Brereton is a parish in the hundred of Northwich, about six miles east of Middlewich, and three north of Sandbach. The hall of Brereton is a noble mansion of brick, erected by Sir Wm. Brereton, and has the date 1577 in several of the windows. In 1817 some of the richly stained glass windows were taken to Liverpool for the convenience of sale. A court leet and court baron is held at Brereton, including Smethwick. The church is dedicated to St. Oswald, and was formerly dependent upon Astbury, but made parochial in the time of Richard I. The building is of stone, of the pointed Gothic style, with oaken roof richly carved: it contains a nave, chancel, side aisles, and a tower with five bells, and the interior is adorned with several elegant monuments. The number of inhabitants, in 1821, was 624.

Transcribed from Pigot & Co's Commercial Directory of Cheshire, 1828-9.