The Society is an informal education provider offering monthly talks and presentations on local history in the context of regional and national history. It supports individuals and groups who are carrying out research. It meets on the first Tuesday of each month, online or in person at Sandbach Library.
It supports individuals and groups carrying out research. If the Society’s committee cannot supply the answer, its members invariably know someone who is able to suggest avenues of research.
The Society has a good relationship with Cheshire Archives and Local Studies and is a member of the Cheshire Local History Association.
It also enjoys a close relationship with the Family History Society of Cheshire and the Cheshire Local History Association through Mrs Aileen Thompson, the Society’s administrative officer, who serves on the executive committee of both bodies.
Recent talks have included the following :
- The Diary of Ernest Wakefield of Elworth by Edward Hilditch (various talks)
- Bygone Sandbach by Pauline and Stephen Minshull
- A Crewe Factory Girl – The Life of Ada Nield Chew by Graham Dodd
- John Whitehurst, an 18th Century Polymath by Ian Doughty
- Apedale Mine in North Staffordshire by Les Mason
- George Latham and the Bradwall Reformatory School by Richard Vickery
- Fodens Ladies Football Team by Margaret Roberts
- St Mary’s Church, Sandbach by John Higgins
- The History of Elton by John Pemberton
New members are always welcome and you will find a link to our programme for 2025-26 on the menu bar. If you would like to join the Society please download and print the membership form here and send it to the address given.
History of the Society
Sandbach History Society was started by a group of enthusiasts in the 1970’s. The late Lawrence Massey was the president and the late Dr Randle Bennett was vice president. Meetings take place on the first Tuesday of the month from September to May in the Marriott Room at Sandbach Library .
In the 1990s local interest in family history and the desire to find out about the lives of family members resulted in a request for resources to be made available at Sandbach Library so that people did not have to travel to Chester Archives in Chester. The Society’s committee arranged for Cheshire Record Office to provide a microfiche reader, films and fiche of the census and parish registers. Copies of maps, plans, trade directories and other resources are also available at the library.
Between 1981 and 1983, Keele University ran an adult education course in local history. The tutor, Robert Speake MA, encouraged and supported students to carry out research using original and secondary sources. One piece of work undertaken by class members the late Eric Riley and Aileen Thompson was the transcription of the tithe apportionment and marking of field names onto the tithe map of 1841.