Boundary Book Repaired

A book of plans and descriptions of the boundary between the parish of Ashton-under-Lyne and the surrounding townships dating from 1857 has been restored to its former glory with the help of three local organisations. Mr Alan Bacon arranged a grant of £150 from Tameside Heritage Development Fund and co-ordinated the fundraising of £350 by the Friends of Ashton Parish Church and £500 by St Michael’s Church Council. The book cost £4,000 to repair in total, the rest of the cost being met by Tameside Local Studies and Archives.

The book was produced between 1855-57 at the suggestion of John Ross Coulthart, then mayor of the manor of Ashton and first manager of the Ashton, Stalybridge, Hyde and Glossop Bank. The custom of surveying the boundary of an ancient parish by walking its route, known as the Rogationtide Perambulation or the beating of the bounds, had fallen into neglect in Ashton for about 40 years. Mr Coultart revived the tradition and for eleven days until the 12th March, the parish officers of Ashton met to walk the boundary in the company of officials from the neighbouring parishes and townships.

The book, which measures just under 2 feet by 3 feet, and needs two library staff to lift it, has been fully cleaned and rebound.

The boundary is split into sections and reproduced at a scale of 11/8 inches to 100 feet which allows for incredible detail. Each section is reproduced on a full page with a list of the names of those present at the perambulation, the date the survey took place and a description of the route taken. Buildings such as mills, chapels, houses and gasworks are recorded, as are boundary stones and landscape features including canals, streams and of course, the river Tame. The resulting surveys were drawn by Richard Hughes, surveyor to the churchwardens and overseers of Ashton parish.

The book is available for consultation at Tameside Local Studies and Archives, Old Street, Ashton-under-Lyne. A short account of the perambulation is mentioned in the Memoir of John Ross Coulthart, a copy of which is also available at Local Studies.

Contact: Larysa Bolton, Archivist

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