Lancaster Archaeological and Multum in parvo Historical Society http://lahs.archaeologyuk.org/ Research Group Newsletter orem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipisci No. 2: August 2020 Welcome to the Research Group e-newsletter We received encouraging feedback from Society amount of research now being conducted online, members following the first issue of the e-newsletter news that the National Archives are allowing people in May 2020 which was much appreciated. The e- to download their digital resources free during the newsletter is open to all Society members and guest pandemic has been very welcome. If you have a authors should they be interested in publishing a brief Lancashire County Library ticket it is possible to letter, or a short article of 500-750 words on an access information online such as the Oxford archaeological or historical subject related to Dictionary of National Biography and several local Lancaster and surrounding areas. Longer articles are papers from the nineteenth century (with thanks to Dr published in Contrebis Michael Winstanley). As lockdown restrictions begin to ease, do not delay in taking advantage when The last five months have been a difficult time for research facilities re-open because with social researchers with the Covid-19 lockdown making distancing measures still in force, there are likely to face-to-face meetings impossible; archive, museum be appointment systems or time-limited visits and library services closed, and employees in many introduced. organisations working from home. Research can be a lonely occupation at the best of times so the surge in If you would like to join the Research Group or online virtual meetings has offered some welcome contribute to the e-newsletter, contact details are relief from social isolation. With an increasing provided at the end of the e-newsletter. NEWS UPDATE Archives: https://www.cumbria.gov.uk/libraries- archives/covid19.asp REGIONAL ARCHIVE SERVICES UPDATE Information correct at 9th August 2020 Lancashire Archives: Currently closed to visitors with no dates announced Cumbria Archive service: for re-opening. Since 1st July a full copying and Currently still closed but plans are being made for remote enquiry service has been available. For the staff to return to the archive centres during the latest news about Lancashire Archives see: summer with re-opening to the public on a limited https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/coronavirus- basis later in the year (no dates announced so far). updates/libraries-archives-and-museums/ Here is the link to latest news about Cumbria 1 Cheshire Archives and Local Studies: Lancaster Gas Company and Galgate Silk Mill. The From Tuesday 28th July they will be open on an collection has been utilised by some members of the appointment-only basis on Tuesdays and Fridays. Society; however, there is scope for further Their copying and research service is available for exploration of the collection, as much of the material those wishing not to travel to the record office. has yet to be fully researched. Further details relating Further details on this and the procedures for visiting to this collection can be accessed at this link on the the archives service are at this link: Lancashire Archives’ catalogue LANCAT: https://www.cheshirearchives.org.uk/visiting- https://archivecat.lancashire.gov.uk/calmview/Record us/visiting-us.aspx .aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=DDX+2743 Darren N. Webster, Archivist Greater Manchester area: This consists of archive services in: Bury (hoping to RESEARCH GROUP WEBPAGE re-open towards the end of August by appointment The Research Group now has its own webpage on the only), Oldham (still closed but when they re-open it Society’s website at http://lahs.archaeologyuk.org will be limited and appointment only), Salford (open by appointment only, however not all items are MEMBERS’ RESEARCH PROJECTS viewable), Stockport (closed until further notice), TITHE SCHEDULES Trafford (open 10am-4pm from August 3rd), Elizabeth Dalton of Thurnham Hall Tameside (closed until further notice) and Wigan My study of the tithe schedules for the years 1835 to (open Thursday-Saturday 10am-4pm from August 1845 shows that there were several female 13th). landowners in this area with large estates and responsibilities for many tenants.1 Land usage is Manchester Archives: – currently closed until further listed as accommodation, farming and woodland, notice. which required management and brought in rental Liverpool Archives: – currently open 10am-3pm on income. Although it was often thought by historians weekdays on an appointment only basis. that land ownership generally passed to the male Derbyshire Record Office: – currently open Tuesday- members of a family or to a lady’s husband when she Friday on an appointment only basis. married, recent studies estimate that over ten per cent Darren N. Webster, Archivist of land in Britain in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries