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SATURDAY, JANUARY 23, 1886.

Notes.

RECOLLECTIONS OF STOCKPORT SIXTY YEARS AGO.

1.

Early in the year 1823 a serious riot took place in Adlington square, Stockport. The Hibernian fraternity had then gained a strong settlement in this locality, the only one of any note which then existed in Stockport. At this time a notorious publichouse stood at the bottom of the square, partly on the site of the premises occupied by the late Mr Swann, furniture broker. This house came much nearer Chestergate, being in line with the shops still standing in Underbank. It was called "The Briton's Protection," and had a swing sign over the door, on one side of which was painted the representation of a sailor, on the other that of a soldier. This house of ill-fame, for it was little better, had been the rendezvous of the soldiers billeted at the barracks adjoining, and a number of fallen women, and many dark deeds were reported as having been committed in this den of infamy; amongst them the following: A Cheshire farmer had been to the Stockport market to sell his produce. Having done so, and whilst in the act of returning home, he was enticed to enter this den of rogues and thieves. He was made drunk, and whilst in that state he was robbed of his money and afterwards cast into the Tin Brook. The brook being flooded at the time, his body was carried into the river Mersey, and was never again recovered.

On the afternoon preceding the riot & number of Englishmen and Irishmen had been drinking in this public, a quarrel took place, anda fight followed, the combatants being an Englishman and an Irishman. The Irishman was getting the worst of the fight, when his countrymen sallied out to summon reinforcements from the neighbourhood. These arrived, and the other party also having received additional aid, a general fight took place, which lasted during the greater portion of the night. The Irish party showed much tact in this affray. A brick wall then stood round the corner at the top of the square. The Irish pulled this wall down, and got missiles out of the debris to hurl at their assailants. A number of Irish got on the roofs of the houses, and hurled brickbats indiscriminately on the people below. At last, after a desperate encounter, the

Irish were overpowered, and order was again restored, the sequel being a number of broken heads and limbs.

I went to view the scene of the battle the following day, and found the effects of the fight visible in all directions, the greatest damage being done to the windows and window-shutters. The "Briton's Protection" got more than its share of demolition; there was scarcely a whole pane of glass to be seen in any of the windows. The swing sign with the soldier and sailor was entirely demolished.

During the month of June in that year a great mortality took place amongst the children of Stockport, 110 being buried in the parish churchyard alone during that short period. There were then many other graveyards in use in the town, viz., St. Peter's, Tabernacle Chapel, the Society of Friends, Mount Tabor Chapel, the Unitarian Chapel off High-street, and Hanover Chapel, Heaton Norriswhich was then one of the most fashionable (if I may be allowed to use that word) places of worship in the town, whilst under the pastorate of the Rev. N. K. Pugsley, a very popular divine. Taking these other places of interment and the much smaller population of Stockport into consideration, we must admit that the mortality was very great.

It was in this year, too, that the fine organ in St. Mary's Church was opened. This instrument was built by Mr Wren, of Manchester, and was then considered by many musicians to be the finest instrument to be found between here and the city of York.

At that time there were no denominational Sunday schools built for that purpose in Sockport, excepting the Stockport Sunday School and a few of its auxiliaries. The Church, Wesleyan, Primitive Methodist, and the Mount Tabor people had their Sunday schools in old disused silk mills. It was in 1823 that a subscription was started towards erecting that noble building, the National unday School, which was opened three years later, aud now is one of the ornaments to Wellington-road South.

This year was also made memorable in Stockport by the arrival of Lieutenant Back (the Arctic explorer) in his native town, after being away many years in the Polar regions. A grand banquet took place at which the elite of the town attended to do him honour. The gallant

Captain Humphrey, who also had done his country good services as a naval commander, was chairman on the occasion. At this banquet Lieutenant George Back sat between his aged father and Captain Humphrey, and it must have been very gratifying to both father and son to listen to the eulogistic speeches made, and no doubt it would be an incentive to spur young Back on to try to achieve still more by acts of bravery and hardi. hood. Be this as it may, his future exploits gained for him the approbation and esteem of his Sovereign and countrymen. His name has a honourable place in our histories, and the exploits of Sir George Back, R.N., will be eagerly read by genera. tions yet unborn.

On the 8th of October in this year, gas lamps were first introduced in the Market-place and our principal streets. Prior to this era, the artificial light exhibited in our streets emanated from a few flickering oil lamps. Lanterns were then very useful articles, and there were very few families but what had one or more of them. It was no un. com.non sight to see parties going to and from their work in groups, the foremost person carrying the lantern. At this time the Stockport Advertiser was in its infancy, being only one year old. Although so young it had began to make itself heard in the tow nand neighbourhood. I was much edified the other day by reading a letter of a correspondent, which appeared in one of the Advertisers of the year 1823. The writer of this letter, who must have been a long resident in Stockport, complains that. there is no suitable place in the town where the in habitants can hold a public meeting. He mentions about the mayor, the gentlemen of the town, and officials, having met to transact their business in the dark gloomy place at the top of the Meal House-brow, viz., the cellar adjoining the old dungeon, now used by Mr Parkes as a storage for his goods. He also bewails about them having to hold their meetings in the cobweb'd, tumble down Meal House. I can speak personally of the unfitness of the last mentioned place for such purposes, having been in on several occasions.

