KIRBY (WEST), a parish in the lower division of
the hundred of WIRRALL, county palatine of CHESTER,
comprising the townships of Great and Little Caldey,
Frankby, Grange, Greasby, Hoose, Great Meolse, Little
Meolse, Newton with Larton, and West Kirby, and containing
1140 inhabitants, of which number, 172 are in
the township of West Kirby, 1 miles (N. W. by N.)
from Great Neston. The living is a rectory, in the
archdeaconry and diocese of Chester, rated in the king's
books at £28. 13.4., and in the patronage of the Dean
and Chapter of Chester. The church, dedicated to St.
Bridget, was rebuilt in 1786. A free grammar school
was founded at Caldey-Grange, in 1636, by William
Clegg, Esq., who endowed it with premises now producing
from £30 to £40 a year, to which an annuity
of £30 was added in 1677, by a Mr. Bennett, who also
left £24 per annum to buy gowns for twenty-four poor
persons, and an estate at Neston cum Larton, the annual
proceeds of which, amounting to £200, are distributed
among the poor on Good Friday. The parish lies at
the entrance to the river Dee, which bounds it on the
west, and on the north is the Irish sea. At Little
Meolse are two hotels well frequented, and affording
good accommodation for visitors during the bathing
season.