The Record Society of Lancashire and Cheshire 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 ...

that publishes historical documents relating to the traditional counties of

Lancashire Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated Lancs) is the name of a historic county, ceremonial county, and non-metropolitan county in North West England. The boundaries of these three areas differ significantly. The non-metropolitan county of Lancashi ...

and

Cheshire Cheshire ( ) is a ceremonial and historic county in North West England, bordered by Wales to the west, Merseyside and Greater Manchester to the north, Derbyshire to the east, and Staffordshire and Shropshire to the south. Cheshire's county t ...

. It became a registered charity (No. 500434) for public education in the history of the two counties in 1970.

History

The society was founded in 1878, when one of the region's foremost historians,

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 ...

, suggested to his colleagues in the

Chetham Society 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 and registered charity (No. 700047) established on 23 March 1843. History Th ...

that they should form another organisation to foster their common interest in local history. Earwaker served as the society's founding Secretary (until his death in 1895) although, towards the end of his life, his other commitments led to delays in the society's planned publications. The bibliophile James Crossley, President of the

, was the founding President, and another prominent early member (and later Vice-President) was William Ecroyd Farrer.

Publications

Publication started with ''Lancashire and Cheshire Church Surveys 1649–1655'', edited by

Henry Fishwick Lieutenant colonel, Lt-Col Henry Fishwick (9 March 1835 – 23 September 1914) was a British soldier, politician and antiquary.''Henry Fishwick'', ''Manchester City News'', 26 September 1914 After a military career, he became a Liberal Party Co ...

(1879). Earwaker soon gained permission to publish lists of wills that had been proved in

Chester Chester is a cathedral city and the county town of Cheshire, England. It is located on the River Dee, close to the English–Welsh border. With a population of 79,645 in 2011,"2011 Census results: People and Population Profile: Chester Loca ...

, which was "hailed as a coup";

G. E. Cokayne George Edward Cokayne, (29 April 1825 – 6 August 1911), was an English genealogist and long-serving herald at the College of Arms in London, who eventually rose to the rank of Clarenceux King of Arms. He wrote such authoritative and standar ...

Lancaster Herald Lancaster Herald of Arms in Ordinary is an English officer of arms at the College of Arms in London. The title of Lancaster Herald first occurs in 1347 at Calais, and to begin with this officer was a servant to the noble house of Lancaster. As a ...

, wrote to congratulate Earwaker, stating that "I do not think there is any work that has been at any time, or that could be now, more useful." The index ran to seven volumes (covering 1545–1760); according to Earwaker's obituary, "their value to students of local history is incalculable". Other important documents that have been published by the society include part of '' De laude Cestrie'', edited by Margerie Venables Taylor, one of the earliest examples of prose writing concerning an English urban centre. Many of the early volumes have been digitised by the

Internet Archive The Internet Archive is an American digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It provides free public access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, software applications/games, music, ...

. The society has published more than 150 volumes (2019), an up-to-date list of which is maintained by the

Royal Historical Society The Royal Historical Society, founded in 1868, is a learned society of the United Kingdom which advances scholarly studies of history. Origins The society was founded and received its royal charter in 1868. Until 1872 it was known as the Histori ...

. The most recent volumes are ''The Diaries of William Lloyd Holden, 1829 and 1830'', edited by Jonathan Pepler (2019), ''The Cheshire Motor Vehicle Registrations,'' edited by Craig Horner (2019) and ''The First Minute Book of the Liverpool Athenaeum, 1797-1809,'' edited by David Brazendale and Mark Towsey (2020). When the society published a volume of early Cheshire charters (1958) in honour of its long-serving President, William Fergusson Irvine, a local newspaper described the book as "beautifully printed and illustrated...well worthy of the distinguished scholar in whose honour it had been produced". Recent reviews of the society's volumes have described them as "invaluable for anyone interested in the history of this area", and pointed out that they are "well edited" and the documents "thoroughly explained". One review (2013) observed that by bringing to public attention documents that are an "under used resource", the society's publications could allow "insights into parish and community life rarely available in other sources".

Membership

Membership is open to all individuals and societies who are interested in the various historical aspects of the two counties Palatine.

Officers

Presidents

Vice-Presidents

Secretaries

Treasurers

Editors

External links

Official website

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:List Of Historical Societies 1878 establishments in England Regional and local learned societies of the United Kingdom History organisations based in the United Kingdom Historical societies of the United Kingdom Organizations established in 1878