The Chetham name holds a great deal of significance in Greater Manchester.
Whether it’s a name you’re familiar with, a name you’ve seen mentioned before, but are unsure of its importance, or a name you’re just hearing for the first time right now, there’s no denying what it means to our region.
It’s a name you’ll find simultaneously bestowed upon a former public hospital turned world-leading independent music school, a 178-year-old text publication society concerned with the history of North West England founded in 1843 and commemorated in the window of Manchester Cathedral.
It also proudly features on the front of two local statues and a mural, heavily linked to both Clayton Hall near Droylsden and Turton Tower in Bolton (as well as a popular pub in a nearby village) and most notably, of course, the oldest public library in the English-speaking world right here in Manchester.
But who does this surname actually belong to? Just who is it that we have to thank for the integral part played in shaping the cultural landscape of our wonderful city and wider community that we so frequently enjoy today?
Humphrey Chetham made his name as an English textile merchant, financier, and philanthropist.
ADVERTISEMENT
He was born on 10th July 1580 in Crumpsalland was the son of Henry Chetham, a successful Manchester merchant who lived in Crumpsall Hall with his wife Jane, who was the daughter of Robert Wroe of nearby Heaton.
He was educated at Manchester Grammar School, and then in 1597, was the made the apprentice to Samuel Tipping, a well-known Manchester linen draper.
In 1605, Humphrey moved from Manchester to London with his brother George.
ADVERTISEMENT
The pair joined forces to trade in various textiles, primarily fustian — a strong woven fabric made of linen and cotton — and the business partnership went on to become highly successful, thanks to the fact that the fabric they were trading was bought in London and then sold for a higher price in Manchester.
Having made his fortune and now a shrewd and successful businessman, Humphrey began to purchase land and property in the Manchester area in the 1620s, with his first notable purchase being the acquisition of the 15th-century manor house Clayton Hall, close to his hometown, then followed by the purchase of the scheduled ancient monument and the Grade I-listed Turton Tower, which was bought from William Orrell in 1628.
After his huge wealth and success became known to the crown, Humphrey was asked to be knighted in 1631, but he declined the honour and was subsequently fined for his refusal.
But in 1635, he was offered a job he was unable to refuse and became the High Sheriff of Lancashire.
His continuing list of titles and roles didn’t stop there either, as in 1643 he was forced into the position of General Treasurer of Lancashire, but he was said to have found this one very difficult to manage as a result of his old age and therefore turned down a second term.
ADVERTISEMENT
For many years prior to his death in 1653, Humphrey Chetham had attempted to make provisions for a large charitable scheme, but as time went on, he also began to obtain debts from his multiple businesses and began to fear that when he eventually passed on, parliament would take his money.
He therefore donated money to form a blue coat school for forty poor boys, which later became Chetham’s Hospital, and then the institution we know today as Chetham’s School of Music.
He also left money to establish what many would consider his greatest legacy, the iconic Chetham’s Library, founded in 1653 under his will for the education of “the sons of honest, industrious and painful parents” and for the use of scholars.
A real gem in Greater Manchester’s cultural crown, it is globally renowned as the oldest public library in the English-speaking world and has a rich history all of its own.
Chetham’s Library is known for being the regular meeting place of Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, when Marx visited Manchester in the summer of 1845, with the research they undertook during this series of visits to the library ultimately leading to The Communist Manifesto.
ADVERTISEMENT
This is just one of many examples of how the library has cemented itself site of historical importance for the region, as well as further etching the Chetham name into global history.
Humphrey Chetham also left additional funds to pay for books on his death, and it’s said that more libraries were also constructed later on from this money.
And it’s from those charitable efforts and goodwill that he will always be remembered by Mancunians.
He truly did leave a lasting legacy we can still feel today.
You can get a mobile massage treatment in your office – just like us
Thomas Melia
We’d like to introduce you to the pioneering personalised service offering massage treatments on the move at practically any location including direct from your office– including to those of us here in Manchester.
In a world where you can get practically anything delivered straight to your door, it wasn’t going to be long until some genius invented a way to get a massage from the comfort of your own office.
