Year: 2025

John Stirrup’s will, May 8th, 1677.

Steven Dowd
Dean School 1940

In the name of God Amen the eight day of May Anno R R Dom ini [Year of Our Lord] Caroli Dei gratia [by the grace of God Charles II] secundo et vicesimo nono Annoque Dni 1677 I John Stirrup of Lowton in the County of Lancaster Chapman being sick in Body but of perfect memory thanks be to God for the same doe make and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner following viz! And calling to mind the uncertain Estate of this transitory life and that…

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The Sankey Canal: Construction, Legislation, and Impact

Steven Dowd

Underhanded Dealings in the Construction of the Sankey Canal: A Study of Henry Berry’s Secrecy The Sankey Canal, often recognized as the first true canal of the Industrial Revolution in England, marks a pivotal shift in the country’s transport and industrial infrastructure. Under the direction of Henry Berry, its construction not only facilitated the efficient movement of coal but also set precedents in engineering and legislative interaction. This expanded essay which is built upon T.C Barker’s 1948 thesis, explores the detailed construction timeline, legislative framework, and broader impacts of the…

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THE SANKEY NAVIGATION THE FIRST LANCASHIRE CANAL

Steven Dowd

BY T. C. BARKER, M.A. Read 16 December 1948 When Arthur Young visited the north of England in 1771 he went “to Manchester with design not only to view the manufactures of that town but to make it my headquarters from thence to go the tour of his Grace the Duke of Bridgewater’s navigation about which such wonders are abroad.” (1) In the account of his tour in the north Young devoted forty- six pages, complete with maps and diagrams, to a description of these wonders: the twelve sets of…

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WINWICK SCHOOLS BEFORE 1870

Steven Dowd

Written by PHILIP ANDREWS, B.A. Read 20 February 1969 to the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire The only school in the village of Winwick today is the church of England primary school whose history, like so many others of its type, goes back about a century. The creation of this school marked the beginning of modern education for Winwick people and the end of the scope of this article, which seeks to tell the history of education in the village before 1872. This was haphazard, but surprisingly diverse for…

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