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Bowdon Sheaf Contents
Below is a handy list of the articles in Bowdon History Society’s journal The Bowdon Sheaf, with the PDF page number to locate them more quickly. We are thankful to the Society for its permission to share the Bowdon Sheaf on this website.
Here is a list of illustrated talks by Bowdon History Society to attend.
Please visit the Local History Publications page to find more PDFs of publications by local authors.
The Bowdon Sheaf no. 1 (October 1983) to no. 60 (October 2020) (Revised 2021)
DOWNLOAD searchable PDF (26 MB)
1. October 1983
Rural Bowdon: 1 by Ronald Trenbath (PDF p. 11)
Bowdon’s Musical Giants: Adolph Brodsky Part 1 by Michael Kennedy (PDF p. 14)
Clay Pipes found in Bowdon by M. J. King (PDF p. 17)
2. February 1984
Saxon Coin by Maurice Ridgway (PDF p. 19)
Rural Bowdon: 2 by Ronald Trenbath (PDF p. 20)
Early Motor Cars in Bowdon: 1 by Alec Okell (PDF p. 22)
Bowdon’s Musical Giants: Adolph Brodsky Part 2 by Michael Kennedy (PDF p. 25)
3. October 1984
Early Cars in Bowdon: 2 by Alec Okell (PDF p. 27)
Rural Bowdon: 3 by Ronald Trenbath (PDF p. 30)
An Early Twentieth Century Bowdonian (Mary Howes Smith) by Myra Kendrick (PDF p. 32)
4. February 1985
Bowdon and the Literary World by Myra Kendrick (PDF p. 35)
Edmunds Field: The Origin of a Bowdon Field Name? by Marjorie Cox (PDF p. 37)
Rural Bowdon: 4 by Ronald Trenbath (PDF p. 38)
5. June 1985
W. Harrison Ainsworth: A Victorian Novelist’s Portrayal of Bowdon by Myra Kendrick (PDF p. 43)
Early Days of the Women’s Movement in Bowdon by Dorothy Shelston (PDF p. 45)
Rural Bowdon: 5 by Ronald Trenbath (PDF p. 47)
6. October 1985
Juliana Ewing’s Bowdon Years by Myra Kendrick (PDF p. 51)
A Bowdon Aviation Pioneer (Benjamin Graham Wood) by John Chartres (PDF p. 53)
Watling Street, Bowdon by Ronald Trenbath (PDF p. 55)
7. April 1986
Cattle Droving in Bowdon by Max Chester (PDF p. 59)
Victorian Visitors to Dunham Park by Myra Kendrick (PDF p. 59)
An Open Air Service in Dunham Park (PDF p. 60)
Watling Street (continued) by Ronald Trenbath (PDF p. 61)
Denzell by Valerie Trenbath (PDF p. 64)
8. October 1986
Denzell (continued) by Valerie Trenbath (PDF p. 67)
Denzell Owners and Occupiers by Marjorie Cox (PDF p. 68)
Local Salt Workings in the Seventeenth Century by Hazel Pryor (PDF p. 70)
Travelling Through Bowdon in 1689 by Celia Fiennes (PDF p. 71)
Thomas Walton, Gent, by Ronald Trenbath (PDF p. 71)
Randolph Caldecott, Artist, Lived Here by Myra Kendrick (PDF p. 72)
9. March 1987
Recording the Past by Ronald Trenbath (PDF p. 75)
Local Memories by Harold Bonson (PDF p. 76)
A Visit to Bowdon in 1790 by John Byng (PDF p. 77)
The Gaskells and Moss Farm by Myra Kendrick (PDF p. 78)
A Local Eighteenth Century Remedy (PDF p. 80)
10. October 1987
Moss Farm by Alice Walker (PDF p. 83)
Bowdon’s Eminent Victorian’s: 1. William Neild by Marjorie Cox (PDF p. 86)
11. March 1988
Richard Wroe, Vicar of Bowdon 1681 – 1690 by Maurice Ridgway (PDF p. 91)
John Hunt at the Griffin (PDF p. 92)
