificence of the buildings of the abbey. The beautiful western entrance is his work, and he doubtless intended to have added two western towers to this great entrance, of one of which he laid the foundations in 1508. The half of Ince manor-house is apparently in the style of this abbot’s time; and for the further improvement of Saighton manor-house, which had already been sumptuously restored by his predecessor, he obtained, 6 Henry VIII. the royal licence to impark 1000 acres in Huntington, Cheveley, and Saighton. At the same time he had charter of free warren granted in all his lands in Cheshire, not being parcel of the king’s forests. In the year 1511, in the mayoralty of Thomas Smith, violent dissensions had arisen between the city and this abbot. Thomas Hyphile, and Thomas Marshall, were successively appointed, and acted as abbots in his room. After a contest, however, which lasted many years, Birchenshaw was restored about 1530, and is supposed to have enjoyed his abbacy to the time of his death, which happened about seven years afterwards. In 1516, a commission was issued at Rome to Thomas, Cardinal of York, to hear and make award between Geoffry, Bishop of Lichfield, and this abbot, respecting the use of the mitre, crosier, and other pontificals, and the giving the blessing.