The Chetham Society "for the publication of remains historic and literary connected with the Palatine Counties of Lancaster and Chester" is a

text publication society A text publication society is a learned society which publishes (either as its sole function, or as a principal function) scholarly editions of old works of historical or literary interest, or archival documents. In addition to full texts, a text p ...

and registered charity (No. 700047) established on 23 March 1843.

History

The Chetham Society is the oldest historical society in

North West England North West England is one of nine official regions of England and consists of the ceremonial counties of England, administrative counties of Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside. The North West had a population of ...

. It was founded by a group of gentlemen (including the lawyer James Crossley and the clergymen

Thomas Corser Thomas Corser (1793 – 24 August 1876) was a British literary scholar and Church of England clergyman. He was the editor of ''Collectanea Anglo-Poetica''. Life Corser, third son of George Corser of Whitchurch, Shropshire, banker, and his wi ...

Richard Parkinson Richard Parkinson may refer to: * Richard Parkinson (agriculturist) (1748–1815), English, consultant for George Washington *Richard Parkinson (explorer) (1844–1909), Danish, also anthropologist * Richard Parkinson (neurosurgeon), Australian * R ...

, and

Francis Robert Raines Francis Robert Raines (22 February 1805 – 17 October 1878) was the Anglican vicar of Milnrow, Lancashire, known as an antiquary. He edited 23 volumes for the Chetham Society publications. He also transcribed 44 volumes of manuscripts. E ...

), who wished to promote interest in the counties' historical sources. The society held its foundation meeting on 23 March 1843 at

Chetham's Library Chetham's Library in Manchester, England, is the oldest free public reference library in the English-speaking world.Nicholls (2004), p. 20. Chetham's Hospital, which contains both the library and Chetham's School of Music, was established in ...

, in

Manchester Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The t ...

, which was established in 1653 by the will of the philanthropist

Humphrey Chetham Humphrey Chetham (10 July 1580 – 1653) was an English textile merchant, financier and philanthropist, responsible for the creation of Chetham's Hospital and Chetham's Library, the oldest public library in the English-speaking world.Crosb ...

. The society became a registered charity (No. 700047) in 1988. The Chetham Society was amongst the earliest

antiquarian An antiquarian or antiquary () is an fan (person), aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient artifact (archaeology), artifac ...

and historical societies to be established in Britain during the nineteenth century, and appears to have been modelled, in part, on the Durham-based Surtees Society founded in 1834. During its early years, the Society enjoyed the support of patrons such as the Prime Minister of the day

Sir Robert Peel Sir Robert Peel, 2nd Baronet, (5 February 1788 – 2 July 1850) was a British Conservative statesman who served twice as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1834–1835 and 1841–1846) simultaneously serving as Chancellor of the Exchequer ...

, the

Bishop of Chester The Bishop of Chester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Chester in the Province of York. The diocese extends across most of the historic county boundaries of Cheshire, including the Wirral Peninsula and has its see in the C ...

, the Earls of Balcarres,

Burlington Burlington may refer to: Places Canada Geography * Burlington, Newfoundland and Labrador * Burlington, Nova Scotia * Burlington, Ontario, the most populous city with the name "Burlington" * Burlington, Prince Edward Island * Burlington Bay, no ...

, and

Derby Derby ( ) is a city and unitary authority area in Derbyshire, England. It lies on the banks of the River Derwent in the south of Derbyshire, which is in the East Midlands Region. It was traditionally the county town of Derbyshire. Derby gai ...

, Lord Stanley of Bickerstaffe, Lord Francis Egerton, as well as several other peers and MPs who became members. Many distinguished historians and scholars have been involved in the life of the society, including

John Eglington Bailey John Eglington Bailey (1840–1888) was an English antiquary, Secretary of the Chetham Society and Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries. Life Born at Edgbaston, Birmingham, on 13 February 1840, he was the son of Charles Bailey, by his wife Ma ...

, Prof. Christopher Robert Cheney,

John Parsons Earwaker John Parsons Earwaker (1847–1895) was an English antiquary. Life The son of John Earwaker, he was born at Cheetham Hill, Manchester, on 22 April 1847; his father was a merchant from Hampshire, and a close friend of Richard Cobden. Educated at ...

Edward Hawkins Edward Hawkins (27 February 1789 – 18 November 1882) was an English churchman and academic, a long-serving Provost of Oriel College, Oxford known as a committed opponent of the Oxford Movement from its beginnings in his college. Life He was bor ...

, Sir Henry Hoyle Howorth,

George Ormerod George Ormerod (20 October 1785 – 9 October 1873) was an English antiquary and historian. Among his writings was a major county history of Cheshire, in North West England. Biography George Ormerod was born in Manchester and educated first ...

, Prof. Sir Frederick Maurice Powicke,

William Stubbs William Stubbs (21 June 182522 April 1901) was an English historian and Anglican bishop. He was Regius Professor of Modern History at the University of Oxford between 1866 and 1884. He was Bishop of Chester from 1884 to 1889 and Bishop of O ...

, Prof. Thomas Frederick Tout, Prof. John Michael Wallace-Hadrill, and Joseph Brooks Yates, amongst many others.

Membership

Membership of the Chetham Society is open to all individuals and institutions interested in the various historical and literary aspects of Lancashire and Cheshire.

Publications

Since 1843, the Society has published nearly 280 volumes in three series, supplying a regular output of valuable works of scholarship relating to the study of the history of

North-West England North West England is one of nine official regions of England and consists of the ceremonial counties of England, administrative counties of Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside. The North West had a population of ...

. Old Series (1843–93) The Old Series (O.S.) ran from 1843 until 1893 (totalling 116 volumes). Publications included ''Pott's Discovery of Witches'', ''Civil War Tracts'', and various diaries, journals, autobiographies, correspondence, heralds' visitations, family deeds, papers, letters, and accounts, school registers and records, wills, and ecclesiastical and parish histories. New Series (1883–1947) The New Series (N.S.) commenced in 1883 and ended in 1947 (totalling 110 volumes). Publications covered a diversity of areas and topics, including charters, cartularies, rolls, rentals, surveys, autobiographical writings, biographies, genealogies, and various parish, town, and local histories. Third Series (1948–present) The Third Series (T.S.) began in 1948 (volume 53 was published in 2019). In recent years (particularly since the inauguration of the Third Series), the society's focus has tended to move away from its traditional role of publishing original primary texts towards publishing scholarly secondary analyses. Recent volumes have included: * * * * * * * * *

Officers

Presidents

Vice-Presidents

General Editors

Secretaries

Treasurers

References

Citations

Bibliography

* *

External links

Chetham Society WebsiteArchives Hub: Chetham Society ArchiveChetham's LibraryRoyal Historical Society: List of Chetham Society Publications
{{Authority control Organisations based in Manchester Charities based in Manchester Historical societies of the United Kingdom Text publication societies 1843 establishments in England 1843 establishments in the United Kingdom Organizations established in 1843 History organisations based in the United Kingdom Heritage organisations in England Regional and local learned societies of the United Kingdom History of literature in England History of Lancashire History of Cheshire Culture in Lancashire Culture in Cheshire