CHAPEL BOOKS

Chapel Cottage, Llanishen, Chepstow NP16 6QT

Email info@chapelbooks.co.uk

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CHESHIRE

UK Customers please add postage @ £2.00 per book (£4.00 maximum)
Overseas customers will be charged Surface or Airmail as requested
Items marked * are post-free in UK

[Hall documents]  Legal Observations prior to Court Case
On offer here are 2 sets of legal observations on aspects of a court case - quite possibly a family dispute - resulting from the 1845 death of Thomas Hall.  One analyses in detail his family background, his father being Philip Hall of Congleton - or Leek - or both - or perhaps Thomas' grandfather was another Philip.  Manuscript on paper.  (ref B140/729)  *£9.00  Not for export

[Hallmark documents]  Settlement Examination
1816 examination statement of Thomas Hallmark of Stapeley.  Manuscript on paper, single side.  The paper hasn't been looked after and is now quite fragile, worn through where old folds cross, and a blank page is torn the entire length of an old fold.  Nevertheless the document provides information on Thomas's background available from no other source.  The paper bears the signature 'Thomas hallmark' which would appear to be in his own hand.  (ref 6931)  £18.00 post-free  Not for export

[Killmister document]  Letter to G R Killmister about Brother's Grave
This short letter was written to Macclesfield solicitor G R Killmister in 1879.  It tells him his brother is buried in the American Mission Cemetery Beyrout (presumably today's Beruit?).  Old folds, a little crumpled and a small tear.  (ref 219/25)  £4.50 post-free  Not for export

Killmister Funeral Bill
George Ridgway Killmister of Oakleigh died 5th October 1884.  On offer is the bill for his funeral including £8 for the hearse and 4 carriages, each with a pair of horses.  Several old folds, several small holes through being spiked while folded.  (ref  219/17)  £5.00 post-free  Not for export
[NB we have several other Killmister family documents - email for details]

[McKenchnie]  Vaccination Certificate, 1825
Printed form certifiying Alexander Miller McKechnie, son of Duncan McKechnie, had been vaccinated under the Compulsory Vaccination Act.  Old folds, foxed.   (ref 7630)  *£6.00   Not for export

[Newman document]  Probated will of Henry Francis Newman
Henry of Denniston, Bramhall, and formerly of Didsbury, died in 1904.   The grant of probate is accompanied by a copy of Henry's will.  Paper, rather grubby.  (ref 73/2)  £6.00 post-free  Not for export

Altrincham - A Pictorial History
Hilda Bayliss, 1996.  4to, unpaginated but 177 ills, almost all photographs ranging in dates from the 1890s to the 1930s.  Top corner dented by fall, slight scoring of top board but essentially a F copy, in print at £13.99, this copy (ref 0000)  £8.00

Another copy
The mild sepia tone of the top board is entirely faded to black & white, nevertheless a F copy.  (ref 0000)  £8.00

[Ashton upon Mersey]  Farm Valuation, 1856
Valuations from two independent surveyors of an un-named 27 acre farm, though an accompanying plan shows it on the Carrington road leading from the Altrincham-Manchester turnpike road - anyone with local knowledge will be able to pinpoint it.  All 4 papers and the plan are overly folded and quite worn.  The farm, owned by Mrs Poole of Altrincham, was tenanted by a Mr Hulme.  (ref 524/71)  *£12.00   Not for export

[Baddeley] Abstract of Title to the Manor of Baddeley
This undated but approx 1811 abstract gives details of property deeds going back to 1743. Very much the concern of the Mainwaring family of Baddeley Hall. Manuscript on 8 large paper sheets. (ref 4/62)  *£20.00  Not for export

Bowdon Wills - Wills and Probate Inventories from a Cheshire Township: Part 2 1651-1689
Northern Writers Advisory Services, 1998. A5 booklet in blue card covers, 75pp inc index. 18 sets of wills & probate documents with useful annotations and where possible accompanied by biographical notes from other sources. Good value for money and still in print at £4.50, this F copy (ref 40/110)  *£3.00

