REPORT OF THE COUNCIL.

It is a source of gratification to the Council of the Lancashire and Cheshire Antiquarian Society that they have again, in presenting an account of their stewardship, to record the continued progress, increased activity, and satisfactory position of the association. In presenting their fourth Annual Report, the Council feel that the work already done has fully realised the anticipations of the founders, and warrants the warmest hopes for the future usefulness of the Society.

The roll of the Society shows that there are now five Honorary, forty-five Life, and two hundred and fifty two Ordinary Members, making a total of three hundred and two.

Five of the original members have been removed by death: Sir Humphrey de Trafford, Bart., Alderman Sir Thomas Baker, Colonel T. U. Brocklehurst, Edward Kirk, and William Hartley.

Sir Humphrey de Trafford, Bart., who died May, 1886, was the representative of one of the oldest families in England. Although in his later years he took little part in public life, he had a keen interest in archæological pursuits, and the muniments of his family were preserved with religious care. Many of these interesting relics were exhibited to members of the Council by the late baronet; and whilst expressing their regret at his death, they venture to hope that the Trafford deeds and the matchless series of seals will be fully calendared and described in a form that will be accessible to antiquaries.

Sir Thomas Baker, Knt., who died 17th April, 1886, although a native of Birmingham, had for many years been closely identified with the city of Manchester, of which he was mayor in 1880 and 1881. As chairman of the Public Libraries Committee, he rendered

good service to the community. His extensive knowledge of local history and genealogy is shown in his Memorials of a Dissenting Chapel.

Mr. Edward Kirk, who died 28th March, 1886, was a native of Goosnargh, and had an unrivalled acquaintance with the folk-lore, dialect, and customs of North Lancashire. His papers in periodicals show great research, and it is to be hoped that the more important may be gathered into permanent form.

Mr. William Hartley, who died in September, 1886, afforded a remarkable instance of the successful pursuit of knowledge under difficulties. The son of a farmer, he abandoned the trade of handloom weaver for that of mechanic, and by study and industry became a mechanical engineer, distinguished for the variety and importance of his inventions. He collected a valuable library, was a skilful amateur artist, and took a warm interest in the prosperity of this Society.

Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Unett Brocklehurst was well known for his public services in Macclesfield. He was the author of a volume on Mexico, and had a large collection of Mexican antiquities, which were shown to the members of this Society at their visit in 1884. He died in August, 1886.

Of the summer meetings the first place must be given to the three days' visit to Ripon and the district. By the exertions of the Local Committee every facility was given to the visitors, and the gathering was highly successful.

Other important meetings were held at Agden Hall, Marple, Bolton, and Flixton. At each the members were hospitably entertained; at the first by Charles Lister, Esq., J.P.; at Marple by J. Bradshaw Isherwood, Esq.; at Bolton by the Local Committee; and at Flixton by Mr. and Mrs. Reede.

Well-attended meetings were held at Stockport, Wythenshawe Hall, The Bow Stones, Disley, Rochdale.

At the Owens College an interesting meeting was held, and an important and instructive collection of Australian stone and other implements was exhibited by members and friends.

Evening meetings have also been held at Clegg Hall, Belfield Hall, and Newbold Hall, Flixton, Bull Hill, Irlam Hall, and Queen's Park Museum.

The winter meetings held in the reading room of Chetham's

Library were well attended, and the numerous papers and the discussions by which they have been followed show that the interest has been sustained and, in fact, increased.

The following is a list of the papers, short communications, and addresses :-

1886.

Jan. 15.-W. O. Roper. The Premonstratensian Abbey of Cockersand.

,, 15.-William Harrison. The Development of the Turnpike System in Lancashire and Cheshire.

,, 15.-George Esdaile. The Orientation of Churches in England with special reference to those in Lancashire and Cheshire. Feb. 5.-Robert Langton. Notes on Church Restoration.

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5.-S. E. Haworth.

and Cheshire.

Dedications of Ancient Churches in Lancashire

5.-Dr. H. Colley March. Remarks on the Futhorc Tir, and a new theory of the Fylfot,

Mar. 5.-R. D. Darbishire, F.S.A. Exhibition and description of a series of Photographs of Roman Remains at Nimes and Arles.

5.-Charles Collmann. On one of the Earliest Lists of Printed Books. 5.-C. T. Tallent-Bateman. The Ancient Lancashire and Cheshire Local Courts of Justice.

April 2.-J. P. Earwaker, F.S.A. The Agecroft Charters and Deeds. 2.-Dr. Renaud, F.S.A. An Early Fourteenth Century Floor in Prior Crawden's Chapel at Ely.

2.-Major-General C. H. Owen. Wycoller Hall.

