This summary is based primarily on printed sources, largely those quoted by the nineteenth-century county historian George Ormerod (1785-1873) and his reviser, Thomas Helsby. These older historians were concerned mainly with the lives of the great and wealthy – their intended audience – and consequently spent much time discussing the descent of the lords of the manor, whilst recent local histories – which are often based on local oral traditions and reminiscences – contain a great deal of unsubstantiated and anecdotal material. It is not the purpose of an archaeological report to analyse the manorial history of Carden in depth, although an outline sketch is of interest and is very relevant to changes in the fortunes of the township and therefore in its archaeology as well.