18th Century Malpas

The 18th century saw a substantial building boom in Malpas. The traditional market area was developed with a number of fine houses. Local landowners the Drakes and the Cholmondeleys were responsible for much of the development and their symbols, of the griffin and the wyvern, can be seen on a number of buildings. One of the finest of these is the Old Printing House in Church Street built in 1733 for the Cholmondeley’s Steward. The front gable depicts the Cholmondeley griffin, the symbol was also used in one of the coaching inns of Malpas. The Brereton family fell into debt and were forced to sell their holding in Malpas to the Drakes and it was the Drakes who were responsible, with the Cholmondeleys for many of Malpas’ fine 18th and 19th century houses, shops, public buildings and a piped water supply.

Malpas was on the main coach route between Liverpool, Chester, Shrewsbury and London. For six days a week the many coaching inns of Malpas would have been bustling to the sounds of ‘The Albion’ and ‘The Hero’. Inns included The Griffin and The Wyvern (the symbols of the local landowners), The Angel, The Crown, The Red Lion and the New Inn. The covered entry to the Wyvern is still there, although the inn is long gone, but a peep through to the yard is all that is needed to transport you back in your imagination to the sights, sounds and smells of the old coaching inn