Named ‘London’s first digital beauty concierge’, Ruuby have been pampering the nation’s capital for almost a decade before branching out to further locations.
The gorgeous set up provided by RuubyLook at that lovely branding on the towels.They did wonders with our otherwise plain downstairs office space. (Credit: The Manc Group)
In October 2024, the company expanded beyond its domestic reach in the likes of the capital, the Cotswolds and Surrey into Europe, making its first mark Switzerland: the perfect country for both luxury and essential beauty treatments with a tailored experience.
The month following saw the group moving up North and all the way to Manchester, where people can now book professional treatments best suited to them, right on their doorstep.
If you’re feeling scepticalstill, you can take it from us here at The Manc; we couldn’t tell you how relaxing and comforting these massages are.
There are a range of treatments available and we opted for two bespoke massages, a sports massage and a deep tissue massage.
Each experience is suited to your personal needs meaning each massage therapist will be able to fine-tune their relaxation abilities to what benefits you best.
After choosing the bespoke massage that I felt would work best for me, I went into this with no prior massage experience and I came out feeling taller, broader and more refreshed. Highly recommend.
Mid-day office massage? Yes, please.How relaxing. What a shame you have to go back to work after!Credit: The Manc Group
My masseuse guided me throughout the whole process and we soon discovered that I was able to tolerate much harder pressure than I thought which helped release tension I didn’t even know I had!
The same applies to how firm you’d like your session to be, as the masseuse can help with a brief overview of your time together, but the amount of pressure you like is down to personal preference.
It’s not just massages either: there’s everything from waxing, nails and hair to physio and IV drips; how about getting Marbella ready in less than an hour with a spray tan service set up wherever you are?
As Ruuby is a mobile and remote work environment, there are a number of at any time up and down the country, meaning your next beauty slot could be as little as an hour away, find out more HERE.
Farm shops are cool now – and Albion Farm Shop is the best of the best
Daisy Jackson
At some point in life, your idea of a great day out switches from drinking and clubbing to visiting a farm shop, or a garden centre, or something similarly wholesome.
And up in the hills above Manchester is surely one of the best in the UK – Albion Farm Shop.
This Saddleworth favourite is half-cafe, half-shop, with produce all either grown right outside, or sourced as locally as possible.
And while places like Hollies Farm Shop in Cheshire pull in seriously big, glamorous crowds (maybe it’s the Molly-Mae effect), there’s something much more charming and authentic about Albion Farm Shop.
Maybe it’s the tractors parked outside, the fact the produce section is in a drafty barn, the mismatched shelves and cabinets. It’s not curated like this – it just is.
The food in the cafe itself is up there with the best British grub in the North West, and I say that with my hand on my heart.
Whether it’s a full breakfast spilling over the edge of a plate, sandwiches served in a doorstop of bread, or a full menu of burgers made with British beef cap and smoked bone marrow patties, you can’t steer far wrong.
Rag pudding at Albion Farm ShopChips with a side of bone broth gravy Those huge burgers
There are chunky chips served with a full bowl of bone stock gravy on the side (hello, this is Oldham), onion rings so big you can wear them as a bangle, and big bowls of homemade soup.
And it would be remiss of me not to mention the rag pudding, a traditional dish from this neck of the woods. Famously, she’s not a pretty menu item, but this steamed suet pastry stuffed with braised beef shin is comforting and delicious.
If you want to stick northern fare but don’t fancy rag pudding, you can also grab a wedge of cheese and onion pie, lambs liver with mash, or any number of seasonal specials (for us, it was roast pork).
There are cracking views of the surrounding countryside, a resident cat who’s usually sleeping in the entranceway, and charm packed into every square foot.
Albion Farm Shop is at Oldham Road, Delph, Saddleworth OL3 5RQ.
The resident cat at Albion Farm ShopRoast pork in the cafeThe Albion Farm Shop cafeAlbion Farm ShopInside the shop itselfThe produce barn Local cheesesBakery itemsThe produce barn
Emily Sergeant -
10th February 2021 