Bowdon Wills - Wills and Probate Inventories from a Cheshire Township: Part 3 1690-1760
Northern Writers Advisory Services, 1999. A5 booklet in purple card covers, 78pp inc index. 18 sets of wills & probate documents with useful annotations and where possible accompanied by biographical notes from other sources. Good value for money and still in print at £4.50, this F copy (ref 40/92)  *£3.00

[Bredbury document]  Duplicate Copy of Conveyance of Part of Waterside Farm
This 1935 sale is of 2 tiny plots of land acquired by Cheshire CC in order to make improvements to the B6103 near Otterspool Bridge.  The document is accompanied by a useful 1:2500 plan.  (ref 408/185)  *£5.00   Not for export

[Broken Cross]  Letter re Right of Way across Moss Well Farm
Evidently Moss Well Farm came up for sale in 1886, as this short letter - signed by churchwarden Richard Wood - is informing the selling agent that they must advise potential buyers of the farm that, as owners of the adjoining farm, the vicar and churchwarden have certain rights of way used by their tenant farmer.  Paper, 2 sheets.  (ref 214/54)  *£8.00  Not for export

Cheadle Hulme - Pictures and Postcards from the Past
Morris Garratt, 1999. Oblong A5 in pictorial card covers, 82pp, probably 100 or so ills. A nostalgic tour round Cheadle Hulme's streets. In print at £6.95, this creased (squeezed through a letter box?) copy (ref 40/63)  *£3.50

[Chelford document]  Papers Concerning the Sale of a Plot of Land at Astle Farm
These papers concern a small plot of land sold in 1945 by Sir John Dixon to Macclesfield RDC.  Included with the papers is a location plan.  (ref 59/24)   £8.00 UK post-free

Victorian Chester - Essays in Social History 1830-1900
Edited by Roger Swift, 1996.  A5 in pictorial card covers, 251pp inc index, no ills but plenty of tables giving facts & figures.  With chapters including 'Common Lodging Houses 1841-1871', 'The Irish in Early Victorian Chester', 'Cholera & Public Health Reform', 'The Charter Ragged School Society 1851-1870' and a super bibliography at the end, this is a must for the local historian's bookshelf.  Still in print at £13.95, this VG copy (ref 40123 £7.50

Crewe and Nantwich - A Pictorial History
Richard Simpson, 1991.  4to, unpaginated but 174 mostly photo ills.   We seem to have acquired a number of copies, complete but with faults enabling us to offer them well below the published price of £10.95.  The most common faults are missing d/ws, page edges stuck together (with care this can easily be overcome), but several also have binding faults affecting the last couple of leaves and rear pastedown.   All are clean copies, though.  The best copies will be sold first.  By all means email for details.  (ref 625/11)  £5.00

[Hale document]  Proceedings at the Session of Chester Common Hall of Pleas, 1828
This is an account of proceedings at which Peter Leicester and George Hardy claimed rights to property in Hale (dwelling houses, outbuildings and 30 acres) against Charles Potts.  Two tenants (Elizabeth Anne Ashton and Samuel Farr) were called as witnesses, and in the event the claim was upheld.  Manuscript on 1 large parchment sheet (approx 11"x29").  The actual property in Hale isn't identified by name, but if the two witnesses were still alive at the time of the 1841 census it might be possible to narrow things down.  (ref 524/67)  *£18.00  Not for export

Hoylake & Meols Past
Stephen J Roberts, 1992.  4to, 116pp, 143 ills - mainly photos.   The first comprehensive history of this part of the Wirrall.  Pages mildly damp-rippled along edges o/w VG.  (ref 0000)  £8.00