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dancing school. There were two approaches to it: Going from the market we had to pass through a narrow passage, then turn to the right hand, cross the Angel-yard, pass through an entry, then we were near the entrance to the room. The other

approach was from the Underbank. We went up the Cobourg-steps, which led into the Angel-yard. These steps, after being closed to the public for many years, are again now opened. The Welling. ton Club, which was composed of gentlemen hold. ing extreme views in politics, met at Bulkeley Arms Inn, now the hotel of the same name. The Philanthropic Society was formed of gentlemen with generous hearts, whose pleasure it was to relieve their less favoured brethren in their distresses. This society also held their meetings at the Warren Bulkeley Arms.

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THE WELLES FAMILY OF SANDBACH.

Seeing a query in your columns respecting the above-named family I send you the following, taken some years ago from a Lancashire paper, and contributed by Mr J. P. Earwaker. He says:

On a mural tablet, now hidden by the organ, in Wigan Church, is the following inscription, for a careful copy of which I am indebted to the Rev. A. E. P. Gray, late curate of Wigan, now vicar of Poynton [recently preferred to the rectory of Wallasey], in Cheshire, who transcribed it before the organ was put up:— On a shield of arms, a lion rampant. (No colours given.) To the Pious Memory

of RICHARD WELLES late of Wigan Gent
and ELLEN his beloved Wife

He ye Son of FR. WELLES of Sandbach in Cheshire
Gent

She ye Daughr of ROBT. LEATHERBARROW Alderman of Wigan

They were both shining Examples

of Piety Charity & Hospitality

Nor were they less remarkable for Conjugal Affection and mutual compliances

His Will was hers; & her Will was His.
Thus they joined in giving Organs & Ornamts. to this
Church

Beside Thirteen Hundred Pounds
To other Publick Pious Uses.

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This Monument of Her sincere Love and Respect was given by MRS BOWYER Sister to MRS WELLES Who gave Her House in Millgate To the Head School master of Wigan & was interr'd here Sept. 1717.

Kichard Welles, commemorated in the above inscription, was the second son of Francis Welles, of Sind bach. co. Chester, gent., and was baptised at Sandbach 20 July, 1664. His elder brother, Thomas Welles, was rector of Mucclestone, co. stafford, and vicar of Sandbach, where he died 2 January, 1728.9. Full particulars of Richard Welles's generous gifts to Sandbach and Wigan parishes, and to the various chapels in each,are given in his will dated 8 Dec. 1707, of which the following is an abstract:

In the name of God Amen, the 8th Dec. 1707. I Richard Welles of Wiggan co. Lanc. gent. My body to the earth from whence it came. To Sarah the younger daughter of Samuel Drinkwater £100; to Ann and ffrancis, son and daughter of the above said Samuel Drinkwater each £50, to be paid them when 21 years of age. To the poor inhabitants of the township of Sandbach £200, the yearly improvement thereof to be distributed by the churchwardens of the parish of Sandbach upon the feast day of St. Thomas the Apostle. Item I give and bequeath the sum of £100 for the use of the free schoole in Sandbach. To the incumbent of the Parish Church of Middlewich the improvement of £100 to be paid to him and his successors yearly for ever. The like sum unto the Chappel of Church Hulme in the

parish of Sandbach for the same uses, and the like sum unto the Chapel of Goose-tree in the parish of Sandbach for the uses abovesaid for ever. Το the Chappel of Billing the like sum for the uses abovesaid for ever. To the Chappel of Hindley the like sum for the uses abovesaid for ever. To the Chappel of Rainford the like sum for the abovesaid uses for ever. Item I give and bequeath the sum of £200 for buying organs for the use of the Parish Church of Wiggan. Item I give and bequeath the improvement of £100 to be paid yearly to the Reader of Publick prayers in the said parish Church. Item I give and bequeath £200 either to be made use of towards imploying the Poor of Wiggan or the improvement thereof to put Boys to apprentice yearly, and I will that the above said sums be paid or secured within one whole year after my decease, and I request Laurence Booth of Twemlow, Esq. John Parker of Middlewich, gent. John Markland and Wm. Holland of Wiggan, gents. to take care the abovesaid sums be well secured for the uses abovesaid, and each of them to have £5 for his trouble. I appoint my loving sister in law Margery Letherbarrow sole executrix, to whom I bequeath all the remainder of my estate both real and personal after the payment of my funeral expences, debts and legacies.

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Parish apprenticeship indenture made 25 July, 1723, witnesseth that Hugh Burgess and Isaac Worthington, overseers of Pownall Fee, with the consent of two of his Ma'ties Justices, J. Leigh and J. Davenport, did bind William, son of Daniel Harrison, a poor child of the said township, apprentice to and with John Leigh, of Stockport, a broadbed weaver, the premium to be fifty shillings. The said master was to teach him his trade, and on every 25th day of December during the said term he was to give the said apprentice one shilling in addition to providing him during the term with suitable meat and clothes.

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Then Tho. Orrill being Surveyor of the Highways for Morley for 1723, made his accounts, and appears to be out of pockett......... Examined by us, JEFF. ALCOCK, J. WHITTAKERS, JOSHUA RYLE, JOHN TAYLOR,

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