Early Days at Moss Farm by Alice Walker (continued) (PDF p. 93)
Alison Uttley, A Downs Resident by Myra Kendrick (PDF p. 95)
Neighbouring Towns 1791 (PDF p. 97)
12. October 1988
Henry Booth & the Glorious Revolution by Marjorie Cox (PDF p. 100)
Richard Wroe, Vicar of Bowdon 1681 – 1690 (concluded) by Maurice Ridgway (PDF p. 102)
A Murder Hunt at Moss Farm by Alice Walker (PDF p. 103)
Memories of Adolf Brodsky by Ronald Gow (PDF p. 105)
13. March 1989
James Thomas Law by Maurice Ridgway (PDF p. 107)
J. M. D. Meiklejohn: An Educational Pioneer by Myra Kendrick (PDF p. 109)
Extracts from the Will of James Watmough Vicar of Bowdon 1647 – 1660 by Marjorie Cox (PDF p. 111)
The Stamford Arms and The Griffin by John Chartres (PDF p. 112)
14. October 1989
Bowdon in the 17th Century: The 1654 Church Lands Survey by Peter Kemp (PDF p. 116)
James Mudd & Joseph Sidebotham: Bowdon Photographers by Jenny Wetton (PDF p. 118)
The Roundabout Club by Marjorie Cox (PDF p. 120)
Bowdon Grammar School 1764 by Joan Leach (PDF p. 121)
15. March 1990
Byron Cooper by Maurice Ridgway (PDF p. 124)
Hunting Towers by Ronald Trenbath (PDF p. 127)
Bowdon’s Rebellious Bell Ringers by Joan Leach (PDF p. 129)
16. October 1990
Fields, Tenants & Roads by Peter Kemp (PDF p. 131)
The Wartime History of Dunham House by John Chartres (PDF p. 133)
17. February 1991
Bowdon in the 17th Century: Moss Farm by Peter Kemp (PDF p. 138)
The Australian Connection by Henry Ward (PDF p. 142)
Memories of Dunham House by Ronald Trenbath (PDF p. 143)
18. October 1991
Francis Tilney Stonex, Vicar of Bowdon, 1919 – 1920 by Norman T. Stonex (PDF p. 146)
Bowdon in the 17th Century: Evidence about Fields Found in a 1636 Bible by Peter Kemp (PDF p. 147)
An Archaeological Find in Bowdon in Queen Anne’s Reign by Marjorie Cox (PDF p. 149)
Dick Turpin’s Local Alibi by Harrison Ainsworth (PDF p. 150)
The Evolution of a Settlement by Geoffrey Barker (PDF p. 151)
Obituary to a Bowdon Curate (Rev. Gifford) (PDF p. 152)
Sale of Church Furniture (1761) (PDF p. 152)
19. March 1992
A Hungarian Refugee: Louis Kossuth in Manchester and Bowdon by Marjorie Cox (PDF p. 154)
Early Threshing Machines in Bowdon by Ronald Trenbath (PDF p. 157)
20. October 1992
Rose Hill School by Myra Kendrick (PDF p. 162)
Gerard Manley Hopkins’ Bowdon Friend by Marjorie Cox (PDF p. 164)
Fourteenth Century Feuds in Bowdon by Maurice Ridgeway (PDF p. 167)
Marriage and Divorce in Early 19th Century Bowdon (PDF p. 168)
21. February 1993
Bowdon in the 16th and 17th Centuries: The Booths and The Tippings – Landed Gentry and Yeoman Retainers Part 1 by Peter Kemp (PDF p. 170)
The Design Model for Bowdon Wesleyan Church by Tim Knox (PDF p. 173)
Highway Robberies at Bowdon by Maurice Ridgway (PDF p. 175)
22. October 1993
Ronald Gow – Pioneer in the Use and Making of Educational Films by Douglas Rendell (PDF p. 177)
Bowdon in the 16th and 17th Centuries: The Booths and The Tippings – Landed Gentry and Yeoman Retainers Part 2 by Peter Kemp (PDF p. 180)
23. February 1994
