The society was founded in 1878, when one of the region's foremost historians, John Parsons Earwaker, suggested to his colleagues in the Chetham Society that they should form another organisation to foster their common interest in local history. Earwaker served as the society's founding Secretary although, towards the end of his life, his other commitments led to delays in the society's planned publications. The bibliophile James Crossley, President of the Chetham Society, was the founding President, and another prominent early member was William Ecroyd Farrer.
Publications
Publication started with Lancashire and Cheshire Church Surveys 1649–1655, edited by Henry Fishwick. Earwaker soon gained permission to publish lists of wills that had been proved in Chester, which was "hailed as a coup"; G. E. Cokayne, Lancaster Herald, wrote to congratulate Earwaker, stating that "I do not think there is any work that has been at any time, or that could be now, more useful." The index ran to seven volumes ; according to Earwaker's obituary, "their value to students of local history is incalculable". Other important documents that have been published by the society include part of De laude Cestrie, edited by Margerie Venables Taylor, one of the earliest examples of prose writing concerning an English urban centre. Many of the early volumes have been digitised by the Internet Archive. The society has published more than 150 volumes, an up-to-date list of which is maintained by the Royal Historical Society. The most recent volume is The Diaries of William Lloyd Holden, 1829 and 1830, edited by Jonathan Pepler. When the society published a volume of early Cheshire charters in honour of its long-serving President, William Fergusson Irvine, a local newspaper described the book as "beautifully printed and illustrated...well worthy of the distinguished scholar in whose honour it had been produced". Recent reviews of the society's volumes have described them as "invaluable for anyone interested in the history of this area", and pointed out that they are "well edited" and the documents "thoroughly explained". One review observed that by bringing to public attention documents that are an "under used resource", the society's publications could allow "insights into parish and community life rarely available in other sources".
Membership
Membership is open to all individuals and societies who are interested in the various historical aspects of the two counties Palatine.