[Macclesfield] Abstract of title to premises in Sutton in Macclesfield
This 1868 abstract lists transactions dating back 30 years. Once known as Pykereye or Meadow, this eventually became 5 houses (73/75/77/79/81 Pitt Street) as detailed in an accompanying 1943 abstract. An accompanying plan shows that one WC was shared by no's 77, 79 and 81 which was next door to the Fox & Grapes. Useful piece of local history detailing the parties involved in the various property transactions. (ref B140/597)  *£8.00   Not for export

[Macclesfield] Plan of property/land between Oxford Road & yet-to-be-constructed street
1913 small plan on waxed linen, hand coloured outline. The largest building is designated 'Ashlea'. (ref B140/634 & 636) 2 copies available, each at *£4.00 or both for *£6.00

[Macclesfield] Plan of the Clowes Street/Frances Street/Oxford Road area
1913 plan on waxed linen drawn up for sale of 3 plots which are hand-coloured in outline. Scale approx 1" to 30'. Buildings are shown but not named or numbered. (ref B140/635)  *£4.50

[Macclesfield] House Demolition Order
This 1937 Order is for West End Cottage at the rear of 114/116 Chestergate. Signed by both the Mayor and Town Clerk. (ref 671)  *£4.00

[Macclesfield] Documents relating to Rodney Street
This little group concerns 2 houses, 1 being 38 Rodney Street, 'the other in the yard behind...'. The deeds chronicle events from 1841 to 1885 when the properties were bought by John Day for £183, though he seems to have already lived there for the best part of 20 years. Very much the concern of the Day and Slack families. 8 items altogether, 4 of them on parchment and in nice clean condition. (ref 7603)  *£26.00   Not for export

NB We have many other documents relating to Macclesfield & surrounding parishes.

[Macclesfield Registration District] Official Record of Statistics of Births, Marriages & Deaths 1909-1918
Folio size in worn boards, this is the Superintendent's summary of the returns sent in by the various local sub-districts & churches & chapels each quarter. The district covers Prestbury, Bollington, Rainow, Macclesfield, Sutton, Gawsworth, Alderley, Poynton, Woodford, Pott Shrigley, Macclesfield Forset, Wildboarclough, Saltersford, Taxal, Hurdsfield, Wincle, Bosley, Eaton, Henbury, Marton, North Rode, Siddington, Alderley, Birtles, Chelford, Chorley, Langley, Alderley Edge, Yeardsley & Snelson. Birth & death figures came from local register offices but returns of marriages originated at the various churches & chapels, some quite busy but others dwindling virtually to nil marriages a year - presumably a reflection of dwindling congregations. NB these 18pp are of statistics only - no names are mentioned other than Mr J B Millward who may possibly have been the Registrar of Marriages. (ref 0000)  £20.00   Not for export

[Macclesfield]  Deeds and Documents to Property at The Waters
An abstract of title, undated but with 1805 watermarks, gives details of a succession of owners/occupiers going back to 1718, when it was very much the concern of the Blackwell family of Rainow.  At that time it was described as a pair of cottages knocked into one.  In 1752 Thomas Blackwell sold to John Walker 'All that messuage cottage or tenement.....at a place called the further side of the waters.....'.  In 1757 John Walker sold the barn/stable to Philip Etchells.  It seems likely (though it isn't actually mentioned) that at some point the cottage was sold as well, for in 1795 Philip Etchells sold to George Pearson the cottage and buildings.. With this very useful document come originals or copies of all the deeds described except the 1795 one.  11 documents in all, of which 5 are on parchment.  The collection  (ref 63/16)  *£65.00    Not for export

[Macclesfield]  Documents re 4 Cottages at The Waters
Copy documents of 1727 and 1745 (made in 1747) and a 1747 document, the latter bearing marks of Thomas Peers.  The 2 earlier documents concern Grace Doxon (1727) and George Doxon (1745).  All 3 in manuscript on paper.  (ref 63/17)   *£14.00 Not for export

