already noted, one of the Langleys held the important office of Warden of Manchester in the fifteenth century, and they took high rank among the families of South Lancashire.

I am glad to be able to announce that Mr. Dauntesey has desired me to make translations and abstracts of all these Agecroft deeds and charters, and has decided to have them printed under my editorship, so as to place them on permanent record. In the introduction to this volume, a full account of Agecroft Hall and of its owners, the Prestwiches, the Langleys, and the Daunteseys will be given, and it will be illustrated by facsimiles of some of the most important of the deeds, views of the hall, sketches of the various details, old portraits, shields of arms, &c., &c. The pedigrees of the Prestwiches, the Langleys, and the Daunteseys will be very carefully worked out; and although the volume will be practically a privately printed one, there will be a few copies for sale, and copies will also be placed in the Manchester and other public libraries. This book will, I hope, be ready by the end of next year (1887), and I trust it may be the precursor of many similar volumes, as there can be no doubt there are many Lancashire and Cheshire families, who are the fortunate possessors of collections of old deeds and papers, fully as interesting, and as important for family and local history, as the one here described. When these are calendared and printed, a mass of information, now entirely unknown, will be made available for historical purposes, and who can venture to say what interesting facts may not be thus brought to light?

PROCEEDINGS.

THE

Friday, January 8th, 1886.

ANNUAL MEETING.

HE third Annual Meeting of the Society was held in the Reading Room at the Chetham Hospital, under the presidency of Mr. William E. A. Axon.

Mr. George C. Yates, Honorary Secretary, read the Annual Report of the Council and the Treasurer's Statement of Accounts.

On the motion of Mr. Edward Kirk, seconded by Mr. Herbert Sherriff, the Report and Financial Statement were adopted.

The Chairman said the next matter was the appointment of officers of the Society for the coming year. The only gentleman nominated for the post of president was the Earl of Crawford and Balcarres, who was therefore elected. He congratulated the members upon their new President. He was a gentleman who united great archæological and scientific knowledge, and belonged to a race in which talent had been hereditary for many generations. One of the most charming genealogical books in the English language was written by the present earl's father, he meant The Lives of the Lindsays. The family to which their new President

belonged had given warriors to the field, statesmen to the council, and in these later days men of the highest distinction in science and literature.

A ballot for the new council of fifteen ordinary members was taken, and the list of Council was finally made up as follows:

President:

The Right Hon. the EARL OF CRAWFORD AND BALCARRES, F.R.S., F.S.A.

Vice-Presidents:

The Right Hon. the LORD EGERTON OF TATTON, F.S.A.
Sir THOMAS BAKER.

Professor W. BOYD DAWKINS, F.R.S., F.S.A.
J. G. GREENWOOD, LL.D.

GEORGE C. Yates, F.S.A., Swinton, Manchester.

The Chairman offered to the members his sincere and hearty congratulations on the progress which the Society had made since its establishment. He thought those of them who had had experience of the history of societies would agree that the progress, both in the increasing number of members and in the extent and quality of the work done by this Society, had been of an exceedingly gratifying kind, and one that had not been surpassed in the history of similar associations. That was very gratifying, because it might have been thought that Manchester was not the most suitable or congenial atmosphere for an association of archæologists. We must not forget that this was a county association; indeed the title showed that they were a Society of two

It was

counties, namely, of Lancashire and Cheshire. universally acknowledged that there had always been about Cheshire a vast amount of antiquarian interest. A great deal had been done in relation to the history and archæology of Cheshire, and it was certainly gratifying to us to remember that the two historians of that county were Manchester men, namely, Mr. George Ormerod, whose work was a classic of its kind, and Mr. Earwaker, the historian of East Cheshire, who had thrown a flood of new light upon certain points in the history of that county. Therefore something had been done to elucidate the history of archæology of Cheshire. With respect to Lancashire, its interest, certainly to the majority of people, was not chiefly archæological. Many persons got their ideas of Lancashire, he was afraid, either from what they saw from the window of a railway train as they entered one of the stations in Manchester, or a mere casual survey of some unpleasant district such as Ancoats. Those of us who are Lancashire born and have a local patriotism know that the real Lancashire is a very different thing from that. Whilst there is a smoky Lancashire, with its workshops, forges, and factors, there is also another Lancashire of hills and fells and ancient castles and halls. Without any wish to disparage the great work which had been accomplished by Lancashire antiquaries in the past, it was still true that much more remained to be done, and there was a fair chance of distinction for anyone who took up the work with earnestness and sincerity. Referring to the cotton trade of Lancashire, he said that its past history had yet to be written.

Friday, January 15th, 1886.

Meeting at Chetham's Library, Mr. J. Holme Nicholson in the chair.

A paper on "The Premonstratensian Abbey of Cockersand," by Mr. W. O. Roper, was read by Mr. Yates, Hon. Secretary (see p. 26). Mr. Roper offered to pay the expense

which would be incurred if the Society could obtain permission for the site of the ancient building to be excavated. The proposed excavation of the ruins and Mr. Roper's offer were referred for consideration to the Council.

Mr. W. Harrison read a paper on "The Development of the Turnpike System in Lancashire and Cheshire (see p. 80). Mr. George Esdaile read a paper on "The Orientation of Churches in England, with special reference to those in the counties of Lancashire and Yorkshire."

Mr. R. Langton exhibited a mass of silver pennies of Edwards II. and III., found at Strait-Bargate, Boston, Lincolnshire.

Mr. G. Esdaile exhibited a supposed portrait of Sir Thomas Lowe, Lord Mayor of London, 1604; and a small gold gorget clasp, found at Westbury, Wilts, in August, 1885. Mr. G. C. Yates exhibited some leaden tokens and abbey pieces of the sixteenth century.

James Duncan, M.B., Ashton-under-Lyne, was elected a member.

Friday, February 5th, 1886.

Meeting held in the Schoolroom at Chetham's Hospital, Mr. C. W. Sutton in the chair.

Mr. R. Langton read "Some Notes on Church Restoration" (see p. 50).

Mr. S. E. Haworth read a paper on "Dedications of Ancient Churches in Lancashire and Cheshire."

Dr. H. Colley March read "Remarks on the Futhorc Tir, a new theory of the Fylfot," illustrated with a series of large diagrams (see p. 1).

Mr. G. C. Yates exhibited a collection of pamphlets and engravings relating to Peterloo.

Mr. G. Esdaile and Mr. C. W. Sutton exhibited interesting local works; the former showing some MS. sermons by the Rev. M. Olerenshaw, minister of Mellor, circa 1773-1800.

New members elected: William Turner and J. P. Pattinson, B.A.