Papers of Fletcher Moss of Didsbury
1843-1919
Archives
Total copies: 1
Notes, manuscripts and proof of publications c1891-1919; list of libraries and librarians in Britain and America and booksellers supplied with books 1910; purchasers of books 1913-1916; lecture notes on John Ruskin 1906-1908; notes for address at pageant at Chetham's Hospital, Manchester, undated; letters received 1886-1920; draft letters from Fletcher Moss 1919; photographs; ledger 1870-1907; Letter from Fletcher Moss to Mary Bristow, 27 April 1913; photographs of the Bristow family
Related Material:There are many of Fletcher Moss's books in Manchester Central Library, see list for details. His collection of negatives of photographs, stored in the Photographic Department, available for consultation in the Local History Library.
Place:/Didsbury/Manchester/Lancashire/England
Title:
Papers of Fletcher Moss of Didsbury
Date of work:
1843-1919
Reference number:
GB127.M142
Level of description:
Fonds
Custodial history:
Fletcher Moss, son of John Moss, corn and provision merchant of Hanging Ditch, Manchester, was born in 1845 at Cheetham Hill. He was educated at Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh and Cheltenham College. His family moved to Didsbury in the early 1850s, living at the Elms until 1865 when they went next door to the Old Parsonage, which remained his home for the rest of his life. With his photographer friend James Watts, lord of the manor of Cheadle he toured the country visiting old homes and historic places.
The following papers deal with his interest in local history and topography, but he also had an active life in the public service. He was elected to Withington Local Board in 1888, became a member of Withington U.D.C. in 1895 and remained so until its amalgamation with Manchester Corporation in 1904, when he became councillor for Didsbury ward having already been a councillor for Manchester Exchange Ward from 1896-1905. As Deputy Chairman of the Libraries Committee he was influential in the establishment of Didsbury Public Library in 1915 having unsuccessfully proposed the adoption of the Public Libraries Act (1892) in 1892 and 1895. In 1909 he became an alderman. He was also a magistrate, a Governor of Chetham's Library, and President of the Lancashire and Cheshire Antiquarian Society.
During his lifetime he gave land in Didsbury to Manchester Corporation for playing fields, known as the Fletcher Moss Playing Fields and at his death in December 1919 he bequeathed the Cock Inn, the Old Parsonage, several cottages and land, to establish a charity to be called the Fletcher Moss Homes, for old people. However, due to the depreciation of his investments and estate this was not possible and instead the Old Parsonage became a branch of the City Art Gallery.
Access restrictions:
Unrestricted
Use restrictions:
Unrestricted
Record types:
Manchester Archives and Local Studies
Language:
English
Record number:
7190051