WHITCHURCH is a parish, chiefly in the hundred of Bradford (North), and extending into that of Nantwich, in the county of Chester—the town is 161 miles N.W. by N. from London, situated on the main road between Shrewsbury and Chester, 20 miles from each of the latter places: it is seated on elevated ground, in a rich and picturesque country; and contains some neat streets and respectable dwellings. An intended railway from Crewe to Shrewsbury will include Whitchurch in its route. The town was anciently called _Album Monasterium_ and _Blancminster_, which have the same meaning (Whitechurch) and appear to imply the seat of a monastery, of which there are no remains; but a hospital was standing here in the reign of Henry III. and was endowed by the lord of the manor with the whole town of Wilnecot, for the relief of the poor at its gate. Of the foundation and history of the ancient castle—fragments of which were visible in 1760, nothing is known. At the commencement of the civil war between Charles and his parliament, the inhabitants of Whitchurch declared in favour of the monarch, and promptly raised a regiment in support of his cause. An iron and brass foundry, a good brewery, and several roperies, are on a respectable scale, but malting may be considered the principal, if not the staple branch. The Ellesmere canal comes close to the centre of the town, and in its vicinity are several brooks—one of which, called Red Brook, is the boundary between England and Wales, and another separates this county from Cheshire. A high steward who superintends the affairs of the town, is appointed by the lord of the manor (Earl of Brownlow), and presides at courts baron and leet, held in October, in the town hall, which is the depository for the rolls and archives of the lordship. Whitchurch is included in the twenty-seventh circuit of County Court towns under the acts for the recovery of debts not exceeding £50. and it is a polling station at the election of members to represent North Salop.