[Macclesfield]  Sale Particulars of Various Properties in Brock St, Pownall St, Brook St, Boden St, Waters Green, Gt King St, Bread St, Crompton Rd
Printed particulars for 57-63 & 83-89 Brock St
21-37 Pownall St
116-126 Brook St
90-94 Waters Green
23-39 Boden St
86 & 88 Gt King St
13-19 Bread St
20-244 Crompton Rd
all of which came up for sale at the Pack Horse Hotel in July 1906.  This may have been the auctioneer's copy as each of the 22 lots is annotated with the hammer price and the name of the buyer.  Accompanying the particulars is a multifolding coloured plan scaled at 20 feet to 1 inch showing the Brock St/Pownall St properties divided into 11 lots.  Outside (as folded) very grubby & with several rust-marks.  (ref 30/52)  *£12.00

[Macclesfield]  Abstract of Title to House in Sunderland Street
This undated but approx 1816 abstract provides details of parties involved in documents going back to 1769 when George Broad leased from Joseph Pickford adjoining corners of fields then known as The Higher Eyes and The Lower Eyes in order to build a 'good substantial dwellinghouse' before 1st May 1771.  During the next few years 10 other buildings were erected, and various other parties became involved, principally George Pearson.  It may be these are the origins of a silk mill, but that needs careful reading through these dozen large paper sheets.  (ref 63/23)  *£12.00    Not for export

[Macclesfield]  Papers re Plot of Land in Victoria Road
This plot of land was put up for sale by local builders Roylance & Co in 1923.  9 items in all - though some are duplicates.  Grubby.  (ref 30/16)   *£8.00

[Macclesfield]  Sale Poster - 22 Bank Street
This printed poster advertises the 1910 sale of 22 Bank Street 'now in the occupation of Mrs Wood as weekly tenant' to be held at the Angel Hotel.  Paper, approx 20"x29", old folds, worn along the top half of the right-hand edge, paper worn through along one old fold - nevertheless this would look good in a frame.  (ref 3345)  *£12.50

[Mobberley] Report on water sample from well at Newton Hall
1892 report by the Manchester City Analyst. Headed letter, the actual report consists of just 3 lines. (ref G189)  *£4.50

Nantwich Parish Church
G Cyril Green, nd c1936. Small [24pp] booklet with 5 plates. Card covers. G.  *£1.00

[Nantwich - see Crewe]

Neston and Parkgate
Jeffrey Pearson, 1985. A5 booklet, card covers enclosing 80pp, 39 photos + other ills. Parkgate in its heyday was the principal port for journeys to Ireland. G. (ref 7488)  *£4.00

[Rainow]  Sale Particulars for Farm
Printed particulars for the 1897 sale of an un-named 20 acre farm tenanted by George Brown.  Included is a folding plan which gives details of the 9 various fields, all of them named and sized.  One corner is torn away but the text is unaffected.  (ref 302/7)  £10.00 UK post-free

Register of Services, St Faith's Mission Church, Preston Brook
On offer here is the actual register, a continuous record of services from 1942 through to 1990.  It provides a week by week record of services, showing who officiated, the numbers in attendance and amounts collected.  Covers worn, consistent with being in continuous use for nigh on 50 years.  A precious (and of course unique) piece of local history.  (ref 0000)  £35.00

History of Runcorn with an Account of the Ancient Village of Weston
Charles Nickson, 1887.  4to, 232pp followed by list of less than 200 subscribers, 26 ills as required.  Ex-ref lib so no label covered with date-stamps, elaborate lib label to front pastedown, occasional blind embossed stamps (mainly to the plates), class mark in gilt on spine.  Rebacked incorporating most of original backstrip, bottom corners of 4 leaves missing, nevertheless this is a VG clean copy both inside and out - perhaps due to the purpose-built slipcase.  (ref 1145)  *£75.00

[Sandbach document]  Copy of Bridge Building Contract
An undated but early copy of a contract awarded in 1825 to Newcastle stonemason William Smith for the building of a new bridge over 'the Brooke in the Town of Sandbach', the bridge to be built about 20 yards downstream from the existing one.  Manuscript on 4 large paper sheets with a 5th as the covering sheet.  All sheets are torn/worn where old folds cross and should be handled with care - the wear is such that the covering sheet is now in two halves.  If the original of this contract hasn't survived, this may add significant detail to the history of bridge building in Sandbach.  (ref 103/22)  priced for condition at £15.00 UK post-free

