Lancashire and Cheshire Antiquarian Society


The Lancashire and Cheshire Antiquarian Society is a historical society and a registered charity.
It was founded in Manchester, on 21 March 1883, for the education of the public by fostering and promoting the study of any aspects of the archaeology, history, social history, genealogy, architecture and the arts, trade and trades, the history of institutions and local government, customs, and traditions of the area covered by the Palatine Counties of Lancashire and Cheshire ranging from antiquity to the twenty-first century.
Although the Society is based upon Manchester, its studies and activities embrace the region. The society became a registered charity in 2004.

History

It was at a meeting convened in response to a circular issued by George Charles Yates, that several antiquaries and historians proposed the creation of a Society with the purpose of organising excursions to places of historical and archaeological interest in Lancashire and Cheshire. These individuals were elected to form the Society’s first officers and Council.
Honorary Membership was awarded to various individuals who made a contribution to the society or to the life of the Counties Palatine, recipients included James, Earl of Crawford, Charles Roach Smith, Charles William Sutton, Isabella, Mrs George Linnaeus Banks, Sir Henry Hoyle Howorth, Robert Dukinfield Darbishire, Charles Roeder, John Wilfrid Jackson, and Sir Edward Holt, Bt, amongst others.

Journal

The Transactions of the Lancashire and Cheshire Antiquarian Society is the society's peer-reviewed periodical which is published annually, and includes papers covering a wide variety of subjects relating to the two counties.
The journal was established in 1883, by the founding Editor Rev. J.H. Stanning, and has been published almost continuously. The 111th volume was published in 2019, and the current Editor is Dr Stephen F. Collins. The society also produces other publications on occasion.

Activities

The society organises a varied programme of lectures and events including visits to exhibitions, libraries, museums, galleries and places of historical, architectural and archaeological interest. The Society's Library was donated to Manchester Central Library in 2019.

Membership

Membership is open to all individuals and societies who are interested in the various historical aspects of the two Counties Palatine.

Officers

Presidents

Vice-Presidents

''Transactions'' Editors

Secretaries

Treasurers