Bowdon in the 16th and 17th Centuries: The Booths and The Tippings – Landed Gentry and Yeoman Retainers Part 3 by Peter Kemp (PDF p. 185)
The Adshead Family and Bowdon by Prue Wallis Myers and Myra Kendrick (PDF p. 188)
24. October 1994
Bowdon Urban District Council (PDF p. 193)
Care of the Underprivileged in the Late 19th Century (PDF p. 195)
Windyridge, Church Brow, Bowdon by Maurice Ridgway (PDF p. 197)
25. March 1995
The Dunham Massey Estate by Ronald Trenbath (PDF p. 202)
Bowdon in the 16th and 17th Centuries: The Booths and the Tippings – Landed Gentry and Yeomen Retainers Part 4 by Peter Kemp (PDF p. 204)
26. October 1995
Bowdon Hall in 1817: A Newly-discovered Description by Marjorie Cox (PDF p. 209)
Bowdon in the 16th and 17th Centuries: The Booths and The Tippings – Landed Gentry and Yeomen Retainers Part 5 by Peter Kemp (PDF p. 213)
27. February 1996
Thirty-eight Years Vicar of Bowdon (Canon Arthur Gore DD) by Myra Kendrick (PDF p. 220)
Body Snatchers of Bowdon by Maurice Ridgway (PDF p. 221)
Brief Notes (PDF p. 222)
28. October 1996
Bowdon in the 16th and 17th Centuries: The Booths and The Tippings – Landed Gentry and Yeomen Retainers Part 6 by Peter Kemp (PDF p. 225)
Samuel Okell 1838 – 1932: A Bowdon Resident from notes by Alec Okell (PDF p. 229)
29. February 1997
The Tenant of Bowdon Hall and the ‘Great Cordial Elixir’ by Marjorie Cox (PDF p. 233)
Peel Causeway: A Populous Place (PDF p. 236)
Bowdon Church Silver by Maurice Ridgway (PDF p. 237)
Timperley Tom: Local Highway Man (PDF p. 239)
30. October 1997
William Wood of Bowdon: ‘the chimney boys’ friend’ by Marjorie Cox (PDF p. 241)
Flight Lieutenant John Andrew Edward DFC 1914 – 1944 by Myra Kendrick (PDF p. 246)
The Bowdon literary and Scientific Club (PDF p. 247)
31. February 1998
Archaeological Survey of Dunham Massey (PDF p. 249)
The Dunham Massey Sconces (PDF p. 249)
Bowdon Parish Church Tower (PDF p. 250)
Smithy Green by Ronald Trenbath (PDF p. 251)
Ale-house Keepers in 17th Century Bowdon by Peter Kemp (PDF p. 253)
Primaeval Bowdon by A. T. Longbarn (PDF p. 254)
32. October 1998
Victorian Sundays in Bowdon (PDF p. 257)
Chester News Sheet (PDF p. 258)
Scouting at Dunham Park from information by T. Hilliker (PDF p. 260)
The late Dr John Wilkinson (PDF p. 261)
33. February 1999
Francis Crossley of Bowdon: the St Francis of Ancoats by Chris Hill (PDF p. 265)
Bowdon or Bowden by Marjorie Cox (PDF p. 268)
The 6th Earl of Stamford and the Polish Exile by Marjorie Cox (PDF p. 269)
Mr Royce in Bowdon by Ronald Trenbath (PDF p. 271)
34. October 1999
The Millennium (PDF p. 273)
A Glimpse of Culcheth Hall School in 1908 by Stephen Matthews (PDF p. 273)
George Arthur Pickard of Race Hill, Chester Road by Tom Pickard (PDF p. 276)
The Altrincham and District War Hospital Supply Depot by Douglas Rendell (PDF p. 278)
35. February 2000
Meadowlands by Ronald Trenbath (PDF p. 281)
Thomas Pitfield 1903 – 1999 (PDF p. 282)
Mrs Frank Crossley by Chris Hill (PDF p. 283)
B. for Bowdon (PDF p. 287)
The Dunham Massey Gloves by Ronald Trenbath (PDF p. 287)