16.-William E. A. Axon. The First Book Printed in Manchester.
16.-Nathan Heywood. The Early Coinage of Henry Plantagenet.
16.-W. S. Churchill. Groups of Coins with a History.

16.-John Hirst. Exhibition and description of Specimens of MSS. of
Eighteenth, Sixteenth, and Fifteenth Centuries, produced by
Stencil Work.

May 13.-G. C. Yates. Clegg Hall.

,, 13.-George Esdaile. Belfield Hall.

22.-J. Eglington Bailey, F.S.A. St. Werburgh.
22.-George Esdaile. Warburtons of Warburton.

Agden Hall.

,, 27.—Henry Heginbotham, J.P. The History of Stockport. June 5.-J. Holme Nicholson, M.A. Wythenshawe Hall.

5.-J. Eglington Bailey. Richard Martinscrofte.

,,5.-George Esdaile. Baguley Hall.

,, 17.-J. Eglington Bailey. The Scene of the Vicar of Wakefield. ,, 17.-J. Wood. Coxwold Church.

18.-H. A. Rye. Helmsley Church and Castle, and Rievaulx Abbey. 18.-J. Eglington Bailey. The Wards of Newby (a paper prepared by a lady member of a religious community).

June 19.-Rev. J. S. Tute, M.A. ,, 19.-Rev. G. W. W. Minns. ,, 26.-J. Eglington Bailey.

Fountains Abbey.

Acoustic Pottery.
Marple Hall and the Bradshaws.
July 2.- Professor Leech, M.D. Flixton and its Church.
2.-John Noton. The Site of the Battle of Brunanburh.

21. Rev. E. J. Bell., M.A. Gothic Architecture.

Sep. 20.-W. Wareing Faulder. Queen's Park Museum.

8.-Prof. W. Boyd Dawkins, F.R.S. The Art of the Runic Crosses. 8.-W. E. A. Axon. The Significance of the Kufic coins found at Cuerdale. 8.-James Croston, F.S.A. The Baguley Hall Warrior.

9.-J. C. Scholes. Bolton Church.

9.-J. Gilbert French. Bolton Grammar School.

9.-Thomas Holden. The Great Bowyer Bible.

Nov. 2.-Rev. G. F. Browne, B.D.

Lancashire.

Pre-Norman Sculptured Stones in

5. Rev. E. F. Letts, M.A. The Misereres or Subcellæ of the Choir Stalls in the Manchester Cathedral.

5.-W. Thompson Watkin. Recent Discoveries of Roman Remains at

Chester.

5.-Thomas Oxley. Stone and Bone Esquimaux Implements.

5.-Nathan Heywood. The Saxon Crosses and other Sepulchral Monuments at Ilkley.

20.-R. D. Darbishire, F.S.A. Australian Stone Implements.

Dec. 3.-S. E. Haworth. Dedications of Ancient Churches in Lancashire

and Cheshire.

3.-Albert Nicholson. A Note on Mottram Church.
3.-George Esdaile. The Domesday Book of Chester.

3.-Monsignor Gradwell. Woden's Ford.

A Supposed Roman Road at Lower Broughton.
Roman Coins found at Aston.

3.-Wm. E. A. Axon.
3.-W. Thompson Watkin.
3.-William E. A. Axon.

Who was Mrs. Joyce Lewes, of Manchester?

The Winter Conversazione was held on 2nd November, in the Mayor's Parlour, at the Manchester Town Hall, which, by the courtesy of the Mayor, was placed at the disposal of the Society. The Rev. G. F. Browne, B.D., of Cambridge, delivered an address on the Pre-Norman Sculptured Stones in Lancashire.

Many archæological objects were exhibited at the Conversazione, as well as at the ordinary meetings. These will be recorded in the annual volume.

The Treasurer's statement shows that the balance in 'hand is 171. Is. 2d., and in addition to which the Society possesses £100 invested in the Manchester Corporation Stock, making a total of £271. IS. 2d.

The best thanks of the Society are due to the Feoffees of Chetham's Hospital, for their great kindness in granting the use of the reading room for the winter meetings.

The year now concluded is memorable in English archæology as that of the commemoration of Domesday. At the gathering held last October in London, the Society was represented by Mr. George Esdaile.

To Mr. George Esdaile the Society is also indebted for his superintendence of a careful excavation of the site of the old Free Library in Byrom Street. The building was erected about 1840 as a Hall of Science, and several Roman relics were then found. The result of Mr. Esdaile's work is to show that the exploration was then done thoroughly, and that no more remains of the Roman period are to be found there.

The Council have again to thank Mr. C. W. Sutton for his efficient services as editor of the Society's annual volume of Transactions.

In conclusion, the Council would urge upon each member the individual duty of contributing to the success of the Society. The field of investigation is so wide and varied that it is only by the willing and hearty co-operation of all that permanent and substantial results can be attained.