was owned by female landowners, possibly LANCASTER LIBRARY COLLECTION as much as three million acres in England and six DDX 2743 is a large collection that has been million in Great Britain as a whole.2 deposited at Lancashire Archives relating to Elizabeth Dalton of Thurnham was a good example Lancaster and the surrounding areas. The collection of a female landowner. Her father, John Dalton, died was compiled by Lancaster Library and consists of a without issue in 1837 and his will settled the estate of wide variety of archival material from the period Thurnham and the surrounding lands on his daughter, c.1300 to 2001 and classed as a synthetic archive. Elizabeth, who was lady of the manor for 24 years The original order of the collection has been and lived in Thurnham Hall until her death. The maintained following transfer to the record office, family were staunch Catholics and her father left the with nearly 10,000 items such as letters, legal estate to her in preference to a half-brother’s family documents, church records, photographs, charity who were Protestant. Elizabeth never married and records, business records, family papers, and possibly helped to care for her elderly father. financial records. The collection has a large amount Spinsters were often considered too old for anyone to of photographic material of nearly 1,000 items want to marry and looked down on but she may have relating to Lancaster and the surrounding area. chosen to remain single for religious reasons or was Notable individuals in the collection include Richard simply unable to find a suitable husband since Owen, Sarah Whittaker, Martha Sharpe, Laurence women outnumbered men in the population as a Binyon and the Reverend John Lingard. There are whole at that time. Elizabeth was a remarkable also records relating to local businesses and woman of ‘stern will and great piety’, according to a companies such as the Lancaster and Carlisle writer of the family history.3 Not only did Elizabeth Railway, Lancaster Corporation, T D Smiths Ltd, build the private chapel in the Hall, she also paid for 2 much of the present Thurnham Roman Catholic Church in 1848 replacing an earlier chapel on the site. Elizabeth’s father left £100 in his will towards a fund for building a new church. However, further funds were not readily forthcoming and ten years later only £1,000 had been donated, so Elizabeth paid the balance. The church was completed in August 1848 at a cost of £5,000 and was aptly dedicated to St. Thomas More and St. Elizabeth of Hungary, the princess who spent her life in penance and self- denial.4 Elizabeth occupied her own private gallery in the church complete with fireplace. A screen, which is still in place, was erected to protect her from the gaze of tenant farmers who occupied the east gallery. Plate 1 showing the scale of the weir wall collapse The domestic staff and others would worship in the main body of the church. Two Research Group members met Mark on site and Elizabeth died in 1861 and was buried in Cockersand made a photographic record of the damaged weir wall Abbey. Her funeral procession along the coast was revealing its inner construction. This is the Society’s accompanied by a man on horseback for every year first active involvement with rescue archaeology! of her life.5 Apart from four articles published in Contrebis1 and a Elizabeth Field 2 book on Halton’s industrial past , there is surprisingly References little written about the village, mill and weir at Lower 1. Tithe schedules held at Lancashire Archives in Halton. The Research Group has decided to conduct Preston. Thurnham (1843) and Scotforth (1841) its own research under the direction of Gail Capstick on the social history aspects of the village community, 2. McDonagh B 2019 Elite Women and the and the mill and weir design and construction. Agricultural Landscape, 1700-1830, London: Routledge 3. https://daltonhistory.org/Chronicles/ThurnhamHal l.htm 4. https://daltonhistory.org/Chronicles/ThurnhamHal l.htm 5. http://www.mmtrust.org.uk/mausolea/view/102/D altonMausoleum THE VILLAGE, MILL AND WEIR AT LOWER HALTON Halton resident Mark Stevenson alerted the Society to exposure of the partial collapse of the weir wall at Lower Halton in May 2020 due to the exceptionally Plate 2 showing the weir wall collapse low water level of the river Lune (Plates 1, 2 and 3). 3 Renewal of the mains gas supply in Haverbreaks in the early part of 2020 was followed by the replacement of electrical junction boxes with manholes, resulting in three electrical cabinets becoming redundant. The condition of one of the unrestored cabinets is shown in Plate 1, and in Plates 2 and 3, the cabinet restored by John. Plate 3 showing a cross section of the weir wall The Group’s objective is to publish an article in Contrebis, and possibly a monograph, which will include the wider subjects of economic, political and religious history including the impact transport, housing and leisure had on the community.