The Ringers’ Orders by Chris Hill (PDF p. 287)
A Cheshire Tale ‘Through the Looking Glass and what Alice Found there’ by Myra Kendrick (PDF p. 288)
Dunham Oaks by Marjorie Dorber (PDF p. 290)
36. October 2000
A Moated Site in Bowdon: New Light on the Old Vicarage by Marjorie Cox (PDF p. 294)
Description of the Manor of Dunham Massey from the Manorial Extent of 1410 – 11 in the time of John Legh of Bothes, tenant of the same place (PDF p. 299)
37. February 2001
Seventeenth Century Burial Laws by Beryl Chartres (PDF p. 301)
Publication of Marriage Banns during the Commonwealth Period by Beryl Chartres (PDF p. 301)
Bucklow Hundred and the Cattle Plague 1865-66 by Stephen Matthews (PDF p. 302)
A Rostherne Epitaph by Ronald Trenbath (PDF p. 305)
38. October 2001
War Time Memories by Marjorie Dorber (PDF p. 309)
Dunham Mill in the Middle Ages by Jim Haworth (PDF p. 311)
Bowdon and the Income Tax 1908 – 1914 by Stephen Matthews (PDF p. 313)
39. February 2002
Mobberley Priory by Stephen Matthews (PDF p. 317)
NARPAC: A Wartime Memory by Ronald Trenbath (PDF p. 321)
40. October 2002
Hale, Bowdon and The Harrying of the North, 1069 by Stephen Matthews (PDF p. 325)
Some Early Vicars of Bowdon by Maurice Ridgway (PDF p. 328)
The Nook Riding School (PDF p. 331)
41. February 2003
Canon Maurice Ridgway BA FSA (PDF p. 333)
‘Old Sir George’ Booth & the 7th Earl of Shrewsbury by Marjorie Cox (PDF p. 334)
Thoughts on some Bowdon Fieldnames by Marjorie Cox (PDF p. 336)
The Origins of the Mothers’ Union in Bowdon by Maurice Ridgway (PDF p. 336)
42. October 2003
Industry in Agricultural Bowdon by Marjorie Cox (PDF p. 341)
The Horseless Carriage in Bowdon by Ronald Trenbath (PDF p. 343)
The Horse-Drawn Omnibus by Marjorie Cox (PDF p. 347)
43. February 2004
Bowdon History Society – 25 years (PDF p. 349)
Bowdon Lawn Tennis Club (PDF p. 350)
Booth Mansion, Chester by Ronald Trenbath (PDF p. 354)
44. October 2004
Bowdon Sheaf: Changes in Publication (PDF p. 357)
A Bowdon Developer in the Wild West (PDF p. 357)
Under Canvas at Bowdon (PDF p. 358)
Scouting in Bowdon and Dunham Massey by Peter Kemp (PDF p. 359)
T’was Ever Thus: Adulteration of Food in the Nineteenth Century by Stephen Matthews (PDF p. 361)
A Startling Experience for Altrincham Firemen (1893) by Chris Hill (PDF p. 363)
A Boyhood Inspiration: An Appreciation of Harry Killick 1897 – 1966 by Peter J. Kemp (PDF p. 365)
45. October 2005
William Edwards of Bowdon Hall and St Margaret’s Church, Dunham Massey by Marjorie Cox (PDF p. 369)
Some Thoughts and Queries on the Castles, Mills and Halls of the Barony of Dunham Massey by Peter Kemp (PDF p. 371)
The Rebuilding of Church of St Mary the Virgin, Bowdon, Cheshire by Ronald Trenbath (PDF p. 377)
46. October 2006
Local Transport in the 18th Century by Ronald Trenbath (PDF p. 382)
Sir William Boyd Dawkins by Chris Hill (PDF p. 388)
47. October 2007
A Plea for the Preservation of the Old Church Bowdon under the name of T. Fowler & Sons, 1856 (PDF p. 393)
Your Dutiful Son: A Sketch of William Grey by Stephen Matthews (PDF p. 397)
