Chesshyre Library

Last updated

Chesshyre Library
Chesshyre Library.jpg
Exterior of Chesshyre Library and gateposts
Chesshyre Library
53°19′55″N2°41′44″W / 53.3319°N 2.6955°W / 53.3319; -2.6955
Location Halton, Runcorn, Cheshire, United Kingdom
Type Public library
Established1733 (1733)
Collection
Items collected Theology, law, Latin literature, Ancient Greek literature, magazines
Size422 volumes [1]
Access and use
Access requirements"divines of the Church of England or other gentlemen or persons of letters" [1]
Parent organisation St Mary's Church, Halton
Listed Building – Grade II*
Designated20 October 1952
Reference no.1115560 [2]

Chesshyre Library, founded in 1733 by Sir John Chesshyre, was one of the earliest free public libraries in England. [1] It is now a meeting room attached to St Mary's Church Hall in Halton, Runcorn, Cheshire.

Contents

History

The grade II listed gates to Chesshyre Library Chesshyre Library Gates.jpg
The grade II listed gates to Chesshyre Library

In 1733, Sir John Chesshyre, a wealthy lawyer, built one of the earliest free libraries in England at Halton and left an endowment in his will for its maintenance. The building, probably to a design by Francis Smith, was largely completed by 1730. [3] But the ill health of Chesshyre's brother, Robert, who was overseeing the works, delayed its opening. [3] The library had 400 books when it opened which were mainly ecclesiastical histories and works of law. The library was intended for the incumbent of Halton and "for any divine or divines of the Church of England or other gentlemen or persons of letters." Chesshyre also built the vicarage in Halton in 1739 and endowed the curacy there. [1]

The endowment proved insufficient for maintenance and, by the middle of the nineteenth century, it had no function and no money. By the middle of the twentieth century, the building was in an advanced state of dilapidation. In 1940, the books and original catalogue were sent to Stockport Museum for safekeeping due to their poor condition. But ten years later, the Manchester Guardian reported that the range of books from the library was unknown because the museum had lost the vellum catalogue. [1] Chesshyre's entry in the 1887 Dictionary of National Biography, however, records that the library contained mostly theology and also included the Statutes at Large , Thomas Rymer's Foedera, William Dugdale's Monasticon, and some Greek and Latin classics. [4]

Present day

The church land adjacent to the library was acquired by the North-West Water Authority and a new parish hall was built in 1976 with money received as compensation. A passageway was made to link the new hall with the library which now serves as a meeting room. [1] The library is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building, [2] and its gates are listed at Grade II. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Runcorn</span> Town in England

Runcorn is an industrial town and cargo port in the Borough of Halton, Cheshire, England. Its population in 2021 was 62,100. Runcorn is on the southern bank of the River Mersey, where the estuary narrows to form the Runcorn Gap. It lies on the southern shore of the River Mersey 15 miles upstream from the port of Liverpool.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daresbury</span> Human settlement in England

Daresbury is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Halton, Cheshire, England. At the 2011 census, it had a population of 246.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Halton, Runcorn</span> Former village in Cheshire, UK; part of the town of Runcorn

Halton, formerly a separate village, is now part of the town of Runcorn, Cheshire, England. The name Halton has been assumed by the Borough of Halton, which includes Runcorn, Widnes and some outlying parishes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Halton Castle</span> Castle ruins in Cheshire, England

Halton Castle is a castle in the village of Halton, part of the town of Runcorn, Cheshire, England. The castle is on the top of Halton Hill, a sandstone prominence overlooking the village. The original building, a motte-and-bailey castle began in 1071, was replaced with the current sandstone castle in the 13th century. Building alterations continued until at least 1609, when the structure is recorded as in disrepair. The castle is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building, and a scheduled monument.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Listed buildings in Runcorn (urban area)</span>

Runcorn is an industrial town in Halton, Cheshire, England, on the south bank of the River Mersey where it narrows at Runcorn Gap. In the town are the 61 buildings that are recorded in the National Heritage List for England as designated listed buildings in the current urban area of Runcorn, including the districts of Runcorn, Halton, Weston, Weston Point, and Norton. Two of these are classified as being in Grade I, nine in Grade II*, and 51 in Grade II.

Sir John Chesshyre was an English lawyer who rose to the position of king's first serjeant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All Saints' Church, Daresbury</span> Church in Cheshire, England

All Saints' Church is in the village of Daresbury, Cheshire, England. It is known for its association with Lewis Carroll who is commemorated in its stained glass windows depicting characters from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building. The church is an active Church of England parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of Great Budworth. The author Lewis Carroll was born in All Saints' Vicarage in 1832 when his father, Charles Dodgson, was perpetual curate at the church. This was commemorated in March 2012 when the Lewis Carroll Centre, attached to the church, was opened.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Listed buildings in Widnes</span>

Widnes is an industrial town in the Borough of Halton, Cheshire, England, on the north bank of the River Mersey where it narrows at Runcorn Gap. The town contains 24 buildings that are recorded in the National Heritage List for England as designated listed buildings. Of these, 5 are classified at Grade II*, and the rest are at Grade II; Widnes has no Grade I listed buildings. In the United Kingdom, the term "listed building" refers to a building or other structure officially designated as being of special architectural, historical, or cultural significance. Listed buildings are categorised in three grades: Grade I consists of buildings of outstanding architectural or historical interest; Grade II* includes particularly significant buildings of more than local interest; Grade II consists of buildings of special architectural or historical interest. Buildings in England are listed by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on recommendations provided by English Heritage, which also determines the grading.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Peter's Church, Aston-by-Sutton</span> Church in Cheshire , England

