LAND: http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/DBY/Glossop/Lysons.html
LAND: The chapelry of Mellor lies about eight miles southwest from Glossop, on the borders of Cheshire, and about the same distance from Chapel-en-le-Frith. It comprises the vills, hamlets, or townships, of Mellor, Ludworth, Chisworth, Whittle, and part of Thornsett. The greater part of the populous village of New-mills, is in the hamlet of Whittle and in this chapelry: the villages of Raworth, Marple-bridge, and Mellor-moor-end, are also in this chapelry. Mellor and Whittle are part of the Lordship of Longdendale, on lease to the Duke of Devonshire. A subordinate manor of Mellor belonged, at an early period, to the ancient family of Mellor, one of whose coheiresses married Stafford in the 14 C. In the year 1704, Thomas Stafford of Stockport and Tristram, his son, sold the manor of Mellor, and Bothams-hall in Mellor to James Chetham, Gent., whose great grandson, Thomas Chetham, Esq.. of Highgate in Middlesex, sold the Bothams-hall estate, in 1787, to Samuel Oldknow, Esq., the present proprietor. Mr. Oldknow has large cotton works at Mellor, which employ 400 and 500 hands.
Mellor-hall, anciently the seat of the Mellor family, and afterwards of the Radcliffes, was purchased in 1686 by James Chetham, Esq. The Mellor-hall estate was purchased of Thomas Chetham, Esq., about 1797, by Mr. Ralph Bridge, whose son now occupies the hall as a farm house. Part of the land has been purchased with Queen Anne's bounty for the purpose of augmenting the living of Mellor.
In the chapel and chapel yard at Mellor are recorded several instances of longevity.[2] The minister of the chapel is appointed by trustees acting under the will of the late John Thornton, Esq., of Clapham. The appointment was in the Chetham family, and was purchased by Mr. Thornton of Thomas Chetham, Esq., in or about the year 1787. The income of the minister, which is now rather more than 100 £ per annum, arises partly from the rent of seats, and partly from augmentation. Queen Anne's bounty was first procured for it about the year 1764, when 200 £ was contributed by Thomas Chetham,Esq., and other inhabitants of the chapelry. In 1792, it had an augmentation of 200 £ by lot; in 1809 Miss Shaw of Mellor, bequeathed the sum of 200 £ for the purpose of procuring the bounty a third time. These sums have been laid out in the purchase of lands, parcel of the Mellor-hall etate, as above-mentioned.
NOTES: [2] Rebecca, widow of George Higenbottom, ob. 1758, aged 99; Sarah, wife of John Cooper, ob 1779 aged 97; Mary wife of Robert Beard, ob 1797, aged 101; Betty, wife of Samuel Fearnley, ob 1799, aged 94.