Further Thoughts and Evidence on the de Mascy Castles and Mills by Peter Kemp (PDF p. 399)
Housing in Bowdon in 1863 by Stephen Matthews (PDF p. 401)
48. February 2010
Bowdon’s Name – An Alternative Explanation by Peter Kemp (PDF p. 405)
‘Sir Gawaine and the Green Knight’ and the Massey Connection by Peter Kemp (PDF p. 406)
Dunham Massey American Army & British Prisoner-of-War Camp by David Miller (PDF p. 409)
49. October 2010
Some Old Bowdon Houses by Peter Kemp (PDF p. 416)
Altrincham Grammar Schools by Ronald Trenbath (PDF p. 423)
50. October 2011
The Spoils of War by Chris Hill (PDF p. 428)
The Disappearing Grammar School Gun by Ronald Trenbath (PDF p. 429)
Bowdon Polo Club by Ronald Trenbath (PDF p. 430)
The Bowdon Hydropathic Establishment by David Miller (PDF p. 432)
51. October 2012
Gypsies in Bow Green by Ronald Trenbath (PDF p. 440)
Haigh Lawn Hospital by David Miller (PDF p. 443)
Captain Edward Kinder Bradbury VC by David Miller (PDF p. 445)
Peter Kemp by Ronald Trenbath (PDF p. 448)
52. October 2013
Bowdon College by David Miller (PDF p. 452)
An Unexpected Connection with Bowdon’s Musical Greats by Chris Hill (PDF p. 457)
Alfred Tarbolton: Lawyer, Local Councillor and Local Historian by David Miller (PDF p. 459)
53. October 2014
James Peake, Vicar of Bowdon by Joan Leach (PDF p. 464)
Max Newman – A Distinguished Resident of Bowdon by Chris Hill (PDF p. 466)
The Gaddum Family by Ronald Trenbath and David Miller (PDF p. 468)
54. February 2015
Bowdon’s Link with the War Poet Laurence Binyon by Ian Bryce (PDF p. 475)
Marjorie Dilys Cox (1923 – 2014) by Alan and Dorothy Shelston (PDF p. 481)
William Ronald Trenbath (1921 – 2014) by Beryl Chartres (PDF p. 483)
55. October 2015
Frederick Charles Collens 1876 – 1895 by Ann Nosowska (PDF p. 487)
An Observation on ‘Social Ecology’ by Chris Hill (PDF p. 493)
Brakspear’s drawing of his proposed 1860 St Mary’s Church by David Miller (PDF p. 495)
56. October 2016
Louis Kossuth (1802-1894), Hungarian Statesman and Freedom Fighter by Gabor Olah (PDF p. 499)
A Bowdon Church Gravestone by Judith Miller (PDF p. 501)
The Haworth Family Dynasty by David Miller (PDF p. 502)
57. October 2017
Go! Pull Down the Tower….. by Ann Nosowska (PDF p. 510)
A Child Marriage in Bowdon by Judith Miller (PDF p. 513)
The Heald and Hall families by Ian Bryce (PDF p. 514)
Protests and Forgetfulness by Chris Hill (PDF p. 520)
58. October 2018
The Origins and Evolution of East Downs Road Ian Bryce (PDF p. 526)
The Will of Edward Janny, Merchant by Judith Miller (PDF p. 532)
Gravedigger reply to an advertisement in 1867 by Derrick Murdie (PDF p. 534)
59. October 2019
When the Weathercock on Bowdon Steeple Winked! by Ann Nosowska (PDF p. 538)
Bowdon Village in 1838 by David Miller (PDF p. 542)
Big Bang in Bowdon by Judith Miller (PDF p. 546)
60. October 2020
Richmond Road, Bowdon by Ian Bryce (PDF p. 550)
Church Bank on Richmond Road, Bowdon by David Miller (PDF p. 553)
Hugh Kirkpatrick Hall 1749 – 1788 by Ann Nosowska (PDF p. 558)