Little is known about Upton before 1066. Traces
of pro-historic man were found near Bache Hall late inthe last century. Flint
flakes and cores, dating from the Neolithic Age, about 2,000 B.C., were discovered
on the borders of the Bache Pool. From this it seems probable that either the
Flintmen lived in the neighbourhood, or they came there to dig for flints for
their tools and weapons.
In -addition there is a certain formation of the ground at
The Dale which may be evidence of the work of early man, and may point to the
possibility of an early settlement there. Near this settlement is a field
called Flint Hill field. This may strengthen the theory that early settlers lived
there. Flints are found on sandy patches of which there are many in Upton, so
that there is a possibility of flints being found here in the future.
Upton in the Roman Era,
Living so near to the Roman city of Deva, any Roman remains
in Upton would be associated with the fortress rather than with Independent
settlements. Unfortunately we have been
unable to find anything definite. We wondered about a possible Roman trackway
leading from the Mersey, via Butter Hill, Flag Lane, Smoke Street and along
Church Lane (which may have been called Port Lane) to Chester, but we have
found no proof for our theories since they were more likely to keep to the higher
ground and travel from Chester along part of what is now the Liverpool Road and
the Bache and across through Mollington to the Mersey.
The term "street” in Smoke Street (now Upton Lane ) is
usually associated with Roman roads, but it is difficult to judge by such a
small stretch as to whether the Romans seemed to have passed through Upton rather
than settled anywhere here.