LEEK & DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY
THIS month we were pleased to welcome our members who, once again, came laden with a plethora of diverse and fascinating objects for our members evening.
As the years go by this occasion becomes ever more supported; so much so, that this evening we were obliged to view and eulogise over the items at a rate of knots and perhaps did not do them, or their owners, justice.
Faith Cleverdon began with a short, but in depth, presentation on the presumed history of Parker House and what evidence there was to support the case.
This was followed by Harry Ball, who has produced a gazetteer of Anglo-saxon sites in the Staffordshire Moorlands and was very happy to subsequently share his findings.
We were amused by the C17th anecdotes, witticisms and epitaphs which John Band shared with us from his copy of Wm Camden’s ‘Remaines Concerning Britain’, 1605.
Cathryn Walton brought in a selection of photographs of millworkers and some sample books of braids from Worthingtons.
Geoff Matthews was proud to share with us two carved Gothic chair backs rescued from the Bethesda Chapel when it closed.
These were relics of the extensive work carried out by his forbears, J & J Matthews in the building and furnishing of various C19th chapels around Leek.
A photograph album presented by the choir and teachers of Leek Congregational Church and Sunday School (now Trinity Church) to Sir Arthur Nicholson on the occasion of his marriage has recently been acquired by John White. Containing annotated photographs of previously unidentified local worthies of the late
C19th it should prove a treasure trove to researchers of local history.
Roy Parker brought in some advertising printing blocks made for Adams in the midc20th and Tony Busfield had information on the Leek clockmaker Peter Stretch, who emigrated to America in 1702.
Finally, David Cliffe introduced us to entrepreneur John Jackson, who was born in Leek in 1785 but left to take part in the Napoleonic Wars where, in 1807, he found himself in South America at an opportunistic time.
From small beginnings the business expanded rapidly and besides purchasing vast farmland, Jackson set up banks, acquired goldmines and the dockyards from which he traded.
He donated land and money to the RC church to set up a college of agriculture and is still revered in Uruguay today where his name lives on in the town of Jacksonville.
Our next meeting welcomes Brian Morris who will be presenting a ‘magic lantern’ show entitled ‘A Child’s Life in Victoria’s Reign on Monday, February 11, 7.45pm in the Dove Room, Moorland’s House, Leek.