We can go as far back as 1832 for the first mention of the grounds where
the Wesleyan Chapel stood. It is referred to in a certain Indenture of Release
bearing the date on or about the 3rd Day of July 1832.
This Indenture was made between :-
John Sutcliffe, Benjamin Garside, Francis Farnell, John Swallow,
Thomas Frith, Robert Wilson, Samuel Naylor, John Fearly Sutcliffe,
Thomas Fox Sutcliffe, Charles Swallow, John Swallow the younger,
Samuel Morley, Joseph Garside (accountant), William Farnell,
Joseph Garside (wood turner), > therein described of the 1st part.
The Rev George Marsden, > therein described of the 2nd part.
James Brown, > therein described of the 3rd part.
Indenture dated 8th day of April 1850
This Indenture was made between :-
Ralph Sneyd Esquire, > therein described of the 1st part.
James Thorley the elder and Mary his wife, > therein described of the 2nd part.
James Thorley the younger, > therein described of the 3rd part
In this Indenture, Ralph Sneyd reserved the rites to all mines and minerals
in or under the plot of land.
It also stated that after the death of James Thorley the elder and his wife
Mary, the plot would be handed down to James Thorley the younger, his heirs
and assigns for ever.
After the death of his parents, James Thorley the younger made a Will dated
the 19th day of October 1866. In his Will he appointed Peter Gaskill (agent
of Newchapel) and James Harding (shopkeeper of Newchapel) as his Trustees
and Exors. They were appointed to sell his real estate and invest the money
arising and to pay the annual produce to his son also named James Thorley
for his life and on his death, to divide the capital of the trust fund amongst
the children of his son in equal shares.
James Thorley the younger died on the 25th day of October 1868, and his Will
was proved in the Principal Registry on the 12th day of December 1868.
Stamp Duty :- 12 Shillings and 6 Pence,
Indenture fees were :- 2 Pounds 6 Shillings and 6 pence.
This Indenture was made between :-
Peter Gaskill (agent of Newchapel), James Harding (shop keeper of Newchapel),
> therein described of the 1st part.
Enoch Cotterill (ironstone clupper), George Manning (engineman),
James Smallwood (grocer), William Stubbs (collier), Christopher Owen (grocer),
Thomas Ford (blacksmith), Samuel Forster (collier), Jonathan Hammond (forgeman)
Samuel Oakes (collier), Joseph Shufflebotham (collier), John Taylor (grocer),
James Blood (collier),
William Joynson (banksman), Samuel Cotterill (forgeman) all of Harriseahead,
Samuel Colclough (collier of Mow Cop),
John Cotton (stationer of Kidsgrove), James Smith (ground bailiff of Rookery),
Richard Blackhurst (earthenware manufacturer of Tunstall), Jabez James Hancock
(earthenware manufacturer of Tunstall), Benjamin Holland (collier of Audley)
>therein described of the 2nd part.
One name not listed but who's signature appears with the others is Enoch Clare.
The Rev William Shaw (Wesleyan Minister of Tunstall) the superintendant preacher
of the Circuit in the Methodist Connexion
in which the parcel of ground is situated in. > therein described of the
3rd part.
The Deed describes the people of the 2nd part as, being possessed of certain sums of money intended to be laid out in the purchase of a piece of ground and in erecting thereon a Chapel or place of Religious Worship and School for the use of the people called Methodists. So they paid Peter Gaskill and James Harding the sum of £115-00 for the plot, and premises.
Witnessed by William Cooper a Commissioner to Administer Oaths in Chancery in England and John Middleton Horsley.
A Memo to this Deed was added on the 10th Day of October 1917 and states :- a small portion of that land had been added with land upon which the two houses sold to Mr Joseph Rowbotham has purchased and an acknowledgement for production of that Deed was given.
TRUSTEES APPOINTMENT ACTS 1850 to 1890
CHOICE and APPOINTMENT of NEW TRUSTEES of the WESLEYAN METHODIST
CHAPEL at HARRISEAHEAD
DATED 15th DAY of MARCH 1902
DATED 18th DAY of MAY 1910
DATED 23rd DAY of FEBRUARY 1929
DATED 30th DAY of JULY 1952
In 1967 it was decided by a meeting of the Annual Conference of the Methodist
Church assembled at Middlesbrough in the County of York to sell the Chapel,
Land and Schoolroom after it was deemed no longer required for Methodist Trust
purposes. Confirmation was sent from the President of the Conference, Irvonwy
Morgan dated 13th Day of August 1967
A copy was also sent to the Rev C. Raymond Scott, the Superintendant Minister
of the Stoke-on-Trent (Tunstall) circuit.
The Schoolroom was sold to Mr F. Gallimore for the sum of £150-00.
The Chapel and Land was sold to ADMINELLA LIMITED for the sum of £750-00
A Conveyance was drawn up on the 27th Day of October between :-
William Leonard Atherton (miner of Knypersley), Joseph Bailey (farmer of Stradmoor,
Low Lane, Harriseahead),
Charles Horace Brough (mining engineer of 62, Chapel Lane, Harriseahead),
Angus McLaren (miner of Chapel Lane Harriseahead), Elliot Wooliscroft (miner
of High Street, Harriseahead), Harrold Shufflebotham (engineer of Nestle Drive,
Mossley), John Bertram Stanier (painter and decorator of 10, Primitive Street,
Harriseahead), Jonas Stanier (electrician of 17, Chapel Lane, Harriseahead),
Horace Bertram Brough (television engineer of 62, Chapel Lane, Harriseahead),
Ellen Rowbotham (widow of 66a, High Street, Harriseahead), Arthur McGuire
Bates (grocer of William Road, Whitehill)
Florence Shufflebotham (married woman of Nestle Drive, Mossley), Minnie Hancock
(married woman of 78, High Street Harriseahead), Samuel Hancock (bank clerk
of 78, High Street, Harriseahead), Simon Riley (cutter of 43, Moorland Road,
Mow Cop), Ellen Minshull (spinster of 43, Moorland Road, Mow Cop), Sarah Ellen
Deaville (spinster of 11 Church Road, Mow Cop), > therein described of
the 1st part.
Adminella Limited, whose registered office is at 358, Anchor Road, Longton. > therein described of the other part.
In the agreement the Trustees state that the Company or any successors to the title will not use the property or any part for the manufacture, distribution, sale or supply of intoxicating liquors nor for any purpose in connection with the organisation or practice of gambling in any of its forms, nor as a public dance hall.