A Record of Stockport Volunteers and their Armoury
John Christie-Miller, 1969. 20pp booklet in buff card covers, 8 ills. G. (ref 7423)  *£3.50

History of Stockport 1922-1932
Stockport Advertiser, 1932. 4to in printed overlapping card covers, 31pp followed by 2pp index, a couple of ills. A supplement to the Advertiser's centenery history of 1922. Covers grubby and stained, contents nice and clean. (ref 7577)  £8.50

[Wallasey]  Papers re 1-14 Leasowe Avenue
These papers range in dates from 1897 - when the houses are described as 'recently erected' - to 1911.  Some of the items are only draft copies and a couple of carbon copies of legal bills.  However one item includes a plan of the odd-numbered houses.  21 items in all, some quite grubby.  (ref 30/29)  *£10.00

The Story of Wilmslow
Howard Hodson, 1971. Large booklet of 88pp, 19 full-page ills inc several photos. Ex-University library with label inside front cover, the staples have pulled through the card covers and the contents are detached. (ref 7487)  *£4.00

A Supplementary Index to the 'Infra' Wills & Admons Now Preserved in The Probate Registry at Chester
The Record Society, 1912. 11pp pamphlet listing c250 wills/admons for the year 1693 not included in The Record Society's vol 18. [Infra in this context means less than £40]. Mainly Cheshire & Lancashire but there are a very few Derbyshire people listed. (ref 0000)      *£1.50

Lancashire and Cheshire Church Surveys 1649-1655
Lancashire & Cheshire Record Society vol 1, 1879. 282pp inc indexes of places & names. Transcripts of parochial surveys of Lancashire and of surveys of the lands etc of the bishop and dean and chapter of Chester, and of the warden of the collegiate church of Manchester. A rather sloppy copy but better than most others, so VG. (ref 7922)  £25.00

Printed Sales Particulars
The following late 1940s/1950s particulars are available. All are on standard printed forms with typescript insertions. All are available at  *£1.50 each:
A. (Rents of) 23-45 & 36-62 Ilfracombe Road, Woodbank, Stockport, 1949.
B. 22 Clovelly Road, Stockport, 1952.
C. 8 Porlock Close, Stockport, 1948.
D. 3 Westland Avenue, Stockport, 1941.
E. 10 Bossington Close, Stockport, 1951.
F. 41 Marcliff Grove, Heaton Mersey, 1952.
G. 25 Hartland Close, Stockport, 1952.
H. 67 Beverley Road, Offerton, Stockport, 1952.
I. 10 Hartland Close, Stockport, 1950.
J. 55 Beverley Road, Offerton, Stockport, 1952.
K. 17 Berkeley Close, Stockport, 1951.
L. 50 Ludlow Road, Woodbank Park, Stockport, 1947.
M. 13 Stratton Road, Woodbank Park, Stockport, 1953.
N. 38 Heaward Street, Huntsmans Brow, Brinksway, Stockport, 1948.
O. 96/102/104/106/108 Chatham Street, Edgeley, Stockport, 1951.
Also available is a small group of 5 late 1940s papers concerning the sale of 2 plots of land on the Woodbank Park Estate, Stockport, at *£3.00

Catalogue of Documents for Festival of Britain Exhibition, The Castle, Chester
Cheshire County Council, 1951.  48pp booklet, 12 photo plates of ancient deeds such as the Charter of the Borough of Macclesfield, granted by Elizabeth I in 1595.   In all 227 items were on display during this 4 month exhibition.  Some of them were 12th century.  Decent copy, ex-Glamorgan Record Office Library, their stamp in corner of title-page.  (ref 252/109)  *£4.00