Dale Papers

Papers of Messrs William Dale & Sons, a firm of agricultural engineers from Sandle Bridge near Alderley Edge, Cheshire. These consist of 34 ledgers relating to the firm (1794-1921). The collection also contains records of the Overseers of the Poor (18th-19th centuries) and Surveyors of the Highways (19th century) for the township of Marthall with Little Warford, Cheshire, records of the Overseers of the Poor (19th century) and Parish Council (19th-20th centuries) of Great Warford, and Overseers of the Poor valuation list for Ollerton, 1914, and papers relating to the Charity Commission from Over Peover. The collection includes a number of estate sale catalogues from various places in Cheshire dating from 1842 to 1938. The collection contains material of interest to local historians of Cheshire.

<p>Alan Dale's genealogical and topographical notes relating to Cheshire are held by Manchester Local Studies Archive Service, Central Library, Manchester (reference: C27)</p>

Deposited by Alan Dale of Over Peover, Cheshire in 1952 and 1953.

The firm of William Dale and Sons, Sandle Bridge, Alderley Edge, Cheshire was first recorded in 1737. During its history it operated as an agricultural engineers, blacksmith, farrier, wheelwright, millwright, stonemason and carpenter. The firm, whose motto was "workmanship before price", was one of the best-known agricultural engineers in the region. The Dale family also played a prominent part in local affairs. Alan Dale (b.1891) was an enthusiast for the local history of Cheshire, who made extensive notes from surviving records which were later deposited at Manchester Central Library.