St Peter's Church is in the small hamlet of Aston-by-Sutton, Cheshire near to the town of Runcorn. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of Great Budworth. It is one of three parish churches in the parish of Aston-by-Sutton, Little Leigh and Lower Whitley. The other two being St Michael and All Angels, Little Leigh and St Luke, Lower Whitley. The three were previously individual parishes united in a benefice along with St Mark, Antrobus. The listing describes it as "a most pleasing late 17th to early 18th-century church, inside and out". The church stands in a relatively isolated position in the south side of Aston Lane in the hamlet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary and All Saints' Church, Great Budworth</span> Church in Cheshire, England

St Mary and All Saints Church is in the centre of the village of Great Budworth, Cheshire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of Great Budworth. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building. Clifton-Taylor includes it in his list of 'best' English parish churches. Richards describes it as "one of the finest examples of ecclesiastical architecture remaining in Cheshire". The authors of the Buildings of England series express the opinion that it is "one of the most satisfactory Perpendicular churches of Cheshire and its setting brings its qualities out to perfection".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St John the Evangelist's Church, Weston</span> Church in Cheshire, England

St John the Evangelist's Church is in Weston, once a separate village and now part of the town of Runcorn, Cheshire, England. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of Frodsham. Its design has been described as "bold and original".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holy Trinity Church, Runcorn</span> Church in Cheshire, England

Holy Trinity Church is in Runcorn, Cheshire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of Frodsham. Its benefice is combined with that of All Saints, Runcorn. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary's Church, Halton</span> Church in Cheshire, England

St Mary's Church is in Halton, which was formerly a separate village, but is now part of the town of Runcorn, Cheshire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of Frodsham. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All Saints' Church, Runcorn</span> Church in Cheshire, England

All Saints' Church is the parish church of Runcorn, Cheshire, England, sited on the south bank of the River Mersey overlooking Runcorn Gap. There is a tradition that the first church on the site was founded by Ethelfleda in 915. That was replaced, probably in about 1250, by a medieval church that was altered and extended in the 14th and 15th centuries. By the 19th century the building's structure had deteriorated and become dangerous, and it was replaced by a new church, built between 1847 and 1849 to the designs of Anthony Salvin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hallwood, Cheshire</span> Historic site

Hallwood is a former mansion house in Runcorn, Cheshire, England. One wing of the house remains and was a public house called the Tricorn until its closure in 2017. Its former stables were converted into a function room for the public house. The remaining wing of Hallwood is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building; the former stables are listed at Grade II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Halton Old Hall</span> Historic site in Cheshire, England

Halton Old Hall is a house in the village of Halton in Runcorn, Cheshire, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building. The house dates from 1693, and is built in sandstone with a slate roof. It has two storeys and an attic; a two-storey wing has been added to the back. The windows have mullions and the gables have corbels and copings. Both Starkey and Nikolaus Pevsner note that its style is older than its date.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Halton Vicarage</span> Historic site

Halton Vicarage is in Castle Road, Halton in the town of Runcorn, Cheshire, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Listed buildings in Runcorn (rural area)</span>

Runcorn is an industrial town in the borough of Halton, Cheshire, England. This list contains the 27 buildings that are recorded in the National Heritage List for England as designated listed buildings in the part of the borough lying to the south of the River Mersey outside the urban area of Runcorn. The area covered includes the villages of Clifton, Daresbury, Preston Brook, Preston on the Hill, and Moore. Three of the buildings in the area are classified as Grade II*, and the others are at Grade II; there are no buildings in Grade I. In the United Kingdom, the term listed building refers to a building or other structure officially designated as being of special architectural, historical, or cultural significance. These buildings are in three grades: Grade I consists of buildings of outstanding architectural or historical interest; Grade II* includes particularly significant buildings of more than local interest; Grade II consists of buildings of special architectural or historical interest. Buildings in England are listed by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on recommendations provided by English Heritage, which also determines the grading.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Weston, Runcorn</span> Human settlement in England

Weston or Weston Village is a settlement in the Halton district, in the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. Formerly a separate village, it is now part of the town of Runcorn.

There are over 9,000 Grade I listed buildings and 20,000 Grade II* listed buildings in England. This page is a list of these buildings in the borough of Halton in Cheshire.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Starkey, H. F (1990), Old Runcorn, Halton Borough Council, pp. 77–81
  2. 1 2 Historic England. "The Public Library (1115560)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  3. 1 2 Gomme, A.H. (1985). "Four Eighteenth-Century Buildings at Halton" (PDF). The Transactions of the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire. 135: 37–59. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  4. ↑ Rigg, James McMullen (1887). "Chesshyre, John"  . Dictionary of National Biography . Vol. 10. pp. 200–201.
  5. ↑ Historic England. "Gatepiers and surrounding wall to Parish Library, Halton (1130459)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 19 August 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.