Tatton of Wythenshawe Muniments

Date range: 13th-19th centuries

Medium: Archive

An important collection of medieval charters, deeds, estate papers and correspondence of the Tatton family of Wythenshawe, Cheshire.

The Tattons were one of the oldest families in Cheshire, and their estates had the distinction of being one of the very few in Macclesfield Hundred that remained in the same family’s ownership from as early as the 14th century to the 20th. Wythenshawe itself was granted to Robert de Tatton in 1370 following his marriage to Alice, daughter and heiress of William de Massey.

Documents relate chiefly to lands in Cheshire, particularly to Wythenshawe, Northenden, Northen Etchells, Stockport Etchells and Macclesfield, with smaller numbers concerning Aldford, Altrincham, Bowdon, Bredbury, Godley, Great Warford, Hale, Kenworthy, Knutsford, Pownall Fee, Romiley and Werneth, and a handful bearing on properties in Derbyshire, Flintshire, Lancashire and Nottinghamshire.

In addition there are 17th-century letters and personal papers of the Tatton family, including invaluable material relating to the English Civil War; Robert Tatton (1606–69) was a staunch royalist, who withstood a siege by parliamentary forces for three months in 1642–43.

Further information:

Catalogue available on ELGAR.

Location:

• The John Rylands Library, Deansgate  [Map]
• Find out how to use the reading rooms in the John Rylands Research Institute and Library